ramevic
09-06-2010, 10:06 AM
From Surah Qalam 1-34.
This beautiful passage highlights the Messengers outstanding character – branding it as Khuloqin – Azeem, sublime character. Free from any conceivable taint, any shortcoming or wrong. The Quran pays a tribute to his gentleness, kindness, forgiveness, patience, humility, modesty, justice, courage and love for humanity. God almighty himself praises his beloved Prophet and emboldens him to declare, ‘I have been sent to perfect moral character’. That is my mission.
This passage contracts this sublime character with the wretchedness of a wealthy Makkan leader – Waleed Ibn Magheera - Just read the long list of evil traits: Mischief making, slanderer, enemy of good, wicked transgressor, a bully.
The Glorious Quran then compares him with the greedy, selfish and uncharitable owners of the orchard. The story of ‘The owners of the orchard’ is told few times in the Quran. There was a wealthy farmer who had fertile large orchard. He was very generous and at harvest time he would give generously to the poor. However, after his death, his children decided abandon the practice of their father’s generosity. They decided amongst themselves they will not give anything to the beggars, this was their hard earned fruit – it will not be shared with the poor. They were nasty with the needy people so much so that they were convinced they had driven them away.
However, the Divine plan was very different. The next morning when they went to harvest they found it had been burnt to ashes! The meanness of their souls and their miserliness had caused this. They then realised, ‘we have been wrong we are utterly ruined’ (Verse 27).
The moral lesson is that those who selfishly plan bad things for others ultimately end up at the receiving end. This episode emphasizes the need to be good to others; this can only happen if we develop good character. The Messenger (saws) said, ‘ you cannot be a believer until you like for your brother what you like for yourself’ (Bukhari).
This beautiful passage highlights the Messengers outstanding character – branding it as Khuloqin – Azeem, sublime character. Free from any conceivable taint, any shortcoming or wrong. The Quran pays a tribute to his gentleness, kindness, forgiveness, patience, humility, modesty, justice, courage and love for humanity. God almighty himself praises his beloved Prophet and emboldens him to declare, ‘I have been sent to perfect moral character’. That is my mission.
This passage contracts this sublime character with the wretchedness of a wealthy Makkan leader – Waleed Ibn Magheera - Just read the long list of evil traits: Mischief making, slanderer, enemy of good, wicked transgressor, a bully.
The Glorious Quran then compares him with the greedy, selfish and uncharitable owners of the orchard. The story of ‘The owners of the orchard’ is told few times in the Quran. There was a wealthy farmer who had fertile large orchard. He was very generous and at harvest time he would give generously to the poor. However, after his death, his children decided abandon the practice of their father’s generosity. They decided amongst themselves they will not give anything to the beggars, this was their hard earned fruit – it will not be shared with the poor. They were nasty with the needy people so much so that they were convinced they had driven them away.
However, the Divine plan was very different. The next morning when they went to harvest they found it had been burnt to ashes! The meanness of their souls and their miserliness had caused this. They then realised, ‘we have been wrong we are utterly ruined’ (Verse 27).
The moral lesson is that those who selfishly plan bad things for others ultimately end up at the receiving end. This episode emphasizes the need to be good to others; this can only happen if we develop good character. The Messenger (saws) said, ‘ you cannot be a believer until you like for your brother what you like for yourself’ (Bukhari).