Surah 1-2 - YasSarNal QuR'aN

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | AN ISLAMIC MODEL OF SOCIAL SECURITYtheir generosity and reward them for it, although it is He who has bestowed thewealth on them in the first place.The sūrah goes on to reveal to the believers that niggardliness and the tendency togive to charity out of one’s inferior possessions are motivated by lack of faith in Godand by fear of poverty. Such fear is only entertained by those who have no trust inGod and their accountability to Him. It identifies these motives clearly, pointing totheir original instigator: “Satan promises you poverty and bids you to commit indecency,whereas God promises you His forgiveness and bounty. God is Munificent, All-Knowing. Hegrants wisdom to whom He wills. He who is granted wisdom has indeed been grantedabundant good. Yet only those with sound minds would take heed” (Verses 268-269)The sūrah is telling the believers that Satan insinuates into their minds a fear ofpoverty in order to arouse their selfishness and greed, and that it is he that enticesthem to transgress and commit indecencies. This fear was responsible for the practiceof burying one’s young daughters alive in pre-Islamic Arabia, while greed andexcessive lust for wealth led some to gorge themselves on usury — both abhorrentand shameful practices.In contrast to Satan’s destructive exhortations, God promises forgiveness andgenerosity and provides sustenance and livelihood for everyone, in return for theirgenerosity, because He is beneficent and fully aware of people’s innermost thoughtsand intentions. Furthermore, “He grants wisdom to whom He wills. He who is grantedwisdom has indeed been granted abundant good.” (Verse 269) God grants wisdom andcommon sense to enable people to reason and evaluate their actions and to seekmoderation and forethought in their attitudes and behaviour. What a great gift,indeed!“Yet only those with sound minds would take heed” (Verse 269) They are the ones whoappreciate and understand and judge matters sensibly. As in all matters, it is up toGod’s absolute will to determine who deserves to receive the gift of wisdom, but thesūrah reassures those who sincerely strive for wisdom and guidance that they shallnot be denied these gifts.“Satan promises you poverty and bids you to commit indecency, whereas God promisesyou His forgiveness and bounty.” (Verse 268) This statement asserts the fundamentaltruth that, in this life, there are only two clear choices to make: God’s way or the wayof Satan. Man can either heed God’s advice or act on Satan’s promises; rejecting oneway means following the other. Only one way, the way of God, leads to the truth andall other routes belong to Satan.This truth is frequently and deliberately emphasized in the Qur’ān in order toleave those who reject God’s path with no argument or excuses. The path of truth isone and well defined, and people are free to take it or turn away from it. They will374