THE CONCEPT OF THE QURAN (PART 2)

 

IDEA

In terms of terminology, an idea refers to an intellectual activity that in Arabic can be equated with the word فكر (fikr). The word, derived from the root fa-ka-ra, refers to the basic meaning of intellectual activity revolving around something or refers to the meaning of releasing/allowing things to pass and turning some parts of one thing into another.

Practically, this meaning exists in the cycle of consciousness that begins with Encounter - Touch - Feeling - Experience - Knowledge - Understanding - Awareness, and it continues back to the next Encounter, endlessly.

Thus, an idea is always preceded by a concept, and a concept always comes from a previous concept, culminating in the Eternal Concept or Qadim Abadi outside human consciousness. This concept outside human consciousness is often referred to as the Initial Idea of God or Divine Consciousness. This is the limit we can reach—there is no knowledge beyond the Eternal Concept or Qadim Abadi.

The term Qadim Abadi, in this ancient aspect, can be understood through the verse :

وَٱلۡقَمَرَ قَدَّرۡنَٰهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّىٰ عَادَ كَٱلۡعُرۡجُونِ ٱلۡقَدِيمِ

"And the moon, We have determined for it phases, until it returns like the old, curved palm branch." (Yasin:39).

This verse is one of the arguments showing the existence of an endless cycle, just like the cycle within an idea that generates continuous awareness.

To ensure that intellectual work on an idea does not deviate from the corridor of Divine Consciousness, Allah has set conditions, as stated in His words:

وَلِيَعۡلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهِۦ فَتُخۡبِتَ لَهُۥ قُلُوبُهُمۡۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ

"And that those who have been given knowledge may know that it is the truth from your Lord, and that they may believe in it and humble their brain/intelectuality to it. And indeed, Allah is the Guide for those who have believed to the straight path." (QS al-Hajj:54)

In simple terms, whatever "PEOPLE SAY" must be subordinated to what "GOD SAYS," even if it is a valid Hadith, because it still falls under "PEOPLE SAY."

As a reflection :

"Every "PEOPLE'S WORD" that is not subordinated to the Qur'an as the "WORD OF GOD" will inevitably lead to issues that are ambiguous."

(Abu Musa)