DUTIES of the MORAL PERFECTION OF OTHERS - Omissions

 

 Quranic Foundations And Structure Of Muslim Society

Chapter 2.

DUTIES of the

MORAL PERFECTION OF OTHERS

 

END: 

Moral Perfection of Others.

1.       Duties of Omission; 

2.       Duties of Commission.

 

(1)    DUTIES OF OMISSION END:

Abstinence from all forms of activity that might be conducive to the creation of, or might directly create, conditions of immorality.

a.     Duties of Love;

b.    Duties of Respect.

 

(a) DUTIES OF LOVE:

 

(1)  Creating conditions of moral corruption prohibited:

“Do no mischief (moral or material) on the earth, after it has been set in order, but call on Him with fear and hope: For the Mercy of Allah is always near to those who practise virtue.” (7:56). 

 

(2)    Obstructing the path of morality, as also other paths of goodness, prohibited:

“And be not like those who started from their homes insolently and to be seen of men, and to hinder (men) from the Way of Allah (i.e., the perfect System of Goodness which alone leads to God).” (8:47).

“(The sentence will be:) throw, throw into Hell every contumacious Rejecter (of God)!—hinderer of good …” (50:24,52).

“Heed not the type of despicable man,—ready with oaths, a slanderer, going about with calumnies, hinderer of good …” (68:10-12).  

 

(3)    Co-operating with others in sin and transgression prohibited:

“… and help you not one another in sin and transgression: Fear Allah: Lo! Allah is strict in punishment.” (5:3). 

 

(4)    Spreading lewdness in any form, and thereby enticing others in vice, prohibited:  

“Say: the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are: (indulging in and spreading,^* at any level and any type of) shameful deeds (or lewdness), whether open or secret …” (7:33).

“… and He forbids (indulging in and spreading, at any level and any type of) shameful deeds (or lewdness) …” (16:90).

 *24:19

(b) DUTIES OF RESPECT

 

Duties in respect of illegitimate and immoral sexual relations whereby, side by side with one’s own chastity, the chastity and honour of others as well as the sanctity of the institution of family,* is violated: 

* It should be noted that one of the ends of “sexual duties” is the preservation and promotion of the “family” as the basic unit of society—a point which is basic to the Qur’anic social philosophy and which is of immense value in respect of its bearing on the moral health of human society. 

(1)    Adultery and Fornication prohibited: (also “Polyandry” and “Neoga”)

“And come not nigh to fornication and adultery: For it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).” (17:32).

“(The true servants of God are those who) … do not commit adultery (nor fornication) …” (25:68).

“… that they will not commit adultery (nor fornication) …” (60:12). 

 

(2)    Homosexuality vehemently condemned; hence abstinence from it is duty:

Speaking of the Sodomites, the Holy Qur’an says:

“We also (sent) Lut: He said to his people ‘Do you commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For you practise your lusts on men in preference to women: you are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds’ … And We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime?” (7:80-81, 84). 

 

(3)    The institution of Prostitution condemned:

Speaking of the women prisoners of war, the Holy Qur’an lays down the following rule, thus promulgating the law condemning the business of prostitution in all its aspects:  

“… and force not your maids to prostitution (—a custom prevalent among the pagan Arabs in respect of their slave-girls—) their desire being for chastity, in order that you may make a gain in the goods of this life …” (24:33).

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Source

to be continued . . . . . 

Quranic Foundation & Structure Of Muslim Society In The End Times

 

PART-1 FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES TOWARDS ALL HUMAN BEINGS

 

 Quranic Foundations And Structure Of Muslim Society

PART 1. FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES

TOWARDS ALL HUMAN BEINGS

 

I.   Duties relating to the Happiness of Others.

II. Duties relating to the Moral Perfection of Others.  

 

Chapter 1.

 

DUTIES RELATING TO THE HAPPINESS OF OTHERS

 

(1) DUTIES OF OMISSION

END: Abstinence from ill-wishing and ill-doing to fellow-beings:— 

A. Comprehensive Commands;

B. Specific Command:

1.    Duties of Love.

2.    Duties of Respect

 

A. Comprehensive Commands relating to the duty of abstaining from all evil against fellow-beings:

(i)  With regard to the duties of omission pertaining to the happiness of other individuals, in their capacity basically and purely as human beings, the Holy Qur’an has laid down certain comprehensive commands through which Muslims have been ordered to abstain from committing every conceivable form of evil against them. For instance:

“… and He (i.e., God) forbids lewdness and wickedness (i.e., all evil conduct) and infringement (of the rights of others). He exhorts you that haply you may be admonished.” (16:90).

“… and wrong not mankind in their things* …” (7:85). 

*According to Baidawi, things imply ‘rights’ of human beings. (See his Tafsir, p.300). 

“And those who break the Covenant of Allah after having pledged their word thereto, and sever that which Allah has commanded should be joined* and work mischief (i.e., cause moral corruption and material disorder) in the land: on them is the Curse and for them is the terrible Abode (i.e. Hell)” (13:25). 

* According to the commentators of the Holy Qur’an, it refers to the non-fulfillment of duties which men owe to God and to parents, family, neighbors, community, country and fellow-creatures in general. (See Abdul Majid Daryabadi, op. cit. Vol. 1., n. 118). 

“Say (O Muhammad): my Lord forbids only indecencies, such of them as are open and such as are secret, and sin, and infringement (of the rights of others) without justice…” (7:33).

“Work not confusion in the earth after the fair ordering (thereof), and call on Him in fear and hope. Lo! the Mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who do right,” (7:56).

“… and He has set up the Balance, that you transgress not the balance (of justice in your actions).” (55:7-8).

“… you shall neither wrong nor be wronged.” (2:279).

 

(ii)        Wrong-doing has not been allowed even against worst enemies:

“… and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice…” (5:9).

 

(iii)       Wrong-doing to anyone is so severely abhorred that even befriending the wrong-doer is most severely condemned:

“And incline not to those who do wrong, or else the Fire will seize you—and you have no protectors other than Allah,—nor you would then be succored.” (11:113).

Source

to be continued . . . . . 

Quranic Foundation & Structure Of Muslim Society In The End Times