The Religion of Assumptions: A Revelation of Surah Al-Kahf 18:102 Concerning the People of the End Times
Part 2 – Hasiba (حَسِبَ)

As an ordinary person, when I first read this verse, I used to misunderstand its meaning. Because I do not want others to repeat the same mistake I once made, I am sharing it here so that we may all understand and avoid the same error. By doing so, our understanding of 18:102 will, God willing, become clearer.

At first glance, I thought that حَسِبَ (ḥasiba) and حِسَاب (ḥisāb) were almost the same, but in reality they are very different. They do share the same root, yet their functions are not the same.

We will observe the relationship between the two so that we can understand how a person, including myself, who is careless with the concept of “ḥisāb”, may fall into “ḥasbān” which means forming assumptions about reality while actually living inside an assumption.

This is something we must take seriously because a person may be someone who performs righteous deeds, revives the night in worship, and never abandons devotion, yet still lives entirely within assumption, not reality.

Root Analysis

Let us examine what has been broken down here:

The three-letter root ḥā-sīn-bāʼ (ح س ب) in Arabic carries the core meaning of:

“To calculate, to weigh, to evaluate something with a specific measurement.”

From this root emerge two major branches:

1. Hasiba (حَسِبَ) – Hasiba or ḥisban means to assume, to calculate or evaluate based on one’s own perception.

2. Hisāb (حِسَاب) – Hisāb means the true calculation, the definitive and authentic evaluation, especially by Allah.

Both share the concept of “calculation” but the difference lies in who is calculating and upon what basis the calculation is made.

Conceptual Calculation vs. Factual Calculation

Human assumption (حَسِبَ) is a subjective and conceptual calculation.

Human evaluation is made based on perception, logic, or personal reasoning.

Therefore, the conclusion is not necessarily correct and is often associated in the Qur’an with disbelief that arises from a flawed way of thinking and the wrong source of knowledge. It is not the rejection of Allah directly, but the rejection of the way Allah defines truth.

This verse, 18:102, is one of the clearest examples of this form of disbelief.

أَفَحَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا...

“Do the disbelievers think…?”

(Surah Al-Kahf 18:102)

Meanwhile, Allah’s calculation (حِسَاب) is objective, factual, and absolute.

Allah judges based upon truth that cannot be manipulated.

Hisāb is used in the context of the Hereafter and the weighing of deeds, as seen here:

إِنَّ إِلَيْنَا إِيَابَهُمْ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا حِسَابَهُمْ

“Indeed, to Us is their return. Then, upon Us is their accountability.”

(Surah Al-Ghashiyah 25–26)

The Prison of Thought

When we summarize the difference between Hasiba and Hisāb, we see how profound the distinction truly is.

As human beings, although we think we are “calculating”, we are in reality only assuming, because we are merely creation, whereas Allah is the Creator.

Our calculations stem from an intellect that is limited in capacity. The result will always be assumption. Allah’s calculation, however, stems from His attribute of perfect knowledge, therefore the result is truth.

The outcome of human calculation is always subjective, limited, and prone to error. The outcome of Allah’s calculation is absolute, true, and perfectly just.

In this verse, although it begins simply with أَفَحَسِبَ, Allah is already reprimanding us through a question. He is exposing the reality that we create our own theories, form our own assumptions, and develop our own interpretations.

This is the danger within us, especially as the people of the End Times. When the mind remains clouded and confused, we eventually replace Allah’s role in conducting Hisāb. This is where the problem begins even while we believe we have faith. Without realizing it, we replace Hisāb with Hasiba. We begin to evaluate the world based on our own reasoning.

This is the prison of thought.

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