Wisdom from the Quran - Lecture Notes

Key Verse

• Verse 100
  • Allah states: "The filthy and the pure are never the same, even if filthiness seems overwhelming."
  • This implies that truth transcends numbers; reality isn't dictated by majority opinion.
  • Quran criticizes the majority who do not believe and suggests that believers are often a minority.

Concept of Filth (Rijs) and Purity (Tayyib)

• Rijs (Filth):
  • Disgusting, rotting, and impure.
• Tayyib (Pure):
  • Wholesome, nourishing, and virtuous.

Application Across Different Aspects of Life

1. Belief
   • Iman (Faith) is pure regardless of atheism or agnosticism becoming the norm.
   • Kufr (Disbelief) is impure.
2. Actions and Deeds
   • Prayer, charity, and fasting are pure actions.
   • Gambling, alcohol consumption, and adultery are considered filth.
3. Ethics and Values
   • Quran provides guidance on what is virtuous and impious.
   • The Sharīʿah distinguishes between pure and impure actions.
   • Before revelations, natural understanding exists; Sharīʿah clarifies further.
   • Example: Society's view on racism was corrected by Quranic teaching.
4. Food and Drink
   • Sharīʿah teaches what is pure and wholesome to consume.
   • Encourages consumption of what is halal and pure.
5. Earnings and Income
   • Pure income, earned in a halal way, is more valuable than impure.
   • Example by Scholar Hassan Al-Basri: One pure coin in charity is better than thousands with impurity.

Conclusion

• The Ayah is a litmus test for:
  • Beliefs
  • Actions
  • Ethics and Values
  • Food and Drink
  • Income Sources
• Majority may often be wrong; Sharīʿah guides towards truth and purity.
• Quote by Ibn Abbas:
  • The verse indicates the distinction between believers and disbelievers.
  • True believers are always more valuable to Allah regardless of their numbers.

Final Prayer

• Ask Allah for protection, love, and to maintain our purity in belief and actions.