The righteous man is he who wards off evil

The righteous man is he who wards off evil

Surah ‘Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – Chapter – 2)

Stage – 1, Verse – 189b of 286, Section – 24 of 40 (Part - 2)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

It is not righteousness that ye go to houses by the backs thereof (as do the idolaters at certain seasons), but the righteous man is he who wardeth off (evil). So go to houses by the gates thereof, and observe your duty to Allah, that ye may be successful.

Wa  laysal-birru  bi-‘an-  ta’-tul-  bu-yuuta  min- zuhuurihaa  wa  laakinnal-birra  manittaqaa.  Wa’-tul-bu-yuuta min  ‘abwaabihaa;  wat-taqullaaha  la-‘allakum  tuflihuun.

Lesson

Before Islam, it was a tradition during the times of ignorance that when the people of Arab used to make a vow of Pilgrimage (during the days of Hajj, they used to consider it inauspicious and ill-omened for entering into their houses through the gates/doors. Moreover, they used to enter making doors in the back walls of their houses or climbing on the roofs from the backyard of their houses and leap in their houses. They used to suppose it themselves a great worship and respect of the temple of Makkah, the Squire Building (Ka’-bah). Looking them doing so, some Companions (may God Almighty be pleased with them) of the Holy Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) were fallen also in this misunderstanding and deemed against the respects of “the Act of Interdicting” to enter through the doors of their houses in the Determination dress.

In this verse, this misunderstanding has been removed and told that righteousness is not in it that you enter your house from its back and the righteousness is not in it also to consider worship “to any self invented description. Moreover, it is the righteousness that the Orders of God Almighty are obeyed, you should be frightened from disobedience of His Commands, be temperate from evil doings and whenever you wish to enter your house, come in from its door/gate, give up ancient traditions and self-invented concoctions/wrongs and act upon the Guidance of God Almighty.

It has also been cleared from it that those all actions, which are not verified or supported by Holy Qur’an and the Sayings of Holy Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him), taking them as worship in personal heart and admitting them as the Divine law of the religion or making them compulsory over personal life are sins and that is called heresy.

Then it has become evident also that the real righteousness is the fear of God Almighty, that is to say; embracing His Orders wholeheartedly and acting upon them, fearing from disobedience of Allah Almighty and being saved from His forbidden matters. This righteousness is required by God Almighty and this is the touch-stone of mankind’s’ actions and his life’s goodness and badness.

   

At the end, it has been expounded that the consequence of the righteousness like this is perfect success and achievement of the object. This verse reminds us again that how much fear of God and success has deep relation among each other. The Fear of God Almighty is the basic principle of fame/respect and comfort forever in the both Worlds.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)