Abdul Muqit Chowdhury :
The Holy Quran reveals : “Blessed is He Who hath revealed unto His slave the Criterion (of right and wrong), that he may be a warner to the people.” (Verse 1, Sura Al-Furqan 25, The Meanings of the Glorious Qur’an by
Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall)
Other translation of the same verse : “Blessed is He Who/Sent down the Criterion/To His servant that it/May be an admonition/To all creatures ;” (Verse 1, Sura Furqan 25, The Holy Quran Translation and Commentary by Allama Yusuf Ali.)
Allama Yusuf Ali comments on ‘Criterion’ : “That by which we can judge clearly between right and wrong. Here the reference is to the Qur-an, which has already been symbolised by Light. This symbol is continued here, and many contrasts are shown, in the midst of which we can distinguish between the true and the false by God’s Light, especially the contrast between righteousness and sin.”
He adds : “The pronoun in yakuna may refer either to Furqan (The Criterion) or to ‘Abd (the Holy Prophet). In either case the ultimate meaning is the same. The Holy Qur-an is the standing Criterion for judgement between right and wrong.”
The Holy Qur’an ordains the responsibility of the Muslim Ummah to lead mankind towards the ‘right path’ : ” Ye are the best community that hath been raised up for mankind. Ye enjoin right. conduct and forbid indecency; and ye believe in Allah. And if the people of the Scripture had believed it had been better for them. Some of them are believers, but most of them are evil- livers.” (Verse 110, Al-i ‘Imran 3, The Meanings of the Glorious Quran by Marmaduke Pickthall).
Other translation of the same verse : “Ye are the best/Of Peoples, evolved/For mankind,/Enjoining what is right,/Forbidding what is wrong,/ And believing in God. /If only the People of the Book/Had faith; it were best/For them : among them/ Are some who have faith,/But most of them/Are perverted transgressors.” (Verse 110, Al-i-Imran 3, The Holy Qur’an Translation and Commentary by Allama Yusuf Ali)
Allama Yusuf Ali comments : “The logical conclusion to the evolution ·of religious history is a non-sectarian, non-racial, non-doctrinal, universal religion, which Islam claims to be. For Islam is just submission to the Will of God. This implies (1) Faith, (2) doing right, being an example to others to do right, and having the power to see that the right prevails, (3) eschewing wrong, being an example to others to eschew wrong, and having the power to see that wrong and injustice are defeated. Islam therefore lives, not for itself, but for mankind. The people of the Book, if only they had faith, would be Muslims, for they have been prepared for Islam. Unfortunately there is Unfaith, but it can never harm those who carry the banner of Faith and Right, which must always be victorious.”
The revelation of the Holy Quran with this mission has a special significance in this context:
“Ramadan is the (month)/In which was sent down/The Qur’an, as a guide/To mankind, also clear (Signs)/For guidance and judgment/(Between right and wrong) …” (Verse 185″ Sura Baqarah 2, The Holy Qur’an Translation and Commentary by Allama Yusuf Ali)
The first quoted verse proclaims Muslims as ‘best people’ to enjoin ‘right’ and forbid ‘wrong’: The second one proclaim the Holy Quran as ‘guide’ to mankind’ for ‘guidance and judgment’ (between right and wrong). The relation between the two verses is on the people (Muslims), the message (Qur’an) and the responsibility (guidance and judgment between right and wrong).
Side by side with the universal responsibility of leading mankind on the proper path, the Holy Qur’an ordains a special mission for a section of dedicated people to fight for the cause :
“Let there arise out of you/ A band of people/ Inviting to all that is good,/Enjoining what is right,/ And forbidding what is wrong :/They are the ones /To attain felicity,” (Verse 104 ”Al-i-‘Imran 3: The Holy Qur’an Translation and Commentary by A. Yusuf Ali)
Here, ‘a band of people’ is called to come out to ‘invite to’ ‘good’ and enjoin ‘right’ and forbid ‘wrong.’
Allama Yusuf Ali comments in this context: “Muflih, aflaha, falah: the root idea is attainment of desires, happiness in this world and the next; success; prosperity; freedom from anxiety, care, or a disturbed state of mind ; –the opposite of azab in the next verse, which includes : failure ; misery ; punishment or penalty ; agony or anguish.
The ideal Muslim community is happy, untroubled by conflicts or doubts, sure of itself, strong, united and prosperous: because it invites to all that is good; enjoins the right; and forbids the wrong, — a master-stroke of description in three clauses.”
The enjoining of the right and forbidding the wrong is ‘Amor bil ma’ruf and ‘nahi anil munkar’ in the religious term. This assigned duty for every Muslim and specially a section of Muslims, should be rendered in all possible ways.
Rasulullah (Sm) said, “If someone of you notice bad deeds, check it with hands. If unable to do so, check it with mouth. If you are unable to do it also, hate (condemn) it with your heart; and with that you will be free from responsibility. But, it is a very weak Iman (faith).” (Muslim Sharif, Nasayee Sharif)
The present social environment is very much polluted. Corruption is rampant. Terror prevails. The voice of conscience and human values should be dominant in moulding the future of the nation. The Muslims have that ordained mission to eradicate evils and uplift the society through propagation and establishment of human values. They should shoulder that responsibility.
The Holy Quran reveals : “Blessed is He Who hath revealed unto His slave the Criterion (of right and wrong), that he may be a warner to the people.” (Verse 1, Sura Al-Furqan 25, The Meanings of the Glorious Qur’an by
Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall)
Other translation of the same verse : “Blessed is He Who/Sent down the Criterion/To His servant that it/May be an admonition/To all creatures ;” (Verse 1, Sura Furqan 25, The Holy Quran Translation and Commentary by Allama Yusuf Ali.)
Allama Yusuf Ali comments on ‘Criterion’ : “That by which we can judge clearly between right and wrong. Here the reference is to the Qur-an, which has already been symbolised by Light. This symbol is continued here, and many contrasts are shown, in the midst of which we can distinguish between the true and the false by God’s Light, especially the contrast between righteousness and sin.”
He adds : “The pronoun in yakuna may refer either to Furqan (The Criterion) or to ‘Abd (the Holy Prophet). In either case the ultimate meaning is the same. The Holy Qur-an is the standing Criterion for judgement between right and wrong.”
The Holy Qur’an ordains the responsibility of the Muslim Ummah to lead mankind towards the ‘right path’ : ” Ye are the best community that hath been raised up for mankind. Ye enjoin right. conduct and forbid indecency; and ye believe in Allah. And if the people of the Scripture had believed it had been better for them. Some of them are believers, but most of them are evil- livers.” (Verse 110, Al-i ‘Imran 3, The Meanings of the Glorious Quran by Marmaduke Pickthall).
Other translation of the same verse : “Ye are the best/Of Peoples, evolved/For mankind,/Enjoining what is right,/Forbidding what is wrong,/ And believing in God. /If only the People of the Book/Had faith; it were best/For them : among them/ Are some who have faith,/But most of them/Are perverted transgressors.” (Verse 110, Al-i-Imran 3, The Holy Qur’an Translation and Commentary by Allama Yusuf Ali)
Allama Yusuf Ali comments : “The logical conclusion to the evolution ·of religious history is a non-sectarian, non-racial, non-doctrinal, universal religion, which Islam claims to be. For Islam is just submission to the Will of God. This implies (1) Faith, (2) doing right, being an example to others to do right, and having the power to see that the right prevails, (3) eschewing wrong, being an example to others to eschew wrong, and having the power to see that wrong and injustice are defeated. Islam therefore lives, not for itself, but for mankind. The people of the Book, if only they had faith, would be Muslims, for they have been prepared for Islam. Unfortunately there is Unfaith, but it can never harm those who carry the banner of Faith and Right, which must always be victorious.”
The revelation of the Holy Quran with this mission has a special significance in this context:
“Ramadan is the (month)/In which was sent down/The Qur’an, as a guide/To mankind, also clear (Signs)/For guidance and judgment/(Between right and wrong) …” (Verse 185″ Sura Baqarah 2, The Holy Qur’an Translation and Commentary by Allama Yusuf Ali)
The first quoted verse proclaims Muslims as ‘best people’ to enjoin ‘right’ and forbid ‘wrong’: The second one proclaim the Holy Quran as ‘guide’ to mankind’ for ‘guidance and judgment’ (between right and wrong). The relation between the two verses is on the people (Muslims), the message (Qur’an) and the responsibility (guidance and judgment between right and wrong).
Side by side with the universal responsibility of leading mankind on the proper path, the Holy Qur’an ordains a special mission for a section of dedicated people to fight for the cause :
“Let there arise out of you/ A band of people/ Inviting to all that is good,/Enjoining what is right,/ And forbidding what is wrong :/They are the ones /To attain felicity,” (Verse 104 ”Al-i-‘Imran 3: The Holy Qur’an Translation and Commentary by A. Yusuf Ali)
Here, ‘a band of people’ is called to come out to ‘invite to’ ‘good’ and enjoin ‘right’ and forbid ‘wrong.’
Allama Yusuf Ali comments in this context: “Muflih, aflaha, falah: the root idea is attainment of desires, happiness in this world and the next; success; prosperity; freedom from anxiety, care, or a disturbed state of mind ; –the opposite of azab in the next verse, which includes : failure ; misery ; punishment or penalty ; agony or anguish.
The ideal Muslim community is happy, untroubled by conflicts or doubts, sure of itself, strong, united and prosperous: because it invites to all that is good; enjoins the right; and forbids the wrong, — a master-stroke of description in three clauses.”
The enjoining of the right and forbidding the wrong is ‘Amor bil ma’ruf and ‘nahi anil munkar’ in the religious term. This assigned duty for every Muslim and specially a section of Muslims, should be rendered in all possible ways.
Rasulullah (Sm) said, “If someone of you notice bad deeds, check it with hands. If unable to do so, check it with mouth. If you are unable to do it also, hate (condemn) it with your heart; and with that you will be free from responsibility. But, it is a very weak Iman (faith).” (Muslim Sharif, Nasayee Sharif)
The present social environment is very much polluted. Corruption is rampant. Terror prevails. The voice of conscience and human values should be dominant in moulding the future of the nation. The Muslims have that ordained mission to eradicate evils and uplift the society through propagation and establishment of human values. They should shoulder that responsibility.
