The verses of the Holy Quran, our guide to guidance, mention the existence of certain mindsets that are not sensitive to time and place, and that it is right to treat people according to the mindset they belong to. These verses classify people into four groups in terms of character: believers, hypocrites, polytheists, and disbelievers. All people who will be judged, regardless of time, place, and lifestyle, will undoubtedly fall into one of these categories. For this reason, by examining the life of a hypocrite who lived during the Age of Bliss independently of time, environment, and culture, we can determine the hypocrisy of a person living today through comparison. In other words, a person’s doctrinal status is not sensitive to time and place. For this reason, in this section, with the aim of revealing the gravity of the situation we are currently in, we will attempt to compare the beliefs of people who lived in ancient times with the beliefs that continue to exist today.

While explaining these two branches on a specific topic, we will also try to convey the warnings, precautions, and solutions brought by Islam for informational purposes. At the same time, this work serves as evidence of how people who continue to live without guidance in their environment, despite the passage of time, have become ignorant. Because as long as we continue to assign value to time and position people according to their circumstances, the message that should be taken will never be fully understood.

The event described in the Holy Quran serves as a warning and advice for those who obey. Those who try to build their fantasy worlds by imagining themselves in the place of the leading actors in the movies they watch should recover from this illness as soon as possible and strive to live like the characters described in the Holy Quran who will receive rewards, not punishment. To clarify this and similar approaches, we will address several key issues in three stages: in the Jahiliyyah, in Islam, and in the present day.

Jahiliyyah is derived from the Arabic word “jahila,” meaning “ignorance.” It refers to the religious, social, and political movements in the city-state of Mecca prior to Islam that were contrary to the teachings of Islam. Given this meaning, one might think that the Jahiliyyah period is completely consigned to history, but looking at its usage, it becomes clear that what is actually meant is not so much a historical phenomenon as the emergence of misguided practices in the name of religion and a distinctly irreligious way of life. Despite the clear boundaries, those who live according to this belief support the belief of ignorance. In other words, what is really emphasized is not the data of history, but the seriousness of entering into the life of the mentality that accepts that data as correct.

Ignorant life is not entirely related to cultural and social ignorance, as conditions can change depending on the environment and time. For example, in ancient times, those who could not read or write were considered ignorant. Today, however, there are many ignorant people who can read and write. Therefore, attributing the meaning of “ignorance” does not fully express the mentality of Jahiliyyah . When we look at the Qur’an, our guide, we understand how rich the word jahiliyyah is in meaning: When the Prophet called you from behind, you ran away without looking back, so that you would not grieve over what you had lost or what had befallen you, Allah afflicted you with sorrow upon sorrow. Undoubtedly, Allah is aware of what you do. Then, after that sorrow, Allah sent down a feeling of security, a drowsiness, upon you, enveloping a group among you. Another group became preoccupied with their own concerns. They harbored thoughts contrary to the truth, reflecting a pre-Islamic mindset about Allah, saying, “Do we have any role in this?” Say to them, “No, this is entirely Allah’s affair.“

Upon careful examination of the verse, it is understood that there was a group among those who pledged allegiance to the Prophet who held a pre-Islamic mindset about Allah (swt). This means that even if there was a Prophet among them and they believed in him, it was still possible for people to live in a way that harbored a pre-Islamic mindset. In another noble verse, Allah (swt) states:

Or do they desire the system of ignorance? Can anything be better than Allah’s system, His decree, for those who are certain in faith?[387]

 This verse informs us that those who desire the system of ignorance are not only non-Muslims, but rather there is a group of believers, apart from those with firm faith, who think that this system is better than the system and judgments established by Allah. Undoubtedly, the most prominent feature of the belief of ignorance is polytheism. Since a person must say, “I believe in Allah” in order to be capable of polytheism, this commonly seen belief itself informs us that the belief of ignorance is a virus that can exist within the sphere of faith. In summary, ignorance refers to all actions that are contrary to the religion of Islam. Anything that contradicts the commands of Allah and His Messenger is ignorance and therefore non-Islamic.

For this reason, we will examine issues one by one, starting with the lives of those who claim to be “Muslims” today, with the aim of identifying the presence of this virus using evidence brought from the time of ignorance. By adding the rules brought by Islam, we will be able to compare our lives.

WOMEN

Pre-Islamic Age of Ignorance: In the era of Jahiliyya, women were oppressed. This oppression took different forms depending on the position of the women. Women who were considered superior in terms of wealth and lineage were deceived with the claim that they were granted certain rights, while other women were oppressed by being subjected to all kinds of injustice and hardship without being valued.

The best example of avoiding the traps set for them is that of Lady Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her). Lady Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her), who had the honor of being the first person to accept the invitation, was involved in trade during the time of ignorance. Since our Prophet (peace be upon him) did not have enough capital to engage in trade ( ), Lady Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) hired him for a fee. This was because Lady Khadija, due to the unsafe and dangerous environment, was struggling to conduct trade by entrusting her goods to a reliable person, and our Prophet was the most trustworthy person in Mecca.  Due to this concern, she made the following offer to the Prophet for the journey to Damascus: “I know that you are truthful, extremely trustworthy, and of good character. I will pay you several times the wage I have never paid anyone else from your tribe.” The Prophet accepted this offer.  Goods would be transported from Mecca by camel to be sold at the market in Damascus, and goods would be purchased there and brought back to Mecca. In return for this trade, Lady Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) would give four young and strong male camels.

The fact that both parties had conducted reliable trade also led to their marriage. The fact that our Prophet was paid more than usual for this trade due to his reliability reveals that the time was full of traps such as distrust, lies, hypocrisy, and deception. Thanks to her intelligence, Khadija (r.a.) did not leave much room for deception in her commercial or social relationships. Women who were not as intelligent as her, however, were deceived by revealing their adornments and being drawn into the pursuit of admiration. The Qur’an describes this situation as follows:

Stay in your homes with dignity (make your homes your headquarters), do not display your adornments like the women of the first ignorance did…[389]

Women, who were not valued in pre-Islamic society, were oppressed in every aspect of life. Women were not valued, their rights and laws were not recognized, and they were treated as objects, even inherited. When a man died and his wife was left a widow, one of the deceased’s heirs would immediately throw his garment over her, and she would become his. He would either marry her without a dowry or marry her off to someone else to gain the right to her dowry, giving her nothing in return. Furthermore, if the woman had an inheritance from her husband, he would prevent her from marrying in order to take it from her. Regarding these events, the verse states: O believers! It is not lawful for you to force women to inherit. We will discuss examples such as burying women alive because they were a source of shame as young girls, depriving them of inheritance, invalidating their testimony, depriving them of certain foods because they were women, using them as slaves, viewing them as sexual objects, and subjecting them to violence in the relevant sections.

ISLAM: In his Farewell Sermon, which serves as a charter of human rights, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated the necessity of protecting women and the rights they should possess as follows: “O people! Fear Allah regarding women! For you have taken them only as a trust from Allah. And make marriage lawful for them with the word of Allah, His command, and His permission. O people! There is no doubt that you have rights over your women! They also have rights over you! Your rights over them are that they should not allow anyone else to step on your bed, that they should not commit adultery, and that they should not allow anyone you dislike into your homes without your permission. Their rights over you are to provide them with all their food and clothing in a manner befitting ([392])and in accordance with ([393]) the customs and traditions of the country .I advise you to be kind to women. For they are weak beside you, they are a trust. They possess nothing for themselves.“[394]

Nowadays: Women have never been able to fully accept their nature due to ignorance. Even today, traps are set for women who are superior in wealth and lineage, and those in other segments are oppressed without regard for their rights. These traps, set with the aim of deceiving women who are superior in terms of wealth and lineage, have slogans such as “freedom,” “equality,” and “women’s rights.” The mentality that perceives not living under marriage as freedom, sharing one’s responsibilities with men as equality, and taking on duties in every field of work without exception as women’s rights is becoming widespread. The consequences of this constantly return to women as problems. A life lived without marriage usually ends (depending on the man’s conscience) with the woman being used for a certain period of time and then, as is commonly said, “thrown away like a handkerchief,” and this fate has taken on a more modern appearance over the centuries. There are hundreds of examples of this today. Even though she is capable of doing the best and most beautiful things herself, the result of a woman considering sharing certain hardships with her husband as equality is, at best, the man becoming disenchanted with home life; at worst, divorce due to severe incompatibility. The clearest evidence of this is that today, courts set divorce dates months in advance. Taking on jobs that are not suited to her nature also constantly dulls a woman’s generosity in compassion and mercy. This dullness is quickly reflected in children, who are the barometer of social harmony. The vast majority of women who unknowingly encounter physical and psychological problems due to the burden of their profession raise their children far from compassion and mercy. This, in turn, emerges as an active factor in the increase of theft, robbery, murder, and rape in society. Do not conclude from these statements that we should not give women their rights or prevent them from having freedom and equal rights. On the contrary, women—whether they are fathers or spouses—are entrusted to men. Our aim is only to report the consequences caused by these traps. Women cannot be happy unless they live a life in accordance with their nature. Even if they call it a right, what they do is merely seeking pleasure. It should be known that unless Islam is made livable in life, women cannot get their rights in life either.

Women who are not valued in society are exposed to violence and are seen as sexual objects. Unfortunately, they suffer this oppression even from those who claim to be Muslims and should set an example for society. In this sense, Muslims are divided into two groups: those who know the rights Islam gives to women and those who do not. Those who oppress women unknowingly impose rules that limit a woman’s life to a few square meters, like a semi-open prison. Those who know the rights Islam grants to women but conceal them for their own interests do not devote half the time they spend on those who are not concerned with religion to their own wives, nor do they make any effort to raise their awareness. Such people are scholars outside the home but tyrants within it. They share a pillow for twenty years, but never once explain to their wives the message of religion or the importance of obedience to the Creator. In the context of the verse, ” Only those who know fear Allah([395]),” these women, deprived of the necessary information, do not fear Allah. The lack of information that would protect them leads them to spend an average of six hours a day on useless activities such as watching television and gossiping. This amounts to an average of ¼ of a person’s life, which is a waste that cannot be compared to any other loss. The Holy Quran informs us of the necessity of raising awareness within the family as follows.

Allah (swt) says:

O believers! Protect yourselves and your families from the fire whose fuel is men and stones. At its head are angels who are strong and severe, who do not disobey Allah’s command and do what they are commanded. 

Regarding this verse, Hz. Ali (r.a.) said: “A person protects his family from the fire of Hell by educating and raising them.” Abdullah b. Abbas said, “A person protects himself and his family from the torment of Hell by obeying Allah, avoiding disobedience to Him, and commanding his family to remember Allah.”([397])

The fact that Muslims consciously or unconsciously continue their family life in this manner causes unbelievers to cite these ignorant people as examples, arguing that this is the reason for the backwardness of religious communities in world societies. The fundamental reason for the denial of women’s rights, as I mentioned earlier, is the failure to make Islam a lived reality. We gave these examples because we oppose Islam being criticized due to the ignorant. Their flawed lives do not, God forbid, indicate that Islam is an incomplete teaching. Conversely, we also pointed out that instead of Muslims setting an example of justice, they provide material for the disbelievers, hoping that we may be a means for some to strive to escape their heedless lives. There are some restrictive behaviors imposed on women in Islam. This is a constant topic of discussion. It is clear that the vast majority of the issues discussed are not approached with good intentions. Nevertheless, let us briefly address the issues for the minority who wish to learn. First, let us clearly define what a woman is. Who is a woman? A woman is the female of the human species, the spouse of a man, and one who has reached adulthood. When the issue is addressed without overlooking these three stages, the reasons for the oppression of women throughout history and the commands of Islam for women will become clear.

A woman is the female of the human species… She is not the same as a man in terms of creation. Due to this difference, certain protective measures are necessary to prevent women from falling into an asocial position. Since their biological and physical differences trigger the desires of the opposite sex, there must be certain rules to be observed for women to live safely in society. This is because a man’s pleasure from a woman can be achieved through seeing her, touching her, or talking to her. The arousal caused by these reasons leads to lust when the desires overcome the mind. Although these situations do not constantly trigger the man , there should be sufficient sanctions to ensure that women can move peacefully within society and not be accepted as sexual objects. For this reason, women are commanded to dress in a way that does not attract attention, to cover certain areas in a way that does not arouse lust, and to pay attention to the way they speak. All these commands are for the peace of women in society. Nevertheless, those who believe they can ensure their own safety can live as they wish. Provided that they see themselves as responsible for any incidents that occur afterwards… After such incidents, the man is absolutely guilty, but by living this way, the woman is also an instigator. This is like saying, “The bull cannot interfere with my wearing red,” even though it is known that bulls are sensitive to red. Even though it is known that red is the color that triggers the bull, acting with the understanding that “I dress the way I want” will also eliminate the right to interfere with the bull.

Women are the partners of men… Women have emotional attachments due to their fertility. For this reason, women approach every formation and outcome in the world emotionally. Compared to men, they are weaker and need protection. Islam wants women to be treated with the care that pearls deserve, so it gives the responsibility for women to their parents until they marry and to their husbands after they marry. Pearls are protected inside their shells because they are very valuable, and it is because they are protected that they are considered valuable. Islam values women like pearls. The Holy Quran states that women are valuable and should cover themselves; it is because they cover themselves that they are considered worthy of value, as stated in the following verse.

ALLAH (swt) says:

They are your coverings, and you are their coverings. 

The pearl lives in its shell to preserve its value. This leads to it not having much knowledge about the outside world. Similarly, the Islamic religion does not accept women’s testimony alone in certain matters, due to the possibility of women misrepresenting justice, stemming from their emotional perspective on events and their lack of knowledge about their surroundings compared to men. The non-acceptance of a woman’s testimony alone does not apply in all areas. In the Hanafi school of thought, the mujtahids accepted as imameyn accept a woman’s testimony alone in places where men cannot see or look, provided that she is fair.

A woman is one who has reached adulthood… Due to her growth in different areas of society and her fertility, a woman acts with a different perspective and displays different approaches from men. This difference causes both sexes to look at the same subject from separate windows. With this perspective, managing relationships is only possible if the man values the woman and the woman obeys her man. Islam also considers this appropriate. A man who does not trust a woman is an unreliable life for her. Over time, this distrust causes some paranoia([401])  to develop in women.

The difference in a woman’s life and development is often manifested in her defending views that are contrary to those of men. The actions are the same, but the intentions behind them differ. For example, a woman wants to talk to prevent a fight. A man starts talking when he wants to fight. A woman wants her feelings to be understood and to hear that she is loved. A man hates having his feelings understood and repeating that sentence. A woman looks for meaningful words from the lips, not a life devoted to her. A man, rather than saying those words, puts meaning into the color of the flowers he gives as a gift. When a woman says “go,” she actually wants the man to stay, not leave. When a man says “go,” he really means for the woman to leave. A woman grows up with anxiety about the future and marries to end that anxiety. The man, however, only begins to feel these anxieties once he is married. It is possible to give examples like this from every area of life. After various changes in life, the continuity of relationships is only possible with the value and obedience we give. Often, even looking through the same window can be a cause for separation. For this reason, everyone must act in accordance with their nature.

MAN

Pre-Islamic Age of Ignorance:   In Cahiliyye, the father or the oldest male descendant of the father had absolute authority in the management of the state or family. The mother’s side was considered foreign and not accepted as relatives. Women had no right to intervene in any matter or express their opinion on any issue. Men could marry as many women as they wanted; there was no limit to this. Despite not being valued in their environment, women strove to look beautiful and attractive, behaving seductively towards the men they loved. Among men, bloodshed was considered a sign of skill. Men claimed to live for honor and dignity([402]), but sought to prove this in other areas. They drank alcohol, worshipped idols, gambled, and practiced usury. Being honorable began with being born a man. For the father, too, this was a situation that would ensure dignity. Power and dignity depended on having many sons. Because one of the accepted practices in the days of ignorance was to boast of having many children. They were fanatical about everything, such as religion, language, race, gender, lineage, ancestry, intellect, etc.([ Their lives consisted of boasting, pride, aggression, adultery, trampling on the rights of the oppressed, drinking alcohol, and gambling. An example of this arrogance can be given as follows: During the Jahiliyyah period, when people came to al-Muharref, a man would climb a mountain and say, “I am so-and-so, son of so-and-so, I did such-and-such, my father did such-and-such, my grandfather did such-and-such,” listing his deeds and boasting about them. 

ISLAM: In response to this boasting, Allah (swt) revealed the following verse: When you have finished the pilgrimage rites, remember Allah as you remember your fathers, or even more fervently. Some people say, “O our Lord, give us beauty in this world.“ Such people will have no share in the Hereafter. ()When thisverse was revealed, the Prophet (s.a.v.) said: O people! Allah has now forbidden this arrogance and pride, this boasting about your fathers. For we are all children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay. Indeed, Allah says: O mankind, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. The most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. ([406])

Regarding fanaticism,

Then the disbelievers instilled in their hearts the fierce protection of their lineage, that ignorance-based fanaticism. [407]

Regarding arrogance,

“Do not turn your cheek away from people in arrogance, nor walk the earth proudly. For Allah does not love those who are arrogant and boastful.”[408]

Regarding honor and dignity,

Let those who seek honor and dignity know that all honor and dignity belong to Allah. [409]

Regarding boasting about abundance,

The race to multiply wealth and children has distracted you. Finally, you visited the graves. No, you will soon know. No, you will soon know. No, if you knew the truth with certain knowledge, you would surely see Hell. By Allah, you will see it with your own eyes. Then, on that Day, you will be questioned about every blessing you were given. 

Nowadays: Unfortunately, the same situations are observed today. The preservation of customs over religious beliefs, or the selection and application of religious beliefs that are compatible with customs, is observed in every society. The fundamental reason for all these customs of ignorance is that people place their dignity and honor in places other than Allah (swt). The Holy Quran explains this situation as follows.

ALLAH (swt) says:

They take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers. Do they seek strength and honor with them? Indeed, all strength and honor belong to Allah. [411]

Undoubtedly, honor and dignity belong solely to Allah (swt). Furthermore, no human being whose measure is not Islam can claim to be honorable, beyond proof. For honor belongs to the immortal. The immortal One who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living… For this reason, those who possess ideas (!) that cannot comprehend His power and immortality are exempt from this honor. A person who derives their values from the source of honor becomes strong, lives with dignity, and is superior. Their deficiency stems from a lack of values. This is also why these people abandon believers and befriend disbelievers. These people follow those who are unaware that they will die ( ), those who live a single-worldly life without thinking of the immortal, those who have temporary power, those who have donned respectable positions, and those who claim superiority based on what they possess. However, the very first articles of the covenant of faith state that honor and dignity must be surrendered to the Creator even before action is taken. It is stated in the words of Allah (swt), who is the owner of honor and dignity, that only those who give power, superiority, and honor to Him, the Messenger, and the believers are honorable.

ALLAH (c.c.) says:

They say, “By Allah, if we return to Medina, the honorable will surely be brought low.” Honor belongs only to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. But the hypocrites do not know this. 

Power lies in the knowledge of what Allah has sent…

Honor is built upon establishing our rejections and acceptances on the values of faith…

Superiority is attained through loyalty to beliefs.

The reality of life that begins with saying “I am a Muslim”[413] , when people are content with merely saying what they believe and push the practices of their faith outside of their lives, resulting in mere words, who today is honorable and noble?

Those who are scholars but do not give zakat on their knowledge, or those who have wealth but do not give zakat on their earnings?

Those who, despite having wealth, do not spend on their relatives?

Those who, despite having a wide circle of acquaintances, do not support one another?

Or those who claim to be Muslim yet lack knowledge of Allah’s words?

Who are those who possess honor and dignity…

Yes, Muslims are honorable. Those who believe in Allah, are with Allah, believe in the Prophet, and stand with the Prophet are noble, superior, and victorious. Those who seek honor and dignity anywhere other than from Allah, from serving Allah, and from being with Allah are dishonorable and disgraceful people. Those who see honor and dignity in wealth, position, money, cars, and economic and political power realize this themselves the moment they lose these things. Because they derive their value from them. However, if they had derived their value from the eternal, neither what they gained nor what they lost would affect them. The case of Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him) before he embraced faith is a clear example of this. When asked, “Are you running away from battle? Where is your honor?” because he did not participate in the Battle of Badr and fled with his caravan, he replied, “My honor is riding on the camels.” This strikingly shows where a person who does not worship Allah seeks dignity and honor. The author of the book Hayatü’s Sahabe recounts what the same Abu Sufyan did when he was honored with Islam as follows : Abu Sufyan bin Harith says, “Until we reached Juhfa, neither the Messenger of Allah nor any of the Muslims spoke to me. At every stop, I stood at the door of the Messenger of Allah, and my son Ja’far stood beside me. Whenever the Messenger of Allah saw me, he turned his face away from me. When we descended from the Ezahir slope to the Ebtah valley of Mecca, I approached the door of the Messenger of Allah’s tent. He looked at me. This glance was His first gentle look at me. I began to hope that He would smile.” Hz. Ali said (to me), “Approach the Messenger of Allah from behind! Say to him the words that Joseph’s brothers said to Joseph: We swear by Allah that Allah has truly made you superior to us! We were indeed guilty in what we did to you. ([414])  It is impossible to find words more beautiful than these. When Abu Sufyan bin Harith did this, our Prophet recited the verse that informs us of what Prophet Joseph said to his brothers: “Today, there is no blame or reproach upon you! May Allah forgive you. He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.“ ([415])When Abu Sufyan bin Harith heard that the Prophet said, “I need neither of them,” he said, “By Allah, either he will allow me to enter, or we will take my son by the hand and wander the earth until we die of hunger and thirst! You are my relative, and you are the most gentle, kind, generous, and charitable of people.” When the Prophet heard Abu Sufyan’s words, he felt pity for both of them and allowed them to enter his presence. They entered and became Muslims. 

[386]  Surah Ali Imran, verses 153–154

[387]  Surah Al-Ma’idah, Verse 50

[388]  M. Asım Köksal, History of Islam, Şamil Publishing House, Volume 2, pp. 144–145

[389]  Surah Al-Ahzab, Verse 33

[390]  Surah An-Nisa, Verse 19

[391]  Object

[392]  Commonly known

[393]  In terms of, in terms of

[394]  M. Asım Köksal, History of Islam, Şamil Publishing House, 17 volumes, pp. 258–259

[395]  Surah Fatir, Verse 28

[396]  Surah al-Tahrim, Verse 6

[397]  Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tabari’s Exegesis, Hisar Publishing House: 8/357–358

[398]  Non-social

[399]  Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 187

[400]  Imam Abu Yusuf (b. 731- d.798) and Imam Muhammad (b. 749 – d. 805)

[401]  A mental illness characterized by doubt, distrust, and selfishness

[402]  Value, worth, greatness, majesty

[403]  Extreme partisanship

[404]  Ibn Ishaq, Siyar (History of the Prophet) Muhammad Hamidullah, Akabe Publications, p. 151.

[405]  Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 200.

[406]  Surah al-Hujurat, Verse 13

[407]  Surah al-Fath, Verse 26

[408]  Surah Luqman, Verse 18

[409]  Surah Fatir, Verse 10

[410]  Surah Al-Takathur, Verses 1–8

[411]  Surah An-Nisa, Verse 139

[412]  Surah Al-Munafiqun, Verse 8

[413]  Reality

[414]  Surah Yusuf, Verse 91

[415]  Surah Yusuf, Verse 92

[416]  Muhammad Yusuf Kandehlevi, Hayatu’s-Sahabe, Akçağ Publications