Abdul Muqit Chowdhury :
The Holy Quran reveals: “And (remember) when We made a covenant with the children of Israel, (saying) worship none save Allah (only) and be good to parents and to kindred and to
orphans and the needy, and speak kindly to mankind; and establish worship and pay the poor-due. Then after that, ye slid back, save a few of you, being averse.” (Verse 83, Sura Baqarah 2, The Meanings of the Glorious Holy Qur’an by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall)
“And serve Allah : and ascribe nothing as partner unto Him. (Show) kindness unto parents, and unto near kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and unto the neighbour who is of kin (unto you) and the neighbour who is not of kin, and the fellow-traveller and the wayfarer and (the slaves) whom your right hands possess. Lo! Allah loveth not such as are proud and boastful;” (Verse 36, Sura An-Nisa 4, do)
Allama Yusuf Ali’s translation of the above mentioned two verses are: “And remember We took a Covenant from the children of Israel (to this effect): 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 practise reqular charity. Then did ye turn back, except a few among you, and ye backslide (even now)” (Verse 83, Sura Baqarah 2, the Holy Qur’an Translation and Commentary by Allama Yusuf Ali)
“Serve God and join not any partners with Him ; and do good – to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the way-farer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess: For God loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious; — ” (Verse 36, Sura Nisa 4, do )
Allama Yusuf Ali comments: “So far from the Convenant being of the kind you suggest in ii80, the real Covenant is about the moral law, which is set out in ii83. This moral law is universal, and if you break it, no privileges will lighten your punishment or help you in any way (ii86) “Speak fair to the people” not only means outward courtesy from the leaders to the meanest among the people, but the protection of the people from being exploited, deceived, defrauded, or doped with things to lull their intelligence.”
“The essence of Islam is to serve God and do good to your fellow-creatures. This is wider and more comprehensive than “Love God and love our neighbour.” For it includes duties to animals as our fellow-creatures, and emphasises practical service rather than sentiment.”
“Neighbours who ar near: that is, in local situation as well as intimate relationships, just as neighbours who are strangers include those whom we do not know or who live away from us or in a different sphere altogether.”
“The companies by your side may be your intimate friends and associates, just as the way-farer you meet may be a casual acquaintence on your travels. This last is much wider than the “stranger within your gate”.
“What your right hands possess : anything that has no civil rights. It includes captives or slaves (where they exist in any form whatsoever), people in your power, or dumb animals with whom you have to deal. They are all God’s creatures and deserve our sympathy and our practical service. Cf. Coleridge’s : “Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner”: “He prayeth best who loveth best/All things both great and small,/For the dear God Who loevth us,/He made and loveth all.”
“Real deeds of service and kidness proceed, not from showing off or from a superior sort of condescension (Cf. “White Man’s Burden”), but from a frank recognition of our own humility and the real claims, before God, of all our fellow-creatures. For in our mutual needs we are equal before God, or perhaps the best of us (as the world sees) may be worse than the worst of us (from the same point of view).” (Holy Quran Translation and Commentary by Allama Yusuf Ali)
The Holy Quran in these verses enjoins good behaviour and treatment to all — orphans, needy, neighbour, persons under command and (in the broadest canvas) humanity. Speaking kindly to mankind and extending helping hands to the needy and all concerned ensure peace in the society. It is a matter of great significance that the verses start with the direction of the worship of Allah and none else. The same verses direct human treatment of not only human beings, but also all creatures.
Holy Hadith in this context: “Hazrat Abu Hurayra (Ra) reported that a man asked: Messenger of Allah! Such and such a woman is reputed for much prayer, and fasting and alms giving; but she offends her neighbours with her tongue. He said, she will go to hell. He enquired, O Messenger of Allah ! Such and such woman is reputed less for her fasting, alms giving and prayer; but she gives alms and she does not offend her neighbours by her tongue. He said, she will go to Paradise.” (Narrated by Ahmad and Baihaqi)
The Holy Quran reveals: “And (remember) when We made a covenant with the children of Israel, (saying) worship none save Allah (only) and be good to parents and to kindred and to
orphans and the needy, and speak kindly to mankind; and establish worship and pay the poor-due. Then after that, ye slid back, save a few of you, being averse.” (Verse 83, Sura Baqarah 2, The Meanings of the Glorious Holy Qur’an by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall)
“And serve Allah : and ascribe nothing as partner unto Him. (Show) kindness unto parents, and unto near kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and unto the neighbour who is of kin (unto you) and the neighbour who is not of kin, and the fellow-traveller and the wayfarer and (the slaves) whom your right hands possess. Lo! Allah loveth not such as are proud and boastful;” (Verse 36, Sura An-Nisa 4, do)
Allama Yusuf Ali’s translation of the above mentioned two verses are: “And remember We took a Covenant from the children of Israel (to this effect): 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 practise reqular charity. Then did ye turn back, except a few among you, and ye backslide (even now)” (Verse 83, Sura Baqarah 2, the Holy Qur’an Translation and Commentary by Allama Yusuf Ali)
“Serve God and join not any partners with Him ; and do good – to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the way-farer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess: For God loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious; — ” (Verse 36, Sura Nisa 4, do )
Allama Yusuf Ali comments: “So far from the Convenant being of the kind you suggest in ii80, the real Covenant is about the moral law, which is set out in ii83. This moral law is universal, and if you break it, no privileges will lighten your punishment or help you in any way (ii86) “Speak fair to the people” not only means outward courtesy from the leaders to the meanest among the people, but the protection of the people from being exploited, deceived, defrauded, or doped with things to lull their intelligence.”
“The essence of Islam is to serve God and do good to your fellow-creatures. This is wider and more comprehensive than “Love God and love our neighbour.” For it includes duties to animals as our fellow-creatures, and emphasises practical service rather than sentiment.”
“Neighbours who ar near: that is, in local situation as well as intimate relationships, just as neighbours who are strangers include those whom we do not know or who live away from us or in a different sphere altogether.”
“The companies by your side may be your intimate friends and associates, just as the way-farer you meet may be a casual acquaintence on your travels. This last is much wider than the “stranger within your gate”.
“What your right hands possess : anything that has no civil rights. It includes captives or slaves (where they exist in any form whatsoever), people in your power, or dumb animals with whom you have to deal. They are all God’s creatures and deserve our sympathy and our practical service. Cf. Coleridge’s : “Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner”: “He prayeth best who loveth best/All things both great and small,/For the dear God Who loevth us,/He made and loveth all.”
“Real deeds of service and kidness proceed, not from showing off or from a superior sort of condescension (Cf. “White Man’s Burden”), but from a frank recognition of our own humility and the real claims, before God, of all our fellow-creatures. For in our mutual needs we are equal before God, or perhaps the best of us (as the world sees) may be worse than the worst of us (from the same point of view).” (Holy Quran Translation and Commentary by Allama Yusuf Ali)
The Holy Quran in these verses enjoins good behaviour and treatment to all — orphans, needy, neighbour, persons under command and (in the broadest canvas) humanity. Speaking kindly to mankind and extending helping hands to the needy and all concerned ensure peace in the society. It is a matter of great significance that the verses start with the direction of the worship of Allah and none else. The same verses direct human treatment of not only human beings, but also all creatures.
Holy Hadith in this context: “Hazrat Abu Hurayra (Ra) reported that a man asked: Messenger of Allah! Such and such a woman is reputed for much prayer, and fasting and alms giving; but she offends her neighbours with her tongue. He said, she will go to hell. He enquired, O Messenger of Allah ! Such and such woman is reputed less for her fasting, alms giving and prayer; but she gives alms and she does not offend her neighbours by her tongue. He said, she will go to Paradise.” (Narrated by Ahmad and Baihaqi)
