Our Knowledge And Intellect Are Limited

Limited is that which has a limit. And the thing that has a limit always has someone who puts a limit on it. Knowledge and wisdom are two things because of which man has been declared the best of creations. The first and foremost demand of these qualities is that the man should identify his limits. The man must know that he is a slave. His knowledge and intellect are limited. And the Lord who has created him is unlimited. The success of a man is in Allah’s will. And this pleasure is hidden in the perfection of servitude in which he is well aware of his limits.

And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses; not for them was the choice. Exalted is Allah and high above what they associate with Him”.
(Alqasas- 68)

Past summary:

To understand the two points in this verse in detail, we have separated the two points of the verse and written them as left-hand side and right-hand side.

We took a set of few verses from the Qur’an to reflect on the things in human control.

Set 1:

As a result of our efforts to resolve the first question that arises from this set, it became clear that our desires are not in our own control. And this verse of the Quran is completely clear to us.

And you do not will, except that Allah wills.
Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing and All-Wise.
(Aldhar-30)

With this explanation, the point has reached to knowledge and wisdom. From knowledge and wisdom, knowledge is all the information that we acquire from outside. Wisdom is the thing that is within us in the form of our brain and with the help of which we process the information available to us. It is our wisdom by which we decide, what is right and what is wrong, what to act upon, and what to discard. Now the question is:

Is it possible for the man to acquire these two qualities of knowledge and wisdom by himself? Is there a way for the man to have any control in this regard?

This is the next lock we are trying to find the key.

Without any long introductive statement let’s find the key to this lock from the Qur’an.

The beauty of the Lord’s speech:

All of these verses are from chapter Yunus and they beautifully answer our important question in sequence. And this is the beauty of the Qur’an that all the letters of the password are arranged in the same sequence as we need them. This is a sign of the Qur’an being the words of our Lord. The words of the password are highlighted in the following verse so that the reader can find the key to the lock.

(1) And those who call upon others besides Allah, they do not follow (anything else) but only assumptions. And they only race speculative horses.
  (Chapter Yunus, part of verse 66)

(2) It is He (Allah) who has made the night for you, that you may find peace in it, and made the day bright (giving sight). Indeed, in it are great signs for those who listen.
(Chapter Yunus, verse 67)

(3) They said that Allah has taken a son. Exalted is He; He is the (one) free of need. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. You have no proof of this (polytheism) Do you say things about Allah that you do not know?
 (Chapter Yunus, verse 68)

(4) Say: Undoubtedly, those who lie about Allah will not prosper.
 (Chapter Yunus, verse 69)

(5) Then We sent many messengers after Noah to their (own) people, so they brought them clear proofs, but still, they did not believe in (guidance) what they had denied before. Similarly, We seal the hearts of transgressors.
   (Chapter Yunus, verse 75)

Verse 1

(1) And those who call upon others besides Allah, they do not follow (anything else) but only assumptions. And they only race speculative horses.
                                                                
   (Chapter Yunus, part of verse 66)

The Demand of the Wisdom:

The first thing that Allah SWT has told for those who are at a complete loss, what are they actually doing is: “They do not follow (anything else) but only assumptions.” It means that they do have the knowledge and the wisdom. And the demand of this wisdom is, that they should use logic and the right thing should be endorsed. But Allah SWT has said in this verse that they do not practice this. Rather they only follow their assumptions. An assumption that is neither supported by evidence nor an argument. It is only an imagination that they follow with all their heart and mind without any investigation.

As a result, questions arise from the imagination and those people continue to create more imaginative beliefs one after another, which have nothing to do with reality or argument. It indicates that they do have the knowledge and wisdom but they don’t use it and reject all signs. But we need proof, not an indication.

Verse 2

(2) It is He (Allah) who has made the night for you, that you may find peace in it, and made the day bright (giving sight). Indeed, in it are great signs for those who listen.

(Chapter Yunus, verse 67)

Knowledge beyond words and sounds:

The proof that knowledge and wisdom both exist, is provided very eloquently in the next verse.

In this small and apparently simple verse, Allah SWT has clarified that knowledge and wisdom are given by Allah. Day and night are those great signs (knowledge) that even the animals recognize. Even a child knows that if there is light, its day, and if there is darkness it’s night. Is there any human on earth who cannot recognize this difference? Certainly not!

Even those who are mentally challenged can recognize these signs. The people who are blind, deaf, or dumb have the ability to recognize the day and night. And have the capacity to ponder upon it.

This means thereby every human on earth, by birth has the capacity to recognize the passage of time and can ponder over the automatic change of the day and night. Who is running such an organized system with so much precision that nothing is being missed?

This knowledge (signs and logic) has already been provided by Allah SWT in open and clear form and is always present around us. Sun, moon, stars, sky, earth, light, and darkness are the things that we can mention in relation to day and night. To be able to learn from these signs all we have to do is, to open our eyes and no more.

Expansion with age is also one of His blessings:

As one ages, the expanse of the blessing of knowledge and wisdom also increases. The man becomes more capable of seeing all kinds of visible and hidden signs. And it is only possible with age according to Allah’s will and His orders. That He may teach whomever He wants.

Only the seekers of the truth benefit:

In this verse, Allah SWT has drawn our attention to the same point that was indicated in the last article. All the knowledge and wisdom benefit only those who listen. Meaning thereby only those who want to know actually listen. Those who have the desire in their hearts to seek the truth. Those are the people who ponder upon these clear signs and evidence with wisdom. Following ideas and running horses of speculation is not their way.

Our knowledge and intellect are limited:

Another important point that is already agreed upon, however, needs reminder is that we as humans are limited. We cannot increase or decrease our knowledge or wisdom with our own will, and neither can we escape the grip of time.

We can’t give a child the knowledge and comprehension of a forty-year-old. Or we cannot acquire for ourselves what Allah SWT has provided someone else in terms of intelligence, thoughts, and understanding? Is it possible for us to free a mentally challenged person from the limitations of brains that Allah has kept him in?

We also know that He can take away from us these faculties whenever He decides. We cannot do anything about it. Good and sane people become mentally ill due to any accident. Despite all our efforts, we cannot transfer our thoughts and understanding to those people.

Many of us who have reached old age, who were thought to be very wise and intelligent in their youth, are slowly losing it. Neither that person himself nor those around him have the potential to stop this change. As Allah SWT has mentioned in this verse:

It is Allah who created you all, then He will take you to death. Among you there are those who are brought back to the worst (old) age, so that even though they know a lot, they know nothing. Indeed, Allah is All-Wise and All-Powerful

(Al-Nakhal chapter 16, verse 70)

The ability to jump:

All the knowledge (signs, evidence, and science) already exists. Everything has been created by Allah SWT. We have no control over it. Intellect is our potential which has been granted to us by Him and we have no control over our own brains. It’s only His will for whomever he wants, to open up the gates of whatever knowledge he wants. Only Allah knows the birthplace of every person and only He knows what they are going to learn. We cannot know everything and cannot transcend these boundaries as Allah SWT describes in this verse:

O group of jinn and mankind! If you have the strength to escape from the edges of the heavens and the earth, then run away! You cannot get out without dominance and power.

       (Chapter Al-Rehman, verse 33)

The man going to the moon is just like him jumping with his legs, because he has the ability to jump, but shortly lands back on earth.

Verse 3

(3)	They said that Allah has taken a son. Exalted is He; He is the (one) free of need. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. You have no proof of this (polytheism) Do you say things about Allah that you do not know?
                                                                      
    (Chapter Yunus, verse 68)

Assumptions in the air:

So we have come to the understanding that arguments and open signs are present all around us. Which confirms the oneness of Allah. Undoubtedly the system made by Allah is unique and extremely well organized. Now the people who present assumptions as truth and make partners with Allah, do they have any sound foundation or reason for their assumptions?

Is there anything present in the earth and heaven that indicates any conflict in the system? Have we ever seen one place governed by one GOD and another place by another with opposite or different nature? Are there any signs that show that there is more than one God? Is there even a single such sign or evidence? Certainly not! This is exactly what Allah SWT has elaborated in this verse.

“You have no proof of this (polytheism)”

Thereby those people saying such things about Allah, themselves are not aware of it, there are absolutely no signs or evidence that defy the oneness of Allah.

Conclusion:

At the beginning of this article, five verses of Surah Yunus were presented. The first three of these verses were elaborated in this article. And the following statement has become very clear to us that

“The man has no control over acquiring knowledge and wisdom”

Both of these things are the blessings of Allah and are distributed as He wills.

End:

After reading these three verses the question arises:

• Everyone has the basic intellect, and clear knowledge in the form of huge signs is also available, then why is it that they are not following this knowledge and intellect? Where is it going wrong?

• This world and all its accessories which have been created by Allah SWT are huge signs for us. Are these open signs enough for the complete guidance of mankind?

In the next article with these questions, we will elaborate on the remaining two verses of Surah Yunus to find out whether the man has any slightest control or authority over acquiring knowledge and wisdom. And will take it to a final conclusion. In sha Allah!