Surah shura ayat 38 Tafsir Quran 42:38

﴿وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ﴾
[ الشورى: 38]

42:38 And those who have responded to their lord and established prayer and whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves, and from what We have provided them, they spend.

and those who answer their Lord those who respond to what He has summoned them in the way of affirming His Oneness and worship of Him and observe prayer maintaining it regularly and whose courses of action those courses of action that seem good to them are a matter of counsel between them in which they consult one another and do not act hastily and who of what We have bestowed on them expend in obedience to God — such mentioned individuals constitute one category;

Who respond favourably to Allah, their Creator, and have been steered by His guidance. They pay to Him reverence and veneration and engage in worship. They adore Him with appropriate acts and rites and conduct their affairs and ordinary pursuits of life by taking Counsel together to establish justice and integrity. They spend in benevolence and in equity of what We provided them of Our bounty

The Attributes of Those Who deserve that which is with Allah Here Allah points out the insignificance of this worldly life and its transient adornments and luxuries. فَمَآ أُوتِيتُمْ مِّن شَىْءٍ فَمَتَـعُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا ( So whatever you have been given is but (a passing ) enjoyment for this worldly life.) means, no matter what you achieve and amass, do not be deceived by it, for it is only the enjoyment of this life, which is the lower, transient realm that will undoubtedly come to an end. وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى ( but that which is with Allah is better and more lasting ) means, the reward of Allah is better than this world, and it will last forever, so do not give preference to that which is transient over that which is lasting.
Allah says: لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ( for those who believe ) means, for those who are patient in forgoing the pleasures of this world, وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ( and put their trust in their Lord. ) means, so that He will help them to be patient in doing what is obligatory and avoiding what is forbidden.
Then Allah says: وَالَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَـئِرَ الإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَحِشَ ( And those who shun the greater sins, and Al-Fawahish, ) We have already discussed sin and Al-Fawahish in Surat Al-A`raf. وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُواْ هُمْ يَغْفِرُونَ ( and when they are angry, they forgive. ) means, their nature dictates that they should forgive people and be tolerant.
Vengeance is not in their nature.
It was reported in the Sahih that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ  never took revenge for his own sake, only when the sacred Laws of Allah were violated. وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُواْ لِرَبِّهِمْ ( And those who answer the Call of their Lord, ) means, they follow His Messenger and obey His commands and avoid that which He has prohibited. وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلَوةَ ( and perform As-Salah ) -- which is the greatest act of worship of Allah, may He be glorified. وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَى بَيْنَهُمْ ( and who (conduct ) their affairs by mutual consultation,) means, they do not make a decision without consulting one another on the matter so that they can help one another by sharing their ideas concerning issues such as wars and other matters.
This is like the Ayah: وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى الاٌّمْرِ ( and consult them in the affairs ) ( 3:159 ).
The Prophet used to consult with them concerning wars and other matters, so that they would feel confidant.
When `Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, was dying, after he had been stabbed, he entrusted the choice of the next Khalifah to six people who were to be consulted.
They were `Uthman, `Ali, Talhah, Az-Zubayr, Sa`id and `Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf, may Allah be pleased with them all.
Then all of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, agreed to appoint `Uthman as their leader. وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ( and who spend of what We have bestowed on them. ) this means kindly treating the creation of Allah, starting with those who are closest, then the next closest, and so on. وَالَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَابَهُمُ الْبَغْىُ هُمْ يَنتَصِرُونَ ( And those who, when an oppressive wrong is done to them, take revenge. ) ameans, they have the strength to take revenge on those who commit aggressive wrong and hostile acts against them.
They are not incapable of doing so and they are not helpless; they are able to take revenge against those who transgress against them, even though when they have the power to take revenge, they prefer to forgive, as when Yusuf, peace be upon him, said to his brothers: لاَ تَثْرَيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ( No reproach on you this day; may Allah forgive you ) ( 12: 92 ).
even though he was in a position to take revenge on them for what they had done to him.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ  forgave the eighty people who intended to do him harm during the year of Al-Hudaybiyah, camping by the mountain of At-Tan`im.
When he overpowered them, he set them free, even though he was in a position to take revenge on them.
He also forgave Ghawrath bin Al-Harith who wanted to kill him and unsheathed his sword while he was sleeping.
The Prophet woke up to find him pointing the sword at him.
He reproached him angrily and the sword dropped.
Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ picked up the sword and called his Companions He told them what had happened, and he forgave the man.
There are many similar Hadiths and reports.
And Allah knows best.

(42:38) who obey their Lord *60 and establish Prayer; who conduct their affairs by consultation, *61 and spend out of what We have bestowed upon them; *62

And those who have responded to their meaning

*60) Literally: " Who answer the call of their Lord'' That is they hasten to do whatever Allah enjoins them to do, and accept whatever Allah invites them to accept.

*61) This thing has been counted here as the best quality of the believers.
and has been enjoined in Surah AI-'Imran: 159 On this basis.
consultation.
is an important pillar of the Islamic way of life.
and to conduct the affairs of collective life without consultation is not only the way of ignorance but also an express violation of the law prescribed by Allah.
When we consider why consultation has been given such importance in Islam, three things become obvious:
First, that it is injustice that a person should decide a matter by his personal opinion and ignore others when it involves the interests of two or more persons No one has a right to do , as he likes in matters of common interest Justice demands that aII those whose interests arc involved in a matter be consulted, and if it concerns a large number of the people, their reliable representatives should be made a party in consultation.

Second, that a man tries to do what he likes in matters of common interest richer because he wants to usurp the rights of others for selfish ends, or because he looks down upon others and regards himself as a superior person.
Morally both These qualities are equally detestable, and a believer cannot have even a tinge of either of these in himself.
A believer is neither selfish so that he should get undue benefitsby usurping the rights of others, nor he is arrogant and self-conceited that he should regard himself as aII-wist and aII-knowing.

Third, that it is a grave responsibility to give decisions in matters chat involve the tights and interests of others.
No one who fears God and knows what severe accountability for it he will be subjected to by his Lord, can dare take the heavy burden of it solely on himself.
Such a boldness is shown only by those who arc fearless of God and heedless of the Hereafter.
The one who fears God and has the feeling of the accountability of the Hereafter, will certainly try that in a matter of common interest he should consult aII the concerned people or their authorised representatives so as to reach, as far as possible, an objective and right and equitable decision, and if there occurs a mistake one man alone should not be held responsible for it.

A deep consideration of these three things can enable one to fully understand that consultation is a necessary demand of the morality that Islam has taught to man, and departure from it is a grave immorality which Islam does not permit The Islamic way of life requires that the principle of consultation should be used in every collective affair, big or small.
If it is a domestic affair, the husband and the wife should act by mutual consultation, and when the children have grown up, they also should be consulted.
If it is a matter concerning the whole family, the opinion of every adult member be solicited.
If it concerns a tribe or a fraternity or the population of a city, and it is not possible to consult aII the people, the decision should be taken by a local council or committee, which should comprise the tnrstworthy representatives of the concerned people according to an agreed method.
If the matter concerns a whole nation, the head of government should be appointed by the common consent of the people, and he should conduct the national affairs in consultation with the leaders of opinion.
whom the people regard as reliable, and he should remain at the helm of affair only as long as the people themselves want him to remain in that position.
No honest man can try to assume the headship of a nation by force, or desire to continue in that position indefinitely, nor can think of corning into power by deception and then seek the people's consent by coercion, nor can he devise schemes so that the people may elect representatives to act as his advisers not by their own free choice but according to his will.
Such a thing can be desired only by the one who cherishes evil intentions, and such a fraud against the Islamic principle of consultation can be practiced only by him who dces not feel any hesitation in deceiving both God and the people whereas the fact is that neither can God be deceived nor the people be so blind as to regard the robber, who is committing robbery in the bright day light openly, as their well.
wisher and servant.

The principle of consultation as enshrined in amru-hum shura baina-hum by itself demands five things:
( 1 ) The people whose rights and interests relate to collective matters, should have full freedom to express their opinion and they should be kept duly informed of how their affairs are being conducted; they should also have the full right that if in the conduct of the affairs they see an error, a weakness or a deficiency, they can check it and voice a protest, and if they do not see any change for the better, they can change their rulers.
To conduct the people's affairs by keeping them silent and un-informed is sheer dishonesty which no one can regard as adherence to the principle of consultation in Islam.

( 2 ) The person who is to be entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the collective affairs, should be appointed by the people's consent, and this consent should be their free consent, which is not obtained through coercion, temptation, deception, and fraud, because in that case it would be no consent at all.
A nation's true head is not he who becomes its head by trying every possible method, but he whom the people make their head by their own free choice and approval.

( 3 ) The people who are appointed as advisers to the head of the state should be such as enjoy the confidence of the nation, and obviously the people who win representative positions by suppression or by expending wealth, or by practising falsehood and fraud, or by misleading the people cannot be regarded as enjoying the confidence in the real sense.

( 4 ) The advisers should give opinion according to their knowledge and faith and conscience and they should have full freedom of such expression of opinion.
Wherever this is not the case, wherever the advisers give advice against their own knowledge and conscience, under duress or temptation, or under party discipline.
it will be treachery and dishonesty and not adherence to the Islamic principle of consultation.

( 5 ) The advice that is given by a consensus of the advisers, or which has the support of the majority of the people, should be accepted, for if a person ( or a group of persons ) behaves independently and acts on his own whims, even after hearing the advice of others, consultation becomes meaningless.
Allah does not say: "They arc consulted in their affairs" , but says: "They conduct their affairs by mutual consultations" .
This instruction is not implemented by mere consultation, but for its sake it is necessary that the affairs be conducted according to what is settled by consensus or by majority opinion in consultation.
Along with this explanation of the Islamic principle of consultation, this basic thing also should be kept in view that this consultation is not independent and autocratic in conducting the affairs of the Muslims, but necessarily subject to the bounds that Allah Himself has set by His legislation, and is subject to the fundamental principle: "It is for Allah to give a decision in whatever you may differ," and "if there arises any dispute among you about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger.
" According to this general principle, the Muslims can hold consultations in Shari 'ah matters with a view to determining the correct meaning of a text or verse and w find out the ways of implementing it so as to fulfil its requirements rightly but they cannot hold consultations in order to give an independent judgement in a matter which has already been decided and settled by Allah and His Messenger.

*62) It has three meanings:
( 1 ) "They spend only out of what lawful provisions We have given them: they do not touch unlawful things for supplementing their expenditure.
"
( 2 ) "They do not set aside the provisions granted by us, but spend them.
"
( 3 ) "They spend out of what they have been given in the cause of Allah also: they do not reserve everything for personal use only." The first meaning is based on this that Allah calls the lawful and pure provisions only as "the provisions granted by Him"; He dces not call the provisions earned in impure and unlawful ways His provisions.
The second meaning is based on that whatever Allah provides for man is provided so that he may spend it and not that he may set it aside and hoard it up like a miser.
The third meaning is based on that according to the Qur'an, spending does not mean spending merely on one's own self and for one's personal needs, but it also contains the meaning of spending for the sake of Allah in His way.
On account of these three reasons AIlah here is counting spending of wealth among the best qualities of the believers because of which the blessings of the Hereafter have been reserved only for them.

 

The Attributes of Those Who deserve that which is with Allah Here Allah points out the insignificance of this worldly life and its transient adornments and luxuries. فَمَآ أُوتِيتُمْ مِّن شَىْءٍ فَمَتَـعُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا ( So whatever you have been given is but (a passing ) enjoyment for this worldly life.) means, no matter what you achieve and amass, do not be deceived by it, for it is only the enjoyment of this life, which is the lower, transient realm that will undoubtedly come to an end. وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى ( but that which is with Allah is better and more lasting ) means, the reward of Allah is better than this world, and it will last forever, so do not give preference to that which is transient over that which is lasting.
Allah says: لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ( for those who believe ) means, for those who are patient in forgoing the pleasures of this world, وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ( and put their trust in their Lord. ) means, so that He will help them to be patient in doing what is obligatory and avoiding what is forbidden.
Then Allah says: وَالَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَـئِرَ الإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَحِشَ ( And those who shun the greater sins, and Al-Fawahish, ) We have already discussed sin and Al-Fawahish in Surat Al-A`raf. وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُواْ هُمْ يَغْفِرُونَ ( and when they are angry, they forgive. ) means, their nature dictates that they should forgive people and be tolerant.
Vengeance is not in their nature.
It was reported in the Sahih that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ  never took revenge for his own sake, only when the sacred Laws of Allah were violated. وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُواْ لِرَبِّهِمْ ( And those who answer the Call of their Lord, ) means, they follow His Messenger and obey His commands and avoid that which He has prohibited. وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلَوةَ ( and perform As-Salah ) -- which is the greatest act of worship of Allah, may He be glorified. وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَى بَيْنَهُمْ ( and who (conduct ) their affairs by mutual consultation,) means, they do not make a decision without consulting one another on the matter so that they can help one another by sharing their ideas concerning issues such as wars and other matters.
This is like the Ayah: وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى الاٌّمْرِ ( and consult them in the affairs ) ( 3:159 ).
The Prophet used to consult with them concerning wars and other matters, so that they would feel confidant.
When `Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, was dying, after he had been stabbed, he entrusted the choice of the next Khalifah to six people who were to be consulted.
They were `Uthman, `Ali, Talhah, Az-Zubayr, Sa`id and `Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf, may Allah be pleased with them all.
Then all of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, agreed to appoint `Uthman as their leader. وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ( and who spend of what We have bestowed on them. ) this means kindly treating the creation of Allah, starting with those who are closest, then the next closest, and so on. وَالَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَابَهُمُ الْبَغْىُ هُمْ يَنتَصِرُونَ ( And those who, when an oppressive wrong is done to them, take revenge. ) ameans, they have the strength to take revenge on those who commit aggressive wrong and hostile acts against them.
They are not incapable of doing so and they are not helpless; they are able to take revenge against those who transgress against them, even though when they have the power to take revenge, they prefer to forgive, as when Yusuf, peace be upon him, said to his brothers: لاَ تَثْرَيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ( No reproach on you this day; may Allah forgive you ) ( 12: 92 ).
even though he was in a position to take revenge on them for what they had done to him.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ  forgave the eighty people who intended to do him harm during the year of Al-Hudaybiyah, camping by the mountain of At-Tan`im.
When he overpowered them, he set them free, even though he was in a position to take revenge on them.
He also forgave Ghawrath bin Al-Harith who wanted to kill him and unsheathed his sword while he was sleeping.
The Prophet woke up to find him pointing the sword at him.
He reproached him angrily and the sword dropped.
Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ picked up the sword and called his Companions He told them what had happened, and he forgave the man.
There are many similar Hadiths and reports.
And Allah knows best.

( And those who answer the call of their Lord ) through believing in Allah’s divine Oneness and obeying Allah ( and establish worship ) and perform the five daily prayers, ( and whose affairs are a matter of counsel ) when they want a certain matter, deliberate among themselves about it and then embark upon it, ( and who spend ) in charity ( of what We have bestowed on them ) of wealth,

And those who answer the Call of their Lord [i.e. to believe that He is the only One Lord (Allah), and to worship none but Him Alone], and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation, and who spend of what We have bestowed on them;

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