بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

This is the 2nd post in the series of posts regarding ‘Dos and Don’ts’ as instructed in Al-Quran. The idea is that readers can read, understand and try to implement these orders of Al-Quran in their lives.  Salat/Prayers is an excellent way of reciting and repeating Allah’s ayahs. To make salat more beneficial it would serve one better if one tries to understand the ayahs containing orders of Allah,  recite them in salat and implement them in one’s life style.

Importance of just Witness:

6:152  وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۖ وَأَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ وَالْمِيزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُوا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ ۖ وَبِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ أَوْفُوا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

And do not come near the orphan’s money/property, except with a noble way, until he attains the age of full strength; And complete measurement and balance with justice;- We don’t burden any nafs/one, but according to its capacity;- and when you speak, speak justly, even if a near relative is concerned; and fulfil the covenant of Allah. thus He enjoins you, so that you may remember.

The important points to consider in above Ayat are; 1) to be very careful with the portion of orphans and return their rightful portion to them when they attain maturity, 2) Do all transactions with justice, 3) whenever you speak or give witness be just and don’t take undue side even of near relatives. 

No siding or bending towards any side when giving witness, even when one side belong to your kith and kin and faith. The witness should always be truly just. 

Bribery

Don’t bribe officials and don’t eat other people wealth with falsehood.

2:188   وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا بِهَا إِلَى الْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا فَرِيقًا مِّنْ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ بِالْإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

And do not consume each other’s wealth with falsehood, nor offer it to people in authority with intent of usurping unlawfully and knowingly a part of the wealth of others.

Ridicule:

49:11  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُونُوا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَاءٌ مِّن نِّسَاءٍ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُنَّ ۖ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا بِالْأَلْقَابِ ۖ بِئْسَ الِاسْمُ الْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ الْإِيمَانِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

O ye who believe! Let not some nation among you laugh at others. It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former). Nor let some women laugh at others. It may be that the (latter are better than the (former). Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames. Reviling/bad names after (attaining) faith is really bad. And those who do not desist are (indeed) the Zalimun/wrongdoers.

Very important instruction, do not ridicule, be sarcastic and invent bad nicknames for other people. Swearing and reviling are strictly prohibited after attainment of faith. In fact its a good way to recognize believers from non believers. Believers would never bad mouth or use bad language after attaining faith from ayahs of Allah.

Treatment of children of unknown fathers:

33:4-5  مَّا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِرَجُلٍ مِّن قَلْبَيْنِ فِي جَوْفِهِ ۚ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَزْوَاجَكُمُ اللَّائِي تُظَاهِرُونَ مِنْهُنَّ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَدْعِيَاءَكُمْ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ قَوْلُكُم بِأَفْوَاهِكُمْ ۖ وَاللَّهُ يَقُولُ الْحَقَّ وَهُوَ يَهْدِي السَّبِيلَ  ادْعُوهُمْ لِآبَائِهِمْ هُوَ أَقْسَطُ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن لَّمْ تَعْلَمُوا آبَاءَهُمْ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَمَوَالِيكُمْ ۚ وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا أَخْطَأْتُم بِهِ وَلَٰكِن مَّا تَعَمَّدَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his breast, nor has He made your wives/pairs whom ye declare (by Zihar) your mothers. Nor has He made your called ones your sons. Such is (only) your words by your mouths, but Allah tells the Truth, and He shows the (right) way.  Call them by (the names of) their fathers, that is more just in the sight of Allah. But if you don’t know not their fathers then they are your brothers in Din/judgment, and your allies. But there is no blame on you if ye make a (un-intentional) slip therein, (what counts is) the intention of your hearts and Allah is oft-Returning, most Merciful.

Those people whose fathers are not known, the society often treats them with disdain and hatred and abuses them with bad words such as ‘illegitimate children’ etc. The above two ayahs make it clear that they should be treated as your brothers in Din/Judgment and very much like part of the society.

Stereotyping

Jumping to conclusions on the basis of preconceived notions and stereotyping, without proper investigation, is obviously not a good practice. Before making your mind and decision, its imperative to investigate and gather necessary knowledge about the case.

Al-Kitab mentions an incident with Prophet Dawood (A.S) when two men went to him to get his decision on a matter of dispute with them. The first man related the matter to prophet Dawood A.S, that his brother owned 99 sheep while he himself had only one sheep. But his brother is still not satisfied with his 99 sheep and wants to get his brother’s single sheep as well. He said that his brother is better in communication skills then he is and in arguments he is able to overpower him. On hearing the story of the man, Prophet Dawood told the man’s brother that indeed you have been unjust to your brother by asking him for his only sheep and that many of the partners in business are unjust to one another except for those who believed and corrected themselves who are very few.

As soon as prophet Dawood said these words he realized that he was in a test by Allah with this incident and obviously erred by jumping to implied conclusion without making proper investigation. He instantly prostrated and asked forgiveness from Allah.

38:22 When they entered the presence of David, and he felt fear from them, they said. “Fear not. we are two disputants, one of whom has wronged the other. Decide now between us with truth, and treat us not with injustice, but guide us to the even Path.”

38:23 “This man is my brother. He has nine and ninety ewes, and I have (but) one. Yet he says, ‘commit her to my care,’ and is (moreover) harsh to me in speech.”

38:33 (David) said. “He has undoubtedly wronged thee in demanding your (single) ewe to be added to his (flock of) ewes. truly many are the partners (in business) who wrong each other. Not so do those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and how few are they?”…and David gathered that We had tried him. he asked forgiveness of his Lord, fell down, bowing (in prostration), and turned (to Allah in repentance).