188- AND DO NOT EAT UP YOUR WEALTH AMONGST YOURSELVES THROUGH FALSEHOOD AND PUT IT IN FRONT OF THE JUDGES AND GOVERNORS IN ORDER TO EAT UP A PORTION OF THE WEALTH OF SOME OF YOU WRONGFULLY, WHILE YOU KNOW.

This Ayah states some very important principles in Islamic Law.  The Most important of which is that Allah the Highest is the final and ultimate judge and will rule according to the truth which is not hidden from Him. 

Allah the Highest warns us against taking others money by false means, even if this is through courts or governors; this does not make the wrong into right.

Eating up our wealth amongst ourselves through falsehood can be by:

1-    Stealing, Fraud, robbery, deception and other means.

2-    One might go to court in order to take others money or property by presenting false evidence, or any thing which proves to him a write which is not his.  Such judgment by a court does not make the wrong right or the right wrong. 

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said to a group of Muslims who went to him in dispute: “You come to me to judge between you; it may be that one of you is better in presenting his case than the other, then I judge for him.  He to whom I give a portion of his brother’s right, he should not take it, for what I am giving him is but a portion the Fire”.  (B: Shahadat, 27 & M: Aqdiah; 4 & D: Aqdiah; 7 & T: Ahkam; 11)

This Hadith shows that: first; the judge should rule according to the evidence presenting to him, second; the wrong ruling by the judge does not legalize the wrong before Allah the Highest, even if it is legalized in this world.

3-    Bribing those in Authority to take others money, property or rights. 

Bribery is very sadly rife in our nation.  It ruins the society, leads to injustice and bad feelings between people, when some feel that others have taking what they do not deserve, or what is not rightfully theirs because they were able to bribe. 

Abd Allah Ibn Amro narrated: “Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him cursed the person who bribes and the person who takes the bribe”.  (D: Aqdiah; 4 & T: Ahkam; 9 & Ma: Ahkam; 2 & A: 2; 164)

And Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Whenever usury spreads among people, they will be afflicted by hard time, and whenever Bribery spread among people, they will be afflicted by Fear” (A: 4; 205)

There are times however when a Muslim will not want, indeed hates to give bribes, but because of corrupt official he has to, otherwise will loose out, or suffer.  In this case he is compelled, and the one who forces him is the sinner.

4-    One might give False Testimony or even just hide his testimony, both are great sins.  False testimony is much worse than lying, for it is lying leading to injustice.  More detailed discussion of the subject will come near the end of the Sorah.

In brief, any thing or way by which one wrongfully takes something which belongs to someone else, Muslim or non-Muslim, is Haram (Prohibited).  Even if all of our legalities are correct, as long as it is truly right before Allah the Highest Who knows well the right from the wrong, and see all we do.

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi