Be Good, Quran Says

I wonder at people who profess great faith in God and humanity and yet deny the very existence of anyone who so dare wish the opposite. To be filled with love for God and goodness, to believe in angels and heaven, it seems but too forged to also believe in invading the authority of life and death. It seems almost pretentious when one decides to lay down rules for human survival. “Guided by faith”, they say they are. But what faith leads someone to extremes? Is it not too agreeably distinct what is good and bad? Maybe not…

I was reading through the second chapter of the Quran and as simple as it gets, I merely enlisted the advices mentioned there. No difficult words, no harsh language, the Quran is as fatherly (if I can call it that) as one can imagine.

Sura' Al Baqarah

• Lead a righteous life
• Do not confuse the truth with falsehood
• Do not conceal the truth
• Give charity, cheerfully, to relatives, orphans, needy, travelers, beggars
• Free the slaves
• Do good, think good and you will be rewarded

• Perform prayer
• Seek help through determination
• Do not follow Satan
• Stay steadfast in the face of hardship
• Keep your promises
• When death approaches, write a will for the benefit of parents and relatives, fairly

• Do not illicitly take each other’s money
• Do not bribe officials to deprive others of their rights
• Oppression is worse than murder
• Aggress only against the aggressors
• Be charitable! To declare is good but to be anonymous in giving is better
• Do not take intoxicants. There is benefit in these and also detriment. But the disadvantages are more than the benefits.
• Do not gamble

• Be good to orphans and bring them up as righteous persons
• Do not marry those who disbelieve, a spouse who believes in what you believe will only help you towards following the right direction
• Avoid sexual intercourse with women during menstruation. It is harmful.
• Do not subject God’s name in casual swearing to appear credible or pious
• Intentions are more important than mere utterances

• Wait for four months if you intend to divorce your wife. This will help in cooling your mind and help in making the right decision
• A divorced woman should wait for three menstruations before marrying again. One should not conceal what God creates in their wombs
• Do not take which you have already given away
• If a woman’s husband dies, she should wait for four months and ten days before remarrying
• There shall be no compulsion on religion. The right way is now distinct from the wrong.
• Be kind and compassionate

• Charging usury, putting interest is condemned
• If the debtor is unable to pay, wait for a better time. If the loan is given up as charity, it is better.
• When you transact a loan, have an impartial person write it down in detail, in front of witnesses.
• Do not harm witnesses