Examples of Qur’anic Teachings on Human Privilege

By: Ayatullah al-Uzma Shaykh Husayn Vahid Khorasani
Indeed, the dimensions of the miraculousness of the Qur’an in its remaining teachings and laws are numerous. They include the beliefs, the ethics, the acts of worship, the dealings, the politics, etc… We will suffice by mentioning a few:
(1) In comparison with social distinctions for distinguishing between people, like power, wealth, tribe, relations, race, etc. the Qur’an brought a criterion for merits, which is acceleration and competition in stages of human perfection both academic and practical. The honour of the human being in its reality and in its status is with what is with Allah and in what is with people. Specifically, it is piety in its extended form, like fearing that which causes the delicate humanity to become filthy. This results in becoming a veil between him and the Originator of perfection, beauty and magnificence. Thus, the Exalted says: O you men! surely We have created you of a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surely the most honourable of you with Allah is the one among you most careful (of his duty); surely Allah is Knowing, Aware.35
(2) The Qur’an cures the corrupt thinking that occurs due to drinking intoxicants and it also cures the economical illnesses rising from eating the properties gained with unlawful means: O you who believe! Intoxicants and games of chance and (sacrificing to) stones set up and (dividing by) arrows are only an uncleanness, the Shaytan’s work; shun it therefore that you may be successful.36
And Allah has allowed trading and forbidden usury.37
And do not swallow up your property among yourselves by false means.38
(3) In the world where killing a human was not only allowed, but was a means of pride taking, the Qur’an forbade murder. It emphasised the sanctity of human life and laid the foundation of its jurisprudence on the most precautious status regarding souls.
And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except for the requirements of justice;39
and whoever keeps it alive, it is as though he kept alive all men.40
(4) The Qur’an closed the door of injustice and oppression by negating tyranny and enmity. It opened the doors of good and virtue to mankind by emphasising justice and kindness.
Whoever then acts aggressively against you, inflict injury on him according to the injury he has inflicted on you;41
and do good (to others) as Allah has done good to you, and do not seek to make mischief in the land.42
Surely Allah enjoins the doing of justice and the doing of good (to others) and the giving to the kindred, and He forbids indecency and evil and rebellion; He admonishes you that you may be mindful.43
(5) The Qur’an was revealed in an age where women were treated like animals. The Mighty said: And treat them (the women) kindly;44
and they have rights similar to those against them in a just manner.45
So their Lord accepted their prayer: That I will not waste the work of a worker among you, whether male or female, the one of you being from the other.46
(6) The Qur’an forbade all types of unfaithfulness: O you who believe! Be not unfaithful to Allah and the Messenger, nor be unfaithful to your trusts while you know.47
It says: Surely Allah does not love the treacherous.48
The Qur’an made obligatory the paying of trust: Surely Allah commands you to make over trusts to their owners;49
but if one of you trusts another, then he who is trusted should deliver his trust.50
(7) The Qur’an has made the fulfilment of a covenant a sign of faith: And those who are keepers of their trusts and their covenant;51
and has commanded to fulfil the indentures and covenants: O you who believe! Fulfil your indentures;52
and keep the covenant; surely (every) covenant shall be questioned about.53
(8) Allah has salvaged the people from the abyss of disbelief, ignorance and foolishness. And He made them carry the light of faith, knowledge and wisdom.
Allah will exalt those of you who believe, and those who are given knowledge, in high degrees.54
He grants wisdom to whom He pleases, and whoever is granted wisdom, he indeed is given a great good.55
(9) The Qur’an commands all its followers to do good and forbid the evil. It made permissible for them the purities and forbade the impurities. It makes them free from all things that imprison their humanity and are against their nature of equality. Hence, Allah says: Those who follow the Messenger-Prophet, the Ummi, whom they find written down with them in the Tawrat and the Injil (who) enjoins them good and forbids them evil, and makes lawful to them the good things and makes unlawful to them impure things, and removes from them their burden and the shackles which were upon them; so (as for) those who believe in him and honour him and help him, and follow the light which has been sent down with him, these it is that are the successful.56
(10) He founded Medina based upon wisdom, chastity, courageousness, justice and the enjoining of good and forbidding of evil.
You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men; you enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong.57
He burdened the believing men and women with these two responsibilities.
And (as for) the believing men and the believing women, they are guardians of each other; they enjoin good and forbid evil.58
Enjoining good and forbidding evil require knowing the good and the evil. The one enjoining the good must himself first enjoin the good and the one telling others to forbid the evil must first leave the evil. The evil is general in that it includes the void beliefs, the abysmal morals and the corrupt actions. When this occurs then the society rotates around nobility and virtues. It does not incline away from the Right Path to the two extremes.
And thus We have made you a medium (just) nation that you may be the bearers of witness to the people and (that) the Messenger may be a bearer of witness to you.59

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This is a sparkle from the radiant light of the Qur’an and the lights of its guidance for knowledge. If we wished to present its sciences and laws in the fields of human life from theology, morals, services, economics, politics and to all that which is guidance for the privilege of this life and the hereafter, then we would be compelled to compile detailed books.
Notes:
35. Holy Qur’an, 49: 13.
36. Holy Qur’an, 5: 90.
37. Holy Qur’an, 2: 275.
38. Holy Qur’an, 2: 188.
39. Holy Qur’an, 6: 151.
40. Holy Qur’an, 5: 32.
41. Holy Qur’an, 2: 194.
42. Holy Qur’an, 28: 77.
43. Holy Qur’an, 16: 90.
44. Holy Qur’an, 4: 19.
45. Holy Qur’an, 2: 228.
46. Holy Qur’an, 3: 195.
47. Holy Qur’an, 8: 27.
48. Holy Qur’an, 8: 58.
49. Holy Qur’an, 4: 58.
50. Holy Qur’an, 2: 283.
51. Holy Qur’an, 23: 8.
52. Holy Qur’an, 5: 1.
53. Holy Qur’an, 17: 34.
54. Holy Qur’an, 58: 11.
55. Holy Qur’an, 2: 269.
56. Holy Qur’an, 7: 157.
57. Holy Qur’an, 3: 110.
58. Holy Qur’an, 9: 71.
59. Holy Qur’an, 2: 143.