AL-HAWAS (THE SENSES)

THE SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE IN ISLAM

AL-HAWAS (THE SENSES)


The Meaning of Senses

Understanding of something using the senses, either by physical senses (outer) or by inner senses (instinct),feeling that comes from outer world.


The Division of Senses :

i. Physical senses / Common senses (outer senses)
ii. Inner senses


i. Physical senses (common senses):

There are 5 common senses include hear, sight, touch, smell and feel. It is very important to human being to live.


ii. Inner Senses

It is the strength of inner senses to accept sign or information from the common senses which has been gathered and stored to produce an action.

 Man can feel something in their heart while doing something by using their common senses. Allah says:

 أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَا أَوْ آذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَكِنْ تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ(46)

“Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts (and minds) may thus learn wisdom and their ears may thus learn to hear? Truly it is not the eyes that are blind, but the hearts which are in their breasts.” (22: 46)




The Role of Senses

 Islam is not to put the senses as the primary sources but not to reject it as a part of the knowledge. The senses is one of the method to seek the knowledge. Senses and mind are working together to seek the knowledge.

 thus, senses plays the major role to understand and get knowledge. Allah says :
 قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ بَصَائِرُ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ فَمَنْ أَبْصَرَ فَلِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ عَمِيَ فَعَلَيْهَا وَمَا أَنَا عَلَيْكُمْ بِحَفِيظٍ(104
“ Now have come to you from your Lotd proof (to open youe eyes): If any will see, It will be for (the good of) his own soul, if any will be blind, it will be to his own (harm): I am not (here) to watch over your doings.” (6:104)

 Al-Quran has condemned those who are not using their senses to know Allah. The Quran says:
 وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِنْ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ آذَانٌ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا أُوْلَئِكَ كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ الْغَافِلُونَ(179)
“Many are the jinns and men We have made for Hell, they have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle, nay more misguided, for they are deedless (of warning).” (7: 179)


 Allah has created the evidences which can be feel and touch by senses, the creation of this world / the sign of the existing of allah, the oneness and power. Though, man must use the senses wisely. Allah says :

 إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَالْفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ وَمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنْ السَّمَاءِ مِنْ مَاءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِنْ كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ وَالسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ(164)

 The Quran plays the major role to the senses in order to help the mind to seek the knowledge and truth.
 وَالَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِالْكِتَابِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ(170)
 “ As so those who hold fast by the Book and establish regular Prayer, never shall we suffer the reward of the righteous ti perish.” (7: 170)

Conclusion

 Senses is the most important thing which has been given by allah as the medium to seek the information, knowledge and truth from the sign in this world with the guidance from wahyu.