the lectures of Nekounam, (Session 1692)
The Noble Quran, like a radiant lamp, guides humanity towards felicity and salvation. This divine scripture, with profound and sagacious expression, elucidates foundational ethical and social concepts and calls upon humans to reform themselves and their societies. In this treatise, relying on the luminous verses of the Noble Quran, three pivotal conceptscorruption, theft, and wickednessare examined. These concepts, rooted in moral and social deviations, are addressed in numerous Quranic verses, which provide strategies for their eradication. The objective of this work is to offer a comprehensive and coherent exegesis of these verses, so that through a deep insight into social issues, paths for reform and elevation of the Islamic society are delineated.
The Noble Quran calls upon humanity to remember the boundless blessings of God and urges them to refrain from corruption on the earth. Corruption is like a plague that withers the roots of society and drags social order and harmony into ruin.
فَاذْكُرُوا آلَاءَ اللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ
"So remember the favours of Allah and do not commit corruption on the earth." (Surah Al-A'raf, 7)
This verse, like a celestial melody, invites humanity to contemplate divine blessings and to avoid all forms of corruption on earth. Remembrance of blessings, like pure water, cleanses the human heart from the rust of ingratitude and guides it towards reform and goodness. Corruption is the result of neglecting these blessings and leads to social disharmonies, such as deep class divides.
One of the most manifest examples of corruption is social disharmony, reflected in deep class gaps. When in a society, alongside enormous wealth and multi-billion machinery, homeless people reside in street corners, this disharmony wounds society's body deeply. The Noble Quran, by emphasising the dire fate of corrupters, calls upon society to rectify these inequalities. Like a tree whose roots do not grow in healthy soil, a society plagued by disharmony heads toward destruction.
Religious knowledge, as a shining torch, must guide society toward peace and harmony. This knowledge should, by inviting love and goodness, pave the way for structural social reform. Neglecting the deprived and disregarding basic societal needs are like a fire consuming the ethical and social foundations.
Corruption is the consequence of ingratitude for divine blessings and neglect of social order. The Noble Quran, by emphasising the remembrance of blessings and forbidding corruption, provides solutions for societal reform. Social disharmonies, such as class disparities, are among the main factors of corruption that demand structural reforms and collective dedication. Religious knowledge, through calls to goodness and love, can guide society towards justice and harmony.
Theft is like a thorn in the eye of society, undermining order and public trust. The Noble Quran, in the story of Josephs (peace be upon him) brothers, introduces theft as a manifestation of corruption.
قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ مَا جِئْنَا لِنُفْسِدَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا كُنَّا سَارِقِينَ
"They said: By Allah, you know well that we have not come to cause corruption in the land nor have we been thieves." (Surah Yusuf, 73)
This verse refers to the defence of Josephs brothers against the accusation of theft. They reject the charge of corruption and theft by referring to their conduct and background. Theft, even if apparently minor, is like a spark that can ignite the fire of corruption within society.
In the story of Joseph (peace be upon him), the theft accusation against his brothers was part of a plan orchestrated by Joseph himself. This indicates that corruption may take root within the intricate layers of governance. When governmental systems resort to accusations and political manoeuvres instead of reform, corruption casts a dark shadow over society. The Noble Quran, through referencing this event, warns that corruptioneven if with good intentionsmay lead to social disorder.
Modern examples, such as petty thefts by the poor or grand thefts from the wealthy, demonstrate that corruption in any form or scale results in distrust and destruction. Theft is like a wound that, if untreated, its infection spreads to the whole societal body.
Theft, as a form of corruption, disrupts social order and trust. The Noble Quran, by referring to the story of Josephs brothers, reveals that even small-scale theft can strengthen corruptions roots in society. Addressing this problem requires collective commitment and reinforcement of societal ethics. Religious knowledge must elucidate Quranic principles to prevent any justification for theft and guide society towards justice.
Wickedness, meaning departure from the path of truth and divine nature, is a key Quranic concept that points to moral and social deviations.
وَلَقَدْ أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ ۖ وَمَا يَكْفُرُ بِهَا إِلَّا الْفَاسِقُونَ
"And indeed We have revealed to you clear verses, and none disbelieve in them except the wicked." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 99)إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ
"Indeed, the hypocrites are the wicked." (Surah At-Tawbah, 67)
These verses identify the wicked as those who deny the clear signs of God and refuse to accept the truth. Hypocrites, who command what is wrong and forbid what is right, are counted among the wicked.
Wickedness acts like a barrier preventing the growth and prosperity of society. The Noble Quran, emphasising that most people turn away from the truth due to ignorance and ingratitude, warns that these deviations lead society toward destruction. Like a ship aimlessly steering into rocks during a storm, a society afflicted by wickedness deviates from the path to felicity.
Religious knowledge, as wise guidance, must steer society towards acceptance of divine verses and adherence to truth. Social indifference, like ashes smothering a fire, prevents the light of justice and reform from shining within society.
Wickedness is a deviation rooted in denial of divine signs and neglect of truth. Due to its collective nature, this deviation affects the entire society. The Noble Quran, by explaining the traits of the wicked and obstacles to social growth, calls upon society to steadfastly oppose wickedness through dedication to truth and justice.
The Noble Quran presents wickedness as a collective phenomenon resulting from societal indifference and ingratitude.
فَاسْتَخَفَّ قَوْمَهُ فَأَطَاعُوهُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ
"Then he belittled his people, and they obeyed him. Indeed, they were a people defiantly disobedient." (Surah Zukhruf, 54)ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ
"Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned." (Surah Ar-Rum, 41)
These verses attribute corruption and wickedness to human actions and societal neglect of truth and justice. A society indifferent to its issues is like a garden overtaken by pests due to the gardeners neglect.
The Noble Quran, emphasising collective jurisprudence, calls upon society to stand firmly against wickedness through dedication to truth and justice. Social indifference resembles silence in the face of the oppressed
