ভূমিকা

“Verily, Allah enjoins justice and kindness (to others) and giving (the right of) the kindred, and forbids lewdness, and evil and insolence; He admonishes you so that you might remember.” This verse provides a thorough explanation and the most comprehensive picture of the Islamic teachings in the spheres of social problems, the humanitarian issues, and the ethical matters.

At first, the Qur’an implies that Allah commands all to involve themselves in justice and to be generous and forgiving with regard to one’s family members and those who are around them. The verse says: “Verily, Allah enjoins justice and kindness (to others) and giving (the right of) the kindred…” Justice is that universal law around the axis of which the totality of the system of creation runs. In the true sense of the word, it implies that everything takes its own proper place.

Therefore, whatever deviation, excess and defect, extremism to the right or left, and violation of other people’s rights run contrary to the principle of justice. However, as justice, despite all its splendour, power, and its deep impact is not workable in times of crises and in exceptional circumstances, the Qur’an brings the command of kindness with regard to generosity and forgiveness immediately next to it.

In a tradition, Ali (as) says: “Justice is achieved once you provide people with their due rights, and kindness is applied when you do them a favour.” [^1] After completing these three positive principles, the Qur’an refers to three negative principles which the people must be dissuaded from.

It says: “…and forbids lewdness, and evil and insolence…” ‘Lewdness’ alludes to latent and secret sins, /munkar/ (abominable acts) refers to overt and open sinful acts, and /baqy/ (insolence) refers to whatever violation of one’s own rights, and oppression and self-admiration with regards to others.