Thus, their condition fits the fourth stage of the belief,...

Thus, their condition fits the fourth stage of the belief, described under the verse: When his Lord said to him, Submit (yourself), he said: ” I submit myself to the Lord of the worlds” (2:131). After description of belief, Allah mentions some of their deeds: “and gives away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the emancipation of) the captives, and keeps up prayer and pays the zakat”.

Here their prayer is mentioned, and it concerns the Divine Worship. Allah says: ... surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil... (29:45); also, He says: ... and keep up prayer for My remembrance (20:14). It is followed by mention of zakat; and it is a financial obligation promulgated for economic good of the society.

And before it all, the verse refers to their giving away wealth to various groups; this habit of theirs spreads the good and enlarges the circle of non-obligatory munificence, in order that the need of the poor may be fulfilled and their condition improved. Lastly, the verse cites some of their excellent moral char­acteristics: “and the performers of their promise when they make a promise, and the patient in distress and affliction and in time of conflict”.

al-'Ahd العَهْدُ ) = to promise; to commit oneself to something). The verse mentions “their promise” unconditionally. Yet, it does not cover the belief and the resulting obligation of following the laws of the shari'ah (as some people have said). Why? Because on going further we find the proviso, “when they make a promise”; and clearly acceptance of true faith and sub-mission to its concomitants is an unconditional obligation; and is obligatory on all the people at all the times.

It does not depend on one's commitment. However, the “promise”, by its generality, covers every commitment made by man. For example, when he says: I'll surely do it; or, I'll never do it. It includes every deal made in business transactions, every word spoken in social and family circles. Patience is steadfastness in face of hardship, be it a series of benumbing misfortunes or a fight against formidable adversaries.

These two excellent virtues - fulfilment of promise and patience - do not cover all the necessary virtues; but when they are found somewhere, the other virtues invariably always follow suit. One of these two virtues (patience in hardships) has a passive quality, while the other (fulfilling the promise) has an active role.