Righteousness in Islam - Part 4

Transcript of the Khatira delivered by Dr. Munawar Haque on Feb 29, 2020

Brothers and sisters! Today’s khatira is a continuation (i.e., Part-4) of my previous three khatiras on the concept of righteousness in Islam. The main topic of discussion is the tafsir of ayah 177 of Surat al-Baqarah, which explains the concept of true righteousness as against a superficial and limited notion of righteousness. The previous khatira on the topic had ended with some discussion on the concept of wealth in Islam, and it was seen that whatever man possesses is a trust from Allah (SWT), and one needs to be faithful to the owner of that trust.

We find the explanation of wealth being the bounty or fadl of Allah in Surat al-Jumu’ah,

فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانْتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

“Then, when the prayer has ended, disperse in the land and seek out Allah’s bounty. Remember Allah often so that you may prosper” (al-Jumu’ah, 62:10). Out of the fadl of Allah (SWT) that one has, one’s legitimate right is one’s own basic needs.  One may enjoy according to one’s social status the basic needs of shelter, food, clothing, transportation etc. All wasteful expenditure has to be avoided. Allah does not like the extravagant.

 وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ

“Do not waste anything. He does not love the wasteful” (al-An’am, 6:141). Wealth is a test from Allah (SWT). It is Allah (SWT), the All-Wise who gives whatever He wills to whomever He wills.

اللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ وَفَرِحُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآَخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَاعٌ

“Allah gives abundantly to whoever He wills, and sparingly to whoever He wills and though they may rejoice in the life of this world, it is but a fleeting comfort compared with the Life to come.” (al-Ra’d, 13:26).

Regardless of how much material possessions a person has, he is under constant test from his Lord.

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ

“And know that your wealth and children are a trial and that there is an immense reward with Allah” (al-Anfal, 8:28). We are responsible for whatever we have, and we will surely be held accountable on the Day of Judgment for the worldly favors and pleasures bestowed upon us by Allah (SWT).

ثُمَّ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ 

 “On that Day, you will surely be asked about your pleasures” (al-Takathur, 102:8).  Another aspect of real righteousness (al-Birr) is to fulfill one’s covenant and pledges. Staying by a contract entered into or the fulfilling of a promise made, is the essence of all dealings such as buying and selling, leasing, renting, partnership, marriage contracts, and all other trusts. Ayah 177 of Surat al-Baqarah qualifies true righteous believers as those who fulfill their pledges.

وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا

“And those who keep pledges whenever they make them” (al-Baqarah, 2:177). Honoring and fulfilling of covenants, pledges, and promises have to be both with Allah and the servants of Allah. It is vital to understand the primary covenant (mithaq), which the entire humankind has taken with Allah (SWT). The Qur’an reminds us that in our primordial spiritual forms before our earthly existence, Allah (SWT) took a covenant from all potential human beings that He was their Lord. Ayah 172 of Surat al-A’raf tells us:

“When your Lord took out all their descendants from the loins of the children of Adam and made them testify against themselves ´Am I not your Lord?´ they said, ´We testify that indeed You are!´ Lest you say on the Day of Rising, ´We knew nothing of this” (al-A’raf, 7:172).

This covenant stipulates that the entire humankind inherently recognizes Allah (SWT), and accepts Him as its Lord and Master. This phenomenon, in the Qur’anic terminology is called fitrah, and refers to the natural, inborn nature of man. A conscious, true, and righteous believer understands the depth and magnitude of this pledge that he makes with Allah (SWT). This pledge is also reflected and reasserted in the two testimonies of faith (shahadatan): “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of Allah.” Fulfilling pledges and contracts is absolutely imperative.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ

“O you, who belie; fulfill your contracts” (al-Ma’idah, 5:1). Allah (SWT) loves those who honor their pledges.   

بَلَىٰ مَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِ وَاتَّقَىٰ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ

“No indeed! Allah loves those who keep their pledges and are mindful of Him,” (Aal ‘Imran, 3:76). As opposed to this, He detests those who do not. Ayah 3 of Surat Aal ‘Imran says: “But those who sell out Allah’s covenant and their own oaths for a small price will have no share in the life to come. Allah will neither speak to them nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection- He will not cleanse them [of their sins] - agonizing torment awaits them” (Aal ‘Imran, 3:77).

Breaching a pledge made with someone is indirectly breaching one’s pledge made with Allah (SWT), because it is He who has commanded us to fulfill all pledges.

وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُولًا

“Honor your pledges: you will be questioned about your pledges” (al-Isra’, 17:34). It goes without saying that the contracts and transactions that have to be honored are only those which are lawful and permissible. It is indeed sinful to deal with anything that Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAW) have declared forbidden or undesirable. One is not allowed, for example, to sign contracts or purchase agreements that have to do with any forbidden products like pork, and intoxicants, or any forbidden activities involving pornography, flesh trade, and other sinful engagements.

Breach of lawful contracts may be either intentional or unintentional. Entering into a contract with an intention to violate it is obviously intentional. A person who does so is a liar. Lying is a sin, and said to be among the traits of a hypocrite (munafiq). A hadith tell us: “Whoever has four characteristics will be a pure hypocrite: If he speaks, he tells a lie; if he gives a promise, he breaks it; if he makes a covenant he proves treacherous; and if he quarrels, he behaves in a shameless, evil and insulting manner. And whoever has one of these characteristics has one characteristic of a hypocrite unless he gives it up.”

Such admonitions make a demand on us to keep introspecting and evaluating ourselves and to keep exercising ample care and caution while entering into contracts and dealing with people. Unintentional breach of contract is that in which a person is completely sincere and truthful in one’s attitude and action, but unintentionally does something that goes toward revoking the contract or pledge. We are advised to be as careful and cautious as possible.

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ

“Be mindful of Allah as much as you can” (al-Taghabun, 64:16). Any one showing negligence or insincerity toward honoring and fulfilling pledges and promises will be questioned on the Day of Reckoning.

وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُولًا

“Honor your pledges: you will be questioned about your pledges” (al-Isra’, 17:34). The Qur’an describes the true believers as those who honor their trusts and contracts. So, an important aspect of attaining real righteousness (al-Birr) is to fulfill one’s covenant and pledges. May Allah (SWT) grant us the tawfiq to do so.

InshaAllah, we’ll continue with the last and final part (part 5) of the concept of righteousness in a subsequent khatira.

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