Verse 282 of Surah Al-Baqarah, akin to a radiant gem within the corpus of Quranic verses, provides comprehensive and precise instructions for the regulation of financial transactions, the role of scribes and witnesses, and the associated legal and ethical responsibilities. This verse, transcending mere jurisprudential rulings, intertwines theological, social, and mystical dimensions to guide humanity towards perfection. Emphasising piety, divine instruction, and Gods absolute knowledge, it constitutes an unparalleled paradigm for individual and societal guidance. This treatise adopts a scholarly and systematic approach to elucidate the multifaceted dimensions of this verse, thereby delineating a comprehensive blueprint of Quranic wisdom for human life.
Verse 282 of Surah Al-Baqarah, owing to its breadth and comprehensiveness, encompasses a range of jurisprudential rulings, rational advisories, and doctrinal foundations. This verse not only regulates financial transactions and the roles of the scribe and witness but also, through its emphasis on piety and divine teaching, directs humans to implement religion in their daily lives.
Although the verse centres on jurisprudential rulings, it inherently posits doctrinal, intellectual, and practical foundations. This inseparable linkage underscores the necessity of actualising religion in all spheres of life. Religion, if confined solely to mental concepts or theoretical beliefs, results in illusions and fails to exert real societal influence.
One of the central messages of this verse is the imperative to transform religion from theoretical concepts into practice. Due to a lack of practical application in certain areas, Islam has lost part of its social impact. This verse, by emphasising action, invites humanity to actualise religious rulings and values in daily life.
وَإِنْ تَفْعَلُوا فَإِنَّهُ فُسُوقٌ بِكُمْ ۗ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Translation: And if you do (this), indeed it is disobedience against you. So fear Allah, and Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things.
The phrase فَإِنَّهُ فُسُوقٌ بِكُمْ refers to disobedience and deviation in the event of harming the scribe or witness or breaching the rulings of the verse. Fisq signifies deviation from natural, rational, customary, or legal norms (فَسَقَ يَفْسُقُ means to depart from the command of the Lord). This deviation disrupts divine and social order, leading to unrest and disorder.
A prominent feature of this verse is the use of the plural form فُسُوقٌ, emphasising the collective and systemic nature of deviations. Social deviations, contrary to common misconception, do not occur individually but emerge as networks and groups (such as gangs and organisations). Theft, crime, and corruption all rely on group collaboration and cannot occur without collective participation.
Minor thefts, such as stealing low-value items, fall outside the scope of systemic fisq as they lack organisation. This distinction underscores the difference between minor individual crimes and organised deviations.
A fasiq (one who commits fisq) is a radical and disruptive individual who refuses to adhere to rules and order. This characteristic renders fisq a factor that undermines social cohesion. Unlike kufr (disbelief), which is an internal and doctrinal deviation, fisq denotes an external and behavioural deviation.
The Quran mentions approximately 54 instances of fisq derivatives, emphasising the collective nature of deviations. These derivatives include فَسَقُوا (3 occurrences), تَفْسُقُون (5 occurrences), فَسْقٌ (2 occurrences), فَاسِقٌ (1 occurrence), فَاسِقُون (17 occurrences), and فَاسِقِين (18 occurrences). The singular instance of fisq refers to Iblis who, due to his singularity, is not expressed in the plural form. This exception is akin to Abraham, who is singularly described as a nation but is essentially collective in nature.
The noun فاسق, unlike the verb, implies continuity, and its plural forms (فاسقون and فاسقين) underscore the intensity and persistence of deviation. This characteristic signals the need for ongoing confrontation with deviations in society.
Fisq results in social disintegration, whether visibly, internally, geographically, or historically. Evidence from the past century demonstrates that societies with high fisq (such as theft, corruption, and crime) have experienced collapse. This outcome attests to the accuracy of the Quranic analysis of fisq and its destructive impact on social cohesion.
Generalised fisq is impossible without the involvement of governing systems and authority. For example, large-scale drug trafficking requires support from powerful individuals and systemic structures. This fact emphasises the responsibility of governmental systems in preventing and reforming fisq.
A naive perception of fisq, such as the assumption that Quranic verses alone prevent trafficking, indicates a lack of understanding of its systemic nature. Religious science must engage with these complexities to scientifically analyse and counter fisq.
Fisq exists in all societies irrespective of religion and is not contingent on faith or disbelief. This universality necessitates analysing fisq within social and global frameworks.
Owing to its precise analysis of social deviations, the Noble Quran is a scientific and ultra-modern book endowed with advanced social engineering. This characteristic attests to the Qurans superiority in guiding human societies and its perpetuity.
The phrase وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ connotes steadfastness, enduring authority, and self-control. Piety is a practice that does not require formal literacy, yet divine awareness (insight) is essential for its actualisation. This awareness originates not from academic knowledge but from divine grace and human nature.
Illiterate individuals, such as previous generations of fathers and mothers, may exhibit high levels of piety due to adherence to innate disposition and sincere practice. For instance, a mother who attained elevated states of piety and purity through consistent Quranic recitation and prayer exemplifies this reality. Despite the absence of literacy, their closeness to God and righteous deeds enabled them to die with honour and peace.
Literacy devoid of piety results in a darkened heart and crime. Modern crimes, including political, industrial, and technical offences, are often committed by educated individuals using their knowledge. Prison statistics demonstrate that literate persons lacking piety tend towards crime and deviation.
Literacy, akin to a knife, is a neutral instrument that can be employed for benevolent acts (such as peeling a cucumber) or malevolent deeds (such as murder). This metaphor underscores the necessity of guiding literacy with piety and divine knowledge.
Past societies, despite lower literacy levels, enjoyed greater peace and felicity due to piety. This comparison attests to the positive impact of piety on life quality and the ineffectiveness of literacy without piety.
Modern youth, despite high literacy, have distanced themselves from purity and spirituality due to lack of piety. This critique emphasises the necessity of teaching piety alongside literacy to new generations.
Reciting the Noble Quran with love and intimacy draws a person closer to purity and piety. The critique of some seminary students who prioritise scientific texts over Quranic recitation warns against the risk of heart-hardening and estrangement from spirituality.
The phrase وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّهُ is a profound promise of direct instruction from God to the pious. This teaching encompasses praiseworthy attributes, lordship, and divine love rather than formal academic sciences.
The phrase وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ denotes Gods intrinsic and absolute knowledge of all matters. The word شَيْءٍ is an absolute term encompassing all aspects of the verse, from transactions to piety and disobedience.
The use of وَاللَّهُ in the verse is an absolute noun testifying to Gods complete encompassing of
