Islam's Response to Contemporary World Problems (30)

We continue with the series of installments related to the teachings of the Holy Quran regarding DUTIES and PROHIBITIONS in order to generate a lasting Social Peace. There will be several installments. We hope they will be of interest.

DUTIES (cont.)

Gratitude to Al'lah

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِذَا قُمۡتُمۡ اِلَی الصَّلٰوۃِ فَاغۡسِلُوۡا وُجُوۡہَکُمۡ وَاَیۡدِیَکُمۡ اِلَی الۡمَرَافِقِ وَامۡسَحُوۡا بِرُءُوۡسِکُمۡ وَاَرۡجُلَکُمۡ اِلَی الۡکَعۡبَیۡنِ ؕ وَاِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ جُنُبًا فَاطَّہَّرُوۡا ؕ وَاِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ مَّرۡضٰۤی اَوۡ عَلٰی سَفَرٍ اَوۡ جَآءَ اَحَدٌ مِّنۡکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡغَآئِطِ اَوۡ لٰمَسۡتُمُ النِّسَآءَ فَلَمۡ تَجِدُوۡا مَآءً فَتَیَمَّمُوۡا صَعِیۡدًا طَیِّبًا فَامۡسَحُوۡا بِوُجُوۡہِکُمۡ وَاَیۡدِیۡکُمۡ مِّنۡہُ ؕ مَا یُرِیۡدُ اللّٰہُ لِیَجۡعَلَ عَلَیۡکُمۡ مِّنۡ حَرَجٍ وَّلٰکِنۡ یُّرِیۡدُ لِیُطَہِّرَکُمۡ وَلِیُتِمَّ نِعۡمَتَہٗ عَلَیۡکُمۡ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَشۡکُرُوۡنَ

"O ye who believe! When you go to perform the Prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows; rub your heads with wet hands and wash your feet up to the ankles. And if you are impure, purify yourselves with a bath. And if you are sick, or on a journey in an impure state, or one of you comes out of the toilet, or you have touched women, and you cannot find water, turn to the pure sand, and rub your face and hands with it. Al'lah does not wish to impose any hardship on you, but He wishes to purify you and to complete His grace upon you that you may be grateful" (5:7)

وَاِذۡ تَاَذَّنَ رَبُّکُمۡ لَئِنۡ شَکَرۡتُمۡ لَاَزِیۡدَنَّکُمۡ وَلَئِنۡ کَفَرۡتُمۡ اِنَّ عَذَابِیۡ لَشَدِیۡدٌ

"And remember also when your Lord declared: "If you are grateful, I will certainly grant you more favours; but if you are ungrateful, then know that My punishment is severe indeed" (14:8)

اِنۡ تَکۡفُرُوۡا فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ غَنِیٌّ عَنۡکُمۡ ۟ وَلَا یَرۡضٰی لِعِبَادِہِ الۡکُفۡرَ ۚ وَاِنۡ تَشۡکُرُوۡا یَرۡضَہُ لَکُمۡ ؕ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَۃٌ وِّزۡرَ اُخۡرٰی ؕ ثُمَّ اِلٰی رَبِّکُمۡ مَّرۡجِعُکُمۡ فَیُنَبِّئُکُمۡ بِمَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ؕ اِنَّہٗ عَلِیۡمٌۢ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُوۡرِ

"If ye are ungrateful, know that surely Al'lah is Self-Sufficient, being independent of you. And He does not approve of ungratefulness in His servants. But if you show gratitude, it pleases Him to see it in you. No burden-bearer shall bear the burden of another; afterwards you will return to your Lord and He will inform you what you have been doing. Verily, He knows very well what is hidden in the hearts". (39:8)

"Yes! worship Al'lah and be of the grateful." (39:67)

وَوَصَّیۡنَا الۡاِنۡسَانَ بِوَالِدَیۡہِ اِحۡسٰنًا ؕ حَمَلَتۡہُ اُمُّہٗ کُرۡہًا وَّوَضَعَتۡہُ کُرۡہًا ؕ وَحَمۡلُہٗ وَفِصٰلُہٗ ثَلٰثُوۡنَ شَہۡرًا ؕ حَتّٰۤی اِذَا بَلَغَ اَشُدَّہٗ وَبَلَغَ اَرۡبَعِیۡنَ سَنَۃً ۙ قَالَ رَبِّ اَوۡزِعۡنِیۡۤ اَنۡ اَشۡکُرَ نِعۡمَتَکَ الَّتِیۡۤ اَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَیَّ وَعَلٰی وَالِدَیَّ وَاَنۡ اَعۡمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرۡضٰہُ وَاَصۡلِحۡ لِیۡ فِیۡ ذُرِّیَّتِیۡ ۚؕ اِنِّیۡ تُبۡتُ اِلَیۡکَ وَاِنِّیۡ مِنَ الۡمُسۡلِمِیۡنَ

"And We have commanded man to be good to his parents. His mother bears him in pain and stops him in pain. His pregnancy and nursing lasts thirty months, until, when he reaches full maturity, and is forty years old, he says: "My Lord, grant me the ability to be grateful for the favour that You have bestowed on me and my parents; and to be able to do the good deeds that are pleasing to You. And grant that my descendants may be virtuous. I turn to You, for indeed, I am of those who submit to Your will." (46:16)

 

فَاذۡکُرُوۡنِیۡۤ اَذۡکُرۡکُمۡ وَاشۡکُرُوۡا لِیۡ وَلَا تَکۡفُرُوۡنِ 

"Therefore remember Me, and I will remember you; and be thankful and not ungrateful to Me." (2:153)

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا کُلُوۡا مِنۡ طَیِّبٰتِ مَا رَزَقۡنٰکُمۡ وَاشۡکُرُوۡا لِلّٰہِ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ اِیَّاہُ تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ

"O believers! Eat of the good things We have provided for you and give thanks to Al'lah, if it is Him whom you worship" (2:173)

شَہۡرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِیۡۤ اُنۡزِلَ فِیۡہِ الۡقُرۡاٰنُ ہُدًی لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَیِّنٰتٍ مِّنَ الۡہُدٰی وَالۡفُرۡقَانِ ۚ فَمَنۡ شَہِدَ مِنۡکُمُ الشَّہۡرَ فَلۡیَصُمۡہُ ؕ وَمَنۡ کَانَ مَرِیۡضًا اَوۡ عَلٰی سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّۃٌ مِّنۡ اَیَّامٍ اُخَرَ ؕ یُرِیۡدُ اللّٰہُ بِکُمُ الۡیُسۡرَ وَلَا یُرِیۡدُ بِکُمُ الۡعُسۡرَ ۫ وَلِتُکۡمِلُوا الۡعِدَّۃَ وَلِتُکَبِّرُوا اللّٰہَ عَلٰی مَا ہَدٰٮکُمۡ وَلَعَلَّکُمۡ تَشۡکُرُوۡنَ

"The month of Ramadan is the month in which The Quran was brought down as a guide to mankind, with clear proofs of guidance and discernment. Therefore, whoever of you is at home during this month, let him fast there. But whoever is sick or travelling, let him fast the same number of other days. Al'lah desires to give you ease and does not desire for you that which is difficult, and that you may complete the number of days and praise Al'lah for having guided you and that you may be grateful." (2:186)

Truthful testimonies

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا کُوۡنُوۡا قَوّٰمِیۡنَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ شُہَدَآءَ لِلّٰہِ وَلَوۡ عَلٰۤی اَنۡفُسِکُمۡ اَوِ الۡوَالِدَیۡنِ وَالۡاَقۡرَبِیۡنَ ۚ اِنۡ یَّکُنۡ غَنِیًّا اَوۡ فَقِیۡرًا فَاللّٰہُ اَوۡلٰی بِہِمَا ۟ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الۡہَوٰۤی اَنۡ تَعۡدِلُوۡا ۚ وَاِنۡ تَلۡوٗۤا اَوۡ تُعۡرِضُوۡا فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ کَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ خَبِیۡرًا 
 

"O ye who believe! Be strict in the observance of justice, acting as witnesses for the cause of Al'lah, even if it be against yourselves or against your parents and relatives. Whether the person is rich or poor, Al'lah is more attentive to both than you are. So do not follow base desires so that you may act fairly. And if ye conceal the truth or evade it, remember that Al'lah is well acquainted with all that ye do." (4:136)

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا کُوۡنُوۡا قَوّٰمِیۡنَ لِلّٰہِ شُہَدَآءَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ ۫ وَلَا یَجۡرِمَنَّکُمۡ شَنَاٰنُ قَوۡمٍ عَلٰۤی اَلَّا تَعۡدِلُوۡا ؕ اِعۡدِلُوۡا ۟ ہُوَ اَقۡرَبُ لِلتَّقۡوٰی ۫ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ خَبِیۡرٌۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ  

"O ye who believe! Be persevering in the cause of Al'lah as righteous witnesses; and let not the enmity of a people incite you to act unjustly. Be always righteous, for that is nearer to virtue. And fear Al'lah. Verily, Al'lah is aware of what ye do." (5:9)

وَالَّذِیۡنَ لَا یَشۡہَدُوۡنَ الزُّوۡرَ ۙ وَاِذَا مَرُّوۡا بِاللَّغۡوِ مَرُّوۡا کِرَامًا

"And those who do not bear false witness, and when they pass by anything frivolous, they do so with dignity." (25:73)

 Good treatment of employees and neighbours

وَاعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ وَلَا تُشۡرِکُوۡا بِہٖ شَیۡئًا وَّبِالۡوَالِدَیۡنِ اِحۡسَانًا وَّبِذِی الۡقُرۡبٰی وَالۡیَتٰمٰی وَالۡمَسٰکِیۡنِ وَالۡجَارِ ذِی الۡقُرۡبٰی وَالۡجَارِ الۡجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالۡجَنۡۢبِ وَابۡنِ السَّبِیۡلِ ۙ وَمَا مَلَکَتۡ اَیۡمَانُکُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یُحِبُّ مَنۡ کَانَ مُخۡتَالًا فَخُوۡرَا 

"And worship Al'lah and associate nothing with Him and show kindness to parents, to relatives, to orphans and the needy, to the neighbour who is kindred to you and to the stranger, to the companion beside you, to the traveller and to those who possess your right hands. Verily, Al'lah loves neither the proud nor the boastful." (4:37)

لَیۡسَ الۡبِرَّ اَنۡ تُوَلُّوۡا وُجُوۡہَکُمۡ قِبَلَ الۡمَشۡرِقِ وَالۡمَغۡرِبِ وَلٰکِنَّ الۡبِرَّ مَنۡ اٰمَنَ بِاللّٰہِ وَالۡیَوۡمِ الۡاٰخِرِ وَالۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃِ وَالۡکِتٰبِ وَالنَّبِیّٖنَ ۚ وَاٰتَی الۡمَالَ عَلٰی حُبِّہٖ ذَوِی الۡقُرۡبٰی وَالۡیَتٰمٰی وَالۡمَسٰکِیۡنَ وَابۡنَ السَّبِیۡلِ ۙ وَالسَّآئِلِیۡنَ وَفِی الرِّقَابِ ۚ وَاَقَامَ الصَّلٰوۃَ وَاٰتَی الزَّکٰوۃَ ۚ وَالۡمُوۡفُوۡنَ بِعَہۡدِہِمۡ اِذَا عٰہَدُوۡا ۚ وَالصّٰبِرِیۡنَ فِی الۡبَاۡسَآءِ وَالضَّرَّآءِ وَحِیۡنَ الۡبَاۡسِ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ صَدَقُوۡا ؕ وَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡمُتَّقُوۡنَ 

"Piety is not that ye turn your faces to the East or to the West; the truly righteous is he who believes in Al'lah and in the Last Day, and in the angels and in the Book and in the Prophets, and gives his money for love of Him to kinsmen and to orphans, to the needy and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask for charity; and for the ransom of the captives; and he who fulfils the Prayer and pays the Zakat; and those who fulfil their pledge when they make it, and the patient in poverty and in misfortune, and the steadfast and steadfast in time of war; these are they who have shown themselves truthful and who fear God". (2:178)

اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یَاۡمُرُ بِالۡعَدۡلِ وَالۡاِحۡسَانِ وَاِیۡتَآیِٔ ذِی الۡقُرۡبٰی وَیَنۡہٰی عَنِ الۡفَحۡشَآءِ وَالۡمُنۡکَرِ وَالۡبَغۡیِ ۚ یَعِظُکُمۡ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَذَکَّرُوۡنَ 

"Verily, Al'lah commands you to abide in righteousness and to deal kindly, and to give as one gives to kinsmen; and He forbids obscenity, manifest wickedness and transgression. He exhorts you so that you may come to the reckoning." (16:91)

فَاٰتِ ذَا الۡقُرۡبٰی حَقَّہٗ وَالۡمِسۡکِیۡنَ وَابۡنَ‌ السَّبِیۡلِ ؕ ذٰلِکَ خَیۡرٌ لِّلَّذِیۡنَ یُرِیۡدُوۡنَ وَجۡہَ اللّٰہِ ۫ وَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ

"So give to the kinsman what is due to him, and to the needy and the wayfarer, That is best for those who seek the favour of Al'lah; and it is they who will prosper." (30:39)

(To be continued in installment 31)