12-26-2007, 08:03 PM
Bismillah
Praise be to Allah the All Pardon and prayer and peace be upon His final Messenger Mohamed Ibn Abdullah and all Prophets and Messengers.
As usual brothers and sisters, I was reciting the Quran a week ago, I stopped at any Ayah that I read Alhamdulelah numerous times, and as if it was the first time. It touched me deeply and triggered an incomparable interaction with the insightful phrasing. Sobaha Allah, I was very affected that the deep sense remained in my heart, unable to put it into words, either verbally or in writing for about 2 days, till a relevant chance came that I discussed it with someone.
The Ayah in Question is:
“They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit." <b>And they ask you what they ought to spend. Say: "That which is beyond your needs</b>.
" Thus Allah makes clear to you His Laws in order that you may give thought." (Quran 2:219)
In a previous Ayah of the same Surah another question was posed to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam – we are aware that such Ayahs that start with they ask you are questions from Muslims and Allah Commands the Messenger to respond saying Qol (say). “They ask you (O Muhammad) what they should spend. Say: Whatever you spend of good must be <b>for parents and kindred and orphans and the poor and the wayfarers, and whatever you do of good deeds,</b>
truly, Allah knows it well.” (Quran 2: 215).
Thus in the first question when the question was general regarding areas where one must spend money, the reply came listing down the categories put in a priority order. I mean it must be given out first to parents, then close relatives, orphans and so forth till the end of the categories. This was a direct classification to where we should spend our money. This is a mere money spending issue being explained here.
Then Allah Moved on with the sequence of the Ayahs explaining about Qital and the sacred months. Then came another question regarding drinking of alcohol and gambling. Both items involve money, one to buy and the other to fund the game in which one may win or loose money. The practice of gambling involves making revenue or spending money, so is the alcohol drink that involves spending. Allah Aimed at gradually prohibiting both items, thus explained how they both carry sin and benefit with the sin greater than the benefit. But the amazing part is after being told that one should not spend money in either activities, again the question comes alright where should we spend? In other words, advice us of a recommended channel where we can allocate our money. Allah Sobhanhu wa Ta`al in an incomparable wording Tells us say Al A`fow. The translator translated it as what is beyond the need. Yes this is of course one meaning, however, because Quran is a coherent text that no matter how much you dig still Allah Enlightens you with more meanings, Afo means pardon. Allah gave the act of pardoning others a monetary value. Like Allah Is also telling those who cannt physically spend money, if you practice pardon, this will be counted as spending money. That is why Allah succeeded it with Thus Allah makes clear to you His Laws in order that you may give thought. Actually, you can also say so that you may ponder and reflect. Indeed this Ayah and deep meaning is worth pondering and reflection. Pardoning those who hurt you is not an easy task. If we check this with other Ayahs, you will find for example:
“And let not those among you who are blessed with graces and wealth swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kinsmen, the poor, and those who left their homes for Allah's Cause. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Quran 24:22). Just think for a moment, this Ayah was revealed to Abu Bakr encouraging him to pardon the one who came up with the false accusation against his own daughter Aisha may Allah be pleased with her. The man came to him asking for financial help and he was reluctant to do so. The Ayah came directly telling him let them pardon and forgive, don’t they wish that Allah Forgives their sins?
How hard this is? That is why Allah gave it a monetary value. This is an option, an alternative for those who are financially incapable to practice Afow (pardon) which is highly rewarded since Allah also describes those who do saying:
“The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly): then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.
35.
But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of happiness in the Hereafter i.e. Paradise and of a high moral character) in this world.” (Quran 41: 34-35)
In order to encourage us to strive hard to attain this level, Allah Gave it a monetary value. Because in other positions Allah encouraged the woman during divorce to pardon her rights either her or her wali, so the one who killed someone by mistake, in case the victim’s family decided to pardon the blood money. Thus, if you actually put all those Ayahs and meanings together and see how Allah in a very concise and to the point Commanded the Messenger to say instead of spending in buying alcohol drink and gambling, you might better spend by practicing pardoning, and this sign is worth pondering. It is really worth pondering in order to come up with how pardoning someone can have a monetary value. Sobhan Allah.
Alhamdulelah Who Has Guided for this and if it was not for Allah we wouldn’t have been guided.