Blindspot!
From Issue: 678 [Read full issue]
Point of View
Sometimes people who try to explain what lies behind certain Islamic legislation or aspects of Islamic worship, put their points of view very forcefully, implying that they have understood everything there is to understand. This is not the proper way to explain Quranic statements and Islamic legislation, except where the reasons for such legislation are expressly stated in the Quran or the Sunnah. It is always preferable to state our point of view adding that it is all that we have been able to understand of the wisdom behind a certain piece of legislation. The possibility cannot be excluded that there may be other reasons behind it which we have not been able to determine. In this way, we assign our human mind to its proper position with respect to Quranic statements and Divine legislation.
For example, it has often been said that the purpose of having ablution (wudu, ghusl) before prayer is to maintain cleanliness. It may be true that cleanliness is intended through ablution, but to emphasise that it is the only reason why ablution is required before prayer is to follow an approach which is neither correct nor safe. Indeed, there came a time when some people suggested that there was no longer any need for this "primitive" method of cleanliness when we live in a clean environment, with people taking care of their daily cleanliness. If ablution had been legislated for this purpose, then it would no longer be necessary before prayer. However, when we look at the alternative for ablution (tayammum) it becomes evident that it does not serve the purpose of cleanliness at all. There must be some other purpose behind ablution. Perhaps ablution has been ordered as an intermediary step taking us away from our daily preoccupation in order to prepare us psychologically for prayer, which is a great meeting with God.
If we try to determine the wisdom behind every aspect of worship or piece of legislation, according to a rational analysis or in line with what contemporary science may reveal, stressing always that this is the only reason for it, we move away from the proper method of understanding religious statements and Divine legislation. We, thus, open the way to sophistry and futile argument. In addition, we leave ourselves open to mistakes, especially when our analysis is based on what contemporary science and research reveal, when it is always changing or amending what it used to consider a proven fact.
Compiled From:
"In The Shade of The Quran" - Sayyid Qutb, Vol. 3, pp. 159-161