An Eye For An Eye, A Tooth For A Tooth, No Betrayal For A Betrayal
As-Salamu Alaikum
It seems a logical conclusion. Or rather it seems a like logic sentence that should be true. They are painful losses that need retribution. But this equation proves false. If one loses a tooth though it may not be easy to obtain the insurance rights from the offender to pay for that tooth replacement, but it can be done. Not that I think most people who lose a tooth from a fight will be able to, or even want to give that extra effort to replace it. Maybe. But the point is it is a material problem that can be physically resolved.
When a Muslim betrays his or her trust in Allah Most High, or His (swt) Messenger, may the best of peace and blessings be upon him, they are betraying themselves. Disobeying Allah (swt) and the Prophet hurts the person in this life and the next but does not affect the Glory of Allah Most High or our beloved Prophet (pbuh). When humans are dealing with one another on the earthly level our protection is only secured by abiding by the Laws of Allah (swt) that He Most High Revealed to us particularly to guide us through life with the least possible destruction and the most happiness. We are a creature created in constant struggle.
That is life. We are balls of nerves and emotions in a leather sack. Our emotions are what make us who we are. Or rather how we deal with our feelings and the resulting actions based on them is what places us in the ranks of good people, or not quite so good. This is exactly why it is necessary to follow the way of The One Who Who Created us and Is Closer to us than our jugular veins.
We can replace the tooth, fix the nose, heal the eye, but betrayal has no immediate physical replacement. At the time of betrayal, emotions are volatile, a circuit board of malfunctioning heart vessels. It is the absolute most terrible time to make decisions. We all know it or can imagine it if we have by some miracle never felt it. When the burning of the heart subsides a little, and our minds can see more clearly, we can see the extent of unintended results of the vengeful actions.
Islam has and the rulings of Allah (swt) and His (swt) function around keeping society healthy. A well-functioning society must be made of well-functioning members.
“Surely Allah will defend those who believe; surely Allah does not love any one who is unfaithful, ungrateful.” (22:38), and: “Surely Allah does not love the treacherous.” (22:58).
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُدَٰفِعُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ خَوَّانٍۢ كَفُورٍ
Therefore, according to Islamic morals, betrayal is the action that leads to the destruction of the society. It generates difficult problems among people and make them lose their trust in one another. It could also lead to the destruction of the entire nation when the traitors happen to lead the nation.
As Allah (swt) Is our Witness, the betrayal Muslims are facing from every direction is suffocating. We are witness to the mad, wild destruction of our world around us. As always, the answer is one: we must follow the human-friendly perfect guidelines Allah (swt) Set for us in His Mercy. Everything that could possibly go wrong is going wrong. We must stop betraying ourselves. May Allah (swt) Guide us to His Straight Way. Ameen.
