AVOID CORRUPTION ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH 1

BY
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful

English Transliteration

[002:059 Fabaddala (but changed) allatheena (those who) thalamoo (did wrong
change) qawlan (the word) ghayra (other than) allathee (those who) qeela (was told)
lahum (to them) faanzalna (We sent) AAala (upon) allatheena (those) thalamoo (who
wronged) rijzan (punishment) mina (from) alssama-i (the heaven) bima (because)
kanoo (they used to) yafsuqoona (disobey)]
 AVOID CORRUPTION ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH 2
BY
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

[002:069 Wa-ithi (and remember when) istasqa (asked for water) moosa (Moses)
liqawmihi (for his people) faqulna (We said) idrib (strike) biAAasaka (with your staff)
alhajara (the stone) fainfajarat (they gushed forth) minhu (from it) ithnata AAashrata
(twelve) AAaynan (springs) qad AAalima (knew) kullu (every) onasin (people)
mashrabahum (and drink) kuloo (from) waishraboo (and drink) min (from) rizqi
(provision sustenance) Allahi (of Allah) wala (and do not) taAAthaw (act corruptly)
fee (in on) al-ardi (the earth) mufsideena (making mischeif)]

Translation

[002:59 But the transgressors changed the word from that which had been given them; so
We sent on the transgressors a plague from heaven, for that they infringed (Our
command) repeatedly.]

[002:60 And remember Moses prayed for water for his people; We said: "Strike the rock
with thy staff." Then gushed forth therefrom twelve springs. Each group knew its own
place for water. So eat and drink of the sustenance provided by Allah, and do no evil nor
mischief on the (face of the) earth.]

[002:61 And remember ye said: "O Moses! we cannot endure one kind of food (always);
so beseech thy Lord for us to produce for us of what the earth groweth, -its pot-herbs, and
cucumbers, Its garlic, lentils, and onions." He said: "Will ye exchange the better for the
worse? Go ye down to any town, and ye shall find what ye want!" They were covered
with humiliation and misery; they drew on themselves the wrath of Allah. This because
they went on rejecting the Signs of Allah and slaying His Messengers without just cause.
This because they rebelled and went on transgressing.]

Exegeses:

Allah is telling us the history of the Bani Israel, which is full of lessons for us. In the
previous verses we came to know that Allah asked Bani Israel to seek the forgiveness of
Allah bu the time of their entrance into the land of Jerusalem. And it was the promise of
Allah with them that He would forgive them. Allah told them through the prophet Moses
to say istaghfaar to ask Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala for forgiveness. Some of the Bani
Israel changed istaghfaar into some funny things. So in this connection the holy Quran
told us that the transgressors/disbelievers changed the word from that which had been
given to them. And very clearly they were told not to do it. So Allah told us that so He
sent on the transgressors/disbelievers a plague from heaven, for that they infringed His
command repeatedly. Here word Rijz means a punishment. And this punishment was
sent on them from the heaven. For the convenience of you in the following I have cited
the reference of the holy Quran there you can recite the word Rijz:
 AVOID CORRUPTION ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH 3
BY
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

• Al-Baqara (The Cow) [2:59]

• Al-A'raf (The Heights) [7:135][7:134][7:162]
Al-Anfal (The Spoils of War) [8:11]
Al-'Ankabut (The Spider) [29:34]
Saba' (Sheba) [34:5]
Al-Jathiya (The Kneeling) [45:11]
Allah gave them the punishment that they developed Parkinson type of disease in them.
They began to shake and tremble. When they would talk, there was clear trembling in
their speech. There were also clear signs of trembling in their gate, when they would
walk. Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala sent sickness on the disbelievers on the earth. The
punishment was from the heaven on the people who did wrong knowingly. We have got
a lesson that the people who do wrong deliberately, they deserve to be inflicted with
punishment. Not even the slightest possible move of us can pass without being noted by
the Law of Requital of Allah.
Now Allah proceeds ahead to let us know what happened then: And remember
Moses prayed for water for his people. After this Allah told the prophet Moses to strike
the rock with his miraculous staff. It was another blessing of Allah on Bani Israel. You
can well imagine about the kind blessing that in the desert there was no clue of water. No
body could have guessed that where from water might come. It was the guidance of
Allah to the prophet Moses. And by the divine guidance Bani Israel got the clue of pure
and sweet water for their twelve tribes. Subhan Allah (all glory to Allah).
When the prophet Moses hit the stone, then gushed forth therefrom twelve
springs. Each group knew its own place for water. Allah gave them twelve sources of
water so that each tribe with being into the conflict with others could drink water
peacefully, and independently. Allah facilitated and accommodated them. This was a
great blessing of Allah upon them. After this Allah told them to eat and drink of the
sustenance provided by Allah in the wilder place of sands. Allah in order to let them
drink and eat put one condition on them: do neither evil nor mischief on the face of the
earth. Allah is reminding them that you have been provided the sustenance by the
miracle of your prophet and by My blessings. So don’t do corruption on the face of the
earth. There would be torments for you in the infernal fires of the heavens. The word
alhajar has come at many places in the holy Quran. In the following you can recite:

Al-Baqara (The Cow) > [2:24][2:60][2:74]

Al-A'raf (The Heights) > [7:160]
Al-Hujurat (The Dwellings)> [49:4]
At-Tahrem (The Banning) > [66:6]

Here I would like to cite the verse from Al-A'raf (The Heights):
[WaqattaAAnahumu ithnatay AAashrata asbatan omaman waawhayna ila moosa
ithi istasqahu qawmuhu ani idrib biAAasaka alhajara fainbajasat minhu ithnata
AAashrata AAaynan qad AAalima kullu onasin mashrabahum wathallalna
 AVOID CORRUPTION ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH 4
BY
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

AAalayhimu alghamama waanzalna AAalayhimu almanna waalssalwa kuloo min

tayyibati ma razaqnakum wama thalamoona walakin kanoo anfusahum
yathlimoona]
[7:160 ] We divided them into twelve tribes or nations. We directed Moses by
inspiration, when his (thirsty) people asked him for water: "Strike the rock with
your staff": out of it there gushed forth twelve springs: Each group knew its own
place for water. We gave them the shade of clouds, and sent down to them manna
and quails, (saying): "Eat of the good things We have provided for you": (but they
rebelled); to Us they did no harm, but they harmed their own souls.] Not only
they drank water from their own water resources but also their animals drank
water from the spring of the particular identity. It was a great blessing of Allah
upon them. Allah wanted to show them that the prophet Moses was not an
ordinary person. He was a prophet given miracles.
Any kind of corruption is forbidden in Islam. All moves would be corrupt
which are far from the moral codes given by the holy Quran. This is the bottom
line. Allah blessed Bani Israel immensely. Allah is also blessing us. But, we
don’t pay attention to the great and fine blessings given to us by our Allah
Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala.

Further would be discussed in next session in detail Inshallah!