Al-Emran 75-77

75- AND OF THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK THOSE WHOM IF YOU ENTRUST WITH A HOARD OF GOLD, WILL REPAY IT BACK, AND OF THEM THOSE WHOM IF YOU ENTRUST WITH A DINAR (GOLD COIN), THEY DO NOT PAY IT BACK UNLESS YOU ARE PERSISTENTLY DEMANDING.  THIS IS BECAUSE THEY SAY: “WE HAVE NO DUTY TO THE IGNORANT (NON JEWS)”, AND THEY TELL LIES CONCERNING ALLAH WHILE THEY KNOW.

76- INDEED, THOSE WHO KEEP THEIR COVENANTS AND ARE PIOUS, ALLAH LOVES THE PIOUS.

77- THOSE WHO SELL THEIR COVENANTS WITH ALLAH AND THEIR OATHS FOR A MISERLY PRICE, THEY WILL HAVE NO SHARE IN THE HEREAFTER, AND ALLAH DOES NOT SPEAK TO THEM OR LOOK AT THEM ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION, AND DOES NOT PURIFY THEM, AND THEY WILL HAVE PAINFUL PUNISHMENT.

Allah the Highest is telling us in these Ayahs, about honesty, not just as far as the people of the book are concerned, but generally, and with all people. 

It is reported that Ayah 75 was sent when a Muslim man entrusted a Jewish man called Abd Allah Ibn Salah with 1200 Dinar (gold coins), which he paid back promptly when asked.  In the mean time, other Jewish men in Medina did not fulfill their trust.  This is because they said that they did not have to be honest to the non-Jews, whom they consider to be ignorant.  One should mention that this Jewish man became Muslim. 

In saying this, they lie concerning Allah, for honesty is due to every one, regardless of their belief and their faith.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, heard that the Jews say they did not have to be honest with non-Jews, he said: “They lie; Allah’s enemies.  But everything this that was at the time of ignorance (before Islam) is under my feet (abolished) and honesty is due to the righteous and the wicked”.  (Ibn Haban)

A man asked Abd Allah Ibn Abas that they took food from non Muslims while they were away fighting without paying for it.  Ibn Abas asked him: “What do you think of this?” The man said: “there is no blame on us”, Ibn Abas said: “This is what the people of the book say, that they have obligation to the non-Jew, but if they pay the tax, their property is not permitted to you unless they give it to you happily (bought or gift)”.  (Ibn Jarir Al-Tabari)

Honesty is of great importance for us.  Honesty will be at one side of the Serate to protect the honest, and on the other side will stand character and relations with blood relative.  Serate is the bridge laid over the Hell-Fire which people will have to cross to the Paradise.

Allah the Highest is commanding us to fulfill our covenants always and to every one, and without exception. 

Allah the Highest is telling us about those who do not fulfill their covenants for a miserly price and an earthly gain.  Indeed, any earthly gain is a miserly price compared to Paradise in quality, and it does not last compared with eternity.  Allah the Highest will not speak to them, look at them, or purify them on the day of Resurrection.  They are rejected by Allah the Highest and deprived of His Mercy, and it is only through Allah’s Mercy we may enter Paradise.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “No one will enter the Paradise because of his deeds only”.  They said: “Not even you Allah’s messenger?”  He said: “Neither will I, unless Allah embraces me with His forgiveness and Mercy”.  (B: Reqaq; 18 & M: Monafeqeen; 72-78 & A: 2; 264)

Making an oath using Allah’s name is a serious commitment.  This makes Allah the Highest the guarantor of this oath.  Using Allah’s name in vain and disrespecting Him as a guarantor is serious.  On the other hand, Allah the Highest honours those who honour him.

Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “A man of the Children of Israel asked another to lend him a thousand Dinars.  He was told: ‘Bring me a witness’ He said: ‘Allah is sufficient for a witness’.  He was told: ‘Bring me a guarantor’.  He said: ‘Allah is sufficient for a guarantor’.  He was told: ‘You said the truth’. The other man gave him the money to an agreed term, and he took the money and sailed.  Later, he looked for a ship to take him to the other man for the agreed date, but he did not find one.  Then he made a cavity in a piece of wood, put the thousand Dinars and a letter in, sealed it, went to sea and said: ‘My Lord, I borrowed from this man an thousand Dinars, he asked for a guarantor, and I said: Allah is sufficient for a guarantor.  He was satisfied, and he asked me for a witness and I said: Allah is sufficient for a witness, and he was satisfied.  I tried but did not find a ship to take him his money; therefore I put it in your care.  And he threw it into the see, where it disappeared.  The man who lent the money went looking for a ship which might bring his money.  He found the piece of wood which he brought to his family fir fire. When he broke it, he found the money and the letter.

Later, the man who borrowed the money travelled, and found the lender and said to Him: ‘By Allah, I kept looking for a ship to come and bring your money back, but I did not find one before this”.  The other man said: ‘Did you send something?’  He said: ‘Did I not tell you that I did not find a ship?’  The lender said: ‘Allah has paid your thousand for you; go with other thousand in peace”.  (B: Shorout; 16 & a: 2; 348)

Selling one’s goods by lying on an oath is very sinful, those who do, are among those Allah the Highest does not speak to, look at, or purify on the day of Resurrection.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “The merchant who sells his goods by lying on his oath is of those Whom Allah does not speak to, look at, or purify on the Day of Resurrection”  (M:Iman;171 & D:Lebas;25 & T:Byo; 5 & Ma:Tegarat;30  & A:5;148,158)

Allah the Highest is angered by lying on an oath.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “Anyone who makes an oath, in which he lies to gain wealth or property, Allah will be angry with him when He meets him”. (B: Ahkam; 30 & M: Iman; 220 & D: Iman; 1 & T: Byo; 42)

In fact, Allah the Highest does not consider those who are dishonest to have faith, or those who do not keep their covenants to be Muslims.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “Has not Faith he who has no honesty, and has no Islam, he who does not keep his covenants”.  (A: 3; 135, 215, 251)

We should remember that these Ayahs apply to the Muslims as much as the people of the book.  Allah the Highest does not refrain other nations from indecent and bad behaviour, while accepting the same behavior from Muslims.

B: Bukhari    M: Muslim     Mal: Malek    A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi