3
One word, one meaning 5 / 18
"That is because they are a people who do not …": a faculty named
The formula « ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌۭ لَّا + verb » traces a behaviour back to an absent faculty. Three verbs enter it, each with its own rendering: لَا يَعْقِلُونَ "do not reason", لَا يَفْقَهُونَ "do not understand", لَا يَعْلَمُونَ "do not know".
The six occurrences:
- the verb يَعْقِلُونَ (reason): 5:58, those who mock the call to the Contact; 59:14, the hypocrites whose unity is only apparent;
- the verb يَفْقَهُونَ (understand): 8:65, 9:127, 59:13;
- the verb يَعْلَمُونَ (know): 9:6, the associator who asks for protection in order to hear the word of God.
Sura 59 shows that the choice of verb is not indifferent: one verse apart, the hypocrites' fear of the believers is traced to what they do not understand (59:13), and their false unity to their not reasoning (59:14). Two behaviours, two faculties.
So that the difference stays visible, each verb keeps its own rendering, and the formula itself is rendered one way: "That is because they are a people who do not …".
In the text
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌۭ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ“That is because they are a people who do not understand.”
Here, يَفْقَهُونَ: "understand".
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌۭ لَّا يَعْقِلُونَ“That is because they are a people who do not reason.”
The next verse: يَعْقِلُونَ, "reason". Two behaviours, two faculties.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌۭ لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ“That is because they are a people who do not know.”
Here, يَعْلَمُونَ: "know".