لَّيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّائِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا ۖ وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ
Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.
نیکی یہ نہیں کہ تم اپنے چہرے مشرق اور مغرب کی طرف کر لو بلکہ نیکی یہ ہے کہ کوئی اللہ پر، قیامت کے دن پر، فرشتوں پر، کتاب پر اور نبیوں پر ایمان لائے اور مال کی محبت کے باوجود اسے رشتہ داروں، یتیموں، مسکینوں، مسافروں، سائلوں اور غلاموں کی آزادی میں خرچ کرے اور نماز قائم کرے اور زکوٰۃ دے اور جب عہد کرے تو اسے پورا کرے اور تنگی، تکلیف اور جنگ کے وقت صبر کرے۔ یہی لوگ ہیں جنہوں نے سچ کہا اور یہی متقی ہیں۔
Reflection
This comprehensive verse redefines righteousness beyond ritual observances to encompass a complete system of belief and action. It begins by stating that true righteousness is not merely about prayer direction but involves sincere faith in core Islamic beliefs. This faith must be expressed through generous financial sacrifice for various categories of the needy, regular prayer, obligatory charity, honesty in keeping promises, and patience during various hardships. The verse concludes by affirming that those who embody these qualities are truly sincere in their faith and conscious of Allah. This teaching emphasizes that authentic religion integrates belief, ritual worship, ethical conduct, and social responsibility.
Context
This verse appears in Surah Al-Baqarah after discussions about the change in prayer direction (qiblah). It clarifies that while ritual directions have their place, true righteousness encompasses a much broader spectrum of beliefs and actions.