Some Quranic Commandments
Forming part of Islamic Shari'ah
Mandatory for Muslims

 

Let us start with the Shan-e-Nuzool – Circumstances of Revelation. This verse was revealed on the occasion of the conquest of Makkah. When it was time for prayer, the Holy Prophet asked Sayyidna Bilal to call the adhan. One of the pagan Quraish cynically remarked “Thank God that my father died before this happened, and he did not

have to see this bad day”. Harith Ibn Hisham remarked: Could Muhammad not find anyone better than this black crow to sound the adhan in the Sacred Mosque! Abu  Sufyan said: I do not wish to utter anything for fear that the master of the heavens will inform him. Thus, Jibra’il  came down and informed the Holy Prophet  about this conversation. The Holy Prophet called them and asked them about it. They admitted. At this, the current verse was revealed.

 

Please note that the ayah is addressing the people as “O Men, O Mankind, human beings” and not the usual “O those who believe”. This is the Divine style when the issue addressed concerns the whole mankind. Yousuf Ali introduces an interesting nuance when he says “though it is understood that in a perfected world the two (i.e. all mankind and Muslim brotherhood) would be synonymous.” 

 

This short, sweet and melodious ayah, in fact is defining four cardinal Truths in our life. 

 

Allah Ta’aala Subhanahoo declares in this verse that all mankind has descended from a single pair of man and woman. Out goes the Darwinian theory of “the origin of Man”. All the monotheistic religions are unanimous in upholding the theory of Creation. If it is realized that one cosmic day according to the Holy Quran is equal to fifty thousand years of human calculations and that a day mentioned in our Holy Book could refer to an epoch, it would be easier to understand the various human theories about the creation of the Universe. The Quran has discussed this topic on different occasions. We will dwell upon them later on, Insha Allah. This ayah makes the historic declaration that we all have the same Father and same Mother. “We have created every one of you out of a father and a mother” (Zamakhsharl, Razi, Baydiwi). It implies that this equality of biological origin will be reflected in the equality of the human dignity. The whole humanity is one family of brothers and sisters. “Know that all belong to one human family, without any inherent superiority of one over another” (Zamakhshari). 

The current verse sets down the basis of an “all-comprehensive and all-pervading” principle of human equality. All men have been created from a single male (Adam) and a single female (Hawwa’). All people are the descendants of Adam and Hawwa’ and therefore equal in the sight of Allah.The planet would be a very peaceful and pleasant place to live if humans can rise to the standards proposed by our Creator. Unfortunately we have failed miserably and have created hell on earth. No wonder, the Holy Text has declared that man is very quarrel some. Mufti Mohammed Shafi contributes in his own forceful style: “No one is allowed to take pride nor to degrade others on the basis

of pigment of his skin, the amount of wealth he possesses or by his rank or by his social status, descent or pedigree, but by his moral uprightness and the way he discharges his obligations to Allah and man. The entire human race is but one family. Division into nations, tribes and sub-tribes of all sizes, and races is meant only to give a better identification of one another.”

 

Next, Allah Ta’aala announces in this verse that HE has divided mankind into “shaooban wa qabaaila” i.e. nations, tribes, races and sub-tribes of all sizes. Why, why has HE done this? HE HIMSELF provides the answer immediately following this declaration in just one word: “le ta’aarafoo” i.e. to know one another. In other words these are just convenient labels for identification. It will enable us to recognise different parts and  sections of humanity scattered all over the globe. Before God they are all one. Dr. Asadexplains beautifully “In other words, men’s evolution into “nations and tribes” is meant to foster rather than to diminish their mutual desire to understand and appreciate the essential human oneness underlying their outward differentiations”. This division of  the human communities into nations and tribes is the natural way of cooperation and distinction between them. The different components — fatuity, a brotherhood, a tribe, a nation — can combine and co-operate to produce a vibrant society. Apart from being natural, it is  harmless, practical and an essential step. Unfortunately man has completely mutilated this noble aim into a perpetual, violent and bloody divide and discord on national, ethnic, racial, color, language, sectarian and religious grounds. This natural difference has been transformed into  distinctions of inequality, of high and low, of noble and mean.Unfortunately the “Ummah” is not behind if not in the forefront in this ugly and nasty exercise. We have seen the final culmination of this trend in the two horrible world wars. Apart from the massive destruction all round, the World War Two accounted for the death of forty eight million lives. 

 

Our Holy Prophet also has elaborated on this issue. On learning  of people’s boasting of their national or tribal past, he said: “Behold, God has removed from you the arrogance of pagan ignorance (jahiliyyah) with its boast of ancestral glories. Man is but a God-conscious believer or an unfortunate sinner. All people are children of Adam, and Adamwas created out of dust.” (Tirmidhi and Abu Da’ud, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah.)

 

The verse then goes on to declare a fundamental and paramount principle which if obeyed can have a profound effect on the behavior of human society. It suggests that “the only basis of superiority and excellence that there is, or can be, between man and man is that of moral excellence”. Allah Ta’aala declares in this ayah “inna akramakum” i.e. the noblest/honorable amongst you “inda Allahi” i.e. with or in the sight of Allah is “atqakum” i.e. who has Al-Taqwaa among you. The narrow and literal meaning of this word taqwaa is fear; it has a much broader meaning, though. In this verse it has been variously translated as “righteous , most pious, one of the muttuqun, the best in conduct, most careful (of his duty)”. The best translation and explanation of the word “taqwaa” in my reading is “God consciousness”; to be aware of HIS presence at every moment, with each breath and at every spot. Can you imagine the revolution it can bring in human behavior and attitude if every one of us is fully convinced that all of us are accountable to him, all the time and for all our actions – big or small – at all the places : home, office, entertainment, parties and certainly at our political discussions. If I make a statement that America is a country that has killed most humans, do I realise that this statement will be part of my report in the Highest Court and I will have to defend it on Islamic values and not tribal values. Any how, this verse declares that Taqwa of Allah Ta’aala is the only road to Honour. Reference to one’s lineage serves the purpose of identification but is no source of pride and conceit. By the way, the immediate application of this verse was to Sayyidna Bilal, whom the Holy Prophet defended in front of  people: “You are empty (i.e. you have no moral leg to stand on).  Bilal on the other hand, is equipped (with high moral qualities) and he is better and more honorable than any of you.” (Baghawi as cited by Mazhari)

These truths have been further elaborated by the sunnah of our beloved Prophet:

 

On completing the tawaaf after the conquest of Makkah he said: ‘Thank God Who has removed from you the blemish of ignorance and its arrogance. O people, men are divided into classes: the pious and righteous, who arc honorable in the sight of Allah, and the sinful and vicious, who arc contemptible in the sight of Allah, whereas all men are the children of Adam and Adam had been created by Allah from clay.” (Baihaqi, Tirmidhi)

 

Two years later at the Farewell Pilgrimage, he announced: “O people, be aware: yourGod is One. No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, and no non-Arab any superiority over an Arab, and no white one has any superiority over a black one, and no black one any superiority over a white one, except on the basis of taqwaa (piety). The most honorable among you in the sight, of Allah is he who is the most pious and righteous of you. Say if I have conveyed the Message to you?” And the great congregation of the people responded, saying: Yes, you have, O Messenger of Allah.” Thereupon the Holy Prophet said: “Then let the one who is present convey it to those who are absent,” ( Baihaqi) 

 

Some other interesting ahaadith on the same subject from different angles:

 “You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from the dust. Let the people give up boasting of their ancestors, otherwise they will stand more degraded than a mean insect in the sight of Allah.” ( Bazzar) 

 “Allah will not enquire about your lineage on the Day of Resurrection. The most honorable in the sight of Allah is he who is most pious. “(Ibn Jarir)

 “Allah does not see your outward appearances and your possessions ,but He sees your hearts and your deeds.” (Muslim, lbn Majah)

 

I would love to agree with Maulana Maudoodi when he says:

“These teachings have not remained confined to words only but Islam has practically established a universal brotherhood of the believers on the basis, which does not allow any distinction on account of color, race, language, country and nationality which is free from every concept of high and low, clean and unclean, mean and respectable, which admits all human beings with equal rights, whether they belong to any race and nation, any land or region. Even the opponents of Islam have had to admit that no precedent is found in any religion and any system of the success with which the principle of human equality and unity has been given practical shape in the Muslim society, nor has it ever been found. Islam is the only religion which has welded and combined innumerable races and communities scattered in all corners of the earth into one universal Ummah.” While there were periods in our history to bolster this claim, on the whole however and over centuries the Ummah has only given lip service to these golden principles in the masaajid, lectures, conferences and conventions. On the ground – in politics, finances, battle field, interaction with other Faiths and Nations – we have deliberately and persistently distorted, defied and abandoned these golden principles of Islam. I must hasten to add, it will be a great pleasure and delight to be proved wrong in my assessment.

 

A minor but important issue. It is a common practice to compare the worldly status of the persons concerned during a marriage proposal. Is it right? I will allow Maulana Maudoodi to inform us on this issue: “In this connection, a misunderstanding also needs to be removed. In the case of marriage, the importance that Islamic law gives to kufv (likeness of status) has been taken by some people in the sense that some brotherhoods are noble and some mean, and matrimonial relations between them are objectionable. But this, in fact, is a wrong idea. According to the Islamic law, every Muslim man can marry every Muslim woman, but the success of the matrimonial life depends on maximum harmony and conformity between the spouses as regards habits, characteristics and ways of life, family traditions and economic and social status, so that they may get on well with each other. This is the real object of being equal and alike. Where there is unusual difference and disparity between the man and the woman in this regard, lifelong companionship will be difficult. That is why the Islamic law disapproves of such intermarriages, and not for the reason that one of the spouses is noble and the other mean, but for the reason that in case there is a clear and apparent difference and distention in status, there would be a greater possibility of the failure of the matrimonial life if the marriage relationship was established.” Maulana has restricted his comments to “intermarriages”. I feel these are relevant and applicable across the board to all marriages. 

 

The verse ends with inna Allaha i.e. i.e. indeed Allah is  Aleemun  i.e. all knowing khabeer.e. all aware/well acquainted/all cognizant. This is sort of a common epilogue to many verses and delivers a strong message. What is the sanction against the various injunctions of Allah Ta’aala? There is no police to arrest us; no jury and judge to try us. This part of the verse warns us that the only agency that will compel us to comply with the injunctions of the Holy Quran is our complete Faith (taqwaa) that HE is “all Knowing and well Acquainted” with even an “iota” of information about us. No vigilante needed.

 

 

 

……..and Allah knows best. 

May Allah Ta’aala bless us with true understanding–“fahm”–of our Deen, Aameen.

 

ALLAH HAFIZ

Dr. Khalid Mitha Aleemun