Page 52 - Communication and Argument in the Qur'an

50 COMMUNICATION AND ARGUMENT IN THE QUR’AN

and practices and see the striking difference between them.
In societies that have remained distant to the morality of
the Qur’an, the people’s moral make-up and understand-
ing of justice have totally collapsed. Chaos and uneasiness
is rife, the crime rate increases, and injustice grows apace.
Allah’s messengers and prophets explained the danger of
their situation and urged them not to overstep the bound-
aries that Allah has established for them. Comprehending
that societal and personal hindrances will be removed by
living by the Qur’an’s teachings, and that the establish-
ment of Allah’s judgments will, by itself, eliminate the cor-
ruption rampant in the society is one of the important rea-
sons that makes people feel closer to the religion.
While Yusuf (as) was in prison, two prisoners asked him
to interpret their dreams. He replied:
… I have left the religion of a people who clearly have
no faith in Allah and who refuse to acknowledge the
truth of the world to come. I hold fast to the creed of
my forebears Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya‘qub. We do not
associate anything with Allah. And that is how Allah
has favored us and all of humanity. But most do not
give thanks. My fellow prisoners, are many lords bet-
ter or Allah, the only One, the Conqueror? What you
serve apart from Him are only names that you and your
forefathers have made up. There is no mandate for
them from Allah. Allah alone is qualified to judge. His
order is to worship none but Him. That is, in truth, the
straight and upright religion, but most people simply
do not know.” (Surah Yusuf: 37-40)