The Third Covenant

It is narrated on the authority of Tamim ad-Dari that the Messenger of God (May peace and blessings be upon him) said: Devotion is an act of sincerity. The audience asked him: Towards whom? He replied: Towards God, His Book, His Messenger and the leaders and the general Muslims.

(Registered by Muslim in his “Collection of Hadith”).

In one of my previous articles, I mentioned that there are three kinds of covenants included in God’s Covenant (the first is between God and man, the second is between man and his own self, and the third is between a person and others).

In the Hadith quoted above the Great Prophet (peace and God’s blessings be upon him) stressed the necessity of one being sincere in all aspects of his/her conduct and behavior.

Reflecting over ordinances we find in the Qur’an and the Prophet’s guidance, we could discover four circles around every person, among which the nearest circle should get priority over the other circles in terms of observing them: family and kinfolks, the neighborhood, the national circle, and the Ummah (Religious Community as a whole).

The first circle (the family and kinfolks)

Although we are ordered to treat all people excellently, yet parents and grand parents should have the priority. Then the spouse and the children, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, and all relations and kinfolks. The Qur’an in so many chapters, and the Prophet on so many occasions, indicated this matter. In addition, there are rules given to control and guide all members of the family to exercise the righteous relations between one and another.

When a member of the family dies, his/her heritage should be given to his/her relatives according to the degree of kinship, and there is a very strict regulation (in the Qur’an and Hadith), which rules the distribution of it. Moreover, before his/her death, one has no right to give out in terms of his/her testament more than one third of his wealth outside the bounds of that distribution. In addition, this portion of testament cannot be given to those who have the right of receiving heritage.

The second circle (the neighborhood)

Good relations between neighbors gets a highly importance place in Islam. Both the Qur’an and Prophet’s guidance give a strong consideration neighbors that should be observed by Muslims, even if their neighbors are non-Muslims.

The third circle (the national citizenship)

When a country includes more than one ethnic or religious community, there should be a common agreement to give every citizen equal rights with the Muslim majority and every citizen has a fair dignity.

The fourth circle (The Ummah)

The Ummah comprises all adherents of Islam wherever they are, even as minorities in different countries. They all have the same faith and they share the same wishes and goals. If anyone of them is religiously oppressed s/he has the right to get help and support from other Muslims wherever they are, especially from Muslim countries.

Social Relations

Muslims are ordered to be good in their conduct with all kinds of people, and they are advised to disregard any thing that could possibly create problems. They are required not to concern themselves with anything regarding which they have no knowledge: “And never concern yourselves with anything of which you have no knowledge: verily, the hearing and the sight and the heart – all of them – will be called to account for it (on Judgment Day)” (17:36).

Islam urges people to be sincere in all their dealings. Any sexual relation between a man and a woman should be only possible through legal marriage. Sincerity must prevail at all times: before marriage, during marriage, and even (if happens) after the dissolution of marriage.

In the Qur’an we find a chapter called “The Light”, which clarifies several regulations for the Muslim community, that deal mainly with marriage, modesty, and appropriate behavior in the household. In this chapter God warns the believers not to involve in slander. Those, who accuse honorable, unwary believing women of adultery, are rejected by God in this life and the next one.

A painful punishment awaits them on the Day when their own tongues, hands, and feet will testify against them about what they have done (see 24:23-24).

And to protect individuals against possible slander, God forbids them to enter houses of other people unless they have obtained permission, and they have to greet their inmates (see 24:27).

The rule of modesty applies to men as well as women: they should “lower their gaze” and “guard their chastity”, both in the literal sense of “covering one’s private parts” (as modesty in dress) and in the metonymical sense of “restraining one’s sexual urges” restricting them to what is lawful, namely, marital intercourse (see 24:30-31).

There is also a chapter called “Al-Hujurat” (= The Private Rooms). It guides the believers as to how to behave with respect towards their leader, and with mutual respect and trust towards each other. This chapter stresses the unity of mankind and God’s intention that people should live together in harmony.

Business Interactions

In their business interactions, Muslims are urged to be sincere and far from cheating others: “Woe to those who give short measure: those who, when they are to receive their due from (other) people, demand that it be given in full – but when they have to measure or weigh whatever they owe to others, give less than what is due. Do they not know that they are bound to be raised from the dead (and called to account) on a mighty Day – the Day when all human beings shall stand before the Lord of all the worlds?!” (83:1-6).

This paragraph refers certainly to commercial dealings, yet it touches also upon every aspect of social relations, both practical and moral, applying to every individual’s rights and obligations.

This is briefly to conclude the talk about one aspect of God’s Covenant, which is the Covenant between a person and other people, and which every believer is urged to fulfill.