He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding.(Ulul Albaab)

 Al-Baqarah 2:269

يُؤْتِى ٱلْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَمَن يُؤْتَ ٱلْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِىَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًاۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ 

He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding.(Ulul Albaab)

The Quran mentions several special groups of people. If you’re among any of the  special groups mentioned, you’re worthy of a special award, a special mercy bestowed by Allah (s.w.t.). One of these groups of people is what the Quran terms as “Ulul Albaab” loosely translated as the People of Intellect.

Lets first try to understand the meaning of these words linguistically. Ulul means the people who or the possessors of, and the word ‘lub’ which is the singular of ‘albaab’ means the core or pulp of something. In other words, the very essence of something.

So ulul albaab are the people who seek out the core or the essence of every matter. They don’t take things at just superficial level; they are possessors of deep insight.

Here, first Allah mentions his gift – wisdom. Then he mentions the importance or the value of this gift – to whom hikmah is granted is indeed granted abundant good. Such precious select gift with such incredible blessings. And He ends the verse by hinting at who is going to value it – the Ulul Albaab.

Allah mentions the terms ‘wisdom’ and ‘ulul albaab’ side by side. And what is wisdom but deep understanding or insight of things. They value and take heed from Allah due to this wisdom that is gifted to them.

But why just them? What did they do for Allah to gift them this treasure? Why such exclusivity? Who are they? What do they do to deserve it?

And when we actually read about who they are and what they do to deserve it – it is literally a manual for us on how to become one of them. So what are their characteristics?

Allah begins with their description in Surah Al-Imran, ayah 190 and talks about them throughout even until ayah 194.

Verily in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.

And how do they reach the point where they recognize these signs or ponder upon these signs?

Allah continues in the next ayah: Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides. That’s their first attribute – they are people who are involved in constant zikr – whether they are standing, sitting, or lying down. And its not just mindless tasbih, its consciousness of Allah even in the back of your mind. Tafsir Ibn Kathir explains it as – These are the people who remember Allah in heart and in speech. In heart as in His remembrance and in speech means mentioning him often. They are actually interrelated. You only mention something you remember, and you only remember something that you constantly mention. The proof that you have forgotten something, or you are over something, is you stop talking about it, you stop mentioning it. So number one characteristic is they are constantly involved in zikr.

Their next trait is that they are thinkers and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth. They look for signs in the natural phenomenon. And when they start reflecting and pondering over such things, exercising their thinking abilities and muscles of observation – they realize nothing is as it seems – this life, existence, relationships, nature, specific circumstances – nothing is black and white. Then the next logical questions that arise in their mind are if not this then what? And why?

And with this why – they ponder and think and read and try to get to the pulp or core of the matter, a reflective mind will see creation as a great sign of the Supreme Being and steadily everything starts to make sense – the purpose. And we know this because Allah continues the ayah that the only thing they are able to exclaim after this reflection is – ‘Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, Glory to You!” They admit that nothing of this scale, of this magnitude can be without the presence of a Majestic creator. 

Now let’s think logically, when you know there is a purpose for something, you automatically know – there are expectations involved. If expectations are involved, you have been given a responsibility. And depending upon whether the responsibilities are met or not, there are consequences. If there are consequences, there has to be a Day of Reckoning and an afterlife. Everything has to be accounted for. You have to give hisaab – whether you have fulfilled the expectations and responsibilities of your purpose. 

And on this Day of Judgement, there are only two destinations – Jannah or Jahannam, so they immediately make dua for salvation from the fire.

Let’s ask Allah to make us among the Ulul Albaab –Imagine if all of us strive to be among the Ulul Albaab – the standard of society that the Muslim Ummah will attain. They are not just the Musalleen, not just the Sabirun, not just Mattaqeen – they are a combination or an amalgamation of all that. Allah wants us to imbibe and inculcate these traits. 

May Allah make us among the Ulul Albaab, and I hope and pray that we are among each other’s loved ones that day.