Some Basic Concepts in Islam (3/4)
Prof. C. A. Babu
9. Concept of Righteousness
Righteousness must be founded on strong faith and constant practice. There is no place for shallow concepts or meaningless rites and rituals in Islam. A righteous person should obey all the salutary regulations, and should make the love of Allah and the love of his fellowmen and all other creatures his sincere motive. Righteousness is not merely a matter of void utterances. A righteous person’s faith should be true and sincere and should be complemented by good deeds. Every such act of kindness shown to men as well as to other creatures is considered as charity and merits reward in the Hereafter. A righteous person will also be steadfast and unwavering in all circumstances. He will be a good member of the community and a good citizen of the nation. Righteousness, in the Islamic perspective, tends to provide the individual with peace in all circumstances, the society with security on all levels, the nation with solidarity, and the international community with hope and harmony. Life on this planet will be absolutely harmonious and pleasant if the Islamic concept of righteousness is adopted and practiced by all men.
“It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in God and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God fearing.” [The Qur’an, Ch: 2, Al-Baqarah, V: 177]
10. Concept of Piety
The Qur’an speaks of the pious as those who are steadfast in prayer, believe in the Unseen, spend freely in the way of Allah, believe in the verses of the Qur’an, and always remember of the Hereafter. The pious are also those who ******* their anger and pardon all men, for Allah loves those who are patient and do good deeds. It is indeed piety if one earnestly asks for forgiveness from Allah for his sins, for having done something to be ashamed of, or for having wronged his own soul. Piety requires a proper use of the mind by grasping truth of Allah and life. Piety demands a proper use of wealth by spending in the way of Allah under all circumstances. Piety calls for a proper use of one’s spiritual as well as the physical abilities by observing the Prayer. Piety insists on a high degree of self-******* over one’s anger and emotions, a moral capacity for forgiveness and patience, and conscious urge to make the sinner return to Allah in regret and repentance. Piety seeks of man to be of true and fine convictions, of determination and character, and of strong will and courage.
“Worship none but God; treat with kindness your parents and kindred, and orphans and those in need; speak fair to the people; be steadfast in prayer; and practice regular charity.” [The Qur’an, Ch: 2, Al-Baqarah, V: 83]
11. Concept of Morality
One of the most important aspects in the life of a Muslim is to have a high standard of morals. Morality in Islam is based on the firm conviction that Almighty God is the Creator and Originator of everything and that man is endowed with the responsibility and honor to act as His agent on earth. Allah has entrusted everything in the heavens and the earth to man and he is expected to do justice to that trust. Allah does not expect the impossible from man or hold him accountable for anything beyond his power. Islam expects man to endeavor to achieve progress and fulfillment of the self in this world as well to strive for success in the Hereafter. He is expected to observe everything that is obligatory.
Islam does not expect Muslims to shun all the good things of life. In principle, everything is permissible except that which are forbidden or harmful to the self, for others, or to the world at large. The Muslim’s moral obligation is to be a glowing example of honesty and excellence. Man’s ultimate responsibility is to Allah and his highest goal is His pleasure. The range of morality in Islam is so comprehensive that it combines faith in God, religious rites, spiritual observances, social conduct, intellectual pursuits, manners of speech, and all other aspects of human life.
“For Muslim men and women, for the believing, for the devout, for the true, for the patient and constant, for the generous, for those who fast and guard their chastity, and for those who engage much in God’s praise, - for them has God prepared forgiveness and great reward.” [The Qur’an, Ch: 33, Al-Ahzab, V: 35]
12. Concept of Sin
Man, according to Islam, is born in natural state of purity or fitrah. The idea of Original Sin has no room in the teachings of Islam. The human child is totally innocent and is not responsible for the sin of its parents or any of its ancestors. Whatever happens after its birth is the result of external influences and social environment. Man is imperfect. But he is not left helpless or deserted by Allah to fall victim to his shortcomings. Allah has provided him with the necessary guidance to ward off sin and imbibe piety and righteousness. According to the moral scale of Islam, a sin is any act, thought, or intention that is deliberate, defies the law of Allah, violates the right of Allah or the right of man, or is harmful to the soul or body. In Islam, there are major and minor sins as there are sins against Allah and sins against both Allah and man. All sins against Allah, except one, are forgivable if the sinner sincerely seeks forgiveness.
The Qur’an states that Allah does not forgive the sin of shirk (polytheism, pantheism, trinity, etc.), which is attributing partners to Allah in belief and worship. He forgives sins other than this and pardons whom He wills.
“Every soul draws the meed of its acts on none but itself: no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. Your goal in the end is towards God: He will tell you the truth of the things wherein ye disputed.” [The Qur’an, Ch: 6, Al-An’am, V: 164]
13. Concept of Salvation
The concept of salvation in Islam is a positive achievement as against the negative and barren concept of escapism favored by other religions. This world offers immense scope for development and fulfillment of one’s being and man is endowed with a number of potentialities. By developing these, he reaches his full stature and qualifies for still higher stages awaiting him. His main task in this life is to develop his self by understanding the various aspects of nature and employing them for the development of mankind. Salvation by faith and good deeds are both tied together integrally in Islam. This is the comprehensive Islamic solution to all social disorders. Good deeds are central, not peripheral to the Islamic life and salvation. Islam gives no blank check of salvation to sinners. Individuals have to earn it, work for it, and deserve it, through a commitment to good deeds. Salvation by faith alone, which is preached by some faiths, only massages the ego of the sinner. It promises him the eternal bliss of paradise, without ever acquiring an iota of goodness or doing anything good, thus leaving the victims of his sins to the mercy of the society. Islam condemns such behavior and such approaches to salvation. Faith helps a person to formulate his thoughts in a God-conscious manner. No matter how well intentioned one may be, faith or thinking about God is not beneficial to others unless good deeds are produced. Hence, in the Islamic perspective, a combination of faith and good deeds is essential in order to attain salvation.
“If any do deeds of righteousness, be they male or female - and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them.” [The Qur’an, Ch: 4, Al-Nisa’, V: 124]
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