purpose. "Allah created the heavens and the earth with Haqq"
(29:44). It is the duty of the faithful, Mumins, therefore, to observe
the truth spread out before their eyes. "Therein is indeed a portent
for believers" (29:44). We are left in no doubt as regards the reality
of the universe. It is not (as believed by Hindus) Rama's Leela, a toy
with which God amuses Himself for a moment, nor is it Brahma's
dream. In either case it would have had no serious purpose and
would have vanished as God woke up or turned to some serious
work. The Qur'an rejects these views as false:
And we created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between
them in play. We created them not save with Haqq (44:38-39).
III. KnowledgeThe Qur'an distinguishes between two kinds of knowledge –
perceptual and conceptual. Through perceptual knowledge we
become aware of and deal with that portion of the physical
environment which happens at the moment to be the centre of our
interest. Through conceptual knowledge we rise above the
particularity of concrete facts and cognise the unities which
underlie the multiplicity of the world. The conceptual framework
we build up is far removed from the rich vivid concrete reality of the
actual world, yet it gives us an insight into the working of the nature
and greater power of control over it. The point to note is that both
kinds of knowledge have their source in the senses. In the Platonic
theory of knowledge, reason can achieve knowledge of the Real
independently of the senses. The Qur'an accords full recognition to
the role of the senses in the “knowing activity.” According to the
Qur'an, the mind (fuaad) gropes for knowledge from the data
provided by the senses.
We see that the Qur’anic view is close to, if not identical with, the
empirical theory of knowledge. The Qur'an exhorts man to use his
senses and observe nature sagaciously. This is the first step in
getting to know nature and its way:
And follow not that whereof thou hast no knowledge. Lo! the hearing
and the sight and the fuaad (heart) – of each of these it will be asked
(17:36).
Those who do not make proper use of their senses and mental
Man and his Environment^286