Is Listening to the Voice of Conscience Aligned with God's Commands?

The concept of "conscience," or that inner voice guiding humanity towards good and away from evil, has deep and robust roots within Quranic and Islamic teachings. While the exact term "conscience" may not explicitly appear in the Quran, closely related and synonymous concepts, such as "fitra" (innate disposition), "nafs al-lawwamah" (the reproaching soul), "taqwa" (God-consciousness), and "divine guidance," are clearly emphasized in the divine revelation. These concepts demonstrate that Allah Almighty has placed an internal mechanism within human beings that aids them in recognizing truth and acting upon it, and this mechanism is entirely aligned with divine commands. The Holy Quran refers to "fitra," which is the pure, God-seeking nature upon which Allah created every human being. In Surah Ar-Rum, verse 30, we read: "So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know." This verse indicates that humans are born with an inherent inclination towards truth and monotheism. This fitra is the fundamental basis of moral conscience, which inclines a person towards good deeds and makes them despise evil. Therefore, the call of fitra and conscience is, in essence, the call of God and His will within a person, guiding them towards the very religion that Allah has established for humanity. Another key concept closely related to "conscience" is "nafs al-lawwamah" (the reproaching soul). In Surah Al-Qiyamah, verse 2, Allah swears by the reproaching soul: "And I swear by the reproaching soul [nafs al-lawwamah]." This soul is the very conscience that, after committing a sin or mistake, reproaches a person, causes remorse, and prompts them towards repentance and rectification of their error. This remorse and inner feeling of guilt are signs of an active conscience, and these reproaches are essential for a person to return to the right path and divine commands. The nafs al-lawwamah is, in reality, an inner guardian that prevents a person from heedlessness and deviation and calls them towards the divine path. Furthermore, the Quran places great emphasis on the concept of "taqwa" (piety and God-consciousness). Taqwa is a state in which a person constantly perceives themselves in God's presence and aligns their actions and thoughts with divine pleasure. A person possessing taqwa will always have a vigilant and active conscience, which guides them towards fulfilling obligations and abstaining from prohibitions. Taqwa, in a way, polishes the conscience; the more taqwa a person has, the clearer and more accurate their conscience operates, guiding them towards what Allah loves. Indeed, taqwa and conscience are intricately linked; taqwa strengthens the conscience, and the conscience, in turn, calls a person to greater taqwa. The Holy Quran emphasizes that Allah has given every human being the ability to discern good from evil. In Surah Ash-Shams, verses 7 and 8, we read: "And [by] the soul and [by] Him who proportioned it and inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness." These verses clearly state that Allah Almighty has placed within humanity the power of discernment and differentiation between good and evil. This power of discernment is the moral conscience that enables a person to recognize the right path from the wrong one when faced with various situations. This divine inspiration to the soul is a conclusive proof of the alignment of the voice of conscience with God's commands; for what is inspired by God cannot be in contradiction with His decrees. However, it must be noted that the human conscience, by itself, can be influenced by external factors such as upbringing, environment, culture, and personal desires, potentially leading to errors. For this reason, Allah Almighty sent down divine scriptures and prophets to complete and rectify the voice of human conscience. The Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) are external guides that enlighten the conscience and prevent it from deviation. If a person's conscience is nurtured with the light of revelation and religious teachings, its functioning will be more accurate and reliable. In fact, full harmony between conscience and divine commands is achieved when a person aligns their inner voice with the external divine guidance (Quran and Sunnah) and purifies it. In conclusion, the voice of conscience, as a divine and internal tool for discerning good and evil, is not only aligned with God's commands but is itself derived from the very fitra and divine inspiration that Allah has placed within human beings. Listening to this voice is, in essence, heeding a part of God's internal guidance. However, to ensure the correctness of this voice and prevent its deviation, it is necessary to weigh it against the standard of divine revelation (the Quran) and the conduct of the infallible ones (peace be upon them). The stronger a person's faith and the greater their knowledge of religious teachings, the purer, clearer, and closer their conscience will be to God's will and desire, leading them towards perfection and salvation. Therefore, it can be said that conscience is an inner light that, with the light of revelation, illuminates the divine path for humanity.