Bismillah.
Imam Mūsā b. Ja‘far al-Kāzim (a) said: Rajab is [the name of] a stream in Paradise, which is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. Whoever fasts one day in Rajab, Allah – the Mighty and Sublime, will make him drink from that stream. (Al-Faqīh 2:92; Tahdhīb 4:306; Iqbāl 635; taken from Academy for Learning Islam, Forty Hadīth: Rajab & Sha ‘bān, Hadith 6.
For Quranic Arabic Course Level 6 ALI 695 see the details at the end.
أَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُخْسِرِينَ وَزِنُوا بِالْقِسْطَاسِ الْمُسْتَقِيمِ وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا النَّاسَ أَشْيَاءَهُمْ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ
Observe the full measure, and do not be of those who give short measure. Weigh with an even balance, and do not cheat the people of their goods. Do not act wickedly on the earth, causing corruption.
(Sūrat al-Shu‘arā No. 26, Āyāt 181-183)
The above verses quote Prophet Shu’ayb—known in English as Jethro—admonishing his community of Midian who were notorious for cheating those they conducted business with. Midian was a city in the northwestern region of the Arabian Peninsula. For this reason, he is counted among four Arab prophets (along with Prophets Hūd, Ṣāliḥ, and Muhammad ‘alayhimus-salām) in some Islamic narrations.
The people of Midian would charge unfair prices for goods they had hoarded, exploiting the needs of neighbouring towns. Moreover, they rigged their weights and measures to give customers less than they claimed to. Prophet Shu’ayb ‘alayhis-salām called his people to worship Allah ‘azza wajall and to uphold justice in their business dealings, urging them to rectify their corrupt practices.
The contemporary scholar Āyatullāh Jawādī Āmulī (may Allah preserve him) emphasizes that such verses should not be limited to the literal context of buying and selling. Instead, they convey a broader lesson: believers must exhibit integrity in all actions. Whether it is in transactions, the use of resources, or fulfilling responsibilities, honesty and fairness are paramount.
The word ashyā’ in the verse, meaning “things,” can be understood in a broad sense, encompassing all social responsibilities. Islam encourages believers to uphold both personal and social responsibilities with justice. For example, a seller must ensure that the goods weighed match the amount advertised, while a worker paid by the hour must honestly dedicate the time they are charging for.
This broader principle of fairness is reinforced in another verse from Sūrat al-Nisā, where Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِالْبَاطِلِ إِلَّا أَن تَكُونَ تِجَارَةً عَن تَرَاضٍ مِّنكُمْ
O you who believe! Do not devour your property among yourselves falsely, except that it be trading by your mutual consent (Q 4:29)
Unfortunately, greed often causes people to neglect these social and ethical responsibilities. A recent CBC investigation revealed that many stores in western Canada were overpricing meat products, selling amounts that were less than what was listed on the labels. Much like the people of Midian thousands of years ago, such practices cheat customers and incur the wrath of the Almighty.
We pray to Allah, in this holy month, to grant us sustenance that is earned in a lawful manner and blessed by Him. May the wealth we earn lead us to a life of piety and servitude, and may we never use it to transgress His commands.
Sources: Āyatullāh Jawādī Āmulī, Sīreh-ye Payambarān dar Qur’ān (Tafsīr-e Mawdu’ī, vol. 7); Sh. R. Arastu, God’s Emissaries Adam to Jesus.
ALI 695: Quranic Arabic Level 6 (Online)
In this ONLINE course via Zoom, we will cover a few Lessons on verbs (فعل) in Unit 2 of the text Quranic Language Made Easy Hafiza Iffath Hasan. Students are encouraged to keep an English translation of the Holy Quran with parallel Arabic text during the class. The instructor will use The Qur’an, With a Phrase-by-Phrase English Translation by Ali Quli Qarai.
Eligibility: Any Muslim 16 years and over who can recite the Holy Quran and has attended Quranic Arabic classes with any institution can register.
- This is an interactive online course, and the participants are required to login through video.
- Attending all sessions on time is essential.
- Please email the instructor at [email protected] in advance if you are unable to attend due to some emergency.
- Class assignments and homework should be emailed to the instructor on time.
- Past lessons can be revised from https://academyofislam.com/quran/quranic-arabic/
Instructor: Sh Hasanayn Kassamali
Fees: $40.00; College & Uni students get coupons to register for free.
Schedule: For five Tuesdays from Jan 21 to February 18, 2025, from 7:45 – 9:00 pm Toronto/NY times. Occasionally we may need to reschedule a class if it coincides with a major religious occasion.
Register at www.academyofislam.com/registrationRegistration indicates an undertaking to attend all sessions on time. If we receive less than 8 registrants, the course will be rescheduled.