{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ}
[المائدة: 8]
{O People who Believe! Firmly establish the commands of Allah, giving testimony with justice – and do not let the enmity of anyone tempt you not to do justice; be just; that is nearer to piety – and fear Allah; indeed Allah is Well Aware of your deed.}
[(5):8]
In this part of this series, we will be discussing with you the issue of establishing the truth. The particular verse that we will be discussing in these next few articles is very important. Therefore it is of utmost importance that you pay close attention.
When talking about the issue of establishing the truth, there are certain things that we need to keep in mind. The first of these is the reason in which we establish this truth. Right now, you may be asking yourself why this issue is so important. Well, the reason is, that the why many times effects the how. What exactly does this mean?
We find that many people start off most situations wanting good, yet they get side tracked rather quickly. This causes things to take a turn into a whole other direction whenever a bump is hit in the road. For example, lets look at marriage. How may times have you heard people talking about getting married to please Allah? We say that we want to get a household started for the sole purpose of pleasing Allah. The concept is praiseworthy. Then we hit a bump in the road and this establishment that we tried to build upon the haqq (truth) takes a turn. Instead of us doing what we need to do for Allah, we allow outside forces to control how much of the truth we want to establish. As well, we allow these forces to dictate to us how much of the truth that we want to abandon.
Look at when our spouse begins to irritate us, or we feel as though they are not upholding their end of the marriage contract. Does this not directly affect the way that we “Establish The Truth” in our homes. Does it not regulate what rights we decide to give our spouse and which ones we decide to hold back from giving them, even though Allah has given them these rights? Do we have the right to take rights that Allah gave these people, just because we are upset? Is this establishing the truth, or establishing our desires and what we feel like establishing?
Our homes are not the only places that this takes place. We find it in our workplaces. It is also very apparent in our Masaajid, Islamic Centers and may other areas of our lives. We witness the situation often, as to where if we do not keep an individual happy, that claims to be establishing what they are trying to uphold for Allah’s sake alone, doing other than this. This is a situation that must be given attention to and addressed. As we have been commanded to be upon other than this in our lives.
We see here in the first part of this verse Allah commands us:
{O People who Believe! Firmly establish the commands of Allah,}
We have been commanded in this verse to firmly establish the commands of Allah. This is in all aspects of our lives. There are some facets in all of our lives, in which we decide to go against those commands that Allah has sent down to us on the tongue of His last prophet and messenger Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). It is necessary that we correct this practice. We need to begin to establish in all aspects that which Allah has commanded us with, in the way in which He has commanded. It is not for us to pick and choose that which we desire to apply due to our emotions or feelings. Rather we must look into what was sent down, and establish the truth on the face of this earth in those areas where we can do so easily.
So next time someone or something makes you mad, and you feel as though you want to get back at them and by either making things hard on them simply because you are upset, don’t do it. Rather seek refuge in Allah from the evils of the shaytan and the evils within ourselves, and do what you know is right. Establish that which Allah has commanded you with, regardless of your feelings, who is standing in front of you, or whether or not you feel as though you are getting your rights. Remember that we are not doing this for anyone other that Allah the Lord of all that exists. Therefore, nothing and no one should be able to cause us to deviate from that which He has commanded. Don’t you agree?
To Be Continued…
