Where excuses do not work [75:14]

Following our discussion yesterday on Nafs al Lawamma, today we will look at a related idea from the same Sura. 

In verses 14 & 15 of Sura Qiyamma, Allah [swt] says: 

بَلِ الْإِنسَانُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بَصِيرَةٌ 

[75:14] Nay! man is evidence against himself,

وَلَوْ أَلْقَى مَعَاذِيرَهُ 

[75:15] Though he puts forth his excuses. 

After Allah [swt] swears by the blaming soul at the beginning of this surah, He takes us one step deeper. The nafs al-lawwāmah is the part of us that feels guilt when we fall short. But here, in these verses, Allah tells us that we are not only capable of feeling blame, we are capable of seeing ourselves clearly. The human being is a witness against himself.

The word baṣīrah comes from sight. It implies inner vision, insight, clarity. It suggests that beneath our stories, our defenses, and our justifications, there is a part of us that knows. We may explain. We may rationalize. We may defend our choices. But underneath all of that, we know when we are wrong or have done wrong.

This fits beautifully with the compass metaphor we have been developing this Ramadan. Allah proportioned the soul and inspired it with discernment of wickedness and its righteousness (91:7–8). He calibrated it. He did not leave us morally blind. The blaming soul is the alert system, the GPS. And 75:14 tells us that ultimately, we ourselves are the evidence.

“Even though he offers his excuses.”

This verse captures the psychology of self-justification. When our behavior does not align with our values, we feel discomfort. And instead of changing the behavior, we often change the narrative. “Everyone does it.” “It wasn’t that bad.” “They made me do it.” “I had no choice.” “This is just how I am.”

Excuses are attempts to quiet the blaming soul.

But the Quran warns us that even when we offer our excuses, we remain witnesses against ourselves. The story may convince others. It may even temporarily convince us. But the deeper part of us is not fooled.

And sometimes, the testimony is not only internal. It becomes physical.

A smoker for example, may deny the harm that smoking is doing to their bodies. They may say, “My grandfather smoked and lived to ninety.” They may minimize the risk. But over time, the body speaks. They experience blackened lungs, shortness of breath and a persistent cough. Medical scans do not argue. The body testifies to their actions.

In the same way, our spiritual and emotional states testify. Chronic anger carves lines into the face. Bitterness hardens the heart. Dishonesty erodes trust and isolates us. Even if we justify the behavior, the consequences accumulate. The soul, like the body, keeps a record.

At first glance, this verse can feel harsh. But there is deep mercy hidden within it.

Allah is telling us: you already possess insight. You do not need constant external surveillance. You do not need someone to expose you. Your inner witness is active now not only on the Day of Judgment. That slight discomfort in your chest. That unease after saying something hurtful. That restlessness when you know you crossed a line. What I like to call “sitting in the yucky muck”. That is baṣīrah. That is your soul testifying in real time.

And this is a gift. How?

Because here we are still in the zone of action. We can apologize. We can repair. We can recalibrate. We can quit the habit before the lungs are destroyed. We can soften the heart before it hardens completely. He can make amends before we leave the zone of action and our book of deeds crystalizes. 

What makes accepting responsibility sooo hard? 

Sometimes we recruit others into helping us silence it. When the conscience pricks and I confide to a friend about what I did. They have the best intention and do not like to see me suffer. What are they likely to say? No, its not your fault, it is not that bad. Don’t be so hard on yourself. 

At the workplace, there is a culture of not accepting responsibility because that can make life very difficult and lead to all sorts of liability. So colleagues or friends might advise: Do not admit responsibility. If you admit responsibility, the fear is that you will be held liable rather than acknowledged and supported because you accepted responsibility. 

Thirdly, AI is programmed by default to validate us. It is always on our side, telling us how we are exactly right and actually amazing in every way! It takes us further and further away from accountability and accepting responsibility and encourages us by coming up with all sorts of reasons and excuses why it is not our fault.  

Quran asks us to imagine the Day when excuses no longer work. We cannot hide behind a curated identity as we do on social media. There will be no reputation management or self-branding. No carefully constructed narrative. No PR firms and no spin doctors. Just you and your own soul.

And the scariest part? Your whole being will testify. 

So tonight, instead of defending ourselves internally, can we try something different? Can we be brave enough to notice where we are offering excuses. Notice where we are minimizing what we already know is misaligned. And instead of shame, respond with honesty.

Let’s practice saying: “Yes. That action or behaviour was not aligned with who I want to be, with who I was created to be.”

This is not about condemning ourselves. Islam does not teach that we are inherently bad. The testimony of the soul is not an attack on our worth. Rather it is a call back to our original nobility.

The inner witness is not our enemy. It is our guide.

And as long as we can still hear it, as long as something inside us still protests, still stings, still nudges we can find our way back.  

We are being invited to return.