"Al-Hikmah Al-Mu'tabarah: The Sacred Convergence of Revelation and Reason"
"As the Quran's luminous pages unfold, moral certainty and epistemic clarity converge, illuminating the path to righteousness. Conversely, Hadith's practical wisdom, tempered by probabilistic scrutiny, serves as a beacon of guidance, navigating the complexities of human experience. In this harmonious dichotomy, Islam's twin pillars of revelation and prophetic tradition stand as testaments to the profound synergy of faith and reason."
-Whalid Safodien
The Feather Pen
"Unveiling the Sacred Convergence: Reflections on the Harmony of Faith and Reason"
March 31, 2025
As I sit in contemplative silence, reflecting on the profound wisdom of the Quran and Hadith, I am reminded of the sacred convergence that underlies the Islamic tradition. The phrase "Al-Hikmah Al-Mu'tabarah: The Sacred Convergence of Revelation and Reason" resonates deeply within my soul.
As I ponder the Quran's luminous pages, I am struck by the moral certainty and epistemic clarity that emanate from its verses. The Quran's teachings illuminate the path to righteousness, guiding me toward the divine. In this moment, I am filled with a sense of awe and reverence for the sacred scripture.
Conversely, as I delve into the Hadith, I am struck by the practical wisdom that flows from the Prophet's teachings. The Hadith's guidance, tempered by probabilistic scrutiny, serves as a beacon of light, navigating the complexities of human experience. I am humbled by the realization that the Hadith's wisdom is not absolute, but rather subject to the limitations of human understanding.
And yet, in this harmonious dichotomy, I find solace in the profound synergy of faith and reason. Islam's twin pillars of revelation and prophetic tradition stand as testaments to the divine wisdom that underlies the universe. In this sacred convergence, I find peace, guidance, and wisdom.
-Whalid Safodien
The Feather Pen
"Illuminating
Unity: The Quran's Supreme Wisdom in Uniting the Ummah through Divine
Astronomy"
Introduction:
The Conflict Between
Two Certainties
In Islam, we are
faced with two forms of certainty:
1. Moral Certainty (Quranic Revelation) – The absolute,
unchanging word of Allah, perfect in wisdom and guidance.
2. Practical Certainty (Hadith Narrations) – The recorded
sayings and actions of the Prophet (ﷺ),
subject to interpretation, context, and authenticity.
The question we must
ask is: Which of these two certainties leads to unity among Muslims?
The Quran provides a clear, universal framework, while
Hadith—though invaluable—can sometimes be misinterpreted or applied rigidly in
ways that contradict the Quran’s higher moral and intellectual principles. When
there is a conflict, the Quran must prevail, for it is the ultimate criterion
(Furqan).
1. The Quran’s Supreme
Authority: Surah Al-Rahman (55:5-6) – The Astronomical Order
Arabic:
ٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ
بِحُسْبَانٍۢ
وَٱلنَّجْمُ وَٱلشَّجَرُ
يَسْجُدَانِ
Translation:
"The sun and the moon [move] by precise
calculation,
And the stars and trees prostrate [to Allah]."
Expansion:
- Allah establishes that celestial bodies operate on a
*mathematically precise system* (حسبان).
- The Quran does not command Muslims to *see* the Hilal
(crescent) with the naked eye but emphasises *calculation* (حسبان).
- Moral certainty lies in accepting Allah’s signs in
astronomy, not in human-dependent sightings that lead to division.
- The Quran’s universality means its principles transcend
time—astronomical calculation was always the intended method, but early Muslims
relied on sight due to limited technology.
2. The Call to Unity:
Surah Al-Imran (3:103) – Holding Firm to the Rope of Allah
Arabic:
وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ
ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًۭا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟
Translation:
"And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and
do not become divided."
Expansion:
- The "rope of Allah" is the Quran—the unifying
force.
- Disunity arises when Muslims prioritise secondary texts
(Hadith) over the Quran’s clear guidance.
- The *Hilal debate* is a prime example:
- Some insist on
*physical sighting*, leading to different Eid and Ramadan dates.
- Others follow astronomical
calculation, ensuring global unity.
- Which approach aligns with the Quran’s call for unity? Calculation
does, as it removes human error and subjectivity.
3. Why Moral Certainty Overrides Practical Certainty
A. The Quran is the Ultimate Criterion
(Al-Furqan 25:1)*
"Arabic"
تَبَارَكَ
ٱلَّذِى نَزَّلَ ٱلْفُرْقَانَ عَلَىٰ
عَبْدِهِۦ لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَـٰلَمِينَ نَذِيرًا
- "Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion (Quran)
upon His Servant that he may be to the worlds a warner."
- *Hadith must never contradict the Quran.* If a Hadith
causes division where the Quran offers clarity, the Quran takes
precedence.
B. The Prophet (ﷺ) Followed the
Quran, Not Vice Versa
- The Prophet (ﷺ)
said: "I have left among you two things; you will never go astray as long
as you hold fast to them: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah." (Malik’s
Muwatta)
- But the Sunnah is
valid only when it aligns with the Quran.*
- Hadith on
moon-sighting were *practical solutions for an illiterate society*, not eternal
commands.
C. Allah’s Signs Are for Those with Knowledge
(Quran 10:5-6)
"It is He who
made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light and determined for it
phases—that you may know the number of years and account [of
time]..."
"Arabic"
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ ٱلشَّمْسَ
ضِيَآءً وَٱلْقَمَرَ نُورًا وَقَدَّرَهُۥ مَنَازِلَ
لِتَعْلَمُوا۟ عَدَدَ ٱلسِّنِينَ وَٱلْحِسَابَ
ۚ مَا خَلَقَ
ٱللَّهُ ذَٰلِكَ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ
ۚ يُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ
لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
إِنَّ فِى ٱخْتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ
وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ
فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَّقُونَ
for, verily, in the alternating of night and day, and in all
that God has created in the heavens and on earth there are messages indeed for
people who are conscious of Him!
- Allah invites us to study astronomy*—why reject this
divine gift?
- Scholars who insist on naked-eye sighting ignore
21st-century knowledge*, effectively rejecting Allah’s signs.
4. The Astronomical Calendar: A Divine Gift for This Era
- The Quran is timeless—its principles adapt to human
advancement.
- Past: People relied on sighting (due to lack of
telescopes).
- Present: We have exact calculations—why reject them?
- Future: Space travel will make earth-based sightings
obsolete—will Islam then be "outdated"? No, because the Quran already
endorsed calculation.
The Solution: A Unified Global Islamic
Calendar
- Based on astronomical birth of the new moon (conjunction).
- Eliminates confusion, unites Muslims under one Eid and
Ramadan.
- Follows the Quran’s moral certainty, not Hadith’s
practical limitations.
Conclusion:
Returning to the
Quran’s Supreme Wisdom
Allah says:
"We have
explained everything in detail in this Quran." (17:12)
وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلَّيْلَ
وَٱلنَّهَارَ ءَايَتَيْنِ ۖ فَمَحَوْنَآ ءَايَةَ
ٱلَّيْلِ وَجَعَلْنَآ ءَايَةَ ٱلنَّهَارِ مُبْصِرَةً
لِّتَبْتَغُوا۟ فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ
وَلِتَعْلَمُوا۟ عَدَدَ ٱلسِّنِينَ وَٱلْحِسَابَ
ۚ وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ
فَصَّلْنَـٰهُ تَفْصِيلًا
The Quran "is" the explanation of all
things—including timekeeping. Those who reject astronomical certainty in favour
of human-dependent sightings are prioritising tradition over divine wisdom.
Let us unite under the Quran’s moral certainty. Let us
embrace Allah’s signs in the heavens. Let us abandon division and return to the
universal, timeless, and unifying guidance of the Quran.
The Prayer:
"Our Lord (Rabb), unite our hearts, guide us to Your
straight path, and grant us the wisdom to uphold Your Book above all else.
-Whalid Safodien
The Feather Pen
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Author / Philosopher
Astronomer
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