In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Crops, Livestock, Fair Trade and Supply Chain Sometimes Sabotaged or Manipulated By One Who Has Worldly Authority But Claims to Be a Rectifier of Worldly Affairs
Allaah [The Exalted] said:
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعۡجِبُكَ قَوۡلُهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَيُشۡهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلۡبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلۡخِصَامِ
وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ سَعَىٰ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيُفۡسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهۡلِكَ ٱلۡحَرۡثَ وَٱلنَّسۡلَۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡفَسَادَ
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ أَخَذَتۡهُ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ بِٱلۡإِثۡمِۚ فَحَسۡبُهُ ۥ جَهَنَّمُۚ وَلَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمِهَادُ
And of mankind there is he whose speech may please you (O Muhammad), in this worldly life, and he calls Allah to witness as to that which is in his heart, yet he is the most quarrelsome of the opponents. And when he turns away, his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allah likes not mischief. And when it is said to him, “Fear Allah”, he is led by arrogance to (more) crime. So enough for him is Hell, and worst indeed is that place to rest! [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayaat 204-206]
[وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعۡجِبُكَ قَوۡلُهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا – And of mankind there is he whose speech may please you in this worldly life]: Meaning, the one who hears his speech is pleased when he speaks and he thinks that he has uttered beneficial speech.
He emphasises what he says [وَيُشۡهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلۡبِهِ – and he calls Allah to witness as to that which is in his heart]: Meaning, he states that Allaah knows that what is in his heart agrees with what he says, even though he is lying regarding what he says because his speech contradicts his deeds. His speech would have agreed with his deeds had he being truthful, because this the case regarding the believers- those who are not hypocrites. And due to this Allaah said: [وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلۡخِصَامِ – yet he is the most quarrelsome of the opponents] (1)- Meaning, extremely quarrelsome based on falsehood. (2) When you disagree with him, you’ll find him to be the most quarrelsome, bigoted and difficult person to deal with, as well as the ugly characteristics that results from this behaviour, which are the opposite of the manners of the believers- those who make ease their way, submit to the truth and pardon people. (3)
[وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ سَعَىٰ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيُفۡسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهۡلِكَ ٱلۡحَرۡثَ وَٱلنَّسۡلَۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡفَسَادَ – And when he turns away, his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allah likes not mischief]: Ibn Abbaas said, “When he becomes angry”, Al-Hasan said, “When he turns away from the statement he made” (4) or when he when he gains the upper hand and possesses authority (5), [سَعَىٰ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لِيُفۡسِدَ فِيهَا – his effort in the land is to make mischief therein]- Meaning, by way of disbelief and oppression. (6) When this person – the one whose speech amazes you – is not in your presence, he strives to commit sins which is tantamount to corruption in the earth, so cattle and crops are destroyed as a result of that corruption. The blessings in the vegetations, fruits and livestock decrease and become little due to evil deeds. (7)
[وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡفَسَادَ – and Allah likes not mischief]: Meaning, when it is the case that Allaah does not like corruption, then He has an intense hatred for the person who sows corruption in the earth, even if such a person utters a good speech merely on the tongue (i.e. says one thing and does something else).
This Aayah contains proof regarding the fact that the statements uttered by individuals is not a proof regarding their truthfulness or whether they are upon falsehood, neither that they are righteous nor wicked until deeds ascertain them. And it is obligatory to examine the condition of those who bear witness, the one who is in the right and the falsifier amongst the people based on the righteousness of their deeds – examine the clear indications and their behaviour, and not to be deceived by how they portray themselves and the praise they give themselves.
Then Allaah mentioned that when this person – the one who causes corruption in the earth through acts of disobedience to Allaah – is commanded to fear Allaah, he becomes arrogant and haughty, [ أَخَذَتۡهُ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ بِٱلۡإِثۡمِۚ -he is led by arrogance to (more) crime]. So, he combines between disobedience to Allaah and being arrogant towards the sincere advisers. (8)
Allaah said:
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِي حَاجَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي رَبِّهِ أَنْ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْمُلْكَ إِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّيَ الَّذِي يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا أُحْيِي وَأُمِيتُ ۖ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْتِي بِالشَّمْسِ مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ فَأْتِ بِهَا مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ فَبُهِتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Have you not seen (contemplated with your heart) him who disputed with Ibrahim (Abraham) about his Lord (Allah), because Allah had given him the kingdom? When Ibrahim (Abraham) said (to him): “My Lord (Allah) is He Who gives life and causes death.” He said, “I give life and cause death.” Ibrahim (Abraham) said, “Verily! Allah causes the sun to rise from the east; then cause it you to rise from the west.” So the disbeliever was utterly defeated. And Allah guides not the people, who are Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.). [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 258]
Imaam Al-Baghawi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: They [i.e. the upright Qur’aan commentators] hold a difference of opinion about the time of this debate. Muqatil [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said that when Ibraahim [peace be upon him] broke the idols, Namrood imprisoned him, then took him out to burn him with fire. He said to him, “Who is your Lord that you call us to worship?” Ibraaheem [peace be upon him] said, “My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death”. Other (Qur’aan commentators) say that this was after he was thrown into the fire, then people were afflicted with drought and they used to come to Namrood to get food, so if a man came to him looking for food, he would ask him, “Who is your Lord?” If the man said, “You are my Lord”, he would offer to sell him food. (9)
[أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِى حَآجَّ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمَ فِى رَبِّهِۦۤ – Have you seen (contemplated with your heart and eyes) him who disputed with Ibrahim (Abraham) about his Lord (Allah)]- Meaning, his insolence, ignorant attitude and obstinacy, and arguing regarding that which there is no doubt?! Nothing led him to this behaviour except because that “Allah had given him the kingdom”, so he transgressed and rebelled, and considered himself as one in control of those under his authority, which led him to argue with Prophet Ibraaheem about Allaah’s Lordship and claimed that he can do the same thing as Allaah does. Prophet Ibraheem said to him, “My Lord is He Who gives life and death” – Meaning, Allaah alone is in absolute control of everything; then Ibraaheem mentioned two specific affairs – life and death, because they the greatest things in Allaah’s absolute control. That is because granting life is the beginning of the worldly life and death is the beginning of that which is to occur in the afterlife. So, the one who sought to ague against Ibraaheem said, “I give life and cause death”, but never said, “I am The One Who gives life and death”, because he could not claim that he was not in need of anyone to interfere in the affair; rather he only claimed that he could do what Allaah does by killing someone and sparing someone’s life. Prophet Ibraaheem saw the fallacy in his argument and speech that is not even worthy of being a Shubhah (i.e. an ambiguity portrayed as wholesome truth) let alone a proof, so he said to him, “Verily! Allah causes the sun to rise from the east”- Meaning, Ibraaheem mentioned something that can be clearly seen and affirmed by everyone including this disbeliever; “Then cause it you to rise from the west”- Meaning, this compelled him to bring proof if he was truthful in his claim. So, when Ibraaheem uttered this to him about which he neither had the ability to present an ambiguity to make Ibraaheem’s proof look confusing nor could he find something to disparage it, he was utterly defeated – lost for an answer, his proof cut off and his ambiguous statement toppled. (10) He Who brings life and death (Allaah) has absolute control over the existence and creates everything is in it, including absolute control of its planets and their movements. The sun rises everyday from the east, so if you were god, as you claim, who gives life and cause death, then make the sun rise from the west. (11) This is the situation of an obstinate falsifier who wants to confront truth and overcome it, because he will be defeated and subdued. This is why Allaah said: [وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ – And Allah guides not the people, who are Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.)]; rather He abandons them to their disbelief and misguidance. (12)
Shaikh Abdul Waahid Abu Khadeejah [may Allaah preserve him] stated: “The way that countries buy and sell with each other does not always help people in poor countries. Producers of crops like wheat and rice will usually sell to the country that will pay them the most for it, so poor countries cannot compete and therefore cannot buy crops to feed their people. So these poor people have to grow their own crops to feed themselves. In many poor countries the rich farmers grow cash crops such as fruit and flowers that they sell to rich countries and their profit often does not help the poor people. So the Muslim is always encouraged to give aid to those less fortunate, so that no one in the land remains hungry, unclothed or unsheltered. Islam has no problem with people becoming wealthy so long as the poor are not neglected; they must be taken care of, helped, educated and empowered to look after themselves. Wealthier Muslims are obligated to give in charity (zakāt) every year, and each Ramadān (zakāt al-fitr)”. (13)
Shaikh Alee al-Hudhaifee [may Allaah preserve him] on Islam’s Position on the Claim of Overpopulation of the Earth and How Wars, Conflicts, Epidemics and Vaccines Are Utilised to Reduce Population- [Source: Telegram Channel: Health and Immunity In The Light of Covid19]
The Shaikh answered questions to do with overpopulation, these are the main points he made:
🔸 A servant must believe that sustenance is in Allaah’s hands. This is known in the fitrah, through the intellect and through observation.
🔸 The Shaikh mentioned the verse, “And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage.” (Hud, 11:6). Allaah has guaranteed sustenance of all creatures, men and jinn and all species of animals. Allaah obligated this on Himself in this verse for every creature.
🔸 The Shaikh mentioned the verse, “*Indeed Allaah is ar-Razzaaq*” (Dhaariyaat, 51:58), and the hadeeth, “All of you are hungry except the one I have fed, so seek food from me, I shall feed you, all of you are naked except the one I have clothed, so seek clothing from me and I shall clothe you…”, and the hadeeth, “Verily, the Pure Spirit (Jibreel) inspired to me that no soul will die until its due provision has been brought to it fully.”
🔸 There is also a consensus of nations. No one denies that there is enough provision. The saying of the contemporary Kuffaar about overpopulation is more evil than the Kuffaar of the past. It is a creed that is more evil. These Kuffaar of today are worse than those of the past who never argued about these things.
🔸 These verses, hadeeths, the consensus of nations, fitrah, sound reason and reality itself all show that the earth is sufficient to provide for all its inhabitants.
🔸 Lack of provision is caused by oppression of men not because there is insufficient resources on earth. For example, when some governments impose taxation to service their debts, this has an effect on the economy. The prices rise and farmers cannot afford to plant seed for harvesting as it is not profitable for them. So famine may take place due to this, not because there are insufficient resources. Also, some countries like America destroy grain harvests because there is too much so they throw it in the ocean to manipulate prices.
🔸 The issue returns back to oppression. Sustenance is present, but there is oppression, fighting and killing among people over this sustenance. This affects provision, but Allaah created the earth sufficient and full of provision for everyone. So each person should have taqwa and Allaah will bring him his provision.
🔸 This issue of overpopulation originates because of the theory of Malthus, there is a man called Malthus who brought this theory, which is like other garbage theories the enemies of Islam have brought such as the theories of Freud and Darwin and others. They have used these theories to attack us, our societies and our youth. These theories have affected many societies, they have had strong effect in the West in particular.
🔸 This is why they strive to control the population and fertility. Kissinger, former foreign minister of the US, devised policies to address the rising world population. They are agreed upon the goal of reducing the world population. After this, it is a matter of how they were going to do it. They do it through plots, through conspiracies.
🔸 They have numerous means such as wars, initiating conflicts and disturbances in some countries, epidemics, vaccinations and others. They have lots of ways to achieve this goal.
🔸 The theory of Malthus is very general, he spoke very generally about overpopulation whereas this current agenda of depopulation is a specific agenda which suits the interests of certain countries like the US. [Translated by Shaikh Abu Iyaadh (may Allaah preserve him)]
Ref 1: Tafseer As-Sadi
Ref 2: Roohul Ma’aanee by Imaam Al-Aloosee
Ref 3: Tafseer As-Sadi
Ref 4: Zaadul Maseer
Ref 5: Roohul Maaanee
Ref 6: Zaadul Maseer
Ref 7: Tafseer As-Sadi
Ref 8: Tafseer As-Sadi
Ref 9:Tafseer Al-Baghawi. slightly paraphrased]
Ref 10: An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. slightly paraphrased]
Ref 11: Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
Ref 12: An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. slightly paraphrased]
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