A Critical Exposition of the Popular 'Jihád'/Introduction/41

[Sidenote: Koran both abstract and concrete in morals.]

41. (4) The Koran seems fully aware of the danger of the precise and fixed system of positive precepts moulding and regulating every department of life. The danger is that the system of formalism in which men are tied down to the performance of certain religious functions, minutely and precisely fixed in respect to time, place and manner, so that neither less nor more is required of them, retains too tight a grip upon them, when the circumstances which justified it have changed or vanished away. The moral growth of those who live under such a system of minute and punctilious restraint is stunted and retarded. The tendency of mankind to formalism is so strong that they very commonly, though often unconsciously, fall into the error of imagining that there is a peculiar intrinsic merit and virtue in the mere discharge of those prescribed forms of duties and religious ceremonies. Morality is with them not in the abstract but in the concrete, as consisting of a mass of religious observances, rather than of a certain disposition of heart towards God and man. The Koran deals with vice and virtue as a whole as well as in fragmentary details. It treats of inward motives as much as of outward practice, of exhortations equally with precepts and commands. It holds up before man the hatefulness and ugliness of vice as a whole. It does not enclose the whole of the practical morality and piety within the narrow compass of a fixed number of precepts. It lays the foundation of that far-reaching charity which regards all men as equal in the sight of God, and recognizes no distinction of races and classes.


 * 120. "And abandon the semblance of wickedness and wickedness itself. They, verily, whose only acquirement is iniquity shall be repaid for what they have gained."


 * 152. "Say: Come, I will rehearse what your Lord hath made binding on you, that ye assign not aught to Him as sharers of his Divine honour, and that ye be good to your parents; and that ye slay not your children because of poverty, for them and for you will We provide; and that ye come not near to pollutions, outward or inward; and that ye slay not anyone whom God hath forbidden you, unless for a just cause. This hath He enjoined on you: haply ye will understand."&mdash;Sura VI.


 * 31. "Say: Only hath my Lord forbidden filthy actions, whether open or secret, and iniquity, and unjust violence, and to associate with God that for which He hath sent down no warranty, and to speak of God that of which ye have no knowledge."&mdash;Sura VII.


 * 33. "To those who avoid great crimes and scandals, but commit only lighter faults, verily, thy Lord will be rich in forgiveness. He well knew you when He produced you out of the earth, and when ye were embryos in your mothers' womb. Assert not then your own purity. He best knoweth who feareth him."&mdash;Sura LIII.


 * 13. "O men! verily We have created you of a male and a female: and We have divided you into peoples and tribes that ye might take knowledge one of another. Truly the most worthy of honour in the sight of God is he who feareth Him most. Verily God is Knowing, Cognizant."&mdash;Sura XLIX.


 * 143. "And every nation has a quarter of the Heavens. It is God who turneth them towards it: hasten then emulously after good: wheresover ye be, God will one day bring you all together: verily God is all powerful."&mdash;Sura II.


 * 52. "And to thee We have sent down the Book of the Koran with truth, confirmatory of previous scripture and its safeguard. Judge therefore between them by what God hath sent down, and follow not their desires, after the truth which hath come unto thee. To everyone of you have We given a rule and an open way."


 * 53. "And if God had pleased He had surely made you all one people; but He would test you by what He hath given to each. Be emulous then in good deeds. To God do ye all return, and He will tell you concerning the subjects of your disputes."&mdash;Sura V.


 * 127 "And vie in haste for pardon from your Lord, and a Paradise, vast as the Heavens and the Earth, prepared for the God-fearing."


 * 128. "Who gives alms, alike in prosperity and in distress, and who master their anger, and forgive others! And God loveth the doer of good."


 * 129. "And who, after they have done a base deed or committed a wrong against their own souls, remember God and implore forgiveness of their sins&mdash;and who can forgive sins but God only?&mdash;and persevere not in what they have willingly done amiss."&mdash;Sura III.


 * 21. "Vie in hasting after pardon from your Lord, and Paradise&mdash;whose outspread is as the outspread of the Heaven and of the Earth. Prepared is it for those who believed in God and his apostles. Such is the bounty of God: to whom He will He giveth it: and of immense bounty is God!"&mdash;Sura LII.


 * 183. "Ye shall assuredly be tried in your possessions and in yourselves. And many hurtful things shall ye assuredly hear from those to whom the scriptures were given before you, and from those who join other gods with God. But if ye be steadfast and fear God, then this verily is "God's" decree for the affairs of life."&mdash;Sura III.


 * 16. "O my son! observe prayer and enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and be patient under whatever shall betide thee: verily this is a bounden duty."&mdash;Sura XXXI.


 * 38. "Yet let the recompense of evil be only a like evil; but he who forgiveth and maketh peace, shall find his reward for it from God; verily He loveth not those who act unjustly."


 * 39. "And there shall be no way open against those who, after being wronged, avenge themselves."


 * 40. "Only shall there be a way open against those who unjustly wrong others, and act insolently on the earth in disregard of justice. These! a grievous punishment doth await them."


 * 41. "And whoso beareth wrongs with patience and forgiveth,&mdash;this verily is a bounden duty."&mdash;Sura XLII.