An Overview of the Qu’rānīc Concept of “Jahi’liyyah” and Various Trends of the Present Age

Abstract

The system of this universe has been running under the divine commands of Allah Almighty on fixed and unchangeable principles for centuries. These laws of Nature are the sunnah of Allah Almighty or the religion of this Universe. If man violates these natural laws, doing so is to one's own detriment. Ethical laws as the religion of mankind are also made for the benefit of human beings. These rules are indispensable for the accuracy of human interactions to build society on the right foundations protect it from harms and to create a good society in it. Violation of these laws is more harmful than violation of natural laws. Loss of breaking moral rules is not only limited to his own self, but it also affects the other person or more human lives. Ignoring all these principles of the universe man thinks that he can make rules for himself by building his intellect and can run his life as he pleases and can be successful. This baseless thinking of man is due to the interests of the transient life and this is the starting point of his ignorance. Ignorance is actually the name of deviating from the guidance of Allah and rejecting His command. The word used for his condition is “Jahi’liyyah” at every stage of humanity, if the guidance revealed by Allah is turned away, man will suffer ignorance. Allah Almighty has mentioned four different tendencies of ignorance (Jahi’liyyah) in his last book Qu’rān. These are the general tendencies that man has been suffering from in every age when he puts aside the divine guidance. The forms of ignorance described in the Qu’rān are common in our society today. Modern ignorance is a scientific ignorance which is proving to be more dangerous for humanity than the ancient ignorance. The religion of Islam is all knowledge which removes the darkness of ignorance in every age.