Surah Baqarah Verse 177

Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allāh, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakāh; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous. [al-Baqarah:177]

What it means to be a Muslim?

This ayah in a Nutshell defines who a Muslim should be". I remember reading ", to be a Muslim means--in a fundamental way--to be both Allah-conscious and creature-conscious.

This ayah helps us to understand the interconnectedness of all aspects of one's life, spiritual, social, economical, First and foremost is rights of Allah- Huququllah and then rights of people- Huququl ibaad. We find the epitome; role model of "Birr" in the life of the Prophet (saw), the reason was because prophet (saw) was able to balance spiritual and secular levels of his life.

“My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels”

(From the 100, a Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History-by Michael H. Hart)

If we want to be Righteous we need to start LIVING this ayah!

Farah Ahamed

Online Student
Taleem Al Quran 2009