Thoughtless Imitation of Fathers

Lesson # 661 From Holy Qur’aan

Thoughtless Imitation of Fathers

‘Al-Maaa-‘idah (the Table Spread) – Chapter – 5)–Stage - 2

Verse –104 of 120, Section – 14 of 16 (Part - 7)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of Allaah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

And when it is said unto them: Come unto that which Allaah hath revealed and unto the Messenger, they say: Enough for us is that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though their fathers had no knowledge whatsoever, and no guidance?

Wa  ‘izaa  qiila  lahum  ta-‘aalaw  ‘ilaa  maaa  ‘anza-lAllaahu  wa  ‘ilar-Rasuuli  qaaluu  hasbunaa  maa  wajad-naa  ‘alayhi  ‘aabaaa-‘anaa.  ‘Awa  law  kaana  ‘aabaaa-‘uhim  laa  ya’-lamuuna  shay-‘anw-wa  laa  Yahtaduun.

                                                                                          

Lesson

In this verse, fundamental education of Islam has been described in an interesting manner. Islam is desirous that every command of Allaah Almighty and His Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) should be obeyed and acted upon. If traditions, customs and ways of life of our ancestors are against Islam, those should be given up entirely, because those manners and customs have no proof of their being good, while the commands of Allaah Almighty and His Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) have proof as well as responsibility of deliverance and success along with it too. So, this evasion that “how can we give up that tradition, wherein we found our ancestors?” is quite debauch and loosely. Its nonsense may be judged easily by using sense a little.

It is commanded that when the people are invited towards the prescribed Way of Allaah Almighty and His Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him), they allege falsely: “Enough for us is that path, which our ancestors have left behind for us. They used to act upon these traditions and teach us the same”. In their reply, it has been told: Ask them, “Whether is it possible that your fathers may be unaware from the original knowledge or impossible? Is it not possible that they did not know the correct way? Would you like to follow them even then in such condition? It seems against wisdom”.

It is visible that if any knower more than them and who is well aware of the paths, says that the path, on which they used to go away and guided their children to follow them, at last will lead and let them fall in a blind pit, and then it will not be possible to come out from it, then certainly the talk of that experienced and well acquainted person is able to be listened and believed.    

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)