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Showing posts with label Verse 84. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Verse 84. Show all posts

Thursday, 2 January 2025

Prohibited means of earning in Islam - Diminishing measures and weights

In one of our previous posts, Prohibited means of earning in Islam, we mentioned a number of means that are prohibited to earning money, or so MORE money, so to say. One such means is cheating customers by not ensuring complete weights and measures and thus selling less their commodities under weight but taking full money. This is something that is one of the most detestable act by Allah and such people have been waned of grave consequences.

This is very unfortunate that this ill practice continues since time immemorial and even many Muslim traders and vendors are engaged in such dealings and cheating their customers to earn a few dollars more, completely forgetting their fate when they will be presented in the Divine court on the Day of Judgement and asked why did they cheat their customers to earn more.

In the 84th verse of Surah 11. Hud of the Qur'an, mention of such people has been made:
وَاِلٰى مَدۡيَنَ اَخَاهُمۡ شُعَيۡبًا​ ؕ قَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ مَا لَـكُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰهٍ غَيۡرُهٗ ​ؕ وَلَا تَـنۡقُصُوا الۡمِكۡيَالَ وَالۡمِيۡزَانَ​ اِنِّىۡۤ اَرٰٮكُمۡ بِخَيۡرٍ وَّاِنِّىۡۤ اَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ مُّحِيۡطٍ‏  
(11:84) And to (the people of) Midian We sent their brother Shu'ayb. He said: 'My people! Serve Allah; you have no god other than Him. And do not diminish the measure and weight. Indeed I see that you are prospering now, but I fear for you the chastisement of an encompassing day in the future.

Context of the Verse: The people of Midian were known for their prosperity but also for their unethical behavior, especially in trade. They had wealth and success, but they were also engaging in fraudulent practices such as cheating in measurements and weights, which is seen as a violation of fairness and justice. They also worshipped idols and engaged in other forms of social injustice.

Shu'ayb was sent to guide them back to righteousness, urging them to turn to Allah alone, to stop their dishonest practices, and to prepare for the inevitable reckoning of the Hereafter. Despite his efforts, the majority of the people rejected him, and as a result, they faced the divine punishment.

"And do not diminish the measure and weight.":
This part of the verse refers to a specific form of corruption that the people of Midian were engaged in: dishonesty in trade. They would cheat others by giving less than what was owed in terms of weight or measurement, thus exploiting others for personal gain.

The prohibition of diminishing measures and weights is a general principle of justice and fairness in all transactions. It highlights that corrupt practices in business, like dishonesty in trade, are condemned in Islam and lead to social and economic harm.

For this very reason, the people of Midian were warned: "Indeed I see that you are prospering now, but I fear for you the chastisement of an encompassing day in the future.": Prophet Shu'ayb acknowledges the material prosperity of his people at the time. They were wealthy and had success in their trade, but he cautions them that this prosperity would not save them from divine punishment if they continued in their sinful ways.

The "chastisement of an encompassing day" refers to the day of judgment or the punishment that would befall them in the future due to their moral corruption, greed, and rejection of the divine message. The term "encompassing day" suggests that the punishment would be vast, comprehensive, and all-encompassing, affecting everyone who persisted in wrongdoing.

There is an incident where a merchant came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) complaining about a dishonest trader in the marketplace. The dishonest merchant was using inaccurate measures to shortchange customers, specifically in terms of weight and measure. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) condemned this practice severely. He said, "Woe to the one who cheats in business." Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized that the wrongdoer would face punishment on the Day of Judgment and that any form of cheating in business, especially with weights and measures, is a grave sin. "Whoever cheats is not one of us," he said, indicating the importance of fairness in business dealings. The Prophet made it clear that dishonesty in trade is a serious violation of ethical and religious principles.

Let us also read another Hadith, reported by Narrated Abu Huraira and as mentioned in Sahi Al Bukhari as Hadith number 2358: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "There are three persons whom Allah will not look at on the Day of Resurrection, nor will he purify them and theirs shall be a severe punishment. They are: -1. A man possessed superfluous water, on a way and he withheld it from travelers. -2. A man who gave a pledge of allegiance to a ruler and he gave it only for worldly benefits. If the ruler gives him something he gets satisfied, and if the ruler withholds something from him, he gets dissatisfied. -3. And man displayed his goods for sale after the `Asr prayer and he said, 'By Allah, except Whom None has the right to be worshipped, I have been given so much for my goods,' and somebody believes him (and buys them). The Prophet (ﷺ) then recited: "Verily! Those who purchase a little gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant and their oaths." (3.77) 

Key Messages from the Verse:
  • Monotheism: Worship Allah alone and reject all false gods.
  • Honesty in Trade: Always be fair in your transactions, not cheating or manipulating weights and measures.
  • Accountability in the Hereafter: Material prosperity does not protect from divine judgment. If one persists in wrongdoing, they will face the consequences, regardless of their current worldly success.
  • Divine Punishment: There is a warning about the future consequences for those who reject divine guidance and live in corruption.
Relevance to Today:
  • This verse serves as a timeless reminder to be honest in dealings, maintain integrity in business, and remember that material success is temporary. 
  • True prosperity is found in living in accordance with divine principles and being mindful of accountability in the Hereafter. 
  • The verse also calls for vigilance against societal corruption and injustice, as these lead to collective harm and divine wrath.
Let us, our Muslim brethren adhere to complete weights and measures and not cheat others to earn Haram / prohibited means of income and be contend with less that is Halal and please Allah, rather than adding Haram to our earning and calling for the Divine anger and severe accountability in the Hereafter.

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.

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.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

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.

You may like to read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Ref Page: Prohibited means of earning in Islam

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'anYou may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
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An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses 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 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. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Tuesday, 7 June 2022

Everyone acts in his peculiar manner - but your Lord is fully aware who has chosen the best path

There is only path that leads to ultimate truth - a path only to be found by men of true faith and belief in one true God. Now it is up to man to seek and find that straight path and continue to follow it for it leads to salvation. There are many distractions en route and the evil forces do their utmost to waver the man from following it and get him distracted. But men of faith do not hear the evil calls and are sure that if the wicked go their own ways, there is nothing to discourage him. It is their nature. We must seek and hold fast to true guidance.

This is the theme of the 84th verse of Surah 17. Al Israa (The Ascend, also called Surah Bani Israel). We have shared the explanation of the verse by various Muslim scholars that amply highlight the meaning of this verse. But please scroll down to the end and listen to an enlightening commentary on this verse by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan.

In fact in this verse, there is an implicit warning as to the results of approaches and deeds. Hence, everyone needs to heed the warnings and strive to follow the path of divine guidance which is available to all:

قُلۡ كُلٌّ يَّعۡمَلُ عَلٰى شَاكِلَتِهٖؕ فَرَبُّكُمۡ اَعۡلَمُ بِمَنۡ هُوَ اَهۡدٰى سَبِيۡلًا
(17:84) Say, (O Prophet): "Everyone acts in a manner peculiar to himself - and your Lord is fully aware as to who has chosen the best path."

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir
(Say: "Each one does according to Shakilatihi...'') Ibn `Abbas said, "According to his inclinations.'' Mujahid said, "According to his inclinations and his nature.'' Qatadah said, "According to his intentions.'' Ibn Zayd said, "According to his religion.'' All these suggestions are close in meaning. This Ayah - and Allah knows best - is a threat and a warning to the idolators, like the Ayah:
﴿وَقُل لِّلَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ اعْمَلُواْ عَلَى مَكَانَتِكُمْ﴾
(And say to those who do not believe: "Act according to your ability and way'') (11:121) 
So Allah says: (قُلْ كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ عَلَى شَاكِلَتِهِ فَرَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ هُوَ أَهْدَى سَبِيلاً  Say: "Each one does according to Shakilatihi, and your Lord knows best of him whose path is right.'') meaning either us or you. Everyone will be rewarded in accordance with his deeds, for nothing whatsoever is hidden from Allah.

Please listen to explanation of the ayat by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan:
About the scholar: Nouman Ali Khan, born to a Pakistani family, is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. Aameen.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'anYou may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
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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.

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 the 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.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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