Reading the therapeutic contract in the Quran

Thought of the day

Day#4

The first five verses detailed the characteristics of those who are mindful of God and who are the guided ones. These characteristics are harnessed and reinforced by the five pillars of Islam which act like a psychological immune booster.

It is then only logical for the verses that follow to address what causes deficiencies and diseases in this immune system. But more importantly what psychic structure is concerned with these efforts.

In verses 6 to 16 we are introduced to the impact of not keeping that relational bond with God on the heart. God speaks of two types of people; those with sealed hearts and those with diseased hearts. Two problems are identified along with two psychic defences: omnipotence and denial.

Al Ghazali, in the Marvels of the Heart, gives a great example of what happens in the heart. He says that if we thought of the heart as a reservoir, it could either be filled by streams pouring into it, or if we dig deep we get to the pure source that feeds it from within.

One may think of disbelief or kufr, as an intent to cover this pure source and not connect with it. Hence the heart becomes sealed to the truth and to the capacity for insight as mentioned in verses 6 and 7.

TBC…

Al Baqara 2:6-16

2:6  As for those who disbelieve, it makes no difference whether you warn them or not: they will not believe

2:7  God has sealed their hearts and their ears, and their eyes are covered. They will have great torment

2:8  Some people say, ‘We believe in God and the Last Day,’ when really they do not believe

2:9  They seek to deceive God and the believers but they only deceive themselves, though they do not realize it

2:10  There is a disease in their hearts, to which God has added more: agonizing torment awaits them for their persistent lying

2:11  When it is said to them, ‘Do not cause corruption in the land,’ they say, ‘We are only putting things right,’

2:12  but really they are causing corruption, though they do not realize it

2:13  When it is said to them, ‘Believe, as the others believe,’ they say, ‘Should we believe as the fools do?’ but they are the fools, though they do not know it

2:14  When they meet the believers, they say, ‘We believe,’ but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, ‘We’re really with you; we were only mocking.’

2:15  God is mocking them, and allowing them more slack to wander blindly in their insolence

2:16 They have bought error in exchange for guidance, so their trade reaps no profit, and they are not rightly guided

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