Minor & Major Acts of Reform
اَ لۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِىۡۤ اَنۡزَلَ عَلٰى عَبۡدِهِ الۡكِتٰبَ وَلَمۡ يَجۡعَلْ لَّهٗ عِوَجًا ؕ ١
قَيِّمًا لِّيُنۡذِرَ بَاۡسًا شَدِيۡدًا مِّنۡ لَّدُنۡهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ الَّذِيۡنَ يَعۡمَلُوۡنَ الصّٰلِحٰتِ اَنَّ لَهُمۡ اَجۡرًا حَسَنًا ۙ ٢
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, who has sent down upon His Servant [Muḥammad (ﷺ)] the Book and has not made therein any deviance.
[He has made it] straight, to warn of severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward [i.e., Paradise].
[Al-Quran 18:1-2, Translation: Saheeh International]
حَتّٰٓى اِذَا بَلَغَ مَغۡرِبَ الشَّمۡسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغۡرُبُ فِىۡ عَيۡنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَّوَجَدَ عِنۡدَهَا قَوۡمًا ؕ قُلۡنَا يٰذَا الۡقَرۡنَيۡنِ اِمَّاۤ اَنۡ تُعَذِّبَ وَاِمَّاۤ اَنۡ تَتَّخِذَ فِيۡهِمۡ حُسۡنًا ٨٦ قَالَ اَمَّا مَنۡ ظَلَمَ فَسَوۡفَ نُعَذِّبُهٗ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ اِلٰى رَبِّهٖ فَيُعَذِّبُهٗ عَذَابًا نُّكۡرًا ٨٧ وَاَمَّا مَنۡ اٰمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًـا فَلَهٗ جَزَآءَ ۨ الۡحُسۡنٰى ۚ وَسَنَقُوۡلُ لَهٗ مِنۡ اَمۡرِنَا يُسۡرًا ؕ ٨٨
Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness. He said: As for him who doeth wrong, we shall punish him, and then he will be brought back unto his Lord, Who will punish him with awful punishment! But as for him who believeth and doeth right, good will be his reward, and We shall speak unto him a mild command.
[Al-Quran 18:86-88, Translation: Pickthall]
قُلۡ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ يُوۡحٰٓى اِلَىَّ اَنَّمَاۤ اِلٰهُكُمۡ اِلٰـهٌ وَّاحِدٌ ۚ فَمَنۡ كَانَ يَرۡجُوۡا لِقَآءَ رَبِّهٖ فَلۡيَـعۡمَلۡ عَمَلًا صَالِحًـا وَّلَا يُشۡرِكۡ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهٖۤ اَحَدًا ١١٠
Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."
[Al-Quran 18:110, Translation: Saheeh International]
وَقَالَ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا لَا تَاۡتِيۡنَا السَّاعَةُ ؕ قُلۡ بَلٰى وَرَبِّىۡ لَـتَاۡتِيَنَّكُمۡۙ عٰلِمِ الۡغَيۡبِ ۚ لَا يَعۡزُبُ عَنۡهُ مِثۡقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَلَا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ وَلَاۤ اَصۡغَرُ مِنۡ ذٰ لِكَ وَلَاۤ اَكۡبَرُ اِلَّا فِىۡ كِتٰبٍ مُّبِيۡنٍۙ ٣
لِّيَجۡزِىَ الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوۡا الصّٰلِحٰتِؕ اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ لَهُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَةٌ وَّرِزۡقٌ كَرِيۡمٌ ٤
But those who disbelieve say, "The Hour will not come to us." Say, "Yes, by my Lord, it will surely come to you. [Allāh is] the Knower of the unseen." Not absent from Him is an atom's weight within the heavens or within the earth or [what is] smaller than that or greater, except that it is in a clear register -
That He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds. Those will have forgiveness and noble provision.
[Al-Quran 34:3-4, Translation: Saheeh International]
۞ وَلَقَدۡ اٰتَيۡنَا دَاوٗدَ مِنَّا فَضۡلًا ؕ يٰجِبَالُ اَوِّبِىۡ مَعَهٗ وَالطَّيۡرَ ۚ وَاَلَــنَّا لَـهُ الۡحَدِيۡدَ ۙ ١٠
اَنِ اعۡمَلۡ سٰبِغٰتٍ وَّقَدِّرۡ فِى السَّرۡدِ وَاعۡمَلُوۡا صَالِحًـا ؕ اِنِّىۡ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ بَصِيۡرٌ ١١
And We certainly gave David from Us bounty. [We said], "O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well]." And We made pliable for him iron,
[Commanding him], "Make full coats of mail and calculate [precisely] the links, and work [all of you] righteousness. Indeed I, of what you do, am Seeing."
[Al-Quran 34:10-11, Translation: Saheeh International]
Surah al-Kahf and Surah Saba both present a clear contrast between the minor and major acts of reform. The difference between them is lost in translation.
Regardless of what the situation is, every person can individually chose to reform themselves, do what's right, and hope for its reward in the Hereafter from Allah ﷻ .
Depending on the authority and power bestowed on a person, a person can undertake major reforms, for the public good, which benefit many people.
For example, Surah al-Kahf begins with the story of the youth who believed in their Lord, Allah ﷻ , and refused to indulge in polytheism. They took a stand for their faith, and hid in al-Kahf (pit cave) to avoid being persecuted (stoned to death or being caused to revert to polytheism) for their faith.
Surah al-Kahf concludes with the story of Dhu al-Qarnayn who used the power and ability bestowed upon him by Allah ﷻ to contain the Earth-corrupting Yajooj Majooj. He sealed their point of emergence with the technological prowess bestowed upon him, such that they could no longer surface, thus restoring peace. Earlier, in his first travel, quoted above (Q18:86-88) to the North Pole, and the people near it, he states that he will punish the wrongdoers, and give good reward those who believe and do acts of reform (اٰمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًـا).
Another example is presented in Surah Saba. Prophet-King David (Daud عليه السلام) was appointed Khalifa of the Earth (Q38:26 ... يٰدَاوٗدُ اِنَّا جَعَلۡنٰكَ خَلِيۡفَةً فِى الۡاَرۡضِ). The purpose of khilafat is to judge between people according to Allah ﷻ 's Laws (Deen and Shariah). Iron was made pliable for him so that he could prepare coats of mail for war. He fought many wars to establish Allah ﷻ 's Deen, and consequently bring peace to the conquered lands.
وَوَرِثَ سُلَيۡمٰنُ دَاوٗدَ وَقَالَ يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمۡنَا مَنۡطِقَ الطَّيۡرِ وَاُوۡتِيۡنَا مِنۡ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍؕ اِنَّ هٰذَا لَهُوَ الۡفَضۡلُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ ١٦
وَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيۡمٰنَ جُنُوۡدُهٗ مِنَ الۡجِنِّ وَالۡاِنۡسِ وَالطَّيۡرِ فَهُمۡ يُوۡزَعُوۡنَ ١٧
حَتّٰٓى اِذَاۤ اَتَوۡا عَلٰى وَادِ النَّمۡلِۙ قَالَتۡ نَمۡلَةٌ يّٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّمۡلُ ادۡخُلُوۡا مَسٰكِنَكُمۡۚ لَا يَحۡطِمَنَّكُمۡ سُلَيۡمٰنُ وَجُنُوۡدُهٗۙ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ١٨
فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّنۡ قَوۡلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ اَوۡزِعۡنِىۡۤ اَنۡ اَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ الَّتِىۡۤ اَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلٰى وَالِدَىَّ وَاَنۡ اَعۡمَلَ صَالِحًـا تَرۡضٰٮهُ وَاَدۡخِلۡنِىۡ بِرَحۡمَتِكَ فِىۡ عِبَادِكَ الصّٰلِحِيۡنَ ١٩
And Solomon inherited David. He said, "O people, we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from all things. Indeed, this is evident bounty."
And gathered for Solomon were his soldiers of the jinn and men and birds, and they were [marching] in rows
Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said, "O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they perceive not."
So [Solomon] smiled, amused at her speech, and said, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants."
[Al-Quran 27:16-19, Translation: Saheeh International]
She was told, "Enter the palace." But when she saw it, she thought it was a body of water and uncovered her shins [to wade through]. He said, "Indeed, it is a palace [whose floor is] made smooth with glass." She said, "My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Solomon to Allāh, Lord of the worlds."
[Al-Quran 27:44, Translation: Saheeh International]
Countries are ruled according to the Law decided upon by its Ruler(s). When a sovereign submits to Allah ﷻ , then the official religion is Islam, and the official law is that which has been revealed by Allah ﷻ
Purpose of Submission
وَلَا تَرۡكَنُوۡۤا اِلَى الَّذِيۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا فَتَمَسَّكُمُ النَّارُۙ وَمَا لَـكُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ مِنۡ اَوۡلِيَآءَ ثُمَّ لَا تُنۡصَرُوۡنَ ١١٣
وَاَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَ طَرَفَىِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَـفًا مِّنَ الَّيۡلِ ؕ اِنَّ الۡحَسَنٰتِ يُذۡهِبۡنَ السَّيِّاٰتِ ؕ ذٰ لِكَ ذِكۡرٰى لِلذّٰكِرِيۡنَ ۚ ١١٤
وَاصۡبِرۡ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يُضِيۡعُ اَجۡرَ الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ ١١٥
فَلَوۡ لَا كَانَ مِنَ الۡقُرُوۡنِ مِنۡ قَبۡلِكُمۡ اُولُوۡا بَقِيَّةٍ يَّـنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ الۡفَسَادِ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ اِلَّا قَلِيۡلًا مِّمَّنۡ اَنۡجَيۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡ ۚ وَاتَّبَعَ الَّذِيۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا مَاۤ اُتۡرِفُوۡا فِيۡهِ وَكَانُوۡا مُجۡرِمِيۡنَ ١١٦
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ لِيُهۡلِكَ الۡقُرٰى بِظُلۡمٍ وَّاَهۡلُهَا مُصۡلِحُوۡنَ ١١٧
And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire, and you would not have other than Allāh any protectors; then you would not be helped.
And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.
And be patient, for indeed, Allāh does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.
So why were there not among the generations before you those of enduring discrimination forbidding corruption on earth - except a few of those We saved from among them? But those who wronged pursued what luxury they were given therein, and they were criminals.
And your Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were reformers.
[Al-Quran 11:113-117, Translation: Saheeh International]
Q11:117 informs us that when people are willing to reform, their towns are not destroyed. Q11:116 questions why weren't there people forbidding corruption in the former generations, except very few who were saved. There are stories of several mighty civilisations of the ancient world in The Quran, who have been obliterated from the Earth due to their corruption of the Earth. Allah ﷻ 's Messengers warned them, and only a few people believed.
Surah Yasin presents the example of a man who believed the Messengers (Q36:13-32), and Surah Ghafir/Momin presents another example of a man who believed (Q40:21-46). In both examples, we see the Believer trying to persuade his people to believe the Messenger(s) and reform.
Prophet Jonah (Yunus عليه السلام) didn't want to go warn the sin-city, and headed off in another direction. Long story short, Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى chose him again after his repentance, and sent him on the mission he was meant to undertake:
فَاجۡتَبٰهُ رَبُّهٗ فَجَعَلَهٗ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِيۡنَ ٥٠
And his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.
[Al-Quran 68:50, Translation: Saheeh International]
Major Reforms: Task of All Messengers
يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوۡا مِنَ الطَّيِّبٰتِ وَاعۡمَلُوْا صَالِحًـا ؕ اِنِّىۡ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ عَلِيۡمٌ ؕ ٥١
وَاِنَّ هٰذِهٖۤ اُمَّتُكُمۡ اُمَّةً وَّاحِدَةً وَّاَنَا رَبُّكُمۡ فَاتَّقُوۡنِ ٥٢
"O you the Messengers, eat of the good things, and do righteousness; surely I am Ever-Knowing of whatever you do.
And surely this nation of yours is one nation, and I am your Lord; so have piety towards Me."
[Al-Quran 23:51-52, Translation: Dr. Ghali]
As Much as Able
۞ وَاِلٰى مَدۡيَنَ اَخَاهُمۡ شُعَيۡبًا ؕ قَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ مَا لَـكُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰهٍ غَيۡرُهٗ ؕ وَلَا تَـنۡقُصُوا الۡمِكۡيَالَ وَالۡمِيۡزَانَ اِنِّىۡۤ اَرٰٮكُمۡ بِخَيۡرٍ وَّاِنِّىۡۤ اَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ مُّحِيۡطٍ ٨٤
وَيٰقَوۡمِ اَوۡفُوا الۡمِكۡيَالَ وَالۡمِيۡزَانَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ وَلَا تَبۡخَسُوا النَّاسَ اَشۡيَآءَهُمۡ وَلَا تَعۡثَوۡا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ مُفۡسِدِيۡنَ ٨٥
بَقِيَّتُ اللّٰهِ خَيۡرٌ لَّـكُمۡ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ مُّؤۡمِنِيۡنَ ۚ وَمَاۤ اَنَا عَلَيۡكُمۡ بِحَفِيۡظٍ ٨٦
قَالُوۡا يٰشُعَيۡبُ اَصَلٰوتُكَ تَاۡمُرُكَ اَنۡ نَّتۡرُكَ مَا يَعۡبُدُ اٰبَآؤُنَاۤ اَوۡ اَنۡ نَّـفۡعَلَ فِىۡۤ اَمۡوَالِنَا مَا نَشٰٓؤُا ؕ اِنَّكَ لَاَنۡتَ الۡحَـلِيۡمُ الرَّشِيۡدُ ٨٧
قَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اَرَءَيۡتُمۡ اِنۡ كُنۡتُ عَلٰى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّنۡ رَّبِّىۡ وَرَزَقَنِىۡ مِنۡهُ رِزۡقًا حَسَنًا ؕ وَمَاۤ اُرِيۡدُ اَنۡ اُخَالِفَكُمۡ اِلٰى مَاۤ اَنۡهٰٮكُمۡ عَنۡهُ ؕ اِنۡ اُرِيۡدُ اِلَّا الۡاِصۡلَاحَ مَا اسۡتَطَعۡتُ ؕ وَمَا تَوۡفِيۡقِىۡۤ اِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ ؕ عَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلۡتُ وَاِلَيۡهِ اُنِيۡبُ ٨٨
وَيٰقَوۡمِ لَا يَجۡرِمَنَّكُمۡ شِقَاقِىۡۤ اَنۡ يُّصِيۡبَكُمۡ مِّثۡلُ مَاۤ اَصَابَ قَوۡمَ نُوۡحٍ اَوۡ قَوۡمَ هُوۡدٍ اَوۡ قَوۡمَ صٰلِحٍؕ وَمَا قَوۡمُ لُوۡطٍ مِّنۡكُمۡ بِبَعِيۡدٍ ٨٩
وَاسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡا رَبَّكُمۡ ثُمَّ تُوۡبُوۡۤا اِلَيۡهِؕ اِنَّ رَبِّىۡ رَحِيۡمٌ وَّدُوۡدٌ ٩٠
٩٥... ٩١
And to Madyan [We sent] their brother Shuʿayb. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. And do not decrease from the measure and the scale. Indeed, I see you in prosperity, but indeed, I fear for you the punishment of an all-encompassing Day.
And O my people, give full measure and weight in justice and do not deprive the people of their due and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption.
What remains [lawful] from Allāh is best for you, if you would be believers. But I am not a guardian over you."
They said, "O Shuʿayb, does your prayer [i.e., religion] command you that we should leave what our fathers worship or not do with our wealth what we please? Indeed, you are the forbearing, the discerning!"
He said, "O my people, have you considered: if I am upon clear evidence from my Lord and He has provided me with a good provision from Him...? And I do not intend to differ from you in that which I have forbidden you; I only intend reform as much as I am able. And my success is not but through Allāh. Upon Him I have relied, and to Him I return.
And O my people, let not [your] dissension from me cause you to be struck by that similar to what struck the people of Noah or the people of Hūd or the people of Ṣāliḥ. And the people of Lot are not from you far away.
And ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is Merciful and Affectionate."
91 ... 95
[Al-Quran 11:84-95, Translation: Saheeh International]
Surah Hud, ayaat 84 through 95 relate the story of Prophet Shoaib عليه السلام . He tries his best to reform his people. His focus is on economic issues. He is trying to reform the society. He forbids them from cheating, and taking others' things unlawfully. In ayat 88, he is quoted as stating that he is doing as much as he is able, and he knows that this is Allah ﷻ 's Grace upon him that he is trying to reform his society. In the next ayat, he asks them to seek forgiveness and repent. Allah ﷻ is continuously merciful (رَحِيۡمٌ) and loving (وَّدُوۡدٌ).
Those who repent and seek forgiveness are promised salvation. Alas, they did not repent and reform, thus they also met a terrible punishment. Only Shoaib عليه السلام and those who believed with him were saved.
Do NOT Corrupt the Earth
وَنَادٰٓى اَصۡحٰبُ النَّارِ اَصۡحٰبَ الۡجَـنَّةِ اَنۡ اَفِيۡضُوۡا عَلَيۡنَا مِنَ الۡمَآءِ اَوۡ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللّٰهُ ؕ قَالُـوۡۤا اِنَّ اللّٰهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى الۡـكٰفِرِيۡنَ ۙ ٥٠
الَّذِيۡنَ اتَّخَذُوۡا دِيۡنَهُمۡ لَهۡوًا وَّلَعِبًا وَّغَرَّتۡهُمُ الۡحَيٰوةُ الدُّنۡيَا ۚ فَالۡيَوۡمَ نَنۡسٰٮهُمۡ كَمَا نَسُوۡا لِقَآءَ يَوۡمِهِمۡ هٰذَا ۙ وَمَا كَانُوۡا بِاٰيٰتِنَا يَجۡحَدُوۡنَ ٥١
وَلَقَدۡ جِئۡنٰهُمۡ بِكِتٰبٍ فَصَّلۡنٰهُ عَلٰى عِلۡمٍ هُدًى وَّرَحۡمَةً لِّـقَوۡمٍ يُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ٥٢
هَلۡ يَنۡظُرُوۡنَ اِلَّا تَاۡوِيۡلَهٗؕ يَوۡمَ يَاۡتِىۡ تَاۡوِيۡلُهٗ يَقُوۡلُ الَّذِيۡنَ نَسُوۡهُ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِالۡحَـقِّۚ فَهَلْ لَّـنَا مِنۡ شُفَعَآءَ فَيَشۡفَعُوۡا لَـنَاۤ اَوۡ نُرَدُّ فَنَعۡمَلَ غَيۡرَ الَّذِىۡ كُنَّا نَـعۡمَلُؕ قَدۡ خَسِرُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَهُمۡ وَضَلَّ عَنۡهُمۡ مَّا كَانُوۡا يَفۡتَرُوۡنَ ٥٣
اِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللّٰهُ الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ فِىۡ سِتَّةِ اَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسۡتَوٰى عَلَى الۡعَرۡشِ يُغۡشِى الَّيۡلَ النَّهَارَ يَطۡلُبُهٗ حَثِيۡثًا ۙ وَّالشَّمۡسَ وَالۡقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُوۡمَ مُسَخَّرٰتٍۢ بِاَمۡرِهٖ ؕ اَلَا لَـهُ الۡخَـلۡقُ وَالۡاَمۡرُ ؕ تَبٰرَكَ اللّٰهُ رَبُّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَ ٥٤
اُدۡعُوۡا رَبَّكُمۡ تَضَرُّعًا وَّخُفۡيَةً ؕ اِنَّهٗ لَا يُحِبُّ الۡمُعۡتَدِيۡنَ ۚ ٥٥
وَلَا تُفۡسِدُوۡا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ اِصۡلَاحِهَا وَادۡعُوۡهُ خَوۡفًا وَّطَمَعًا ؕ اِنَّ رَحۡمَتَ اللّٰهِ قَرِيۡبٌ مِّنَ الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ ٥٦
وَهُوَ الَّذِىۡ يُرۡسِلُ الرِّيٰحَ بُشۡرًۢا بَيۡنَ يَدَىۡ رَحۡمَتِهٖ ؕ حَتّٰۤى اِذَاۤ اَقَلَّتۡ سَحَابًا ثِقَالًا سُقۡنٰهُ لِبَلَدٍ مَّيِّتٍ فَاَنۡزَلۡنَا بِهِ الۡمَآءَ فَاَخۡرَجۡنَا بِهٖ مِنۡ كُلِّ الثَّمَرٰتِؕ كَذٰلِكَ نُخۡرِجُ الۡمَوۡتٰى لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُوۡنَ ٥٧
وَالۡبَلَدُ الطَّيِّبُ يَخۡرُجُ نَبَاتُهٗ بِاِذۡنِ رَبِّهٖ ۚ وَالَّذِىۡ خَبُثَ لَا يَخۡرُجُ اِلَّا نَكِدًا ؕ كَذٰلِكَ نُصَرِّفُ الۡاٰيٰتِ لِقَوۡمٍ يَّشۡكُرُوۡنَ ٥٨
And the companions of the Fire will call to the companions of Paradise, "Pour upon us some water or from whatever Allāh has provided you." They will say, "Indeed, Allāh has forbidden them both to the disbelievers
Who took their religion as distraction and amusement and whom the worldly life deluded." So today We will forget them just as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs and for having rejected Our verses.
And We had certainly brought them a Book which We detailed by knowledge - as guidance and mercy to a people who believe.
Do they await except its result? The Day its result comes, those who had ignored it before will say, "The messengers of our Lord had come with the truth, so are there [now] any intercessors to intercede for us or could we be sent back to do other than what we used to do?" They will have lost themselves, and lost from them is what they used to invent.
Indeed, your Lord is Allāh, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allāh, Lord of the worlds.
Call upon your Lord in humility and privately; indeed, He does not like transgressors.
And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allāh is near to the doers of good.
And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy [i.e., rainfall] until, when they have carried heavy rainclouds, We drive them to a dead land and We send down rain therein and bring forth thereby [some] of all the fruits. Thus will We bring forth the dead; perhaps you may be reminded.
And the good land - its vegetation emerges by permission of its Lord; but that which is bad - nothing emerges except sparsely, with difficulty. Thus do We diversify the signs for a people who are grateful.
[Al-Quran 7:50-58, Translation: Saheeh International]
Surah al-Araf traces human civilisation from the very beginning. It also presents some insights into the future. So, we read in the above excerpt that the people who will become Companions of The Fire in the Hereafter are the ones who did not take their DEEN seriously.
The DEEN is about the LAW of Returns, or Recompense, that we will receive in the Hereafter.
The Book sent by Allah ﷻ details with knowledge the DEEN.
Q7:56, quoted above, warns us to not to corrupt the Earth after its reformation, and Q7:85, quoted below, present the example from a past civilisation:
وَاِلٰى مَدۡيَنَ اَخَاهُمۡ شُعَيۡبًا ؕ قَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ مَا لَـكُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰهٍ غَيۡرُهٗ ؕ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡكُمۡ بَيِّنَةٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّكُمۡ فَاَوۡفُوا الۡكَيۡلَ وَالۡمِيۡزَانَ وَلَا تَبۡخَسُوا النَّاسَ اَشۡيَآءَهُمۡ وَلَا تُفۡسِدُوۡا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ اِصۡلَاحِهَا ؕ ذٰ لِكُمۡ خَيۡرٌ لَّـكُمۡ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ مُّؤۡمِنِيۡنَ ۚ ٨٥
And to [the people of] Madyan [We sent] their brother Shuʿayb. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. So fulfill the measure and weight and do not deprive people of their due and cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. That is better for you, if you should be believers.
[Al-Quran 7:85, Translation: Saheeh International]
Shoaib عليه السلام is quoted as also warning his people to NOT corrupt the Earth after its reformation.
وَيٰقَوۡمِ اَوۡفُوا الۡمِكۡيَالَ وَالۡمِيۡزَانَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ وَلَا تَبۡخَسُوا النَّاسَ اَشۡيَآءَهُمۡ وَلَا تَعۡثَوۡا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ مُفۡسِدِيۡنَ
And O my people, give full measure and weight in justice and do not deprive the people of their due and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption.
[Al-Quran 11:85, Translation: Saheeh International]
Surah Hud also records Shoaib عليه السلام warning against corruption.
Many corrupt towns had been destroyed before Madyan. Alas, they did not heed to the warnings.
Difference of Opinion
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ يَّقُوۡلُ اٰمَنَّا بِاللّٰهِ وَبِالۡيَوۡمِ الۡاٰخِرِ وَمَا هُمۡ بِمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَۘ ٨
يُخٰدِعُوۡنَ اللّٰهَ وَالَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا ۚ وَمَا يَخۡدَعُوۡنَ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡفُسَهُمۡ وَمَا يَشۡعُرُوۡنَؕ ٩
فِىۡ قُلُوۡبِهِمۡ مَّرَضٌۙ فَزَادَهُمُ اللّٰهُ مَرَضًا ۚ وَّلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِيۡمٌۢۙ بِمَا كَانُوۡا يَكۡذِبُوۡنَ ١٠
وَاِذَا قِيۡلَ لَهُمۡ لَا تُفۡسِدُوۡا فِىۡ الۡاَرۡضِۙ قَالُوۡاۤ اِنَّمَا نَحۡنُ مُصۡلِحُوۡنَ ١١
اَلَا ۤ اِنَّهُمۡ هُمُ الۡمُفۡسِدُوۡنَ وَلٰـكِنۡ لَّا يَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ١٢
وَاِذَا قِيۡلَ لَهُمۡ اٰمِنُوۡا كَمَاۤ اٰمَنَ النَّاسُ قَالُوۡاۤ اَنُؤۡمِنُ كَمَاۤ اٰمَنَ السُّفَهَآءُ ؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّهُمۡ هُمُ السُّفَهَآءُ وَلٰـكِنۡ لَّا يَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ١٣
And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allāh and the Last Day," but they are not believers.
They [think to] deceive Allāh and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not.
In their hearts is disease, so Allāh has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie.
And when it is said to them, "Do not cause corruption on the earth," they say, "We are but reformers."
Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not.
And when it is said to them, "Believe as the people have believed," they say, "Should we believe as the foolish have believed?" Unquestionably, it is they who are the foolish, but they know [it] not.
[Al-Quran 2:8-13, Translation: Saheeh International]
The Quran's opening remarks contain the subject of corruption of the Earth. They also introduce the reader to the delusionary mindset of the corrupters who consider themselves reformers. The trouble is that they do not really believe in Allah ﷻ and the Day when they will be recompensed for what they are doing now.
Q2:220 states that Allah ﷻ knows which person is a reformer, and which person is a corrupter, and Q28:19 presents the example of the criminal man from the Bani Israel who accuses Moses (Musa عليه السلام) of not being a reformer when Moses (Musa عليه السلام) catches him out.
Those who will be made Incharge
وَعَدَ اللّٰهُ الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا مِنۡكُمۡ وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ لَـيَسۡتَخۡلِفَـنَّهُمۡ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ كَمَا اسۡتَخۡلَفَ الَّذِيۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِهِمۡ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمۡ دِيۡنَهُمُ الَّذِى ارۡتَضٰى لَهُمۡ وَلَـيُبَدِّلَــنَّهُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ خَوۡفِهِمۡ اَمۡنًا ؕ يَعۡبُدُوۡنَنِىۡ لَا يُشۡرِكُوۡنَ بِىۡ شَيۡــًٔــا ؕ وَمَنۡ كَفَرَ بَعۡدَ ذٰ لِكَ فَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ الۡفٰسِقُوۡنَ ٥٥
Allāh has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient.
[Al-Quran 24:55, Translation: Saheeh International]
Allah ﷻ granted Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions (رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ) victory over Makkah and the surrounding areas. Moreover, the Companions (رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ) of our dear Prophet Muhammad ﷺ conquered many lands after him, establishing Allah ﷻ 's Deen in all those countries whose sovereigns were sent letter by Allah ﷻ 's Messenger Muhammad ﷺ inviting them to Allah ﷻ 's DEEN.
...
Presently, the world has many Muslim countries with millions of Muslims living in them. The sovereigns and the citizens of each Muslim country should strive to make Allah ﷻ 's Deen and Shariah as the Law of the Land.
Search Results for root word for الصَّالِحَاتِ and صَالِحًا:
https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=SlH#(34:4:5)
Last updated on: May 9, 2023
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