رَّبِّ اَعُوۡذُ بِکَ مِنۡ ھَمَزٰتِ الشَّیٰطِیۡنِ ۙ واَعُوۡذُ بِکَ رَبِّ اَنۡ یَّحۡضُرُوۡن ؕ۔
بِسۡمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِۙ۔
Socially Forbidden Acts
In the Quran, God also forbids actions that cause social, moral, or religious harm. God commands the Prophet ﷺ to say to the believers: Come, I will recite to you the words of Allah which He has forbidden you:
1. It is forbidden to mistreat parents.
2. It is forbidden to kill children for fear of poverty.
3. Adultery and indecency are forbidden, whether they are overt or hidden in the heart.
4. Killing is forbidden.
5. It is forbidden to eat the property of orphans.
6. Shortchanging in weight and measure is haram.
7. It is forbidden not to establish justice, even if it is with the enemy.
These are God's commandments so that you can understand them.
قُلۡ تَعَالَوۡا اَتۡلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمۡ عَلَيۡكُمۡ اَلَّا تُشۡرِكُوۡا بِهٖ شَيۡـًٔـــا وَّبِالۡوَالِدَيۡنِ اِحۡسَانًا ۚ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوۡۤا اَوۡلَادَكُمۡ مِّنۡ اِمۡلَاقٍؕ نَحۡنُ نَرۡزُقُكُمۡ وَاِيَّاهُمۡ ۚ وَلَا تَقۡرَبُوا الۡفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ ۚ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوا النَّفۡسَ الَّتِىۡ حَرَّمَ اللّٰهُ اِلَّا بِالۡحَـقِّ ؕ ذٰ لِكُمۡ وَصّٰٮكُمۡ بِهٖ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۵۱﴾ ۔ وَلَا تَقۡرَبُوۡا مَالَ الۡيَتِيۡمِ اِلَّا بِالَّتِىۡ هِىَ اَحۡسَنُ حَتّٰى يَبۡلُغَ اَشُدَّهٗ ۚ وَاَوۡفُوۡا الۡكَيۡلَ وَالۡمِيۡزَانَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ ۚ لَا نُـكَلِّفُ نَفۡسًا اِلَّا وُسۡعَهَا ۚ وَاِذَا قُلۡتُمۡ فَاعۡدِلُوۡا وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبٰى ۚ وَبِعَهۡدِ اللّٰهِ اَوۡفُوۡا ؕ ذٰ لِكُمۡ وَصّٰٮكُمۡ بِهٖ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُوۡنَ ۙ ﴿۱۵۲﴾
Q-06:151-152Say: 'Come, I will recite to you what your Lord has forbidden you!
That you associate partners with Allah, and mistreat your parents, and kill your children out of fear of poverty, while we provide livelihood to you and them. And to commit all indecencies, whether they are open or hidden. And to kill a soul which Allah has made forbidden, except by right. These are the commands which Allah has given you, that you may understand. (151)
And do not approach the property of an orphan except in a way that is best, until he reaches maturity. And give full measure and weight with justice. We do not burden a lively beyond its capacity. And when you speak, be just, even if it is between relatives. And fulfill the covenant of Allah. These are the commandments which Allah has enjoyed upon you, that you may receive admonition. (152)
Apart from these, Allah Almighty has also mentioned many other socially forbidden Acts at various places in the Holy Quran.
8. False testimony (witnessing) is forbidden.
9. Terrorism is forbidden.
10. Oppression is forbidden.
11. Stealing is forbidden.
12. Creating sects in religion or joining sects is kufr.
So now let us try to understand these socially forbidden acts in detail in the light of the Quran.
1. It is forbidden to mistreat parents.
God commands good behavior towards parents. Even if they are not Muslims. Do good deeds towards parents. And speak kindly. God forbids mistreatment towards parents. Because she is the mother who carries you in her womb for nine months. Even: her walking, standing, sitting, even eating and drinking becomes difficult.
On the other hand, a father works hard day and night to raise his children and protect the family. A father's shelter for his family and children is no less than a window of paradise in this world. In the Quran, Allah has commanded kindness toward parents right after His own worship.
قُلۡ تَعَالَوۡا اَتۡلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمۡ عَلَيۡكُمۡ اَلَّا تُشۡرِكُوۡا بِهٖ شَيۡـًٔـــا وَّبِالۡوَالِدَيۡنِ اِحۡسَانًا ۚ ﴿۱۵۱﴾
Q-06:151Say, "Come, I will inform you of what Allah has forbidden you: That you associate partners with Him, and that you do not treat your parents kindly."
وَوَصَّيۡنَا الۡاِنۡسٰنَ بِوَالِدَيۡهِۚ حَمَلَتۡهُ اُمُّهٗ وَهۡنًا عَلٰى وَهۡنٍ وَّفِصٰلُهٗ فِىۡ عَامَيۡنِ اَنِ اشۡكُرۡ لِىۡ وَلِـوَالِدَيۡكَؕ اِلَىَّ الۡمَصِيۡرُ ﴿۱۴﴾
Q-31:14And We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning was in two years. (So, we commanded him) Be grateful to Me and to your parents. Surely, everyone must return to me.
Allah says: Worship your Lord. None besides Him deserves worship. And if your parents—or even one of them—is present, serve them. And if they grow old and become irritable due to old age, do not even say 'uff' to them, nor scold them. Rather, speak to them with gentleness and respect. Humbly submit to their commands with love and reverence. And pray to Allah for them: 'O my Lord: Bestow upon my parents the same mercy and compassion they showed in raising me.
وَقَضٰى رَبُّكَ اَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوۡۤا اِلَّاۤ اِيَّاهُ وَبِالۡوَالِدَيۡنِ اِحۡسَانًا ؕ اِمَّا يَـبۡلُغَنَّ عِنۡدَكَ الۡكِبَرَ اَحَدُهُمَاۤ اَوۡ كِلٰهُمَا فَلَا تَقُلْ لَّهُمَاۤ اُفٍّ وَّلَا تَنۡهَرۡهُمَا وَقُلْ لَّهُمَا قَوۡلًا كَرِيۡمًا ﴿۲۳﴾ وَاخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُلْ رَّبِّ ارۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيٰنِىۡ صَغِيۡرًا ؕ ﴿۲۴﴾
Q-17:23-24And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him and do good to parents. If one or both attain old age in your lifetime, say not 'uff,' nor chide them; but say to them a noble word. (23) And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and compassion, and say: 'My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small.' (24)
2. It is forbidden to kill embryo.
The Noble Quran states that killing children out of fear of poverty or straitened circumstances is haram. Allah says: 'We provide sustenance to you and to your children.'
In the time of the Messenger, Arabs would bury their daughters alive in the ground. But in today's era, not just daughters but sons too are buried straight in the womb. They say! that in this age of inflation, raising even one or two children is difficult. In other words: Man has come to think that he himself writes his own and his children's destiny. He himself is raising the family and children. Just think: Is this not a denial of God? And is this not kufr?
وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوۡۤا اَوۡلَادَكُمۡ خَشۡيَةَ اِمۡلَاقٍؕ نَحۡنُ نَرۡزُقُهُمۡ وَاِيَّاكُمۡؕ اِنَّ قَتۡلَهُمۡ كَانَ خِطۡاً كَبِيۡرًا ﴿۳۱﴾
Q-17:31And do not kill your children for fear of poverty; We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is a great sin.
وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ مِنْ إِمْلَاقٍ ۖ نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ ؕ ﴿۱۵۱﴾
Q-06:151And do not kill your children due to poverty; We provide sustenance to you and to them.
وَاِذَا الۡمَوۡءٗدَةُ سُٮِٕلَتۡ ﴿۸﴾ بِاَىِّ ذَنۡۢبٍ قُتِلَتۡۚ ﴿۹﴾
Q-81:08-09And when the girl (who was buried alive) will be asked (8) for what crime she was killed. (9).
3. Adultery and lewdness are forbidden.
Adultery and lewdness have been explicitly declared haram in the Noble Quran, whether they are apparent or hidden in the heart.
Zina or Adultery:
Physical relations between an unmarried man and woman are called adultery.
Lewdness:
Abandoning shame and modesty through speech, gaze, attire, or demeanor constitutes lewdness (fahasha). For example: obscene conversation, lack of covering, provocative relationships between men and women, watching pornographic videos, even the intention to persist in sin falls under lewdness.
قُلۡ اِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّىَ الۡـفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ ﴿۳۳﴾
Q-07:33Say: My Lord has forbidden immodesty, whether they are apparent or hidden in the heart.
وَلَا تَقۡرَبُوا الزِّنٰٓى اِنَّهٗ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً ؕ وَسَآءَ سَبِيۡلًا ﴿۳۲﴾
Q-17:32Do not even go near adultery; it is an act of utmost depravity and a path that leads only to ruin.
God says: It is forbidden for a believing man to marry an adulterous woman, and for a believing woman to marry an adulterous man.
In other words, we can say: Men of an adulterous nature marry women of an adulterous or polytheistic nature. Women of an adulterous nature marry men of an adulterous or polytheistic nature.
In third words, we can say: Pure believing men marry pure believing women. Pure believing women marry pure believing men.
These are the immutable laws of Allah, which were established in the past, are also established in the present, and, God willing, will always be established. If you doubt this, examine the couples around you with whom you have deep ties. The best answer is to look within yourself. If you are holy, then by God's grace you must have also been with a holy wife. And if there is any stain on your chastity, your spouse will either be stained or have no connection to religion. That is, she will be a polytheist.
These are the immutable laws of Allah, which were established in the past, are also established in the present, and, God willing, will always be established. If you doubt this, examine the couples around you with whom you have deep ties. The best answer is to look within yourself. If you are holy, then by God's grace you must have also been with a holy wife. And if there is any stain on your chastity, your spouse will either be stained too or have no connection to religion. That is, she will be a polytheist.
اَلزَّانِىۡ لَا يَنۡكِحُ اِلَّا زَانِيَةً اَوۡ مُشۡرِكَةً ؗ وَّالزَّانِيَةُ لَا يَنۡكِحُهَاۤ اِلَّا زَانٍ اَوۡ مُشۡرِكٌ ۚ وَحُرِّمَ ذٰ لِكَ عَلَى الۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ ﴿۳﴾
Q-24:03The fornicating man marries only a fornicating woman or a polytheist, and the fornicating woman marries only a fornicating man or a polytheist; and these (immoral people) are forbidden to the believers.
اَلۡخَبِيۡثٰتُ لِلۡخَبِيۡثِيۡنَ وَالۡخَبِيۡثُوۡنَ لِلۡخَبِيۡثٰتِۚ وَالطَّيِّبٰتُ لِلطَّيِّبِيۡنَ وَالطَّيِّبُوۡنَ لِلطَّيِّبٰتِۚ اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ مُبَرَّءُوۡنَ مِمَّا يَقُوۡلُوۡنَؕ لَهُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَةٌ وَّرِزۡقٌ كَرِيۡمٌ ﴿۲۶﴾
Q-24:26Impure women are for impure men, and impure men are for impure women. Pure women are for pure men, and pure men are for pure women. These (pure people) are innocent of their words. For them, forgiveness and honorable provision.
4. Killing is forbidden.
Killing any believer being is forbidden, except to spread terror in the country or under legal punishment.
God says: If you kill one person, it is as if you have killed all of humanity. And if you save one life, it is as if you have saved all of humanity.
We can understand this matter in this way: All humanity in the world originates from a single couple, namely Father Adam (peace be upon him) and Mother Eve. Therefore, had the victim not been killed, who knows how many people would have populated the earth through his descendants by the Day of Judgment?
وَمَنۡ يَّقۡتُلۡ مُؤۡمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَآؤُهٗ جَهَـنَّمُ خَالِدًا فِيۡهَا وَغَضِبَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيۡهِ وَلَعَنَهٗ وَاَعَدَّ لَهٗ عَذَابًا عَظِيۡمًا ﴿۹۳﴾
Q-04:93And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein forever. Allah is angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment.
كَتَبۡنَا عَلٰى بَنِىۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِيۡلَ اَنَّهٗ مَنۡ قَتَلَ نَفۡسًۢا بِغَيۡرِ نَفۡسٍ اَوۡ فَسَادٍ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ فَكَاَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيۡعًا ؕ وَمَنۡ اَحۡيَاهَا فَكَاَنَّمَاۤ اَحۡيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيۡعًا ؕ ﴿۳۲﴾
Q-05:32We issued a decree for the Children of Israel: Whoever kills a person except in retaliation or for spreading corruption in the land, it is as if he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind.
5. It is forbidden to consume the property of orphans.
Those who unjustly devour the property of orphans, in reality, they are filling their bellies with the fire of Hell. On the Day of Judgment, they will be admitted to the blazing flames of Hell.
اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ يَاۡكُلُوۡنَ اَمۡوَالَ الۡيَتٰمٰى ظُلۡمًا اِنَّمَا يَاۡكُلُوۡنَ فِىۡ بُطُوۡنِهِمۡ نَارًا ؕ وَسَيَـصۡلَوۡنَ سَعِيۡرًا ﴿۱۰﴾
Q-04:10Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only filling their bellies with fire, and soon they will enter the Blazing Fire.
Allah Almighty says: If you are in a difficult financial situation while looking after the property of an orphan, then take your reasonable wages in a fair manner.
وَلَا تَقۡرَبُوۡا مَالَ الۡيَتِيۡمِ اِلَّا بِالَّتِىۡ هِىَ اَحۡسَنُ حَتّٰى يَبۡلُغَ اَشُدَّهٗ ۚ ﴿۱۵۲﴾
Q-06:152And do not approach the property of an orphan except in a way that is better, until he reaches maturity.
And when orphaned children reach maturity, return their property to them. Do not exchange their good assets for your inferior ones. Indeed, that is forbidden.
وَاٰ تُوا الۡيَتٰمٰٓى اَمۡوَالَهُمۡ وَلَا تَتَبَدَّلُوا الۡخَبِيۡثَ بِالطَّيِّبِ وَلَا تَاۡكُلُوۡۤا اَمۡوَالَهُمۡ اِلٰٓى اَمۡوَالِكُمۡؕ اِنَّهٗ كَانَ حُوۡبًا كَبِيۡرًا ﴿۲﴾
Q-04:02Return the property of orphans to them, and do not exchange their good wealth with your bad, nor consume their assets by mixing them with your own; surely, that is a great sin.
6. Usurping people's property is forbidden.
O people, seize one another's property, take loans and refuse to pay them. God has made such evils similar to murder. Which is forbidden. Those who devour the wealth of others, in fact, fill their bellies with the fire of Hell.
God says: O people, do not consume the wealth of others unjustly, for it is like killing oneself. His own injustice will cause him to enter Hell.
يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تَاۡكُلُوۡۤا اَمۡوَالَـكُمۡ بَيۡنَكُمۡ بِالۡبَاطِلِ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ تَكُوۡنَ تِجَارَةً عَنۡ تَرَاضٍ مِّنۡكُمۡ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوۡۤا اَنۡـفُسَكُمۡؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ بِكُمۡ رَحِيۡمًا ﴿۲۹﴾ وَمَنۡ يَّفۡعَلۡ ذٰ لِكَ عُدۡوَانًا وَّظُلۡمًا فَسَوۡفَ نُصۡلِيۡهِ نَارًا ؕ وَكَانَ ذٰ لِكَ عَلَى اللّٰهِ يَسِيۡرًا ﴿۳۰﴾
Q-04:29-30O you who believe! Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly, except that it be trade conducted by mutual consent among you. And (By doing this injustice) do not kill yourselves; surely Allah is ever Merciful to you. (29) And whoever commits such injustice and oppression, we will surely throw him into the Fire, and that is easy for Allah. (30)
No betrayal in trust.
Sometimes it also happens that someone leaves a trust in your care, and no one else knows about it. If that person passes away, the property still does not become lawful for you. God commands that you must not consume it; rather, you are to locate its rightful heirs and deliver it to them.
If a person dies without leaving a will, then according to the Qur’an, each rightful heir must be given their full and proper share.
اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَاۡمُرُكُمۡ اَنۡ تُؤَدُّوا الۡاَمٰنٰتِ اِلٰٓى اَهۡلِهَا ۙ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُمۡ بِهٖ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ سَمِيۡعًۢا بَصِيۡرًا ﴿۵۸﴾
Q-04:58Indeed, God commands you to deliver trusts to those who are entitled to them. Surely, God instructs you in this matter. Indeed, God is All-Hearing and All-Seeing.
7. Shortchanging in weight and measure is haram.
Allah Almighty has established balance in the world so that justice may prevail. He has established scales so that you can weigh honestly and accurately without any deficiency. Allah says: Do not tamper with the scales. So that your end may be good.
وَالسَّمَآءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الۡمِيۡزَانَۙ ﴿۷﴾ اَلَّا تَطۡغَوۡا فِى الۡمِيۡزَانِ ﴿۸﴾ وَاَقِيۡمُوا الۡوَزۡنَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ وَلَا تُخۡسِرُوا الۡمِيۡزَانَ ﴿۹﴾
Q-55:07-09And He raised the heavens and established the balance (system of justice). (7) So that you do not fall short in balance. (8) And weigh correctly with justice, and do not fall short in the weighing. (9).
وَاَوۡفُوۡا الۡكَيۡلَ وَالۡمِيۡزَانَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ ۚ ﴿۱۵۲﴾
Q-06:152And give full measure and weight in justice.
وَاَوۡفُوا الۡـكَيۡلَ اِذَا كِلۡتُمۡ وَزِنُوۡا بِالۡقِسۡطَاسِ الۡمُسۡتَقِيۡمِؕ ذٰ لِكَ خَيۡرٌ وَّاَحۡسَنُ تَاۡوِيۡلًا ﴿۳۵﴾
Q-17:35And when you measure, measure in full. And weigh with a straight balance. This is better and more virtuous in outcome.
God says those who take full measure when buying but give short measure when selling is gathering destruction for themselves. They forget that on a great Day, when people are resurrected, they all will stand before the Lord and see every small deed they did.
وَيۡلٌ لِّلۡمُطَفِّفِيۡنَۙ ﴿۱﴾ الَّذِيۡنَ اِذَا اكۡتَالُوۡا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسۡتَوۡفُوۡنَ ﴿۲﴾ وَاِذَا كَالُوۡهُمۡ اَوْ وَّزَنُوۡهُمۡ يُخۡسِرُوۡنَؕ ﴿۳﴾ اَلَا يَظُنُّ اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ اَنَّهُمۡ مَّبۡعُوۡثُوۡنَۙ ﴿۴﴾ لِيَوۡمٍ عَظِيۡمٍۙ ﴿۵﴾ يَّوۡمَ يَقُوۡمُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَؕ ﴿۶﴾
Q-83:01-06Wow to those who give short measure! (1) Who take full measure or weight when they receive goods (2) But when they give to others, they give less! (3) Do they not think that they will be resurrected (4) On a Mighty Day (5) When mankind will stand before the Lord of all worlds? (6)
And in the end, God says: Clear proofs have been sent to you from your Lord. So, give full measure and weight, or prepare for punishment.
قَدۡ جَآءَتۡكُمۡ بَيِّنَةٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّكُمۡ فَاَوۡفُوا الۡكَيۡلَ وَالۡمِيۡزَانَ ﴿۸۵﴾
Q-07:85You now have clear proof from your Lord, so give full measure and weight.
8. It is forbidden not to establish justice.
Allah Almighty says: When you are called, establish justice according to what He has revealed in the Book (the Holy Quran). And be steadfast in bearing witness. Even if he is your enemy.
وَاِذَا حَكَمۡتُمۡ بَيۡنَ النَّاسِ اَنۡ تَحۡكُمُوۡا بِالۡعَدۡلِ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُمۡ بِهٖ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ سَمِيۡعًۢا بَصِيۡرًا ﴿۵۸﴾
Q-04:58And when you judge between people, judge with justice. Allah gives you the best of guidance. Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Seeing.
وَمَنۡ لَّمۡ يَحۡكُمۡ بِمَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰهُ فَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۵﴾
Q-05:45And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.
Justice v/s Piety.
Even if you harbor enmity in your heart toward any person or nation, still uphold justice. God says: Justice is closest to piety, meaning justice-loving people are nearer to being among God's favored servants. Indeed, Allah is aware of our deeds.
يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا كُوۡنُوۡا قَوَّا امِيۡنَ لِلّٰهِ شُهَدَآءَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ ؗ وَلَا يَجۡرِمَنَّكُمۡ شَنَاٰنُ قَوۡمٍ عَلٰٓى اَ لَّا تَعۡدِلُوۡا ؕ اِعۡدِلُوۡاࣞ هُوَ اَقۡرَبُ لِلتَّقۡوٰىؕ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ خَبِيۡرٌۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۸﴾
Q-05:08O you who believe! Stand firmly for Allah as witnesses to justice and let not the hatred of any people prevent you from being just. Be just. That is nearer to piety. And feared to Allah; indeed, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
9. False testimony is forbidden.
God says: Bear witness to the truth, even if the case is against you, your parents, or a close relative—yield complete honesty. Do not distort your testimony for selfish reasons. If one party is poor and the other wealthy, do not let the rich side influence your witness or justice. For Allah, both are equal; often, the poor is closer to God.
يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا كُوۡنُوۡا قَوَّامِيۡنَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ شُهَدَآءَ لِلّٰهِ وَلَوۡ عَلٰٓى اَنۡفُسِكُمۡ اَوِ الۡوَالِدَيۡنِ وَالۡاَقۡرَبِيۡنَ ؕ اِنۡ يَّكُنۡ غَنِيًّا اَوۡ فَقِيۡرًا فَاللّٰهُ اَوۡلٰى بِهِمَا فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الۡهَوٰٓى اَنۡ تَعۡدِلُوۡا ۚ وَاِنۡ تَلۡوٗۤا اَوۡ تُعۡرِضُوۡا فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ خَبِيۡرًا ﴿۱۳۵﴾
Q-04:135O you who believe! Always stand firm for justice and testify for the sake of Allah, even if it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin. Whether the party is wealthy or needy, Allah has greater rights over them both. So do not follow your desires lest you swerve from justice. And if you distort words or turn away, remember Allah is fully aware of all your deeds.
God says: Allah's righteous servants never give false testimony, nor do they conceal it, as it makes their heart restless with the sense of sin. And when they pass by idle or vain talk, they pass by with dignity.
وَالَّذِيۡنَ لَا يَشۡهَدُوۡنَ الزُّوۡرَۙ وَاِذَا مَرُّوۡا بِاللَّغۡوِ مَرُّوۡا كِرَامًا ﴿۷۲﴾
Q-25:72And [true servants of the Most Merciful God] are those who do not testify falsely, and when they pass by idle talk, they pass by with dignity.
وَلَا تَکۡتُمُوا الشَّہَادَۃَ ؕ وَمَنۡ یَّکۡتُمۡہَا فَاِنَّہٗۤ اٰثِمٌ قَلۡبُہٗ ؕ وَاللّٰہُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ عَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۲۸۳﴾
Q-02:283And do not conceal testimony, for whoever conceals it, his heart is guilty of sin. And Allah is fully aware of what you do.
10. Terrorism is forbidden.
Those who harm the lives and property of innocent people out of mere arrogance to gain dominance on earth or for political gain and spread unjust terror on the land—these are forbidden acts, for which the recompense is a painful torment.
وَاِذَا تَوَلّٰى سَعٰى فِى الۡاَرۡضِ لِيُفۡسِدَ فِيۡهَا وَيُهۡلِكَ الۡحَـرۡثَ وَالنَّسۡلَؕ وَاللّٰهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الۡفَسَادَ ﴿۲۰۵﴾ وَاِذَا قِيۡلَ لَهُ اتَّقِ اللّٰهَ اَخَذَتۡهُ الۡعِزَّةُ بِالۡاِثۡمِ فَحَسۡبُهٗ جَهَنَّمُؕ وَلَبِئۡسَ الۡمِهَادُ ﴿۲۰۶﴾
Q-02:205-206When he attains authority, he strives to sow mischief on earth, ruining crops and human generations. Allah dislikes terrorism. (205) When told, "Fear God," arrogance drives him deeper into sin; So, Hell befits him as a vile abode. (206).
ِنَّمَا السَّبِيۡلُ عَلَى الَّذِيۡنَ يَظۡلِمُوۡنَ النَّاسَ وَيَبۡغُوۡنَ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ الۡحَقِّؕ اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِيۡمٌ ﴿۴۲﴾
Q-42:42The blame is only on those who wrong people and transgress on the earth unjustly. For such people is a painful punishment.
وَلَا تَبۡخَسُوا النَّاسَ اَشۡيَآءَهُمۡ وَلَا تُفۡسِدُوۡا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ اِصۡلَاحِهَا ؕ ذٰ لِكُمۡ خَيۡرٌ لَّـكُمۡ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ مُّؤۡمِنِيۡنَ ۚ ﴿۸۵﴾
Q-07:85And do not cause harm to people in their belongings, not spread corruption in the land after its reformation. This is better for you if you are believers.
Spreading terror in the land is a grave crime and a major sin in Islam. God Almighty says in the Qur’an that He does not love those who spread corruption. Such acts are not minor wrongs; they are regarded as a form of war against God and His Messenger ﷺ. Their punishment in this world includes death or cutting off their hands and feet from opposite sides or exile, and in the next world there is a severe punishment.
Islam is a religion of peace and security; therefore, it is the duty of every Muslim to maintain peace in society and avoid causing disorder.
وَالۡفِتۡنَةُ اَکۡبَرُ مِنَ الۡقَتۡلِؕ ﴿۲۱۷﴾
Q-02:217And sedition is worse than bloodshed.
وَلَا تَبۡغِ الۡـفَسَادَ فِى الۡاَرۡضِؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الۡمُفۡسِدِيۡنَ ﴿۷۷﴾
Q-28:77And do not spread corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like the corrupters.
وَيَسۡعَوۡنَ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ فَسَادًا اَنۡ يُّقَتَّلُوۡۤا اَوۡ يُصَلَّبُوۡۤا اَوۡ تُقَطَّعَ اَيۡدِيۡهِمۡ وَاَرۡجُلُهُمۡ مِّنۡ خِلَافٍ اَوۡ يُنۡفَوۡا مِنَ الۡاَرۡضِؕ ذٰ لِكَ لَهُمۡ خِزۡىٌ فِى الدُّنۡيَا وَلَهُمۡ فِى الۡاٰخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيۡمٌ ﴿۳۳﴾
Q-05:33Indeed, the punishment for those who strive to spread corruption in the land is that they be killed, or crucified, or have their hands and feet cut off from opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment.
11. Cruelty is forbidden.
Oppression is indeed a single word, but its scope is vast. For example:
• When someone denies God or commits polytheism, he wrongs himself. This is an irreparable injustice; therefore, it is forbidden.
• When someone takes interest (usury), steals, takes the property of an orphan, gives false testimony and kills justice, or cheats in weight and measure and violates people’s rights, this is social oppression and it is forbidden.
• When someone lets personal desires override faith, God calls such people hypocrites. Therefore, this cruelty towards oneself is also forbidden.
• When someone takes the path of adultery and indecency, this oppression is forbidden.
• When someone spreads terrorism in a country, this oppression is forbidden.
• When someone kills a believer, this is forbidden oppression.
• When someone backbites or accuses a chaste person, this is a major sin.
• When someone unintentionally kills a believer, this oppression is a major sin.
• When someone quarrels out of enmity or incites fights, this oppression is a major sin.
There can be many other forms of oppression, which the human heart instinctively knows are wrong. They may constitute forbidden acts or major sins.
لَا تُشۡرِكۡ بِاللّٰهِ ؕ اِنَّ الشِّرۡكَ لَـظُلۡمٌ عَظِيۡمٌ ﴿۱۳﴾
Q-31:13Do not associate partners with Allah; indeed, associating partners is a great oppression.
وَمَنۡ اَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ افۡتَرٰى عَلَى اللّٰهِ كَذِبًا اَوۡ كَذَّبَ بِاٰيٰتِهٖؕ اِنَّهٗ لَا يُفۡلِحُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۲۱﴾
Q-06:21And who is more oppressional than one who attributes a lie to Allah or denies His verses? Indeed, the oppressionals will not succeed.
اِنَّمَا السَّبِيۡلُ عَلَى الَّذِيۡنَ يَظۡلِمُوۡنَ النَّاسَ وَيَبۡغُوۡنَ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ الۡحَقِّؕ اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِيۡمٌ ﴿۴۲﴾
Q-42:42The blame is only on those who wrong people and transgress on the earth unjustly. For such people is a painful punishment.
وَذَرُوۡا مَا بَقِىَ مِنَ الرِّبٰٓوا اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ مُّؤۡمِنِيۡنَ ﴿۲۷۸﴾ فَاِنۡ لَّمۡ تَفۡعَلُوۡا فَاۡذَنُوۡا بِحَرۡبٍ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَرَسُوۡلِهٖۚ وَاِنۡ تُبۡتُمۡ فَلَـكُمۡ رُءُوۡسُ اَمۡوَالِكُمۡ ۚ لَا تَظۡلِمُوۡنَ وَلَا تُظۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۲۷۹﴾
Q-02:278-279If you are believers, leave what remains of usury (278). But if you do not, then be informed of a war from Allah and His Messenger. However, if you repent, you will have your principal. You will neither oppress others nor will you be oppressed. (279)
وَمَنۡ يَّفۡعَلۡ ذٰ لِكَ عُدۡوَانًا وَّظُلۡمًا فَسَوۡفَ نُصۡلِيۡهِ نَارًا ؕ وَكَانَ ذٰ لِكَ عَلَى اللّٰهِ يَسِيۡرًا ﴿۳۰﴾
Q-04:30Those who unjustly devour others' wealth will be thrown into the Fire by Us, and that is easy for Allah.
12. Stealing is forbidden.
God commands the Prophet: Do not accept the pledge of those who commit shirk, theft, or adultery. And For thieves, whether men or women, amputate their hands.
يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّبِىُّ اِذَا جَآءَكَ الۡمُؤۡمِنٰتُ يُبَايِعۡنَكَ عَلٰٓى اَنۡ لَّا يُشۡرِكۡنَ بِاللّٰهِ شَيۡــًٔا وَّلَا يَسۡرِقۡنَ وَلَا يَزۡنِيۡنَ وَلَا يَعۡصِيۡنَكَ فِىۡ مَعۡرُوۡفٍ فَبَايِعۡهُنَّ ﴿۱۲﴾
Q-60:12O Prophet, when believing women come to you pledging allegiance, declaring they will not associate anything with Allah, nor steal, nor commit adultery, nor disobey you in what is righteous works, accept their pledge.
وَالسَّارِقُ وَالسَّارِقَةُ فَاقۡطَعُوۡۤا اَيۡدِيَهُمَا جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَسَبَا نَـكَالًا مِّنَ اللّٰهِ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ عَزِيۡزٌ حَكِيۡمٌ ﴿۳۸﴾
Q-05:38As for the thief, man or woman! cut off their hands—a recompense for their deeds, a deterrent punishment from Allah. He is Almighty, All-Wise.
God's blessings in lawful earnings.
God commands: Give full measure and weight with justice. Do not corrupt the balance established by God on the earth, spreading disorder. The blessing granted by God—even if it appears small—is better for you, if you truly believe in Him. And if you continue to obey His commands, God promises that He will open for His faithful servant’s blessings from the heavens and the earth.
اَوۡفُوا الۡمِكۡيَالَ وَالۡمِيۡزَانَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ وَلَا تَبۡخَسُوا النَّاسَ اَشۡيَآءَهُمۡ وَلَا تَعۡثَوۡا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ مُفۡسِدِيۡنَ ﴿۸۵﴾ بَقِيَّتُ اللّٰهِ خَيۡرٌ لَّـكُمۡ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ مُّؤۡمِنِيۡنَ ۚ ﴿۸۶﴾
Q-11:85-86Give full measure and weight with fairness, and do not deprive people of what rightfully belongs to them. Do not be among those who spread corruption on the earth. (85) What remains lawful and blessed from God is better for you, if you are true believers. (86)
وَلَوۡ اَنَّ اَهۡلَ الۡقُرٰٓى اٰمَنُوۡا وَاتَّقَوۡا لَـفَتَحۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ بَرَكٰتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ ﴿۹۶﴾
Q-07:96And if the people of those towns had believed and adopted righteousness, we would have opened upon them blessings from the heavens and the earth.
13. Sectarianism in Islam is polytheism.
Today, we who call ourselves Muslims are divided into groups, sects, and schools of thought—some Sunni, some Shia, some Deobandi, some Barelvi, some Ahl al-Hadith, some Salafi—and the list is quite long. Yet the religion of God is only one, and that is Islam.
A true Muslim is one who does not believe in sectarian divisions, but worships One God alone and accepts without hesitation everything revealed to the Noble Prophet ﷺ.
Sectarianism is disliked in the sight of God and has been described as akin to shirk (associating partners with Him). A true Muslim is one who follows the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Allah *La ilaha illa Allah* (There is no god but Allah)—rather than identifying with any sectarian label. God Almighty says:
اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ فَرَّقُوْا دِیْنَهُمْ وَ كَانُوْا شِیَعًا لَّسْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِیْ شَیْءٍؕ-اِنَّمَاۤ اَمْرُهُمْ اِلَى اللّٰهِ ثُمَّ یُنَبِّئُهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوْا یَفْعَلُوْنَ۔ ﴿۱۵۹﴾
Q-06:159Those who divided their religion and became sects—O Prophet, you have nothing to do with them. Their matter rests with God alone; then He will tell them what they used to do before.
مُنِيۡبِيۡنَ اِلَيۡهِ وَاتَّقُوۡهُ وَاَقِيۡمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَلَا تَكُوۡنُوۡا مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِكِيۡنَۙ ﴿۳۱﴾ مِنَ الَّذِيۡنَ فَرَّقُوۡا دِيۡنَهُمۡ وَكَانُوۡا شِيَعًا ؕ كُلُّ حِزۡبٍۢ بِمَا لَدَيۡهِمۡ فَرِحُوۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
Q-30:31-32Turn to Him alone, and fearing Him, establish prayer, and never be among the polytheists. (31) They are the ones who ripped their religion into fragments and formed sects—each sect rejoicing in whatever it holds. (32)
Reflect carefully: here, God has made it clear that those who create sects and divisions in religion are, in reality, aligned with the polytheists—because they have introduced into God’s religion matters that God did not reveal.
We should abandon all sectarian labels and identify ourselves simply as “Muslims.” We must read the Qur’an, understand it, and act upon it, and embrace the sunnah of Allah revealed to all the prophets.
May God protect us from the curse of sectarianism and from all that is forbidden, and grant us the ability to become true Muslims. Ameen.
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