Wrongly forcing other people out of their property, bribing judges to gain title to property by illegal means, and extracting unlawful fees from property owners are matters of serious concern in many Muslim countries, and the resultant violence and loss of life are indeed a sad commentary on the social fabric of the societies in which they occur. In the face of clear injunctions, the situation of law and order in Muslim countries needs to be improved to stop this violation of God’s command, which is good for everyone in the society and creates stability and peace in the country.
Chapter 2: Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow): Verses 186-187
Being rightly guided can only be achieved if we listen and respond to the prophetic call for submission to God. God in His defined ways of gracefulness and responsiveness responds to our needs. For such a God we should do the same and respond to His call. Does our body not function with minimal attention and maintenance? Do we not have air all around us to breathe, water to drink, and grains, vegetation, and fruits to eat? None of these is made from our own hands, yet we consume them and do not respond to His call.
Chapter 2: Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow): Verses 183-185
Fasting, a major foundation (pillar) of Islamic practices, has a universal appeal and has been in existence in other religions as well (Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Jainism, and others). It has been proven to have significant health benefits in addition to spiritual benefits. It is another wonderful example of Islam’s ability to combine physical and spiritual rejuvenation in all matters of religious obligations.
Chapter 2: Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow): Verses 180-182
The issue of bequests and allocation of wealth to heirs is detailed in various other verses in addition to this one (4:11, 5:106). A bequest and an inheritance are two separate matters. The first matter is made obligatory for those who possess significant amounts of wealth, and it is generally understood that no more than one-third of the wealth should be designated as bequeathable. This allows the people to take care of personal and societal needs beyond taking care of their heirs.
Chapter 2: Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow): Verses 178-179
In Islamic morals and ethics, the value of life is considered inviolable and cannot be violated without just cause; as such, any act of killing a human being is considered a grave violation of the sanctity of life. To preserve life is then the prime objective of just retribution for the killing of a human being. The punishment for a deliberate killing is the death penalty of the person guilty of such a crime, but this has to be proven in a court of law and be based on evidence and witnesses.
Chapter 2: Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow): Verses 174-177
This definition of righteous people goes into great detail (2:1–5). Here, the Qur’an gives more specifics about things pertaining to people and their interactions. First, there are the people who need to be taken care of, such as relatives, orphans, the needy, travelers, and those who ask for help. If we look at our world today and the Muslim world, we see a sheer negligence of satisfying the basic needs of our fellow men; slums, orphanages, beggars, and refugee camps are daily reminders of human negligence.
Chapter 2: Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow): Verses 169-173
It is critically important for today’s Muslims to understand the underlying message of God’s challenge to the people who blindly follow their previous generations without questioning. If God demands of the disbelievers that they do not follow their forefathers without validating their beliefs and actions, it is equally imperative for every generation of Muslims to distinguish between practices of a particular country, cultural heritage, and historical continuity and the practices and values based on Qur’anic and prophetic teachings.
