By: Samsul Nizar
Professor and Head of STAIN Bengkalis
The organs of the eyes, ears, and mouth are considered essential for human beings. Each of these three factors holds significant importance for human beings in the execution of their responsibilities and operations on the planet, both in a vertical and horizontal sense. The human visual system enables the perception of the aesthetic qualities of the cosmos. The auditory system of humans enables the perception of the harmonious vocalizations produced by avian species. The oral cavity serves as a means for human beings to articulate and transmit verbal communication to one another. The proper utilization of all three components results in the manifestation of virtuous behaviour. However, if any of these three organs are utilized inappropriately, it may pose a significant risk and result in catastrophic consequences. The divine admonition of Allah is conveyed through the following statement: “You can never hide from the testimony of your hearing, your sight, and your skin to you” (QS. Fushshilat: 22).
Although humans realise this, they often fail to take care of these three organs and use them properly. Allah reminds us of this through His words: “Allah has locked up their hearts and their hearing, their sight has been closed, and they will have a severe punishment” (QS. al-Baqarah: 7).
According to the interpretation of Jalalain, it has been expounded that Allah has sealed their hearts, thereby preventing any good from entering them. Similarly, their auditory faculties are inhibited, thereby impeding their ability to derive any advantage from the veracity presented to them. In the interim, their visual perception is obstructed, thereby impeding their ability to perceive veracity. Verily, they shall be subjected to a severe and everlasting punishment. The mouth is the only aspect that appears to be open without the accompaniment of the heart, eyes, and ears. Consequently, the oral cavity (and its various iterations) remains unobstructed by any filtration mechanism. In the i’tibar (dimension of learning by example), the three organs (eyes, ears, and mouth), point to the status of humans, namely:
First, the eye; is an organ that should be owned by scientists (scholars) who always use their eyes (physically and mentally) to see the majesty of Allah. All His creations are seen wisely as teaching and knowledge for building civilisation. This is narrated by Allah through His words: “Surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, there are signs (of Allah’s greatness) for those who have understanding” (QS. Ali Imran: 190).
According to Shaykh Ibn Athaillah as-Sakandari’s interpretation in al-Hikam, the verse above suggests that the universe is characterized by darkness, with the only source of illumination being the presence of Allah SWT. If an individual observes nature and fails to perceive the presence of a divine being within or surrounding the natural world, or preceding or succeeding it, it may be inferred that they have been blinded by the radiance and obstructed from the illumination of spiritual knowledge due to the obscuring influence of natural phenomena. The aforementioned interpretation is the one communicated by Shaykh as-Sakandari. Upon utilizing their visual faculties to perceive the magnificence of Allah, scholars will attain veracity. In the event that the eyes cease to serve the purpose of perceiving the divine verses of Allah, the universe would become shrouded in obscurity and erroneous beliefs.
For scientists who see the majesty of Allah (QS. al-Ghasiyah: 17-20), his eyes will make the heart kneel to glorify the greatness of Allah and his mind will find the ultimate truth to build a civilisation that is rahmatan lil ‘aalamiin (good for the universe). This is narrated by Allah through His words: “He is unapproachable by the sight of the eye, but He sees all that is visible; and He is the Most Subtle, the Most Knowing” (QS. al-An’am: 103).
It would be fortuitous if scientists were capable of utilizing their visual faculties to apprehend the magnificence of Allah and ascertain veracity. It would be a significant detriment for an individual to purport themselves as a scientist (ulama) and possess a series of accolades or distinctions, yet lack the ability to diligently observe, discover, and disseminate factual information. From a religious perspective, human existence can be viewed as a continuous endeavour to gain knowledge and understanding of Allah and His Messenger. The ultimate goal of this pursuit is to attain a meeting with Allah and His Messenger, which is believed to be achievable only through the experience of death. These eyes possess the ability to perceive the magnificence of Allah and exhibit reverence towards the Prophet, thereby demonstrating a cultured disposition.
Second, the ear; as an organ, is an essential attribute for a leader who demonstrates active listening skills and receptiveness to the grievances, hardships, inequities, aspirations, insights, or recommendations of their constituents. It is recommended to utilize both auditory organs to perceive a range of auditory stimuli, including expressions of joy and sorrow, advantages and disadvantages, socioeconomic diversity, or comparable variations, in an equitable manner that aligns with the equilibrium of the bilateral auditory system. The mind processes all auditory input and subsequently evaluates it based on the perspective of the observer, who in this case is the “eye” or scientist, and is deemed reliable. Therefore, Allah situates the auditory organ, which is situated between the cognitive faculty and visual apparatus. The location and role of the aforementioned entity are not merely supplementary, but rather serve a significant and honorable objective.
When the two ears are not in a state of equilibrium, the perception of sound becomes subjective. Individuals tend to receive unidirectional information that is biased towards their own interests, highlighting their accomplishments and positive attributes. Consequently, there has been a notable increase in the prevalence of individuals who exhibit sycophantic behavior, offering biased and favorable information. Contrary to popular belief, the actuality is antithetical. Moreover, if the information and news heard are not considered by the “eyes” (science and scientists), and processed by common sense to obtain the truth, then the ears will be used by the devil to inform something that results in disaster for oneself and others. In fact, Allah has warned “ears” through His words: “Why do not the believers and believers do not think well of themselves, when you hear the false news and say, “This is (a) real false news” (QS. an-Nur: 12).
This is the significance of the ear to human beings. Despite the lucidity of Allah’s verses, human beings frequently reject their veracity. The aforementioned statement is attributed to Allah as conveyed through His divine words in the following manner: “And upon recitation of Our verses to him, the individual in question exhibits an arrogant disregard, as if the words had not reached his ears, akin to the presence of obstructions within both auditory canals. Therefore, it is fitting to administer a punitive measure that will cause him distress.” (QS. Luqman: 7).
To the possessor of the divine epithets of Allah within their auditory faculties, all forms of counsel are regarded as divine utterances. All opinions are attentively considered. The subject’s auditory organs bear resemblance to those of the revered prophet Solomon, known for his acute attentiveness to the concerns and issues faced by his community. In addition to perceiving the vocalizations of human beings, he also discerned the auditory emissions and expressions of ants. In contrast to the aforementioned “ears” that are contaminated with soil particles. The individual selectively attends to the phrase “around his waist” while disregarding external discourse, including the phrase “across the sea” which may be of relevance. Ears of this nature do not align with the characteristics of a leader, rather they are obstructed with filth and a tendency towards exploitation of others.
Third, the mouth; use the mouth wisely to convey the truth. Nevertheless, the aforementioned proverb cautions that the tongue lacks backbone. If due caution is not exercised, the oral cavity may solely serve as a medium for disseminating animosity. In contemporary times, written communication (such as journalism, Instagram, WhatsApp, and similar platforms) has supplanted oral communication due to the prevalence of digital technology and social media. Several of these expressions are utilized to exhibit conceit, insincerity, or caustic condemnation without proposing remedies. The attribution of fault to external parties is a common occurrence in instances of raised vocalization. Indeed, he is also culpable of analogous errors. Typically, individuals who utilize such language are considered to be provocative and exhibit a lack of civility. Through the adept use of language, one’s oral cavity possesses the capacity to disrupt tranquillity, sow discord, and dismantle the foundations of societal progress. Indeed, the individual in question is incapable of constructing even a rudimentary society. The vocalizations that are emitted serve solely to garner acknowledgement of his presence and the pursuits that encompass him. This is due to the fact that hitherto they have not been able to actualize their desires or bring about the existence of their desired outcomes. Their existence is restricted to that of a parasitic entity or an impediment to the progress of civilization. Remarkably, this cohort is frequently regarded as reliable, cultivated, and afforded preferential treatment. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) provided a clear admonition through his statement that “A Muslim is one who safeguards their well-being by controlling their speech and actions” (HR. Bukhari).
Excessive communication, except for the purpose of invoking Allah, creates avenues for individuals to engage in unproductive discussions. One of the topics that may prompt an individual to engage in extensive conversation is the trivial discourse, which may potentially foster a proclivity for disseminating defamatory and biased remarks.
It is true to say that “everything happens according to its frequency”. Everything is present in the community of the same level or network. Humans who believe in the owner of low civilisation are certainly “on the same frequency” as the human “broadcaster” or the surrounding partners who are on the same level. It is unlikely that the owner of the policy (truth) will accept information from the mouth of the wrongdoer. But, only the wrongdoers listen to the spreaders of errors. In fact, Allah has warned through His words: “And if you follow most of the people of the earth, they will surely lead you astray from the path of Allah. What they follow is mere conjecture, and they only tell lies” (QS. al-An’am: 116).
According to basic logic, radio transmissions that consist solely of white noise may be perceived as a harmonious and enjoyable melody by individuals who are deaf. The subject will perform a joyful dance, exhibiting an apparent synchronization with the melodious rhythm of the accompanying song. The individual’s auditory impairment results in perceiving the sound of rustling as aesthetically pleasing as a musical composition. In contrast, individuals possessing typical auditory anatomy perceive solely a cacophonous rustle emanating from a malfunctioning radio transmission.
This is the decision made by contemporary humans characterized by a lack of knowledge and understanding. All individuals are protected by the legal principles of “human rights, information disclosure, and freedom of opinion or expression”. If the message being conveyed is truthful, then it holds value in terms of da’wah (Islamic outreach) and virtue. Nonetheless, if the information being communicated is inaccurate, then it may warrant defamation, falsehoods, and detrimental outcomes. Remarkably, veracity is presently not a priority and is not dispensed in an equitable fashion. On the contrary, the dissemination of defamatory content is often favoured and safeguarded under the guise of “freedom of speech,” while the accurate and unbiased side of journalism is undervalued. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) cautioned individuals through his statement that “Undoubtedly, a servant articulates a phrase without prior contemplation, consequently leading to their descent into the depths of hell spanning from the east to the west” (HR. Muslim).
In an alternate hadith, the Prophet posed the question: “May I apprise you of the most significant major transgression?” He reiterated this thrice. The individuals who were present in the situation responded affirmatively, stating “Indeed, O Messenger of Allah.” Subsequently, the Prophet expressed that “such an act constitutes the act of associating partners with Allah and disobedience towards one’s parents”. Subsequently, he reclined and assumed a seated position whilst reiterating, “Furthermore, the provision of deceitful testimony, the provision of deceitful testimony, the provision of deceitful testimony.” The Prophet Muhammad reiterated this statement to the extent that we expressed our desire for him to desist (Hadith Reports: Bukhari and Muslim).
It is so clear what the Prophet Muhammad said, but a handful of people ignore and do not make it a guideline. The word of Allah seems to be limited to reading and the word of the Prophet seems to be denied. All is enough if His verses are just read and the words of the Prophet are polished through oral expression (frenzy) without meaning and imprint on behaviour. While the mouth remains loose without control spreading slander and vile words without civilisation. Allah SWT says: “And who is more unjust than he who is warned by the verses of his Lord and then turns away from them and forgets what his hands have done? Indeed We have placed a cover over their hearts, (so that they do not) understand, and (We have also placed) plugs in their ears; and even if you call them to guidance, they will not be guided forever” (QS. al-Kahf: 57).
When considering the excretions of the eye, ear, and mouth, it can be observed that the most pungent odor emanates from the oral cavity. While a medical perspective may offer an explanation, the religious perspective attributes the cause to the potential hazards associated with the mouth and its various manifestations in contemporary society, particularly in the realm of social media. The divine entity Allah cautions humanity through His scripture, stating that “not a single word is spoken by an individual without the presence of a vigilant guardian angel nearby” (QS. Qaaf: 18).
All actions are believed to be meticulously documented by celestial beings. It is inevitable for anyone to evade it. Nonetheless, there exist individuals who exhibit apathy towards the matter and prioritize their financial gains, and entrusted possessions or suffer from the consequences of unfeasible aspirations. The oral cavity is characterized by a pleasant facial expression, yet it harbours excreted waste material. The divine teachings of Allah and the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad have been elucidated in a lucid manner for the benefit of humanity. The attainment of universal salvation can be realized through the harmonious collaboration of the visual, auditory, and gustatory senses in the pursuit of piety towards Allah (abstention from evils). Nevertheless, in the event that the trio of organs is employed in the pursuit of wrongdoing (immorality), it will result in annihilation. The eyes and ears are provided in pairs to ensure objectivity and sagacity in their respective functions. Although the mouth is a singular entity, its potential to cause destruction to civilization should not be underestimated.
Despite the presence of the unequivocal verses of the Qur’an and the vast expanse of the universe, humanity appears to remain obstinate. It is possible that humankind no longer experiences apprehension towards the potential consequences of divine retribution, or alternatively, has redirected their devotion towards a different deity or even towards the veneration of oneself. Individuals who hold a belief in their own superiority, whether it be in terms of righteousness, intelligence, piety, merit, or other similar qualities. Despite the apparent clarity of the verses and hadiths, they appear to lack significance. The lucidity of Allah’s and the Prophet’s utterances is apparent, yet their veracity has been repudiated. It is possible that the individuals in question are those mentioned by Allah in verse 8 of Surah al-Baqarah. What is the calibre of the ocular, auditory, and oral faculties possessed by humans? The innermost being of an individual is the sole arbiter of truth, while Allah SWT possesses omniscience regarding all concealed enigmas.
Wa Allahua’lam bi al-Shawwab.
Translated by Riska Saputra, S.Pd
Alumni from the English Education Study Program at STAIN Bengkalis.
Master Student at Graduate Institute of Network Learning Technology in National Central University, Taiwan.
