Reason and guidance before custom

This verse invites us to reflect before blindly following our traditions.

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱتَّبِعُواْ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ قَالُواْ بَلۡ نَتَّبِعُ مَآ أَلۡفَيۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَنَآۚ أَوَلَوۡ كَانَ ءَابَآؤُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡقِلُونَ شَيۡـٔٗا وَلَا يَهۡتَدُونَ

And when it is said to them, "Follow what Allah has revealed," they say, "Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing." Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided.

Quran, Al-Baqara 2:170

This verse describes an attitude: preferring inherited habits to Allah's revelation. It raises an important question: is custom worth more than reason and guidance?

In our lives, we may be tempted to repeat what our relatives do without checking if it is right. This verse encourages us to compare our practices with what Allah has revealed, using our reason.

Today, choose a habit you have inherited and ask yourself if it aligns with what Allah has revealed.