How To Build A Good And Strong Society
Chapter 4 of the Quran "Al-Nesaa" deals with how to build a good and strong scociety. A strong society starts with a strong family. So, how do we build a strong family? A strong family consists of a husband, a wife and maybe children, all living in harmony.
This chapter also talks about the orphans. We cannot forget about them and we need to take care of them. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself was an orphan, and he grew up to become the greatest man in all mankind. We need to help the orphans to reach their potential. Allah (SWT) has given us guide lines on how to treat them, protect them and raise them.
Allah (SWT) also talks about marriage and spouses. He encourages us to get married so we can build harmony and love. When that is complete, children will have a major role in the family structure. Allah (SWT) has also outlined for us who a person can marry and He has said "You cannot marry your mother, daughter, sisiter, or Aunt." He say "If a you marry a woman, you cannot marry her mother!" This is in order to keep the harmony, love, and peace between the family.
Al-Nesaa also brings up the topic about inheritance. Inheritance is so well defined in Islam and so detailed in this chapter. It explains how the inheritance should be divided up. This chapter also takes a look at those people who are worried about leaving behind a weak child. They could be weak in health, religion, in faith or age. Allah (SWT) says "If you are worried about your children, the best insurance to leave them is observe Allah (SWT)." Allah (SWT) protects alot of children because their parents are good. So be good and do the right things and Allah (SWT) will protect your children.
Then Allah (SWT) says that He accepts repentance and people's request for forgiveness. But, it has 3 conditions:
1. Stop the sins you have been doing.
2. Regret it.
3. Make a promise not to do it again and keep that promise.
Allah (SWT) says "My door is always open. Anytime you want to repent ask me before you get to your deathbed." We are all human and humans make mistakes. Allah (SWT) is there and He is Forgiving.
Allah (SWT) wants to make religion easy on us. But the scholars today usually tell is to take the hard way just incase. Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) wife Aisha (RA) told us "When the Prophet was given a choice between two things, he always chose the easier one." We too, should take the easy way, for it is your intention that counts in the end. Allah (SWT) has mentioned in the Quran many times that He is providing easy access to everything in life.
The Prophet (PBUH) said that "Allah (SWT) has given us licenses to make things easier on us." For example, when you are traveling, you are allowed to shorten your prayers, or if you need to make wudu (purification) and you are wearing shoes, you may wipe the water over your shoes so you don't have to take them off. Some people don't want to take the easy way and use the privilege that Allah (SWT) has given us, and Allah (SWT) sometimes gets angry at those who do not use them.
Another Verse in Al-Nesaa says "Don't try and take someone else's money unjustly." The best way to make money is by buying and selling. The Prophet (PBUH) says "May Allah (SWT) have mercy on he who is easy going when he buys and easy going when he sells." Money comes and goes, but the truth is Allah (SWT) is the one who provides.
Allah (SWT) tells us to avoid forbidden things. The Prophet (PBUH) tells us in a hadeeth "Shall I tell you what the 3 Major Sins are?" He said:
"The first is giving Allah (SWT) a partner." Allah (SWT) will never forgive someone if they associate Him with something else.
"The second is disobeying our parents."
"The third is giving false testimony." The Prophet (PBUH) kept repeating false testimony because a muslim SHOULD NOT lie.
If we avoid these 3 major sins, Allah (SWT) will forgive everything else. Allah (SWT) also says "for those who are good, he will replace their bad sins with good deeds" insha'allah. Omar Al-Khatab once told Abu Bakr Al-Saddique "on The Day Of Judgement, I will have more good deeds than you! So Abu Bakr asked him "How do you know?" Omar said "because I have more sins than you, and I hope that Allah (SWT) replaces all my sins with good deeds!" The Prophet (PBUH) once described Abu Bakr Al-Saddique by saying "If you put the Iman and Faith of all the nations in one part of a scale and you put the Iman and Faith of Abu Bakr in the other, Abu Bakr's Iman and Faith will out weigh all our faiths together."
We all have good deeds and we all have sins. Be good, follow Islam properly, make sure your intentions are pure and ask Allah (SWT) to forgive all our sins and insha'allah Allah (SWT) will answer all our prayers.