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Justice:“Shamsul
Aimmah Shamsuddin Al-Sarakhsi (D 482 AH) has explained in
his famous book Al-Mabsoot, (vol 16,p.59):`To give
judgement according to truth and justice is the most important
and dutiful act after true faith in Allah and is more meritorious
and honoured than all non-mandatory rituals.’
(Justice (Rtd) Dr Tanzilur Rahman, Divine accent on justice,,
The Dawn, 12.12.99)
The central theme of rise and success of nations, has been
clearly laid down in the Quran as justice, without any discrimination.
"If you judge between mankind, you judge
justly." 4-58
Naturally authority, power
and sovereignty are required to `judge’. As long as
structures of civilization, culture and governance support
`judgement for justice’ they are sustained. Also see
4-135, 5-8, 5-42, 7-29 and 16-90.
Equality:See,
for example : 49-13
Human Respect:The
Quran declares that each person irrespective of faith, colour,
wealth or race is worthy of respect. The right to honour and
self-respect is inviolable: 24-19, 33-58 and 49-11 & 12.
Privacy:Right
to personal and domestic privacy of an individual and family
is vehemently protected by the Quran: 24-27 and 49-12
Freedom of worship:2-256,
6-107&108, 10-99, 18-29, &109-1 to 6
Access to education
and knowledge:39-9. Because of its importance
we will discuss this in some detail, as a key to revival.
The
Undesirable are Weeded Out by the Same Law:It
is most undesirable if the above principles of justice and
human rights are not followed and practiced in true spirit.
The nature has its own process to weed out the undesirable.
Verse 7 of Al-Faatihah eloquently announces this verdict of
the history. Also see, e.g., 15-4 & 5 and 6-130 to 134.
A Dictionary of Islam, by Thomas Patrick Hughes,
(p.53), provides a comment, in very plain terms, on the state
of Christianity at the time of advent of Islam. “The
Christianity of this period, is described by Mosheim as `expiring
under a motley and enormous heap of superstitious inventions,
with neither had the courage nor the force to raise her head
or display her national charms to the darkened and
deluded world.’ Doubtless, much of the success
of Islam in its earlier stage was due to the state
of degradation into which the Christian Church had fallen.
The bitter dissensions of the Greeks, Nestronians, Eutychians
and Monophysites are matters of history, and must have held
up the religion of Jesus to the ridicule of the heathen world.
The controversies regarding the nature and person of our Divine
Lord had begotten a sect of Tritheists,
led by a Syrian philosopher named John Philoponus of Alexandria
, and are sufficient to account for Muhammad’s (Peace
be upon him), conception of the Blessed Trinity.The
worship of the Virgin Mary had also given rise to
a religious controversy between the Antiduo-Marianites and
the Collyridians, the former holding that the Virgin was not
immaculate, and the latter raising her to a position
of a goddess.”
Important examples and lessons from history of
nations have been presented in the Quran. Furthermore, invitation
has been laid open to travel in the land and reflect over
them. For example, at the time of the revelation of the Quran
, Roman and Persian empires were world powers. Continuing
clashes between them and loss of faith and interest in their
own raison d’etre and doctrine, left them completely
exhausted and incompetent when they crossed their swords with
the believers.
“Obey God and His Messenger,
and do not quarrel amongst yourselves,
lest you lose heart and your momentum disappear.
And be steadfast.
God is with the steadfast.” 8-46
For Causes
and Consequences of Rise and Fall of Nations, also see Appendix-7.
The
Criterion Distinguishing "Haq" and "Baatil":
(Truth and Falsehood: Right and Wrong):Besides
describing certain important aspects of scientific facts,
these Laws also explain governing principles of rise and fall
of nations and development and deterioration of human personality.
"But
Allah had decided to execute a plan
that had to be carried out,
so that he who perishes
must have an obvious cause of his death
and
he who survives
must have an obvious cause of his survival.
And verily,
Allah is One Who is All-hearing and All-knowing".
8-42
Working of entire system and all detailed laws is governed
by the fundamental Law. In this connection following two terms
are very relevant to be examined: The root word "Haqqaq"
signifies stability or durability. That which is lasting is
Haq. The opposite of it is Baatil i.e., which is not lasting.
The Quran has made the distinction clear and assured the success
of the Haq.
"As
to the foam, it is quickly gone,
and as to what is useful to man,
it remains on the earth.
Thus does God set forth parables!” 13-17
Also examine
8-7 & 8.
Clear explanations have been provided to make distinction
between "Right" and "Wrong", easy for
man, to understand. So much so that the Revelation itself
of the Quran has been termed as Truth and as Criterion.
"With
Truth have We (Allah) sent down the Quran and
with Truth has it descended, and
We have only sent you to announce and to warn"
17-105
Furthermore, ‘Haq’
is always sure and strong to prevail. The term Haq has been
used for the Immutable Law also. It is guaranteed by Allah
Himself, so that the term Al-Haq has also been used for Allah,
the Ever True, the Ever Lasting, the Ever Eternal.
“This
is so, because Allah is the Haq (Reality):
it is He Who gives life to the dead, and
it is He Who has Power over all things.”
22-6
"High
Exalted above all is Allah, the King, the Truth." 20-114.
For further clarity see following verses also:
2–42, 3–71, 17–81, 21–18, 22–62,
34–48 to 49. Also see pages 265-269, Al-Muajammul Mufaharis,
by Muhammad Fawaad Abdul Baaqi.
The
Principle of Excision and Selection Applicable to the Process
of Rise and Fall of Nations: The laws of excision
of the unfit, selection and survival of the fittest are also
applicable to individuals, groups, peoples and nations as
they are applicable to the entire spectrum of species and
existence. They explain rise and fall of nations also. Anything
which has no use or positive role for life and its encompassing
environment is annihilated. The Quran enunciates the law,
thus:
"And were it not for the restraint of one
by means of others
imposed on men by God,
verily, the earth had been utterly corrupted.
But God is Gracious to His creatures." 2-251.
"And
if God had not repelled some men by others,
cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques,
wherein the Name of God is ever remembered,
would surely have been destroyed." 22-40
Scientists
believe that this process started right with the creation
of the universe- the struggle between the initial sub-atomic
particles presents the first example of this. This is more
evident in the sphere of life. Survival of the fittest is
the survival of the supportive and the positive pattern of
existence for life and system on the whole. Only they survive
or progress who serve or advance the purpose of life. This
is due to `Rahmah’ protectively enveloping agents of
existence. Life exists in the conducive arena of cosmos and
harmonized heavens, right from atoms and DNA to the complex
entities and all existence. This aspect of Rahmah
also discloses the Oneness of the Lord-Master.
There can’t be any alternate to the Rahmah
of the Unity (Mercy of Oneness of the Creator-Sustainer)
where existence, development and sustenance may be
conceived in order, harmony, beauty and benevolence. Any other
idea or notion could only lead to chaos and annihilation resulting
not only into destruction but disappearance and dissolution
of entire edifice of existence. Science also confirms this,
now. Interestingly all fiction, fables and conjecture could
not `create’ `poly-theos’ without gangsterism
of gods, havoc and holocaust played by them in the heavens
and the earth.
“Say: if there had been gods with Him (Allah),
as they say, behold,
they would certainly have sought out a way,
to the Lord-Master-Owner-Sustainer of the Throne!”
17-42
Also see
23-91 and 21-22
Excision and
Process of Selection: It is God's Mercy that what is not useful
to life and system, is routed out or weeded out through process
of excision. The fittest and the best is supported to survive.
In the phenomenon of natural selection, the process of exclusion
works to keep the unfit out or extinct. Nature itself produces
only the best. Whenever Baatil challenges Haq or conflicts
with it, the decree of Truth i.e., "Qadaa Bil-Haq",
is always carried.
"Nay,
We (Allah) will hurl the Truth at falsehood,
and it shall smite it,
and lo! It shall vanish" 21-18
"And
say: Truth has come, and falsehood perished.
Verily, falsehood is (by its nature) bound to
perish." 17-81
Allah has All-Power over all and everything. As
already clarified by the QURAN, when Allah intends anything,
He simply says to it `Be’ and it is! He may direct any
matter or affair in any manner, as He may wish or will. At
the same time He has put operation of the normal course of
all action in the universe in the given set of very clear
laws. Therefore, in the application of the universal law for
the triumph of the Haq, as in any other scientific process
, `time and space' involved are also dimensions like other
dimensions of the physical world. Every action, depending
upon its conditions and variables may have a different processing
time. Type of resources, energy and action that are employed
for achieving the end, are chosen depending upon the course
of conduct or the process of action prescribed by the Haq
(under the Law, Truth) itself. Ultimate success of the right
action, prescribed under the law (righteous goodly deeds)
has been assured as the end result of the process (struggle),
e.g.:
"Say
O my people! Act as you may choose to act;
I indeed will act my part,
And soon shall you know whose is the final goal?
Undoubtedly the unjust will not prosper."
6-135
"Surely,
those who transgress shall not prosper."
6-21
"Surely,
the (wicked shall not prosper." 10-17
"Surely,
the disbelievers shall not prosper." 23-117
"God
prospers not the work of mischief makers." 10-81
"God
guides not the people who do not believe." 9-37
"God
guides not the people who transgress." 3-86
Abul Kalam Azad, in ‘Tarjumanul Quran’
(pp.70-71) explains the underlying principle: "The principle
underlying here does not suggest that the door of guidance
or correction is closed or that those falling under these
categories will be willfully misled… The term employed
by the Quran for opportunities of improvement is "Tamatt'u"
(`Tamaa-atu’), and is applicable to all conditions of
life and is afforded to everyone without distinction.
"Yes! We (Allah) have given these men and
their fathers,
opportunities of profiting even by lengthened
lives" 21-44
"The expressions
occurring in the Quran, like: ‘We gave them respite
for a while, that they may enjoy themselves awhile’.
(Refer 10-98, and 37-148.)
"Enjoy yourselves then, but in the end,
you shall know (the truth)”.16-55, and so on, go only
to emphasize the principle under consideration."
“Respite
will I (Allah) grant unto them,
for My scheme is strong (unfailing).” 7-183
Following principle of
excision and selection is at work, as the fundamentally dynamic
force turning the great wheel of history with which nations,
peoples and civilizations rise and fall:
"O ye
who believe! Should any of you desert this Faith,
God will then raise up a people,
loved by Him and loving Him." 5-54
One of the most outstanding characteristics of
those who love God, and they are loved by Him, is that
they love His creatures. History bears testimony
to the fact that the states and governments who did not provide
for welfare of their people, degenerated and were consigned
to the dustbin of history, sunk in abject poverty and abasement.
Only those survived, generation after generation, who cared
for their people and looked after them well.
"Who
though longing for it themselves, bestow their food
on the poor and the orphan and the captive;
(and say) ‘we feed you for the sake of God;
we seek from you neither recompense nor thanks."
76-8 & 9
“He whose heart is in the smallest degree
set upon Goodness will dislike no one.” Book-IV-3,4
: Analects of Confucius
“The
sage has no self to call his own;
he makes the self of the people his self.
To the good I act with goodness;
to the bad I also act with goodness:
Thus goodness is attained.
To the faithful I act with faith;
To the faithless I also act with faith:
Thus faith is attained.” The Tao-Te-King”.
XLIX, Taoist Scripture.
“Therefore, treat all beings as you would
treat yourself,
for, the Dharma for the human is no to harm,
but to help.”
Dhammapada, Chapter-4, Budhist Scripture.
“You
shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind;
and your neighbour as yourself.” Luke,
10-27,
The New Testament.
Careful examination of verses 107-1 to 3, shows that welfare
of people is the corner stone of the `Diin”. All along,
the universal message of Allah has been: If you love
Allah's creatures, Allah loves you.
The
Quranic Theme:John Wesley places all his emphasis
on goodly righteous deeds as follows:
“Do all the good you can,
in all the ways you can,
in all places you can,
at all times you can,
to all the people you can,
as long as ever you can.”
The entire theme of the Quran, the Traditions
of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and all teachings of Islam
precipitate to one fundamental principle, as condensed in
Al-Faatihah, thus:
Worship-Obedience of Allah, The One, The Only, The Alone,
and Goodly Righteous Deeds
Wrapped up in the Mercy of "Ar-Rahmaanir-Rahiim",
in verses Nos. 1 and 3 of Al-Faatihah, the whole doctrine
condenses into:
Love of Allah Alone, and Love of His creation,
for His sake alone
This important doctrine has been revealed in a
gift packing immersed in pleasant fragrance and sucrose of
Mercy of "Ar-Rahmaanir-Rahiim"- decorated as the
third of the seven bunches of the fragrant flowers in the
beautiful bouquet of Al-Faatihah. A well-known Hadiith narrates
that: The Mercy of God is for those who show mercy to God's
creatures.
Christ (Peace be upon him) advised to show kindness to the
habitants of the earth, so that Allah shows kindness to you.
Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
"Graciously Kind is God, The Holy, The High. Show kindness
to those who dwell on earth so that the Grace of God may descend
upon you from above".
Love for God, love for His creatures and entire concept of
kindly righteous good deeds aim at un-stinted good of the
individual himself and the mankind at large.
What
distinguishes humanity from animality:In sociology,
the definition of man as a `rational animal’ misplaces
him in the `animal world’ on the same footing and in
the same class as `animals’, where human faculties,
instincts, conscience and all features of the most superior
and intelligent creature become obscure in the vast animal
kingdom. Whether domesticated or wild, though he may belong
to the highest form of animal in the so called evolutionary
hierarchy, under this kind of categorization, animality, obviously,
assumes greater significance and prominence. A.K.Azad, in
‘Tarjumanul Quran’, (p.76) further elaborates
the point: "The fact is that the basis of worship according
to the Quran rests on the idea that the aim of human life
is to reflect in one's own thought and activity the attributes
of God. The Quran regards the emergence of man as the line
where animality ceases to exist and a higher life begins to
disclose itself. The quality which distinguishes man from
the mere animal and which gives him his station in the scale
of life, is his humanity, which is nothing but a reflection
of the qualities or attributes of God. Perfection is to be
reached by expressing in one's life more and more of divine
qualities. That is why that wherever the Quran has referred
to any special qualities of man, it has always set them in
relation to the attributes of God, so much so, that where
it refers to the quality of humanity in man, it employs the
term `the very breath of God':
"Then (Allah) shaped him and
breathed of His spirit into him,
and gave you hearing and seeing and hearts"
32-9
"The
above verse makes it explicit that man's position in the scale
of life is so high that God Himself has breathed His breath
into him , or in other words, that man is endowed with the
requisite intellect and sensibilities to guide himself aright
in life."
“The
ear that hears, and the eye that sees – the Lord has
made them both.” Proverbs- 20-12
“Is
not sight a jewel?
Is not hearing a treasure?
Is not speech a glory?
O my Lord!
Pardon my ingratitude,
And pity my dullness,
who am not sensible of these gifts.
The freedom of Thy bounty hath deceived me.
These things were too near to be considered.
Thou presentedst me with Thy blessings, and
I was not aware.
But now, I give thanks and adore and praise Thee
for Thine inestimable favours.” Thomas
Traherne
The
Quran encourages and inculcates divine qualities:The
Quran inculcates in us qualities of mercy and love for the
creation of Allah. It emphasizes that there is no limit to
Allah's Forgiveness and Mercy. If we don’t forgive,
then how can we expect forgiveness. It encourages to exercise
restraint and have courage to forgive others.
"Who master their anger, and forgive others!
God loves the doers of good".
3-134
Also see 13-22,
41-34 & 35, 42-37.
It is noteworthy that God has addressed and referred to the
sinners in the Quran in the form which grammatically is personal
possessive. It denotes tenderness and consideration.
"O My servants!
who have transgressed to your own hurt!"39-53
"In commenting
upon the above verse from the Surat-Al-Zzumar, Imam Jafar
Sadiq, the great grandson of the Prophet (Peace be upon him),
observed; ‘Whenever we call our children they run to
us without entertaining the slightest fear, for, they feel
certain that the parent could never be cruel to them.. More
than twenty times is the phrase `O my servants' or ` O my
people' used in the Quran . This style of address is employed
even in the case of the worst sinners. Could there be a better
proof than this of the essential Mercy of God shown in His
dealings with the creatures?"
(A.K.Azad,‘Tarjumanul
Quran,’p.82.)
`Owning’
by The Creator-Sustainer, instead of disowning, discarding
or disregarding, is manifest in benevolence, mercy,
all existence, beauty, balance, perfection and Providence.
Allah assures reward and recompense while owning every one
and everything Himself. The Quran does not isolate justice
from Mercy. In Al-Faatihah also, just before mention of the
Day of Recompense, the intensive of "Ar-Rahmaanir-Rahiim"
has been repeated. Although it was already mentioned at the
beginning (1-1).
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