Sirat-ul-Mustaqeem from Qur'an

In this discussion we will look at the deeper meaning of Sirat-e Mustaqeem which Allama Mohammad Hussain Tabatabai has given in his Tafseer Al-Mizan:

How is it that the Qur’anic laws remain eternal?

Generally, laws can either be for an individual with certain specific features or for the whole family, species or race. Doctor’s prescription is for an individual (having special symptoms, blood pressure, etc) but a pharmaceutical company produces medicine for all those who belong to a certain age group and suffer from a certain sickness. Qur’anic laws are also for the human nature not a particular person. That is why we read in the Holy Qur’an (Surah Fussilat (41) Ayaat (end of) 41 and 42):

وَإِنَّهُ لَكِتَابٌ عَزِيزٌ

‘Indeed it is an august Book’

لَا يَأْتِيهِ الْبَاطِلُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ
وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهِ تَنزِيلٌ مِّنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيد

‘...falsehood cannot approach it, from before it nor from behind it, a [gradually] sent down [revelation] from One all-wise, all-laudable’.



Just as human nature always remains the same the laws of Qur’an always remain the same.

What is human nature (Fitrat Allah) and how does it move in the direction of Allah

In the science of Hikmat, it is explained that humans have a physical personality (Tabi’at) which has certain peculiar characteristics, and a spiritual dimension which has unlimited potentials. With the passage of time, this spiritual dimension transcends through Harakat-e-Jawhari towards its Kamal or perfection. All its potentials are realized. But there is a condition, a human must move in accordance with the Fitrat-ul-Allah, the Divine Nature otherwise any deviation from the path of Fitrat Allah will mean destruction and loss. (Baqarah(2) Ayat 108)

وَمَن يَتَبَدَّلِ الْكُفْرَ بِالإِيمَانِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ

‘He who chooses disbelief instead of faith, verily he hath gone astray from a plain road’





Qur’anic laws are derived from the Fitratullah-‘the true human nature’

Shirk, Kufr and denial of Prophets, Imams, angels, and revelations is a deviation from the path of Fitrat. Wealth, children, trade, agriculture, industry, etc are all prerequisites for spiritual elevation and purification of the soul. Too much indulgence in business, trade, economics, occupation, etc that hinders spiritual acts will be a loss for the human society. (Surah Mominoon (23), ayahs 55-61)

أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُم بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ
‘Think they that in the wealth and sons wherewith We provide them
نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ بَل لَّا يَشْعُرُونَ
‘We hasten unto them with good things? Nay, but they perceive not
Lo! those who go in awe for fear of their Lord.
وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ
‘And those who believe in the revelations of their Lord,
وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِرَبِّهِمْ لَا يُشْرِكُونَ
‘And those who ascribe not partners unto their Lord,
وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوا وَّقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ رَاجِعُونَ
‘And those who give that which they give with hearts afraid because they are about to return unto their Lord,
أُوْلَئِكَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَهُمْ لَهَا سَابِقُونَ
‘These people race for the good things, and they shall win them in the race’.

In the light of these Ayaat, we can see that wealth etc can become an obstacle in the path of Allah (swt).

The Sirat-e-Mustaqeem consists of the laws that are endorsed by the human nature and Aql-e-Saleem as in the following Ayaat (Surah an'aam (6), ayaat 151-154):

قُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَلاَّ تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ أَوْلاَدَكُم مِّنْ إمْلاَقٍ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ وَلاَ تَقْرَبُواْ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

‘Say: Come, I will recite unto you that which your Lord hath made a sacred duty for you: That ye ascribe no thing as partner unto Him and that ye do good to parents, and that ye slay not your children because of penury - We provide for you and for them - and that ye draw not nigh to lewd things whether open or concealed. And that ye slay not the life which Allah hath made sacred, save in the course of justice. This He hath command you, in order that ye may discern.

وَلاَ تَقْرَبُواْ مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلاَّ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَأَوْفُواْ الْكَيْلَ وَالْمِيزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ لاَ نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُواْ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَى وَبِعَهْدِ اللّهِ أَوْفُواْ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
‘And approach not the wealth of the orphan save with that which is better, till he reaches maturity. Give full measure and full weight, in justice. We task not any soul beyond its scope. And if ye give your word, do justice thereunto, even though it be (against) a kinsman; and fulfill the covenant of Allah. This He commands you that haply ye may remember.

وَأَنَّ هَـذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

‘And (He commands you, saying): This is My straight path, so follow it. Follow not other ways, lest ye be parted from His way. This hath He ordained for you, that ye may ward off (evil)’.

Lecture on the Tenth Night

For a person to reach 'sirate mustaqeem' in all its purity, he has to be tried and tested and cleared of all impurities and "scum". As the following verse describes (surah Ra'd(13), ayah 17),

أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاء مَاء فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌ بِقَدَرِهَا فَاحْتَمَلَ السَّيْلُ زَبَدًا رَّابِيًا وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِي النَّارِ ابْتِغَاء حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَاعٍ زَبَدٌ مِّثْلُهُ كَذَلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللّهُ الْحَقَّ وَالْبَاطِلَ فَأَمَّا الزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَاء وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِي الأَرْضِ كَذَلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللّهُ الأَمْثَالَ {17}

He sends down water from the sky whereat the valleys are flooded to (the extent of ) their capacity, and hte flood carries along a swelling scum and from what they smelt in the fire for the purpose of (making ) ornaments or wares, (there arises) a similar scum. That is how Allah compares the truth and the falsehood. As for the scum, it leaves as dross, and that which profits the people, remains in the earth; thus does Allah set forth parables.

All impurities in one's character go away as worthless scum and one finds himself out of the 'zulumaat'.

Verses 19 to 25 of the same surah illustrates further the qualities of this individual.
أَفَمَن يَعْلَمُ أَنَّمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَبِّكَ الْحَقُّ كَمَنْ هُوَ أَعْمَى إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُواْ الأَلْبَابِ {19}

Is he then who knows that what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth like him who is blind? Only those possessed of understanding will mind,

الَّذِينَ يُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللّهِ وَلاَ يِنقُضُونَ الْمِيثَاقَ {20}

Those who fulfil the promise of Allah and do not break the covenant,

وَالَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللّهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ وَيَخَافُونَ سُوءَ الحِسَابِ {21}

And those who join that which Allah has bidden to be joined and have awe of their Lord and fear the evil reckoning.

وَالَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ ابْتِغَاء وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَأَنفَقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلاَنِيَةً وَيَدْرَؤُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ {22}

And those who are constant, seeking the pleasure of their Lord, and keep up prayer and spend (benevolently) out of what We have given them secretly and openly and repel evil with good; as for those, they shall have the (happy) issue of the abode

جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ وَالمَلاَئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍ {23}

The gardens of perpetual abode which they will enter along with those who do good from among their parents and their spouses and their offspring; and the angels will enter in upon them from every gate:

سَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ {24}

Peace be on you because you were constant, how excellent, is then, the issue of the abode.

وَالَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللّهِ مِن بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللّهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمُ اللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوءُ الدَّارِ {25}

And those who break the covenant of Allah after its confirmation and cut asunder that which Allah has ordered to be joined and make mischief in the land; (as for) those, upon them shall be curse and they shall have the evil (issue) of the abode.

A careful study of these verses makes it clear how far apart the people of 'siraat' are from those who "break the covenant".

Lecture on the Ninth Night

Salaam is a name of Allah mentioned in surah Hashr (ch 59), ayah 23.

هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ {23}
He is Allah, besides Whom there is no god; the King, the Holy, the Giver of peace, the Granter of security, Guardian over all, the Mighty, the Supreme, the Possessor of every greatness Glory be to Allah from what they set up (with Him).

Allah gives refuge through this name salaam to those who seek his pleasure by following the ayaat of Qur'an.

In the dua for 12th imam to be read in the basement (sardab) in Sammarra (Kitab-ul-Mazar, Bihar, Majlisi), we read:
Allahumma antas salaam wa minkas salaam wa elayka ya'odus salaam hayyina rabbana minkas salaam
which means 'O Lord, you are the peace, and from you (comes)all peace and to you returns all peace, respond to us O Lord, through your peace.'

The verses we quoted previously show us the paths of peace with Allah. Another such ayat is the following which lays down another universal principle of Islam.

Surah Nisa (4), ayah 34:

الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاء بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنفَقُواْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ فَالصَّالِحَاتُ قَانِتَاتٌ حَافِظَاتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللّهُ

Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded;

This ayat clearly teaches the Muslims the structure of a family and contrasts heavily with the Western notions.

Islam requires women to be 'qanitaat' meaning obedient, 'hafizaat' meaning care-taking in the absence of their husbands of what Allah has enjoined them to guard. While the Western values teach the opposite and allows unbound freedom which weakens the family institution.

Every person can find an ayat that speaks to him about the path of salaam that apply to him/her. Look at the following ayat from SUrah Hujurat(49), ayah 11:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَسْخَرْ قَومٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَى أَن يَكُونُوا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَاء مِّن نِّسَاء عَسَى أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُنَّ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا بِالْأَلْقَابِ بِئْسَ الاِسْمُ الْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ الْإِيمَانِ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ {11}

O you who believe! let not (one) people laugh at (another) people perchance they may be better than they, nor let women (laugh) at (other) women, perchance they may be better than they; and do not find fault with your own people nor call one another by nicknames; evil is a bad name after faith, and whoever does not turn, these it is that are the unjust.

We can see that
1) One group of people cannot redicule other group,
2) women cannot redicule one another,
3) people cannot defame each other,
4) they cannot insult one another by nicknames,
5) bad words are a transgression after faith.

Lecture on the Eighth Night

The paths of salaam mentioned in the previous lectures plus those that will follow eventually bring a person next to those who constitute the sirat-e-mustaqeem. But he still does not and cannot become one of them. As understood by the following ayat 65-69 of Surah Nisa (4):
فَلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىَ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ يَجِدُواْ فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيمًا {65}
[Shakir 4:65] But no! by your Lord! they do not believe (in reality) until they make you a judge of that which has become a matter of disagreement among them, and then do not find any straitness in their hearts as to what you have decided and submit with entire submission.

Note:
To be in complete agreement with the orders of the prophet or imam is a sign that a person is on the 'siraat'. But that does not mean he is 'the siraat'. (more explanation to come in next lectures).

وَلَوْ أَنَّا كَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَنِ اقْتُلُواْ أَنفُسَكُمْ أَوِ اخْرُجُواْ مِن دِيَارِكُم مَّا فَعَلُوهُ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ مِّنْهُمْ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ فَعَلُواْ مَا يُوعَظُونَ بِهِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ تَثْبِيتًا {66}
[Shakir 4:66] And if We had prescribed for them: Lay down your lives or go forth from your homes, they would not have done it except a few of them; and if they had done what they were admonished, it would have certainly been better for them and best in strengthening (them);

وَإِذاً لَّآتَيْنَاهُم مِّن لَّدُنَّـا أَجْراً عَظِيمًا {67}
[Shakir 4:67] And then We would certainly have given them from Ourselves a great reward.

وَلَهَدَيْنَاهُمْ صِرَاطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا {68}
[Shakir 4:68] And We would certainly have guided them in the right path.


وَمَن يُطِعِ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاء وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَـئِكَ رَفِيقًا {69}
And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger, these are with those upon whom Allah has bestowed favors from among the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the good, and a goodly company are they!

As you can see that مَعَ الَّذِينَ means 'along with those' which is diffrerent from مِنَ الَّذِينَ which means 'from among them'.
ALthough, this is a distinction rarely achieved but still, those who make the sirat are chosen by Allah before the creation of the world.

Lecture on the Seventh Night

Another important path to salaam and security from the wrath of Allah is to act responsibly in the event of a conflict between two groups or individuals of believers (in the family or community).

In Surah Hujarat(49), ayahs 9-10:

وَإِن طَائِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُوا فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا فَإِن بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الْأُخْرَى فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِي تَبْغِي حَتَّى تَفِيءَ إِلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ فَإِن فَاءتْ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا بِالْعَدْلِ وَأَقْسِطُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ {9}

[Pickthal 49:9] And if two parties of believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them. And if one party of them doeth wrong to the other, fight ye that which doeth wrong till it return unto the ordinance of Allah; then, if it return, make peace between them justly, and act equitably. Lo! Allah loveth the equitable.

To watch as a spectator until one party wins over the other is to follow the law of the jungle. Instead, stopping the conflict is the first and immediate step. If that fails, then identify the aggressor and take action against him until he reverts to the command of God. Then, reconcile them with justice.

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ {10}
[Pickthal 49:10] The believers are naught else than brothers. Therefore make peace between your brethren and observe your duty to Allah that haply ye may obtain mercy.

Hadith from Ima Ali9(a.s.) says that resolving conflicts is even more virtuous than praying or fasting.

From darkness to Light:

After treading the paths of salaam, comes the stage of acquiring the light.

(......there has come to you light and a clear Book from Allah;
With it Allah guides him who will follow His pleasure into the ways of safety and brings them out of utter darkness into light by His will and guides them to the right path.)

Surah Hajj(22), ayah 46:

أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَا أَوْ آذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ {46}
[Pickthal 22:46] Have they not travelled in the land, and have they hearts wherewith to feel and ears wherewith to hear? For indeed it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts, which are within the bosoms, that grow blind.

BLindness of the heart is to be without that 'noor' or light.
Ayatullah is quoted as saying that in his youth there was a blind person who could recognize the ayat of Qur'an and pinpoint it in the text with his finger. Once he tried to test him by saying that this is not the ayat and he replied, 'Are you blind ? Dont you see.'

Lecture on the Sixth Night

We were speaking about the 'paths of salaam' which lead us to light in the second stage that in turn lead us to 'Sirat-e-Mustaqeem' on the basis of Chapter 5, verses 15-16 quoted previously.
Few more ayats for today which act as pointers:
1) Surah Noor(24), ayat 32

وَأَنكِحُوا الْأَيَامَى مِنكُمْ وَالصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَائِكُمْ إِن يَكُونُوا فُقَرَاء يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ {32}

[Pickthal 24:32] And marry such of you as are solitary and the pious of your slaves and maid-servants. If they be poor, Allah will enrich them of His bounty. Allah is of ample means, Aware.

In wasail-ush-shia, Marhoom Kulayni reports a tradition from Holy Prophet, "Marry a woman who may not be pretty but she is "walood" who may bring you children and do not marry a woman for the sake of her beauty who is infertile. Because surely I will be proud of you all over other nations on hte Day of Resurrection. Don't you know that children who are under the throne (of Allah) seek forgiveness for their parents, their guardian is Ibraheem (a.s.), and their care-taker is Sarah in a valley of mountains of musk, amber, and saffron."
People in the West delay marriage which is unnatural because Allah makes people mature (baligh) early and their bodies are ready for reproduction and child-bearing; any delay would be harmful for health of body and mind.

2)Surah Nisa (4), ayah 84

فَقَاتِلْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ لاَ تُكَلَّفُ إِلاَّ نَفْسَكَ وَحَرِّضِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَسَى اللّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَاللّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأْسًا وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلاً {84}

[Pickthal 4:84] So fight (O Muhammad) in the way of Allah Thou art not taxed (with the responsibility for anyone) except thyself - and urge on the believers. Peradventure Allah will restrain the might of those who disbelieve. Allah is stronger in might and stronger in inflicting punishment.
THe ayah speaks about the importances of providing assistance to others in good works
FOr example, the carpet of the masjid needs cleaning. People should not sit and watch one person do all the work, instead they should all help and get the similar sawab.

3)Surah Nisa (4), ayah 35

وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ شِقَاقَ بَيْنِهِمَا فَابْعَثُواْ حَكَمًا مِّنْ أَهْلِهِ وَحَكَمًا مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا إِن يُرِيدَا إِصْلاَحًا يُوَفِّقِ اللّهُ بَيْنَهُمَا إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا خَبِيرًا {35}

[Pickthal 4:35] And if ye fear a breach between them twain (the man and wife), appoint an arbiter from his folk and an arbiter from her folk. If they desire amendment Allah will make them of one mind. Lo! Allah is ever Knower, Aware.
In marital disputes, one wise, experienced, and knowledgable person from both sides have to mediate and reconcile them...It is not Islamic either to break marriage easily or to fight or pressurize a party to give in.
If all efforts for reconciliation fail and divorce takes place, then the following ayat says,
Surah Baqara (2), ayahs 228-229

وَالْمُطَلَّقَاتُ يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ ثَلاَثَةَ قُرُوَءٍ وَلاَ يَحِلُّ لَهُنَّ أَن يَكْتُمْنَ مَا خَلَقَ اللّهُ فِي أَرْحَامِهِنَّ إِن كُنَّ يُؤْمِنَّ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَبُعُولَتُهُنَّ أَحَقُّ بِرَدِّهِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ إِنْ أَرَادُواْ إِصْلاَحًا وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ وَاللّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكُيمٌ {228}

[Pickthal 2:228] Women who are divorced shall wait, keeping themselves apart, three (monthly) courses. And it is not lawful for them that they should conceal that which Allah hath created in their wombs if they are believers in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands would do better to take them back in that case if they desire a reconciliation. And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them in kindness, and men are a degree above them. Allah is Mighty, Wise.

الطَّلاَقُ مَرَّتَانِ فَإِمْسَاكٌ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌ بِإِحْسَانٍ وَلاَ يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَأْخُذُواْ مِمَّا آتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ أَن يَخَافَا أَلاَّ يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ اللّهِ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلاَّ يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ اللّهِ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا فِيمَا افْتَدَتْ بِهِ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللّهِ فَلاَ تَعْتَدُوهَا وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ اللّهِ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ {
229}
[Pickthal 2:229] Divorce must be pronounced twice and then (a woman) must be retained in honour or released in kindness. And it is not lawful for you that ye take from women aught of that which ye have given them; except (in the case) when both fear that they may not be able to keep within the limits (imposed by) Allah. And if ye fear that they may not be able to keep the limits of Allah, in that case it is no sin for either of them if the woman ransom herself. These are the limits (imposed by) Allah. Transgress them not. For whoso transgresseth Allah's limits: such are wrong-doers.

While both have similar rights and responsibilities, men have a distinction if they want to accept them back.

Lecture on the Fifth Night

We are mostly wandering in different directions. Unless we correct our direction, we cannot come close of Siratul Mustaqeem. Sabeel or way of Salaam –peace- is found by following the ways described in the Ayaat of Holy Qur’an. They are not limited to the verses mentioned in these lectures but they are some of the most important verses guiding us in that direction.

To illustrate this point consider yourself a traveler driving from Dallas to Chicago. You need to know if the streets are taking you in the direction of the main highway to Chicago. These streets are the pointers to the highway so they are like the Sabeels and highway is like the Sirat.

Now, let us look at these pointers to correct our direction.

Ayah 1:
(Chapter 17, Ayah 23-25)

وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلاَهُمَا فَلاَ تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلاَ تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلاً كَرِيمًا {23}
[Shakir 17:23] And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) "Ugh" nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word.
وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا {24}
[Shakir 17:24] And make yourself submissively gentle to them with compassion, and say: O my Lord! have compassion on them, as they brought me up (when I was) little.
رَّبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِي نُفُوسِكُمْ إِن تَكُونُواْ صَالِحِينَ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ لِلأَوَّابِينَ غَفُورًا {25}
[Shakir 17:25] Your Lord knows best what is in your minds; if you are good, then He is surely Forgiving to those who turn (to Him) frequently.

Regarding this Ihsan someone asked Imam Ja’far Sadiq (as). He said: Ihsan means you be good in your company with your parents and you do not make them responsible for asking you for their needs even if they have all that they need; doesn’t the Quran say: ‘ You will never reach true virtue unless you give from what you love most’

Allam Syed Mohammad Hussain Tehrani relates the story of road side book seller. This person had a mother who was very old and had a very bad temper. She would some scold him and use bad language. But he endured and never answered her back in the same way. He told Allama once that he used to get Noor in his heart like flashs but it would go away. On one cold night, he brought his mattress in the room where his old mother used to sleep so that if she needs water she would have to call him. In the middle of the night, she asked for water. He instantly got up and got a glass of water. She didn’t notice that and angrily threw a cup at him. He ran and got another glass of water and apolized for delay. He says that this was the moment when Allah spoke to him in his heart and has been like this since then.

Ayah 2:

(Surah 60 Mumtahina Ayah 12)
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِذَا جَاءكَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتُ يُبَايِعْنَكَ عَلَى أَن لَّا يُشْرِكْنَ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَسْرِقْنَ وَلَا يَزْنِينَ وَلَا يَقْتُلْنَ أَوْلَادَهُنَّ وَلَا يَأْتِينَ بِبُهْتَانٍ يَفْتَرِينَهُ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِنَّ وَأَرْجُلِهِنَّ وَلَا يَعْصِينَكَ فِي مَعْرُوفٍ فَبَايِعْهُنَّ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُنَّ اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ {12}
[Shakir 60:12] O Prophet! when believing women come to you giving you a pledge that they will not associate aught with Allah, and will not steal, and will not commit fornication, and will not kill their children, and will not bring a calumny which they have forged of themselves, and will not disobey you in what is good, accept their pledge, and ask forgiveness for them from Allah; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.


After the Fath-e-Makkah -liberation of Makkah- from the idolaters, the Holy Prophet received a group of women who wanted to give allegiance to him. The above Ayah tells them about the conditions of Bay’ah. One of those women was Hind the wife of Abu Sufyan. She praised Allah (whether sincerely or not Allah knows!) for giving victory to Islam which He chose for himself so that the Prophet’s mercy would come to her. She said O Mohammad I am a believer in Allah from the heart.
The Prophet (s) said: Welcome!
Hind: Up till now, I was such that your family was the most abhorant to me in the whole world, and now they have become the dearest.
Prophet (s): More to that!
Hind: Should I give touch my hand on yours (for Bay’at)?
Prophet (s): I do not shake hands with women. My word to one woman is like that to a hundred.

In one narration, we read that when the Prophet made the condition that mothers will not kill their children (abort them etc.) she said: We raised them when they were small but you killed them on the day of Badr so you and they would know!

Hind didn’t really convert to Islam nor her husband and they wore the garb of Islam as strategy to penetrate the inner circle of Islam and destroy it from within.

But this Ayah shows to the women today what is prohibited so that they can find peace with Allah.

Lecture on the Fourth Night

Three Stages of Qur'anic Guidance

The first stage is to be on the way of peace, the second stage is when Allah gives knowledge and brings one from darkenss into light, and the third stage is the guidance to serat-e-mustaqeem.

In Surah Maidah, verses 15-16:
ٍ قَدْ جَاءكُم مِّنَ اللّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُّبِينٌ
Certainly there has come to you a light from Allah, and a Manifest Book.
يَهْدِي بِهِ اللّهُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَهُ سُبُلَ السَّلاَمِ وَيُخْرِجُهُم مِّنِ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ {16}
With it Allah guides those who follow (the course of) His pleasure to ways the ways of peace, and brings them out from darkness into light by His Will, and guides them to a straight path.

Allah is noor and His Book is noor which is totally connected to Him just as the speech is connected to the speaker.
Salam: Peace and deliverence from every form of misfortune that prevents salvation in duniya and akherat.

STAGE 1
First section of the ayah:
يَهْدِي بِهِ اللّهُ Allah guides with it
مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَهُ the one who follows His pleasure

His pleasure is not for:
1. Kafireen (refer to 39:7)
2. Faseqeen (refer to 9:96)
3. Zalemeen (refer to 62:5)

Thus the meaning of this section of the ayah is the same as 6:82
الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُواْ إِيمَانَهُم بِظُلْمٍ أُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمُ الأَمْنُ وَهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ {82}
"Those who have faith and do not taint their faith with wrongdoing---for such there shall be safety, and they are the (rightly) guided."

Lecture on the Third Night

The law of Qisas prevents the occurence of crime. Just as the laws for a Thief removes theft from society.

Surah Maidah, verses 38-39:
وَالسَّارِقُ وَالسَّارِقَةُ فَاقْطَعُواْ أَيْدِيَهُمَا جَزَاء بِمَا كَسَبَا نَكَالاً مِّنَ اللّهِ وَاللّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ {38}
[Quli Qarai] "As for the thief, man or woman, cut off their hands as a requital for whaat they have earned. [That is] an exemplary punishment from Allah, and Allah is all-mighty, all-wise."
فَمَن تَابَ مِن بَعْدِ ظُلْمِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ {39}
"But whoever repents after his wrongdoing, and reforms, then Allah shall accept his repentence. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful."

Conditions for cutting the hands of the thief according to Islamic Law:
1.Bulugh (puberty)
2.Sane
3.Freewill (was not forced)
4. from a safe (hirz) and locked'secured place, not hamam or masjid, etc.
5. Break into the secured place himself without an accomplice.
6.No possibility of his beliving himself to be the owner or allowed to use.
7.Value of the stolen material should be more than the weight of 1/4 Dinar pure gold Maskook.
1 Dinar = 1 Misqal Shar'ii
= 3/4 of Iranian Misqal
= $ 18.54 ($20 Approx)
8. Steal secretly, in the absence of the owner.
9. Not from one's own son.
10. Slave not from Master.
11. Not in year of drought (qaht).
12. Victim of theft should file complaint with a judge.

Blood-money (Diyat):
Diya of hand: 500 gold dinars

Someone raised an argument that if the diyat of a hand is 500 dinar , then how can you cut the hand of a theif for stealing a quarter dinar? Syed Murtaza Alamal Huda gave the answer thus: the trustworthiness of a person had raised the value of his hand but his the dishonesty reduced the value of that hand.

The Principle is :
Qur'an allows one the right to take revenge for damage to life, health, property, honor, repect, etc while at the same time encouraging mercy.

It has been narrated from Suyuti, Bukhari, and Muslim that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) said:
Anyone who is murdered while protecting his wealth is a shaheed; someone is killed when he was trying to save his life is a shaheed; whoever is killed for his religion is a shaheed, anyone murdered for saving his family is a shaheed.