Surah 1-2 - YasSarNal QuR'aN

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHTTo believe in the Books and the Prophets means to attest, without reservation, tothe truth, honesty, and integrity of all the revealed Books and all the Prophets andmessengers God commissioned to deliver them at various times of human history.This leads to a belief in the unity of the human race, serving God alone, abiding byone and the same religion and adhering to one universal divine order. This outlookhas a profound effect on the personality of the believer, who is seen as custodian ofthe heritage of God’s messengers and divine messages.The next clement of righteousness is to spend money, dear as it may be, on one’snear of kin, orphans, the needy, the stranded traveller, beggars, and for the freeing ofslaves. The significance of this commendable act of charity and sacrifice is that itliberates man from stinginess, selfishness, greed and excessive love of wealth, whichcripple one’s ability to give and help those who are in need. It is a highly spiritual actof altruism when someone of means has the courage and the generosity to give awayhis dearest and most precious possessions. It is an act of liberation for the humansoul when man rises above worldly desires and materialistic instincts. It is anadmirable achievement, which Islam commends and values very highly.It is characteristic of the Islamic approach that it aims, first and foremost, atliberating man from his own internal prejudices, weaknesses and desires beforegoing on to liberate him from the pressures and influences of the society around him.Unless one overcomes one’s own egotism, one is not likely to stand up to evil andtemptation in the world outside.Charity is also a social value that strengthens the bonds of love and trust withinthe family unit, the vital nucleus of society, and preserves the dignity of its members.Charity towards orphans in society achieves social justice and helps to save theyoung and the weak from homelessness, corruption and abuse. For the needy andthe destitute, charity provides the care and security by which their dignity ispreserved, their standing in society may be enhanced, and their contribution tosociety assured. It ensures that not a single person in the community is lost, or leftuncared for. For travellers who, for one reason or another, find themselves strandedin foreign lands or in societies where they feel alienated, charity can be a lifeline. It isan emergency measure to alleviate an unexpected hardship, and by which they aremade to feel that they belong to the global human family.Begging is a practice Islam abhors. It is forbidden to those who can earn aminimum of sustenance or have jobs. Charity by those who have the means aims tostop this evil practice.Charity has played a vital role in Islam’s fight against slavery. It provided themeans to free those unfortunate enough to have been taken prisoner in wars againstIslam. This is done by either buying slaves to set them free, or by giving a slave188