Human beings
have three interdependent aspects:- thought, motives and action. Connected with
these we have three aspects of life, namely knowledge, values and meanings also
inter-dependent. The notions of Truth, Goodness and Usefulness (or Power) are
connected with this, and these are attributes of Allah, the ultimate
fundamental Reality and source of all things. Therefore, that Existence as seen
by Islam is not the dead Physical Universe as seen by science where supposedly
only facts matter - there are no facts which are not interpreted and have no
value. Religion, Islam (surrender to Allah), is a consciously constructed,
purposive way of life as opposed to one that is accidental, unconscious and
haphazard. Here purpose means having a function towards a greater system. Being
a complete way of life, it has these three aspects. When things are applied,
they must be applied to particular things and in a particular environment. A
distinction then also arises in religion between the aim, the method and the
form.
The purpose of
Religion is the spiritual development of man. To do this, religions provide (1)
A doctrine, which gives it a theoretical or philosophical justification. (2)
Instructions or Commandments, which create the ethics, designed to modify
motives that govern behaviour so as to achieve the results. Without the
efforts, and channelling of energy based on these values, there can be no
direction of development. (3) Religious practices, which constitute a
methodology or techniques. These three, however, are interdependent and not
wholly separate. The Doctrines, for instance, can be regarded as an ethics of
thought and a technique for modifying the world view such that it provides a
framework within which all experiences can be interpreted in a unified
self-consistent manner. The religious practices such as prayer can have no
meaning without the doctrine and are the means for establishing the ethics. The
ethics leads to the transformation of behaviour and interaction within a
society as well as with the environment. This not only changes experience but
also modifies the person so as to change perception, thoughts and the
worldview. Religion can have different forms according to how it is formulated,
organized and practised and this may depend on the times, places and nature of
the people (22:67, 14:4).
Religions are
distinguished by their different practices. The ethical teachings of all
religions are more or less the same and seldom lead to disputes except in so
far as the emphasis or priority is different. Controversies between different
religions are usually about doctrines. These may be understood differently in
different places and ages owing to the changes in language and conditions of
life. If, however, attention is focused on the aim of religion rather than on
its different methods and forms, then no disputes of any kind would exist.
Previous
articles in this series about Islam dealt with doctrines and practices. Here
attention will be placed on the commandments. These are much more direct and
require little or no commentary. They are also much wider in scope than can be
found in other scriptures. The following is a list of some the important
commandments. From this Muslims can judge what their aims should be and how far
they have achieved them. Non-Muslims readers may assess what exactly their
objections to Islam could be and whether these are valid.
6:152. Say:
Come! I will recite what your Lord has made a sacred duty for you - that ye may
ascribe no partner unto Him; that you do good to your parents; and that you
slay not your children because of poverty, for We will provide for you and
them; and that you draw not nigh to lewd sins, either apparent or concealed;
and kill not the life, which Allah hath made sacred save in the course of
justice; this is what Allah commands you, haply ye may understand.
6:153. And draw
not nigh unto the property of the orphan, except to improve it, until he
reaches full age; and give weight and measure with justice - We place not a
greater burden on the soul than he can bear - and when ye speak (or give your
word), then speak justly (or do it justice), even if it be against a near
relative; and fulfil the covenant with Allah. This He commands you that haply
ye may be mindful.
6:154. Verily,
this is My Straight Way; so follow it. Follow not other ways, lest ye part
yourselves from His way. This is what He has ordained for you, haply ye may
fear (and avoid evil)!
4:36. And serve
Allah; associate nothing with Him; show kindness to parents, and to kindred,
and orphans, and the needy, and to the neighbour who is a kin, and the
neighbour who is a stranger, and the fellow traveller, and the wayfarer, and
those whom your right hands possess (slaves, animals etc.). Verily, Allah loves
not him who is proud and boastful;
4:37. Those who
hoard their wealth and bid men avarice, and who hide what Allah has given them
of His Bounty, We have prepared for the misbelievers a shameful woe.
4:38. And for
those who expend their wealth in alms for appearance sake before men, and who
believe not in Allah nor in the last day. Whosoever takes Satan for his mate,
an evil mate has he.
2:275-276. Those
who devour usury shall not rise again, save as he riseth whom Satan hath
paralyzed with a touch; and that is because they say "trade is only like
usury," but Allah has made selling lawful and usury unlawful; and he to
whom the admonition from his Lord has come, if he desists, he can keep his past
gains: his matter is in Allah's hands. But whosoever returns (to usury) these
are the fellows of the Fire, and they shall dwell therein. Allah has cursed
usury, but made charity fruitful, for Allah loves not the ungrateful and
faithless.
4:135. O ye who
believe! Be ye steadfast in justice, witnesses for Allah, though it be against
yourselves, or your parents, or your kindred, be it rich or poor, for Allah is
nearer akin than either. Follow not, then, lusts, so as to act unjustly (or
with bias); but if ye swerve or turn aside, Allah is well Aware of what you do.
33:36. And it behoves
not a believing man and a believing woman that they should have any choice in
their matter when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter; and whoever
disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he surely goes astray in manifest error.
4:59. O ye who
believe! obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those in authority amongst you;
and if ye dispute (quarrel or argue) about anything, refer to Allah and the
Messenger, if ye ( in truth) believe in Allah and the Last Day; that is better
and fairer in the end.
18:29. Restrain
thyself with those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, desiring His
countenance (or nearness and intimacy), and let not thine eyes be turned from
them, desiring the adornment (and pomp) of the life of this world; and obey not
him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, and who follows his
own lusts, and whose affair has been abandoned.
7:199-200. Hold
to forgiveness, and command what is kind, and shun the ignorant. And if an
incitement from the devil wound thee, then seek refuge in Allah: verily, He is
Hearer and Knower.
2:263. A kind
word with forgiveness is better than almsgiving followed by injury. Allah is
Absolute, Clement.
23:96. Repel
evil with that which is better.
28:54. These
will be given their reward twice over, because they are steadfast and repel
evil with good, and spend of that wherewith We have provided them.
41:34-36. The good deed and the evil deed are
not alike. Repel the evil deed with one that is better, then lo! he, between
whom and you there was enmity will become as though he was a bosom friend. But
none is granted it save those who are steadfast, and none is granted it save
the owner of great happiness. And if a whisper from the devil reach thee then
seek refuge in Allah. Lo! He is Hearer, the Knower.
17:23. Thy Lord
has decreed that ye serve none other than Him; and that ye show kindness to
parents. If one or both of them reach old age with thee; say not unto them,
"Fie!", nor repulse them, but speak to them graciously and kindly.
17.24. And lower
to them the wing of humility out of compassion, and say, "O Lord! have
compassion on them both for they did take care of me when I was little!"
17:25. Your Lord
is best aware of what is in your souls. If ye be righteous, lo!, He was ever
Forgiving unto those who turn back penitent.
17:26. And give
thy kinsman his due and the needy and the son of the road (wayfarer); and
squander (waste) not your wealth in wantonness.
17:27. Lo! The
squanderers were ever brothers of the devil; and the devil is ever ungrateful
to his Lord.
17:28. But if
thou dost turn away from them to seek after mercy from thy Lord, which thou
hopest for, then speak to them in easy words (kindly and reasonably).
17:29. Let not
thy hand be fettered to thy neck (i.e. selfish and tight fisted), nor yet
spread it out quite open, lest thou shouldst have to sit down blamed and
destitute.
17:30. Verily,
thy Lord spreads out provision to whomsoever He will or He restricts it.
Verily, He is ever Knower and Seer of his servants.
17:31. And slay
not your children for fear of poverty; We will provide for them and for you.
Beware! for to slay them is ever a Great Sin.
17:32. And draw
not near to adultery (and fornication); verily, it is ever an abomination, and
evil is the way thereof ( it opens the way to other evils).
17:33. And slay
not the soul that Allah has forbidden you ( or made sacred), except for just
cause; for he who is slain unjustly We have given authority to his heirs (or
kin), yet let him not commit excess in slaying; verily, he will be helped.
17:34. And draw
not near to the wealth of the orphan, save to improve it, until he reaches the
age of puberty, and fulfil your covenants (or agreements, contracts etc.).
Verily, of the covenant it will be asked (to judge).
17:35. And give
full measure when ye measure out, and weigh with a right balance; that is
better and fairer in the final determination.
17:36. And
follow (or pursue) not that of which thou hast no knowledge; verily, the
hearing, the sight, and the heart, of all of these it shall be asked (to give
an account).
17:37. And walk
not on the earth proudly (insolently); verily, thou canst not rend the earth
asunder, nor canst thou stretch to the height of the mountains.
17:38. All this
evil is abhorrent in the sight of thy Lord.
17:39. These are
among the things of wisdom which thy Lord has inspired thee with. Take not then
with Allah other gods (objects of worship), lest thou shouldst be thrown into
Hell reproached and outcast (rejected).
34:46. Say: I
exhort you only to one thing that ye awake for Allah's sake (or stand up before
Allah) in twos or singly.
3:92. You cannot
attain to righteousness until you spend freely of what ye love. But what ye
spend, of that Allah is aware.
42:36. So
whatever thing you are given, that is only a provision of the life of this
world, and that which is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who
believe and put their trust in their Lord.
42:37. And those
who shun the great sins and indecencies, and whenever they are angry they
forgive.
42:38. And those
who respond to their Lord and establish prayer, and those who conduct their
affairs by mutual consultation, and who spend out of what We have given them.
42:39. And those
who, when great wrong afflicts them, defend themselves.
42:40. And the
recompense of evil is punishment like it, but whoever forgives and amends, he
shall have his reward from Allah; surely He does not love the unjust.
42:41. And
whoever defends himself after he has been wronged (or been oppressed), for such
there is no blame against them.
42:42. The blame
is only against those who oppress men and revolt (insolently exceed all bounds)
in the earth unjustly; these shall have a painful punishment.
42:43. And
whoever is patient and forgiving, these most surely are actions of courage and
resolution.
49:1. O you who
believe! Be not forward in the presence of Allah and His Apostle, and be
careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is Hearing, Knowing.
49:2-5. O you
who believe! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, and do not
speak loud to him as you speak loud to one another, lest your deeds became null
while you do not perceive. Surely those who lower their voices before Allah's
Messenger are they whose hearts Allah has proved for righteousness (or guarding
against evil); they shall have forgiveness and a great reward. As for those who
call out to thee from behind the private apartments, surely most of them
understand not. And if they wait patiently until thou camest out to them, it
would certainly be better for them, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
49:6. O you who
believe! if an evil-doer comes to you with a report, look carefully into it,
lest you harm a people in ignorance, then be sorry for what you have done.
49:7. And know
that among you is Allah's Messenger; should he obey you in many a matter, you
would surely fall into distress, but Allah has endeared the faith to you and
has made it seemly in your hearts, and He has made hateful to you misbelief and
transgression and disobedience; these it is that walk in righteousness,
49:8. It is a
grace and a favour from Allah; and Allah is Knowing, Wise.
49:9. And if two
parties of the believers quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them
transgresses beyond bounds against the other, then fight ye all against the one
which transgresses until it returns to the commands of Allah; then if it
returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allah
loves those who are equitable.
49:10. The
believers are naught else but brethren, therefore make peace between your
brethren and be careful of your duty to Allah that mercy may be had on you.
49:11. O you who
believe! Let not one people deride (or ridicule) another people perchance they
may be better than they, nor let women deride other women, perchance they may
be better than they; and do not find fault with (or defame) your own people nor
insult one another by (offensive) nicknames; evil is a bad name after faith,
and whoever does not desist, these it is that are the unjust.
49:12. O you who
believe! Avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin,
and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat
the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be careful of (your duty
to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft relenting, Merciful.
13:19-24.
...Such as keep the pact of Allah, and break not the covenant; Such as unite
that which Allah has commanded should be joined, and fear their Lord, and dread
a woeful reckoning, such as persevere in seeking their Lord's countenance and
are regular in prayer and spend of that which We bestow upon them secretly and
openly, and overcome evil with good, theirs will be the sequel of the Heavenly
Home....
4:1. O mankind!
Be careful of your duty to your Lord, who created you from one soul, and
created there from its mate, and scattered from the twain a multitude of men
and women. Be careful of your duty towards Allah, in whose name ye claim rights
of one another, and the wombs that bore you; verily, Allah is Watcher over you,
4:2. And give unto the orphans their property,
and give them not the vile in exchange for the good, and devour not their
property into your own property; verily, that would be a great sin.
4:3. But if ye fear that ye cannot do justice
by orphans, then marry women who seem good to you, two, three, or four; and if
ye fear that ye cannot be equitable to them, then only one, or what your right
hands possess (captives, slaves, animals). This is more likely to keep you from
injustice.
4:4. And give women their dowries freely; and
if they of their own will remit any of it, then accept and enjoy it with good
cheer.
4:5. But give not unto the weak-minded the
property which Allah has entrusted to you to maintain; but feed and clothe them
from it, and speak words of kindness and justice to them.
2:177.
Righteousness is not that ye turn your faces towards the East or the West, but
it is righteousness to believe in Allah, and the Last Day, and the Angels, and
the Book, and the Messengers, and to spend of your wealth for love of Him, for
your kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, for those who ask,
and to ransom those in captivity; and to be steadfast in prayer, and practice
regular charity; to fulfil the covenant (contracts) which ye have made; and to
be firm in patience in times of pain (poverty and deprivation), and adversity,
and in periods of panic (or violence); these are the people who are true, and
these are those who are Allah-fearing.
2:219. They will
ask thee about wine and gambling, say, "In them both is great sin and some
profit to men; but the sin of both is greater than the profit of the
same." They will ask thee what they shall expend in alms: says, "The
surplus (what is beyond need)." Thus does Allah manifest to you His signs;
haply ye may reflect
2:220. On this
life and the Hereafter! They will ask thee about orphans: say, "It is best
to do what improves their lot." But if ye mingle their affairs with yours
- they are your brethren, and Allah knows him who means mischief from him who
means well; and if Allah wills He could surely put you into trouble. Verily,
Allah is Mighty, Wise.
2:221. Wed not
with idolatrous women until they believe, for surely a believing handmaid is
better than an idolatrous woman, even though she please you. And wed not to
idolatrous men until they believe, for a believing slave is better than an
idolater, even though he please you. These invite you to the fire, but Allah
invites you to paradise and to pardon by His Grace, and makes clear His signs
to mankind; haply they may remember.
33:70. O you who
believe! Be careful of your duty to Allah and speak straight to the point.
3:16-17. Those
who say, "Lord, I do, indeed, believe, forgive Thou our sins and keep us
from the torment of the fire," Those who show patient, firmness and
self-control, the truthful in word and deed, the devout in worship, and those
who spend, and pray for forgiveness at dawn.
24:22. And let
not those amongst you who have plenty (dignity and ease and ample means) swear
that they will not give aught to their kinsman and the needy and those who are
fugitives from their homes in the cause of Allah, but let them forgive and show
indulgence. Yearn ye not that Allah should forgive you? Allah is Forgiving,
Merciful.
24:23. Verily,
those who slander (cast aspersions) on virtuous (or chaste) women who have been
careless but believing, shall be cursed in this world and the Hereafter; theirs
will be an awful doom.
24:26. Vile
women are for vile men, and vile men for vile women. Good women are for good
men, and good men for good women, such are innocent of what people say; for
them is forgiveness and a noble provision.
24:27-29. O ye
who believe! Enter not into houses which are not your own, until ye have asked
permission (announced your presence) and saluted (invoked peace on) the people
thereof. That is better for you; haply ye may be mindful. And if ye find no one
therein, then enter not until permission is given you, and if it be said unto
you, "Go away." then go away, for it is purer for you; Allah knows
what ye do. It is no crime against you that ye enter uninhabited houses,
wherein is comfort for you; but Allah knows what ye proclaim and what ye hide.
24:30. Say to
the believing men that they cast down their looks and guard their modesty; that
is purer for them; verily, Allah is well aware of what they do.
2:282. O ye who
believe! if ye contract a debt for a stated time, then write it down, and let a
scribe faithfully record it in writing between you in equity; nor let a scribe
refuse to write as Allah taught him, but let him write, and let him who owes
dictate; but let him fear Allah his Lord, and diminish nothing there from; but
if he who owes be of low understanding, or weak, or cannot dictate himself,
then let the guardian of his interests (or agent) dictate faithfully in
justice. And call two witnesses out from amongst their men; or if two men not
be at hand, then a man and two women, from those whom he approves as witnesses,
so that if one of the two should err, the second of the two may remind the
other. And let not the witnesses refuse when they are summoned; and let them
not tire of writing it, be it small or great, with the terms of payment. That
is more just in the sight of Allah, and more upright for testimony, and brings
you nearer to avoiding doubt. Unless, indeed, it be actual merchandise (or
ready-money) which you transfer between you hand to hand. In that case it is no
sin against you that ye do not write it down; but bring witnesses to what ye
sell one to another, and let not either scribe or witness come to harm; for if
ye do, it will be an abomination in you. Observe your duty to Allah, for Allah
is teaching you, and Allah is Knower of all things.
6:142. He it is
who brought forth gardens with trailing and untrailing vines, and the palms and
corn land, with various food, and olives, and pomegranates, alike and unlike.
Eat from the fruit thereof whenever it fruits, and bring the dues thereof on
the harvest day, and be not wasters (greedy or extravagant). Verily, He loves
not the wasters.
7:56. Work not
confusion (or mischief or evil) in the earth after it has been rightly ordered,
and call upon Him with fear and hope (longing and earnestness); for, verily,
the mercy of Allah is nigh unto those who do well.
92:4-11. Verily,
your efforts are diverse! But as for him who gives alms and fears Allah, and
believes in goodness, We will ease his way to ease! But as for him who is
niggardly and thinks himself independent (or self-sufficient), and calls the
good a lie, We will ease his way to misery (adversity)! And his wealth shall
not avail him when he falls down (into hell)!"
90:12-18. And
what will explain to thee the ascent? It is freeing captives ( or prisoners,
slaves, the restricted or bound), or feeding on the day of privation, an orphan
who is a kin, or a destitute lying in the dust (misery); and again (it is) to
be of those who believe and encourage each other to patience, and encourage
each other to mercy, these are the fellows of the right!
76:7-9. Because
they fulfil their vows and fear a day the evil of which spreads far and wide.
And they give food out of love for Allah to the poor and the orphan and the
captive: (saying) We only feed you for Allah's sake; we desire from you neither
reward nor thanks.
3:103. Hold fast, all together, to the cable
of Allah, and do not separate (divide or part in sects); but remember the
favours of Allah towards you, when ye were enemies and He made friendship
between your hearts, and on the morrow ye became brothers, by His grace. Ye
were on the edge of an abyss of fire, but He rescued you there from. Thus does
Allah show to you His revelations; perchance ye may be guided;
3:104. And that there may spring from you a
nation who invite to goodness, and bid right conduct, and forbid what is wrong
(or indecent); these are the successful.
3:105. Be not like those who parted in sects
and disagreed after there came to them manifest signs; for them is mighty woe.