Obstacles to Clear Thinking According to the Qur’an

Inherited beliefs and practices leading to negative thought patterns may affect people’s way of reasoning to such an extent that it becomes difficult to accept the truth and reject falsehood. It may prevent them from using their intellect altogether on the pretext of having been raised with specific thoughts, beliefs and practices. The Qur’an (2: 170) bluntly says about those who seek the truth, but blind traditions prevent them from following: “When it is said to them, ‘Follow that which God has sent down,’ they say, ‘Nay, we follow the ways of our fathers.’ What! Though their fathers were utterly ignorant and devoid of guidance?”