CHARACTERISTICS OF THE IGNORANT COMMUNITY IN THE HOLY QUR'AN

Second Characteristic

The second characteristic of the community of Jahiliyyah in the concept of the Holy Qur'an is that the individuals, for arranging their affairs and achieving order among them, are adopting a code of law that is away from the laws of Almighty Allah: "Do they seek the judgment of ignorance (Jahiliyyah)? 5/50"

According to the Holy Qur'an, all judgments that are issued in violation of Almighty Allah's law come under the title of Jahiliyyah judgments. Unfortunately, the majority of the individuals of our (Muslim) community are attaching themselves to tribes governed by tribal laws that are completely opposite to the law of Almighty Allah. These laws were issued by ignorant individuals who were far away from Almighty Allah. To be sure of this fact, one may have a simple look at the different social classes. Not only is our community afflicted with such manmade laws, but also the other societies all over the world are ruled by imperfect manmade laws and regulations (namely, ideologies) that have been enacted by ordinary persons who, in addition to being incapable of discriminating what is actually good for them from what is evil, cannot see further than their noses.

They therefore change an article or add another because they everyday notice flaws in their laws and try to make correct these flaws. Referring to this state, a Hadith has considered each and every violation of the divine law or negligence in its application to the society as Jahillyyah (ignorance): "He who dies before making a will has indeed died as ignorant. (i.e. non-Muslim)"  ^[1]

The word of the Pharaoh who declared his having been the highest lord of his people is not an individual state; rather it is a recurring state that is at all times repeated by those who have appointed themselves as 'lawmakers rather than Almighty Allah Who, describing them, says: "They are moved by wrong suspicions of Allah—suspicions due to ignorance. 3/154"

In the past, the idolaters believed that whatever sins one might commit, one's offers to the `gods' would cancel all these sins. Similarly, because the orators who seize chairs of speech in the ceremonies of Imam al-Husayn's martyrdom inspire to the ordinary people that all their sins and offenses would be pardoned if they shed even a single drop of tear for sake of Imam al-Husayn since such a single tear is enough to guarantee Paradise in the Next World, those people went on committing sins and offenses without restraint. Those orators have inferred this idea from the Hadith that reads: "Paradise will be indisputably the abode of him whoever sheds a single drop of tears—even if it is as small as an insect's wing—for the sake of Imam al-Husayn." ^[2] In addition, they have inferred the idea from a poet claiming that Hellfire shall not touch the body that is contacted by the dust of the pilgrims to Imam al-Husayn's tomb.

As a matter of fact, Imam al-Husayn, in the sight of Almighty Allah, deserves more than these aspects of honoring; rather this intercession will be for those who meet the general qualifications for entering Paradise. To be affected by the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn is a factor that causes entering Paradise when it is joined by the other qualifications the first of which is to obey the orders of Almighty Allah and keep oneself away from the things that He has deemed unlawful. The Holy Qur'an has clearly stated this qualification for winning the intercession (Shafa'ah): "They offer no intercession except for those who are acceptable by Allah. 21/28" Likewise, Imam Ja'far al-sadiq has declared: "Our Shan 'ah shall never be given to those who _.disregard the (performance of) prayers." [3] Unless one who commits sins because he shed tears for Imam al-Husayn and this deed will take him to Paradise—unless such a person repents to Almighty Allah purely and does things that He pleases, he will suffer the inconveniences of his evil deeds. Manifestly, the Holy Qur'an declares: "Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good see it; And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it.

99/7^-8"

Deviation in beliefs causes people to turn away from religion and to have insufficient cognizance if they are anesthetized by false beliefs opposite to the Holy Qur'an. People's adherence to such false beliefs has made them neglect acting upon the Holy Qur'an.