Analysis
As many shades of meaning are included in the word Fasād, it can take many forms. It may be moral corruption, physical destruction, unlawful acts, social injustice and riots. Allah has set the universe in (right) balance; hence man should not transgress the (due) balance (al-Raḥmān 55: 7–8). The Qur’ān presents this well-ordered and regulated universe as an argument for the existence of one God only because “If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides Allah, there would have been chaos (Fasād) in both” (al-Anbiyā’ 21: 22). It is human beings who create mischief on land and sea by transgressing the limits set by Allah (al-Rūm 30: 41) and by destroying crops and cattle (al-Baqarah 2: 205). The other sort of mischief is killing innocent people such as the killing of Jewish children by Pharaoh (al-Qaṣaṣ 28: 4).
In addition to physical mischief there is moral corruption which damages the fabric of society. Thus, many nations that continued to create havoc by transgressing Allah’s laws and refusing to follow the teachings of their prophets and indeed persecuting them instead, were destroyed by Him. It is Allah’s sunnah to purge the fasād by bringing about changes in regimes (al-Baqarah 2: 251).
References
Fasād: 2: 205; 8: 73; 28: 83; 30: 41; 89: 12.
Fawz [
see Falāḥ
Fay’ [
see Anfāl
Fiʿl [
see ʿAmal
Firdaws [
see Jannah
Fisq [
Meaning
Fasaqa means to stray from the right path, to deviate from goodness, to act unlawfully, sinfully, immorally. Thus, in Islamic terminology a Fāsiq (active participle from Fisq, whose plural is Fāsiqūn, Fussāq and Fasaqah) means a person who has deviated from the path of Sharīʿah. Although Fisq can be applied to someone committing any act of deviation, it is usually applied to those who commit grave sins. Sometimes it is applied even to those who are unbelievers as they transgress the rational and natural laws. Hence, the disobedience of Satan is termed Fisq (al-Kahf 18: 50).
Analysis
In the Qur’ān Fisq is used as the opposite of Īmān. For example one who persists in disobeying the commands of Allah leads him to Fisq (deviation). “Is then the man who believes no better than the man who is rebellious and wicked? They are not equal” (al-Sajdah 32: 18).
It is the Sunnah of Allah that He provides guidance to those who seek such guidance. Those who deliberately try to distort the signs of Allah are the Fasaqah, and they are deprived of Allah’s guidance (al-Baqarah 2: 26). “When they went wrong, Allah let their hearts go wrong. For Allah guides not those who are rebellious transgressors” (al-Ṣaff 61: 5).
The Munāfiqūn (hypocrites) are described as Fāsiqūn in Sūrah al-Tawbah, and their characteristics are vividly enumerated: “The hypocrites, men and women, (have an understanding) with each other: They enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and are close with their hands [i.e. they are miserly]. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them. Verily the hypocrites are rebellious and perverse (Fāsiqūn)” (al-Tawbah 9: 67). Hence, the Prophet was told it was of no use his seeking forgiveness for them as: “Allah will not forgive them. Truly Allah guides not rebellious transgressors” (al-Munāfiqūn 63: 6).
Unlike the unbelievers, fāsiqūn and manāfiqūn are still part of the Muslim society. Therefore, Muslims are forewarned to be careful in dealing with them. For example, if some news is brought by them, it should be carefully checked for its authenticity before taking any action (al-Ḥujurāt 49: 6). If they are proved to be fabricating evidence against chaste women, their testimony should never be accepted (al-Nūr 24: 4).
References
Fisq: 2: 197; 5: 3; 6: 121; 17: 16; 49: 7.
Fitnah [
Meanings
Fatana means to put a piece of gold in a crucible and heat it in order to test whether it is pure gold or contains impurities. It is used in this sense in Sūrah al-Dhāriyāt: “(It will be) a day when they will be tried (and tested) over the Fire” (al-Dhāriyāt 51: 13). The other meanings of Fatana are: (a) to subject to temptations or trials; (b) to charm, fascinate, captivate; (c) to torture, torment; (d) to create tumult or discord.
The word Fitnah which comes from this root means temptation, trial, charm, intrigue, sedition, riot, disorder, or civil strife.
Analysis
The word Fitnah is used in at least the following four different meanings:
A. TRIAL
One of its meanings is a test or trial. In this sense it is a synonym of the word Balā’. The root of the word Balā’ also means to test, to try or to afflict. Hence, Balā’ means trial, tribulation, visitation, affliction, distress or misfortune.
The purpose of the creation of the universe as well as of life and death, according to the Qur’ān, is the trial of human beings. Allah wants to find out who is the best in his deeds (al-Mulk 67: 1; Hūd 11: 7). The life on the earth consists of a series of trials. These trials can take many forms, and each human being as well as each nation is tried in different ways. These include:
1.through one’s own family, which is called Fitnah as also is affluence (al-Anfāl 8: 28; al-Taghābun 64: 14–15).
2.suffering and adversity, fear and famine (al-Baqarah 2: 155).
3.temptations (Yūsuf: 12: 23–24).
A trial is an essential requirement to test the sincerity of one’s Īmān. The path of Islam is the path of struggle. People will not be left alone just by saying that they believe. They will be tested to establish whether their belief is superficial or rooted firmly in their hearts and manifested in their actions. The Qur’ān mentions this fact in several places in order that one should not be perturbed when these trials come and instead remain steadfast in one’s Īmān: “Do people think that they will be left alone on saying, ‘We believe’, and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them, and