Chapter 2: Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), verses 204-207
Translation:
“There
are some men whose views on this life please you: they even call on God to vouch
for that which is in their hearts; whereas, in fact, they are the deadliest of
your opponents. No sooner do they leave you than they hasten to commit evil in
the land, destroying crops and cattle. God does not love evil. When it is said
to them: ‘Have fear of God,’ vanity carries them off to sin. Hell shall be
enough for them, a dismal resting place. But there are others who would give
their lives in order to find favour with God. God is compassionate to His
servants.” (2:204-207)
Commentary:
Those
who have adopted opportunism as their religion are always able to impress people
with words. Why? Because it is in their own selfish interest to do so. For them
it is not right and wrong that matters; there is no set standard guiding them.
They just go by what is calculated to make a favourable impression on the
listener. They have no problem in painting a glowing picture on the outside,
despite the fact that in their heart of hearts they are bereft of the warmth of
true sincerity; owe no loyalty to truth; they owe loyalty only to their own
interests.
Why
is it that on the preacher’s platform a person appears as a great reformer,
while in actuality he sows corruption in the land? It can all be traced to the
contradiction in himself. It is not a person’s words that have practical
results in this world; it is his conduct. He may have an array of words to put
on display, but in practice he belies his words, and acts out of self-interest.
So there is bound to be a dichotomy between his words and his actions. He can
convey a sense of idealism in speech, but when he gets down to actually doing
things, he is drawn by the force of his self-interest to feather his own nest at
the expense of others. The one who spoke of peace and reconciliation acts in a
manner that leads to strife and conflict; he who promised to build anew, acts to
destroy. Still he plays on people’s emotions, saying things which will make
him popular, with no regard for the reality of situations. If it suits him to
pursue negative, destructive policies, he will do so. He will go to any lengths
to consolidate his own power, even if the interest of
the whole nation is at stake, in order to ride high in public popularity.
These are the ones who have sold themselves for the world. Even when the truth
is made plain to them, they do not follow it. They see no benefit for
themselves, no furtherance of their own interests, in following truth. Only when
there is sufficient gain to be had do they uphold truth; otherwise they deny. Behind
an obsequious exterior they hide a proud ego which would never allow them to
acknowledge the station of one who bears the message of truth—one whom they
consider inferior to them. That is, they refuse to yield to the truth if it
comes from an ordinary person.
There
are others who sell their lives, not for themselves, but for God; it is to find
favour with Him that they strive. They accept not the demands of their own
selves, but the commands of God. At any cost to themselves, they give what they
have in the divine cause. It is God’s true faith that they seek, so they leave
conventional, ancestral religion by the wayside; even though such a move will
make them lose in popularity. Their guideline is truth, and they stick to it,
despite the fury of the people which pours in on them from all sides.