Islam: About the Individual as Well as the Larger Society

Islam is as much about one’s spirituality as the social ties which bind humans together. In that sense, Islam is concerned not only about the individual but the larger society as well. For example, “Enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong” (Quran, 3:110) is a fundamental duty of every Muslim.

In addition, Islam places great emphasis on fulfilling the rights of others, whether they are your relatives, neighbors, strangers, the disadvantaged, or the destitute.

So much so that God has stated that He may forgive those who do not fulfill God’s rights, but will not forgive those who hurt others unless the affected first forgive them.

Islam: A Religion that Teaches the Importance of Fulfilling the Rights of Others

Furthermore, once the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (pbuh), asked his companions who a bankrupt person is. They replied, “The bankrupt among us is the person who does not have any wealth.” However, the Prophet (pbuh) explained, “The bankrupt person of my nation is he who would come on the Day of Resurrection with prayer and fast and giving great amounts in charity. And at the same time, he would come having abused this one, and slandered that one, and consumed the wealth of the other unlawfully, and shed the blood of yet others and having beaten others. Then any person whom he has wronged will be given from his good deeds on that Day. And if his good deeds are exhausted until he clears the account concerning all of the people he has oppressed, the sins of those people whom he has wronged will be thrown unto his account and after that, he will be thrown into the hellfire.” [Click here to learn about Day of Judgement.]

The Quran Highlights the Duties Humans Owe to One Another

“You who believe, uphold justice and bear witness to God, even if it is against yourselves, your parents, or your close relatives. Whether the person is rich or poor, God can best take care of both. Refrain from following your own desire, so that you can act justly –– if you distort or neglect justice, God is fully aware of what you do.” (4:135)

“Worship God; join nothing with Him. Be good to your parents, to relatives, to orphans, to the needy, to neighbors near and far, to travellers in need, and to your slaves. God does not like arrogant, boastful people, who are miserly and order other people to be the same, hiding the bounty God has given them. We have prepared a humiliating torment for such ungrateful people. [Nor does He like those] who spend their wealth to show o?, who do not believe in Him or the Last Day.” (4:36-38) 

[Read more: Quran, a brief overview]

This section focuses on character-building, relationships we share in society, protecting our God-given rights for securing peace and prosperity on earth, and much more!

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