[2] Allah Established Order in the Earth and Prohibited Corruption

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allah, The Most High, said:

وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَاحِهَا وَادْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا ۚ إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope; Surely, Allah’s Mercy is (ever) near unto the good-doers. [Al-A’raf 56]

“And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order”.

That is: do not spread corruption therein through acts of disobedience and calling to other than obedience to Allah, after Allah has set it in order by sending the Messengers, clarifying the divine law, and calling (humankind and jinn) to obey Allah.

This meaning is the statement of al-Hasan, As-Suddiy, Ad-Dahhak, and al-Kalbi. [1]

Allah, The Most High, said:

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعۡجِبُكَ قَوۡلُهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَيُشۡهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلۡبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلۡخِصَامِ
وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ سَعَىٰ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيُفۡسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهۡلِكَ ٱلۡحَرۡثَ وَٱلنَّسۡلَ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡفَسَادَ
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ أَخَذَتۡهُ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ بِٱلۡإِثۡمِ‌ۚ فَحَسۡبُهُ ۥ جَهَنَّمُ‌ۚ وَلَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمِهَادُ

And of mankind there is he whose speech may please you (O Muhammad), in this worldly life, and he calls Allah to witness as to that which is in his heart, yet he is the most quarrelsome of the opponents. And when he turns away, his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allah likes not mischief. And when it is said to him, “Fear Allah”, he is led by arrogance to (more) crime. So enough for him is Hell, and worst indeed is that place to rest! [Al-Baqarah. 204-206]

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعۡجِبُكَ قَوۡلُهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا

And of mankind there is he whose speech may please you in this worldly life..

Meaning, the one who hears his speech is pleased when he speaks and he thinks that he has uttered beneficial speech.

He emphasises what he says:

وَيُشۡهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلۡبِهِ

“and he calls Allah to witness as to that which is in his heart…”

Meaning, he states that Allah knows that what is in his heart agrees with what he says, even though he is lying regarding what he says because his speech contradicts his deeds. His speech would have agreed with his deeds had he been truthful, because this is the case regarding the believers- those who are not hypocrites. And due to this Allah said:

وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلۡخِصَامِ

“yet he is the most quarrelsome of the opponents..”

Meaning, when you disagree with him, you’ll find him to be the most quarrelsome, bigoted and difficult person to deal with, as well as the ugly characteristics that results from this behaviour, which are the opposite of the manners of the believers- those who make ease their way, submit to the truth and pardon people.

وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ سَعَىٰ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيُفۡسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهۡلِكَ ٱلۡحَرۡثَ وَٱلنَّسۡلَ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡفَسَادَ

“And when he turns away, his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allah likes not mischief”;

Meaning, when this person – the one whose speech amazes you – is not in your presence, he strives to commit sins which is tantamount to corruption in the earth, so cattle and crops are destroyed as a result of that corruption. The blessings in the vegetation, fruits and livestock decrease and become little due to evil deeds.

وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡفَسَادَ

“And Allah likes not mischief…”

Meaning, when it is the case that Allah does not like corruption, then He has an intense hatred for the person who sows corruption in the earth, even if such a person utters a good speech merely on the tongue (i.e. says one thing and does something else).

This verse contains proof regarding the fact that the statements uttered by individuals is not a proof regarding their truthfulness or whether they are upon falsehood, neither that they are righteous nor wicked until deeds ascertain them. And it is obligatory to examine the condition of those who bear witness, the one who is in the right and the falsifier amongst the people based on the righteousness of their deeds – examine the clear indications and their behaviour, and not to be deceived by how they portray themselves and the praise they give themselves. Then Allah mentioned that when this person – the one who causes corruption in the earth through acts of disobedience to Allah – is commanded to fear Allah, he becomes arrogant and haughty:

أَخَذَتۡهُ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ بِٱلۡإِثۡمِ‌ۚ

“he is led by arrogance to (more) crime…”

Thus, he combines between disobedience to Allah and being arrogant towards the sincere advisers. [2]

[1] An Excerpt from Tafsir Al-Baghawi

[2] An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi