TRANSLATION
We have revealed the book [the Qur’an] to you with truth so that you may judge between people in light of what God has taught you. Therefore, do not plead the case of people who are dishonest to their trust, but continue to ask for their forgiveness; God is Ever Forgiving and Merciful! And do not argue on behalf of those who act unfaithfully to their own souls, for God does not love those who betray their trust and persist in a sinful lifestyle. They seek to hide from people, but they cannot hide from God. God is with them when they utter, by the darkness of night, ideas, plans, and propositions that God finds unacceptable. God encompasses all that they do!270
Yes, you can plead on their behalf in this life, but who will contend for them with God on the Day of Resurrection or be their advocate? But if one does evil or injustice to one’s soul and then asks for God’s forgiveness, God is Ever Forgiving and Merciful. Whoever commits a sin has only hurt his or her own soul. Whoever commits a fault or a sin and then places the blame on an innocent, he or she surely carries the guilt of calumny, and it is a flagrant violation and sin. 271
INTERPRETATION
270. The Qur’an is a trust from God and guidance by which we can conduct our journey on this earth and manage our interactions with one another. This trust and guidance enjoin us to take the side of truth and justice and not in any manner argue in favor of those who do evil or persist in denying the truth without remorse or discontinuance. Acts of dishonesty, sinfulness, and injustice are very displeasing to God, even though at times it might appear pleasing or convenient to some of us. We have to recognize that God knows and sees all that we do and even our inner thoughts. In this life, we might find support for our evil ways, but we will have no way out on the Day of Resurrection in front of God.
271. The commitment of sin and acts of dishonesty and injustice are by themselves grievous and harmful to the person and to the community at large. As if this were not bad enough, when such a person puts the blame on an innocent person, it becomes a matter of serious calumny, a blatant violation, and an open sin that no one should let go unchallenged. Times like these are also the real test of our humanity and an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to human bonds and social justice.
REFLECTION
The realm of personal conduct and moral boundaries are very well defined in Islam and the Qur’an. These are also very much in consonance with the Ten Commandments (see appendix) that Moses brought to the world and the guidance that Jesus and his early followers conveyed in the Bible, as evident in the Sermon on the Mount, for example (see appendix). We are all bound by the same guidance from the same God, and we need to pay attention to establish this guidance in our personal lives and in our societies.
ACTION
The message of the Qur’an is not only eloquent but it also resonates with our inner beings, our soul, and our sense of what is appropriate and what is not. Being true to such inner yearnings and to the universal guidance from God is essential to our actualization as human beings and building a society worthy of God’s blessings!