Justice – the quality of being morally just – is the most important quality because it is only through the application of justice that freedom, happiness and truth can exist. The notion of justice incorporates the concepts of impartiality and equal treatment for all.
Today in our series of posts on Selected verses from Qur'an, we share the 85th verse of Surah 7. Al-A'raf, which though is attributed to Prophet Shu'ayb, an ancient Midianite prophet, who had stressed upon his people to worship one true God and asked them to do justice and not to spread corruption on earth. The purpose of sharing the verse is not to recall the people of Madyan and the prophet sent to them. The purpose in fact is to draw attention to all believers to four points mentioned in the verse, these are, for these are as applicable today as these were at the time of revelation:
- Worship God alone: you have no deity other than Him.
- Give, therefore, full measure and weight [in all your dealings,
- and do not deprive people of what is rightfully theirs;
- and do not spread corruption on earth after it has been so well ordered: [all] this is for your own good, if you would but believe
وَاِلٰى مَدۡيَنَ اَخَاهُمۡ شُعَيۡبًا ؕ قَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ مَا لَـكُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰهٍ غَيۡرُهٗ ؕ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡكُمۡ بَيِّنَةٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّكُمۡ فَاَوۡفُوا الۡكَيۡلَ وَالۡمِيۡزَانَ وَلَا تَبۡخَسُوا النَّاسَ اَشۡيَآءَهُمۡ وَلَا تُفۡسِدُوۡا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ اِصۡلَاحِهَا ؕ ذٰ لِكُمۡ خَيۡرٌ لَّـكُمۡ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ مُّؤۡمِنِيۡنَ ۚ
AND UNTO [the people of] Madyan [We sent] their brother Shu'ayb. He said: "O my people! Worship God alone: you have no deity other than Him. Clear evidence of the truth has now come unto you from your Sustainer. Give, therefore, full measure and weight [in all your dealings, and do not deprive people of what is rightfully theirs; and do not spread corruption on earth after it has been so well ordered: [all] this is for your own good, if you would but believe.
We will skip the details of people of Madyan upon whom Prophet Shu'ayb was sent and will discuss the details separately when writing exclusive post on Prophet Shu'ayb. Here we will restrict ourselves to the commandment of Allah regarding ills prevailing gin the society and the revered prophet cautioning them to desist from these.
Since people of Madyan were traders by profession, their moral misconduct manifested itself in the form of dishonesty in weighing and measuring. This was an indication of the fact that the whole nation had become devoid of the concept of justice and fairness and also of the belief that God’s universe is based on these concepts. Here Prophet Shu`aib wanted to draw their attention particularly to this: "You should not corrupt by your wrong beliefs and immoral ways the Right Way of life that had been established by the former Prophets."
The fact that the Prophet appeals to their Faith shows that they themselves professed to be Believers. They were corrupt Muslims, who, though involved in wrong beliefs and misconduct, not only professed to be "believers" but also were proud of this. That is why the Prophet appealed to them, "If you are true believers, you should judge good and evil by the standard of the righteous and honest people, and not by the standards of those worldly people who do not believe in Allah and the Hereafter. "
Qur'an Wiki:
Compared to the other accounts given in this Sūrah, we note that this one is rather longer because, in addition to the question of faith, it includes a reference to business transactions. Nevertheless, the account follows the same pattern of concentration on the main issues.
“And to Madyan [We sent] their brother Shu`ayb. He said: ‘My people, worship God alone: you have no deity other than Him.’” (Verse 85) It is the same, consistent basis of the divine faith that admits no change or modification. But then we have some details about the message of the new Prophet, starting with a statement: “Clear evidence of the truth has come to you from your Lord.” (Verse 85)
The sūrah does not mention the type of that clear proof or its nature, as it did in the account given of the history of the Prophet Şāliĥ. Nor can we ascertain its nature from the other accounts of this history given in other sūrahs. We are simply told that clear proof was given to the Prophet Shu`ayb, confirming his statement that he had been sent by God. Clear evidence of the truth has been shown to them as the basis of the commandments given to them by their prophet. These required them to give full and just measure and weight, refrain from spreading corruption on earth and from threatening people as they go about their business. And to stop their efforts to persuade believers to change their faith.
We understand from these injunctions that Shu`ayb’s people were unbelievers who associated partners with God and did not implement in their own dealings the divine law which ensures justice for all. Instead, they devised their own rules and regulations for their business transactions. It may be that in this particular aspect that they associated partners with God, and that made them very unpleasant to deal with in business. In addition, they were the perpetrators of corruption, threatening people and preventing them from attending to their business. They were also wrongdoers, trying to turn those who believe away from their faith, making it difficult for them to follow the right path and trying to show God’s straight path as crooked.
Shu`ayb begins by calling on them to worship God alone, submitting to His authority over every aspect of their lives, and attributing Godhead purely to Him alone. Shu`ayb knows that this forms the basis that gives rise to every good system and deals with every situation. It also forms the basis for regulations governing personal behaviour, morals and human dealings. He seeks to give more effectiveness to his admonition by certain reminders which, to them, must have been particularly inspiring, recalling to their minds some of God’s blessings.
Now if we just look around and correlate this verse to our society and even the entire world, we see all these ills still prevailing and men and big nations are usurping rights of the poor and making huge profits, filling their coffers and being in a state completely devoid of fear of Allah and the impending punishment for the criminal acts in this worldly life.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from following sources:
- Towards Understanding the Quran
- Tafsir Ibn Khatir
- Muhammad Asad Translation
- Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
- Al-Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation
- Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.
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1 comments:
No doubt....the surrah....has been explicitly explained.....to highlight moral misconducts...prevailing in the people of Madyan.....to whom prophet Shu'ayb was sent as messenger of Allah .... May Allah reward you for your efforts in....simplifying the subject for understanding of....commoners...
Sadly these sickening moral attributes are being practised in today's society of our's with out any guilt too.
Asim jelani
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