Quranic Foundations And Structure Of Muslim Society
B. Specific Commands relating to specific Duties of Omission:
1. DUTIES OF LOVE:
(1) Violating others’ right to life prohibited:
(a) The Holy Qur’an commands the Muslims never to commit murder:
“… Take not life, which Allah has made sacred, except by way of justice and law: Thus does He command you, that you may learn wisdom.” (6:151).
“And take not life, which Allah has made sacred, except by way of justice and law. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, We have given his heir authority (to demand redress through law or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the law)*” (17:33).
* In this respect there is no discrimination in Islam. “According to Hanafis, the life of a slave stands on equal footing with that of a free-man, of a woman with that of a man, of a non-Muslim with that of a Muslim.” (Abdur Rahim: Muhammadan Jurisprudence, p.359)
(b) The following verse stresses the gravity of the crime of murder in the strongest possible terms:
“… if anyone kills a human being—unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land—it shall be as if he killed all mankind…” (5:35).
(c) The Holy Qur’an condemns not only murder in general but also human sacrifice to idols and false deities, and the custom of female infanticide, practised by the pagan communities, including pre-Islamic Arabs*:
“Even so, in the eyes of many of the Pagans, their (so-called) ‘partners’ (of God) made alluring the slaughter of their offspring, in order to lead them to their own destruction, and cause confusion in their religion.” (6:137).
“Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily killing of them is a great sin.” (17:31).
* The Qur’anic law in respect of this almost universal evil is actually a world-reform
(2) Violating the rights of Others in respect of wealth prohibited:
(a) The Holy Qur’an forbids all illegal methods, including dishonesty, theft, dacoity, etc., in acquiring what belongs to others:
“… and wrong not mankind in their goods …” (7:85).
“O you who believe! Devour not your property among yourselves (i.e., consume not one anothers’ belongings) unlawfully…” (4:29).
It is generally the demands of one’s family for higher standard of living which induce a person to acquire wealth by unlawful means. The Holy Qur’an makes a pointed reference to it and asks the Muslims not to succumb to their wives’ and children’s wrong requests or desires—though treating them with affection—and to stick to absolute honesty in respect of one’s earnings:
“O you who believe! Truly, among your wives and children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves: so beware of them! But if you forgive and overlook and cover up (their faults), verily Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Your wealth and your children may be but a trial, whereas Allah! with Him is an immense Reward. So keep your duty to Allah as best as you can …” (64:14-16).
(b) Loot and arson have been specifically condemned and prohibited:
“And when he (i.e., the enemy of Truth) turns away, he speeds through the land that he may act corruptly therein and destroy the crops and the cattle. And Allah approves not mischief.” (2:205).
“Beset not the highways menacing (wayfarers)…” (7:86).
(c) With regard to theft, its prohibition is covered fully in 4:29. It has, however, been specifically prohibited also in the following verse:
“(that) … they will not steal …”* (60:12).
* This verse forms part of the pledge which the women converts from paganism took at the hands of the Holy Prophet (Peace be on him). It applies, however, equally to men. (Ref: Tafsir al-Jalalain, p. 458).
The stern view that the Holy Qur’an takes in respect of theft is evident from the punishment it has prescribed in 5:38. We shall mention it at its suitable place.
(d) Depriving other persons of their inheritance condemned :
In counting the vices which shall lead human beings to Hell, the Holy Qur’an says:
“And you devour Inheritance (of the weak), devouring greedily.” (89:19).
(e) To take by deceit more than one’s share out of a thing jointly deserved or owned by several persons, condemned:
“… whosoever is false to his trust (as a co-sharer), he shall restore on the Day of Resurrection (and Judgment) what he misappropriated. Then every soul will receive its due, whatever (good or evil) it earned, and none shall be dealt with unjustly.” (3:161).
(f) Defrauding in general in mutual relations of business prohibited:
“… and make not deficient the balance (by diminishing what is due to the buyer).” (55:9).
“… and cause no loss (to others in trade through fraud).” (26:81).
“… And give not short measure or weight …” (11:84).
“Woe to those that deal in fraud, —those who when they have to receive by measure from men, exact full measure, but when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due.” (83:1-3).
(g) Misappropriating things entrusted, prohibited:
“O you who believe! Betray not the trust of Allah and the Messenger, nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to you.” (8:27).
Also, favoring and supporting the misappropriator is prohibited:
“… and be not you an advocate for those who betray their trust …” (4:105).
(h) Hoarding commodities and withholding them from free circulation for exploiting fellow-beings through the creation of artificial scarcity and the consequent shooting up of prices, condemned:
In counting the vices that will lead human beings to Hell, the Holy Qur’an says:
“He hoarded and withheld it (from circulations).” (70:18).
(i) Exploiting the needs of others by lending money on interest* vehemently condemned and prohibited:
* The economy which Islam offers is interest-free economy, and, therefore, Islam condemns not only usury but all forms of interest-bearing transactions.
Riba means “any addition, however slight, over and above the principal,” and thus includes both usury and interest. (See: Lane’s Arabic-English Lexicon)
“Those who devour riba (usury and interest) will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except as stands one whom the Evil One by his touch has driven to madness. That is because they say: ‘Trade is like riba’. But Allah has permitted trade and forbidden riba. Those who after receiving direction from their Lord, desist, shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for Allah (to judge); but those who repeat the offense are Companions of the Fire: they will abide therein.
“Allah will deprive riba of all blessings, but will give increase for deeds of charity: For He loves not creatures ungrateful and wicked.” (2:275-276).
“Oh you who believe! Devour not riba, doubled and multiplied; but fear Allah, that you may (really) prosper.” (3:130).
(3) Corrupting others in respect of wealth, prohibited:
(a) through Bribery:
“Do not consume your property among yourselves iniquitously; neither proffer it to the judges, that you may sinfully consume a portion of other men’s goods, and that wittingly.” (2:188).
In the Hadith we find that the Holy Prophet (Peace be on him) has very strongly condemned the acceptor of bribe, the giver of bribe and the middleman. (See Mishkat al-Masabih, Bab al-Rizq al-Wulat, p. 326).
(b) through Gambling:
“Oh you who believe! Intoxicants and Gambling, and (dedication of) stones, and divination by arrows, are an abomination,—of Satan’s handiwork: Eschew such (abomination), that you may prosper.” (5:93).
(4) Want of Helpfulness and Charitableness towards others condemned; hence abstinence from it is duty:
(a) Hoarding gold and silver, thereby keeping it out of circulation and thus damaging collective economy, on the one hand, and abstaining from rendering economic assistance in deserving individual cases, on the other, vehemently condemned:
“… those who hoard up gold and silver and spend it not in the Way of Allah (i.e., for the welfare of fellow-beings), announce to them (O Muhammad) a most grievous penalty—on the day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads (representing human thinking) and their flanks (which support the seat of greed, i.e., the stomach) and their backs (as symbolizing stability and strength)—(and it will be said unto them:) Here is that which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard.” (9:34-35).
(b) Practising niggardliness and promoting it as a creed condemned:
“Make not your hand tied (in niggardliness) to your neck …” (17:29).
“…Verily Allah loves not such as are vainglorious boasters—those who are niggardly and command mankind to niggardliness and hide that which Allah has vouchsafed to them of His Bounty; and We have prepared for the infidels torment ignominious.” (4:36-37).
(c) Refusing small kindnesses to others condemned:
“Ah, woe unto the worshippers, who are heedless of their Prayers; who would be seen (at worship) yet refuse small kindnesses to (others).” (107:4-7).
(d) Well-doing to Others with a view to getting more in return disapproved as worthless act of goodness:
“And whatsoever you give in gift* in order that it may increase among the substance of men (and return to you augmented) increases not with Allah (i.e., is not accepted as virtue and blessed by Allah); but that which you give out for charity, seeking the Countenance (i.e., Pleasure) of Allah. (will increase): it is these who will get a recompense multiplied.” (30:39).
This is the rendering of the word riba here by Maulana Abdul Majid Daryabadi (See his English Translation of the Holy Qur’an, p. 651).
(e) Charity with laying obligation on the recipient and/or, hurting him in any way, prohibited:
“O you who believe! Render not vain your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury …” (2:264).
(5) Want of Goodwill towards Others prohibited:
(a) Breaking promises, pledges and covenants and violating oaths taken in mutual dealings prohibited:
“… And break not your oaths (when you pledge your word in any matter) …” (16:91-92).
“… It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition;—those who fulfill the Covenant of Allah and fail not in the word they pledged.” (13:19-20).
(b) Abstaining from giving false evidence made a condition of Faith, and thereby a duty:
Recounting the fundamental virtues of true Muslims, the Holy Qur’an says:
“… and those who witness no falsehood (i.e., do not give false evidence) …” (25:72).
(c) Concealing evidence prohibited:
“Conceal not evidence; for whoever conceals it, his heart is tainted with sin. And Allah knows all that you do.” (2:283).
(d) Treachery condemned; hence abstinence from it is duty:
The Holy Qur’an says:
“Verily, Allah loves not any that is treacherous, or shows ingratitude.” (22:38).
Also;
“(The servants of God are) … those who witness no falsehood (i.e., deal not falsely or treacherously with anyone) …” (25:72).
(e) Ingratitude for the good received from others condemned; hence abstinence from it is duty:
The Holy Qur’an says:
“Verily, Allah loves not any that is treacherous, or shows ingratitude.” (22:38).
to be continued . . . . .
Quranic Foundation & Structure Of Muslim Society In The End Times
