Welcome to our weekly programme "Path towards Enlightenment" in which we present you a fluent and easy-to-understand explanation of the Ayahs of God’s Last and Final Revelation to all humanity, the holy Qur’an.

We continue from where we left you last week, and here are Ayahs 38 and 39 of Surah Shura:

“Those who answer their Lord, maintain the prayer, and their affairs are by counsel among themselves, and they spend out of what We have provided them with;

“Those who, when visited by aggression, come to each other’s aid.”

If you might recall, last Friday we explained the preceding Ayahs, saying faith is not confined to the heart and becomes manifest in the words and deeds of the true believers, as is evident by their abstaining from sins, controlling anger and carnal desires, and forgiving the faults of those who had offended them out of ignorance.

The Ayahs that we recited to you now are continuation of the previous Ayahs on the characteristics of the true believers, and mean to say that such persons are totally obedient to the commandments of the Lord Most High and spare no efforts in establishing prayers, expending in the cause of Allah, and assisting each other; as a result of which better and enduring bounties are reserved for them in the Hereafter. Ayah 38 lays emphasis on consultation in the administration of society, hence the designation of this Surah as “Shura” or Consultation.

It is worth noting that one is supposed to seek consultation regarding family matters, social issues, and the affairs of people, but not concerning obligatory matters like worship of God, Divinely-designated leadership – such as Prophethood and Imamate – and the undeniable fact of Resurrection. This is proven by the exemplary life of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). Although he was the recipient of Divine Revelation, before taking the final decision he would listen to the opinions of Muslims regarding social, economic, and political affairs, and certainly not obligatory acts, which he was tasked by God to specify as lasting rites to be observed by all, including future generations.

As the next Ayah says, the last characteristic of the true believers is their resistance against oppression and oppressors. They neither oppress others nor do they keep silent in the face of oppression. In other words, it is incumbent upon believers to defend themselves against oppression by assisting each other, and at the same time they ought to be forgiving towards fellow believers.  

These Ayahs teach us the following points:

1. Islam is the most comprehensive and perfect set of believes in harmony with human nature, covering every aspect of life, including personal and public morals, economic affairs, social/cultural issues, politics, and etc.
2. In establishing the daily ritual prayers, the true believers strictly observe both the outward and inward aspects, including cleanliness of body, dress and place, sincerity of intention, presence of mind, and all the affairs that lead to the acceptance of acts of worship by God Almighty.
3. Consultation in important matters with wise and pious persons, or those who are experts in their respective vocations, not only resolves social, economic, and political issues, but breeds friendship amongst believers by increasing mutual trust.
4. A true believer is not content with mere individual worship, but cares for the deserving and poor sections of the society from what God has granted him in order to remove class differences and create the atmosphere of social justice.
5. We should neither oppress others nor keep silent in the face of oppression, and should assist each other in the defence of faith, honour, dignity, etc.

Here is Ayah 40 of Surah Shura:

“The requital of evil is an evil like it; so whoever forgives and conciliates his reward lies with Allah. Indeed He does not like the wrongdoers”

This Ayah specifies that punishment for an offence should not exceed the bond and in accordance with justice, it ought to be proportionate with the deed done. In other words, one may take just and fair vengeance against the transgression of rights; however, if the person powerful enough to retaliate, decides to show mercy and forgive the repentant culprit – rather than professional and unrepentant criminals –such a person will indeed be granted a greater reward by God Almighty, Who does not favour wrongdoers.

This Ayah teaches us that:

1. Punishment should be proportionate to the wrong done and should not exceed the limits.
2. Islam calls for forgiving the repentant person even if the wronged one has the right to retaliate, since the pardoner has a great reward with God.
3. Forgiveness within the framework of the Islamic shari’ah, creates harmony and leads to reduction of wrongdoings and crimes in society.  

Ayahs 41 and 42 of Surah Shura read:

“As for those who retaliate after being wronged; there is no blame upon them.

“The blame lies only upon those who wrong the people and commit aggression in the land unduly; for such there is a painful punishment.”

Ayah 41 means to say that the avenger, after just and fair retaliation against the culprit, shall not be chastised or reproached by the community for having taken vengeance. In other words, it is a legitimate right to punish the wrongdoer, but, as said earlier, if the wrongdoer repents and is forgiven, the wronged person shall be rewarded by God Almighty in the Hereafter.

Nonetheless, as the next Ayah says, those who wrong people and continue to make mischief in the society ought to be prosecuted and punished, while in the Hereafter a terrible torment is in store for such evil persons.

These Ayahs teach us the following points:

1. An oppressed person is entitled to seek help from others to attain his right.
2. Transgression of the people’s rights is a social evil that should not be left unpunished.

Now let us listen to Ayah 43 of as the concluding Ayah of this episode:

“As for the one who endures patiently and forgives that is indeed the steadiest of courses.”

This Ayah again refers to the issue of clemency and means to say that the wronged one, who is patient and forgives the opponent, possesses determination and excellences, since it requires a strong and confident soul to endure hardships and remain steadfast in making efforts to achieve the lofty goals.

Such were the Prophets and the Imams, so strong and perseverant that they could bear the wrongs done to them by the people, but they never made attempts at wreaking vengeance upon their enemies unless they were commanded by God Almighty to wage war against disbelievers for the sake of the betterment of the society.

From this Ayah we learn that:

1. The holy Qur’an recommends us to forgive, while also specifying the right to punish the wrongdoer – as per the circumstances.
2. Patience and forgiveness are considered lofty and Godly values.
3. Islam is the most comprehensive set of beliefs, as is evident by its recognition of the right of the oppressed to retaliate, while emphasizing on the principle of forgiveness.   

RM/AS/ME