The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition Of Qur’anic Guidance In Its Own Words - Part Four

By Muhammad Yunus, New Age Islam (Co-author (Jointly with Ashfaque Ullah Syed), Essential Message of Islam, Amana Publications, USA, 2009) 16 December 2024 Section-3. Moral Trajectories Of Justice 49. The Duty Of The Grown Up Children To Support Their Parents The Qur’an declares: • “Your Lord has decreed that you serve none except Him, and be kind to parents. If one or both of them reaches old age with you - never say uff*, nor scold them, and speak to them in kind and noble manner (17:23) • “We have enjoined on man (kindness) to his parents. His mother bore him with spell after spell of weakness, and his weaning takes two years. So be grateful to Me and to your parents, and (remember,) the journey is to Me (31:14). • “We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents. His mother bore him with hardship, and gave him birth painfully. His bearing and his weaning are for thirty months,* until he grows strong. Then when he attains full maturity reaching forty years, let him say: ‘My Lord, inspire me to be grateful for the favor you have bestowed on me and on my parents, and (dispose me) to do good deeds that you approve, and be gracious to me in respect of my offspring. Indeed, I turn to You (in repentance), and I am among those who submit (muslimun)’” (46:15) *Includes last 6 months of pregnancy and two years of nursing]as in the verse 31:4] 50. The Moral Right Of The Sick And Marginalized Relatives And Friends “There is no blame on the blind, there is no blame on the lame, there is no blame on the sick, nor on yourselves in eating (Kulu) at your own homes, or those of* your fathers, or mothers, or brothers, or sisters, or father’s brothers, or father’s sisters, or mother’s brothers, or mother’s sisters, or those whose keys are in your possession, or that of a sincere friend of yours. There is no blame in your eating all together, or separately. But when you enter houses, greet others with a greeting from Allah - blessed and good - Thus does Allah clarify the messages to you, that you may use your reason” (24:61). *The Arabic text corresponding to the underlined lines repeats the plural noun Buyut, rendered as ‘homes’ nine times, which has been omitted from the rendering for simplicity of expression. Also to note that the word Kulu, rendered above in the traditional lines as ‘eating’ also connotes availing of the provisions of life (2:168, 2:172). • “O People! Avail of (Kulu) all lawful and good things of what is in the earth, and do not follow Satan’s footsteps, for he is an open enemy to you” (2:168). • “You who believe! Avail of (kulu) the good things We have provided for you, and be grateful to Allah, if it is (truly) Him that you serve” (2:172). This allows for extending the scope of the verse (24:61) to cover shelter as well. 51. The Rights Of The Deprived Orphans In the pre-Islamic Arabia, there was no cut and dry notion of social security and the father was the primary source of livelihood as well as guardian. So an orphan had neither any guardian nor any steady income. The Qur’an fills this twin gap through its following verses: • “… They ask you (O Muhammad,) about orphans. Say: ‘Their welfare is the best, but if you mix up their affairs with yours, (remember,) they are your brethren; and Allah knows the corrupt from the benefactor. If Allah wished, He could have ruined you, for Allah is Almighty, Wise’” (2:220). • “And restore their property to the orphans, and do not substitute bad (of your own) for good (of theirs), and do not absorb their property into your wealth, for this will be a grave sin” (4:2). • “And test the orphans (in your charge) until they reach the marriageable age. If you then find them matured enough, hand over their property to them, but do not consume it wastefully or hastily before they grow up. If one the guardian is rich, let him abstain (from claiming charges). But as for one who is poor, let him take what is fair. And when you hand over their property to them, have it witnessed for them, though Allah is Sufficient in taking account” (4:6). • “An orphaned grandchild should not be barred from any share in his/her grandfather’s properties” – this statement is paraphrasing of this literal translation: “Let those (disposing of inheritance) have the same fear in their minds as they would have for their own if they had left a helpless family behind: Let them fear Allah, and speak to them in kindness and justice “ (4:9): These verses representing a broad cross section of all verses on the theme, emphasize the importance of safeguarding the welfare of the orphans and ensuring that they are not exploited or deprived of their inheritance. The verses instruct individuals to manage their affairs responsibly, without substituting their good assets with their bad ones or taking advantage of their vulnerability. 52. Incontestable Rights (Huquq) of the poor in the wealth of the rich: From a very early stage of the revelation, the Qur’an regarded sharing of wealth with the poor and needy as a compelling moral responsibility for people – specially the rich and resourceful. Thus, a number passages from this formative stage declare: • “ (On the Day of Judgment) they hardly slept during the night (51:17). And at dawn, they would ask for forgiveness (51:18). And in their wealth was an incontestable right (huqq) for the asker and the deprived” (51:19). • “The human being was created fretful (70:19). Touched by adversity, he is impatient (70:20), touched by good, he's selfish (70:21) Except the prayerful (70:22) - those who are constant in their prayers (70:24)- in whose wealth is an incontestable right (huqq) (70:24). of the needy and the deprived.” (70:25) • “Anyone who gives and exercises taqwa (moral uprightness) and enjoins good (92:6) - We shall facilitate him to the easy way (92:7). But one who is niggardly and self-centered (92:8) and gives a lie to all that is good (92:9) - We shall facilitate him to the hard way (92:10). His wealth will not avail him when he falls (92:11). Surely, guidance is up to Us (92:12), and the end and the beginning belong to Us” (92:13)” • “The morally upright (given to taqwa) will be kept away from the blaze (of hellfire) (92:17) – those who give of their wealth to attain zakah (92:18) (purify their wealth) without any favor to be repaid to anyone (92:19) – except to seek the acceptance of their Lord – the Supreme (92:20). And such in time will be well pleased” (92:21). • “Do you see the one who gives a lie to the din (religion/moral laws) (107:1)? It is he who rebuffs the orphan (100:2), and does not urge each other to feed the poor (100:3). So, woe to those prayerful (100:4) – those who are heedless of their prayer (100:5), - those who aim to be seen (in public) (100:6) but hold back from helping (others)” (107:7). With transition to Medina (622), the pace of conversion increased while many rich and affluent tribes also embraced the faith. As the majority of the converts - like other fellow Arabs were needy and looked for charities and handouts from the rich owners of farms and orchards for survival, the Qur’an emphasized on charity and sharing of wealth and tables a number of verses on the theme as illustrated below. The verses are placed under different headings taking account of the various scenarios of disbursing charity. • To Spend In One’s Lifetime: “You who believe, spend of what We have given you before there comes a Day in which there will be no bartering, no friendship, and no intercession; and as for the disbelievers - they are the unjust” (2:254). • To Give In Charity Openly Or Secretly “Those who spend their wealth (in charity) - night and day, secretly and openly - they have their reward with their Lord: they'll have nothing to fear nor will they grieve (2:274). • Not To Hurt The Recipient’s Sentiment: “Those who spend their wealth in Allah’s way, and do not follow up on what is spent with reproach or with abuse - their reward is with their Lord - they have nothing to fear nor will they grieve” (2:262). • Ignoring Ill Feelings While Helping Others “Let not the resourceful among you who have abundance swear not to give to relatives, needy, and those who fled along Allah’s way. Let them forgive and overlook. Don’t you like that Allah should forgive you? (Remember,) Allah is Most Forgiving and Merciful” (24:22). • Give Only The Good Things In Charity: “You who believe, spend (in charity) of the good things you have earned, and from what We have produced for you from the earth. Do not choose the bad things from it for your spending, that you would not take except with disdain; and know that Allah is Self-Sufficient and Praiseworthy” (2:267). • Charity Is The Path To Attain The Pleasure Of Allah (Al Birre): “You can never attain the pleasure of Allah (birr): unless you spend (in charity) what you care for. (Remember,) whatever you spend – surely Allah is fully Aware of it” (3:92). *Lit., ‘moral excellence’] • Curbing One’s Inborn Greed And Lowly Desires: “Anyone who fears (to face) the Presence of his Lord and restrains his soul from lowly desires (79:40) – surely the garden will be (his) abode” (79:41). • To Budget The Charity Within One’s Means: “Spend in Allah's way, yet do not expose yourself to ruin through your own hands, and do good – for indeed, Allah loves the doers of good” (2:195). Also Read (Previous Parts): The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition Of Qur’anic Guidance In Its Own Words - Part One The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition Of Qur’anic Guidance In Its Own Words - Part Two The Qur’an – Nurun ‘Ala Nur (Light Upon Light): An Exposition Of Qur’anic Guidance In Its Own Words - Part Three ----- Muhammad Yunus, a Chemical Engineering graduate from Indian Institute of Technology, and a retired corporate executive has been engaged in an in-depth study of the Qur’an since early 90’s, focusing on its core message. He has co-authored the referred exegetic work, which received the approval of al-Azhar al-Sharif, Cairo in 2002, and following restructuring and refinement was endorsed and authenticated by Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl of UCLA, and published by Amana Publications, Maryland, USA, 2009. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/books-documents/quran-nurun-ala-nur-light-quranic-guidance-part-four/d/134035 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism