“And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, “Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority.” They said, “Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood…” Chapter 2 Al Baqarah, verse 30.
Corruption is when a person abuses the blessings they possess, especially their social influence, in order to gain and maintain worldly things, such as power and wealth. It affects a muslim’s duties towards Allah, the Exalted, and leads to much sins against people, such as oppression.
A Hadith found in Sunan Ibn Majah, number 4019 warns that when the general public cheat each other financially Allah, the Exalted, punishes them by appointing oppressive leaders over them. One aspect of this oppression is corruption which causes the general public great distress. The same Hadith warns that when the general public break their covenant of sincere obedience to Allah, the Exalted, then they will be overpowered by their enemies who will illegally confiscate their wealth and property from them. Again, this is an aspect of corruption where people of influence, such as government officials, freely take the belongings of others without any fear of the consequences. When the general public becomes corrupt then their leaders and other people in influential social positions are inspired to act in the same way believing this behaviour is accepted by the general public. This leads to corruption on a national level. But if the general public obeyed Allah, the Exalted, and avoided mistreating others through corruption then their leaders and those in an influential social position would not dare act in a corrupt way full well knowing the general public would not stand for it. And according to the Hadith quoted earlier, if the general public remain obedient to Allah, the Exalted, He would protect them from corrupt officials by appointing people into influential positions who are just in their affairs.
Instead of taking the immature path of blaming others for the widespread corruption observed in the world muslims should truly reflect on their own behaviour and, if necessary, adjust their attitude. Otherwise corruption in society will only increase with the passing of time. No one should believe that as they are not in an influential social position they have no effect on the corruption which occurs in society. As proven by this discussion corruption occurs because of the negative behaviour of the general public and it therefore can only be removed by the good behaviour of the general public. Chapter 13 Ar Ra’d, verse 11:
“…Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves…”
PodTafseer: Al-Baqarah – Part 43: https://youtu.be/KnizH6t-IE0
PodTafseer: Al-Baqarah – Part 43: https://fb.watch/4dFqWGx1if/
#Allah #ShaykhPod #Islam #Quran #Hadith #Baqarah #Tafseer #Piety #Taqwa #Oppression #Corruption
ShaykhPod 