Obstacles to Clear Thinking According to the Qur’an

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Obstacles to Clear Thinking According to the Qur’an

Blind Following: Inherited beliefs and practices leading to negative thought patterns may affect people’s way of reasoning to such an extent that it becomes difficult to accept the truth and reject falsehood. It may prevent them from using their intellect altogether on the pretext of having been raised with specific thoughts, beliefs and practices. The Qur’an (2: 170) bluntly says about those who seek the truth, but blind traditions prevent them from following: “When it is said to them, ‘Follow that which God has sent down,’ they say, ‘Nay, we follow the ways of our fathers.’ What! Though their fathers were utterly ignorant and devoid of guidance?”

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Following whims and desires: A person may know the truth but may not rouse the courage to follow it due to following his whims and desires. The Qur’an (7: 175 176) gives us the example of a man who was given a great deal of knowledge; however, instead of acting on this knowledge and living by its dictates, he willingly gave it up in an effort to follow his vain desires and immediate interests. He indulged so immensely in his whims and desires that he could no longer make the right decisions.

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Stubbornness and arrogance: A A person may be convinced of the truth but may refuse to accept it in order to safeguard his interests, out of jealousy or as a result of disparaging the source from which it comes. As the Qur’an (27: 14) states, “They denied those signs out of iniquity and arrogance although their hearts were convinced of their truth …”

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