A blog that I have revised, with some added Ayats. Some of the messages don't consider this area of the Scriptures. We don't often hear about productivity. It should be mentioned because of how devastating it is to obstruct another person of faith's productivity in the land towards career study or career work. Sometimes that obstruction is on a physical level; or spiritual level; or both.
The Ayats on Productivity and Righteousness being allowed to prevail in the land in Prophet Salih's (as) message impacts us, as well as, the other Sacred Ayats. Salih's very name has the root word for Righteousness in it.
The four verses following the Ayats on Nabi Salih (as) coming from the Book of Matthew impact us, as well, while living in a country largely influenced by the Bible. These are Verses from the Injeel on the stringency of Productivity with Al Masihu (as). These two sets of "Laws or Rulings" can influence the people of both Books. All the Architectural Drafting renderings, photos and graphics are my work.
To the Thamud people (We sent) Salih, one of their own brethren: He said: "O my people! worship God: ye have no other god but Him. Now hath come unto you a clear (Sign) from your Lord! This she-camel of God is a Sign unto you: So leave her to graze in God’s earth, and let her come to no harm, or ye shall be seized with a grievous punishment.
"And remember how He made you inheritors after the ’Ad people and gave you habitations in the land: ye build for yourselves palaces and castles in (open) plains, and carve out homes in the mountains; so bring to remembrance the benefits (ye have received) from God, and refrain from evil and mischief on the earth."
The leaders of the arrogant party among his people said to those who were reckoned powerless - those among them who believed: "know ye indeed that Salih is an apostle from his Lord?" They said: "We do indeed believe in the revelation which hath been sent through him."
The Arrogant party said: "For our part, we reject what ye believe in."
Then they ham-strung the she-camel, and insolently defied the order of their Lord, saying: "O Salih! bring about thy threats, if thou art an apostle (of God)!"
So the earthquake took them unawares, and they lay prostrate in their homes in the morning!
So Salih left them, saying: "O my people! I did indeed convey to you the message for which I was sent by my Lord: I gave you good counsel, but ye love not good counsellors!" ~ Holy Quran 7:73-79
When Nabi Salih (as) talked about not hamstringing the she-camel, and affording her free right to graze, he was setting a standard for "Righteousness" in the land. It is my belief that Nabi Salih spoke concerning righteousness. That such behaviour, of killing the she-camel, was, in fact, unrighteousness and to the frustration of productivity. The power and authority of the Thamudi made them feel that they had all powers of disposal over created life in the land, and not necessarily for food. But, Salih's Statement or Law goes even further because the Quran is concerned about humans also. And righteous and productive humans are just as important as noble animals. So, further...it is not righteousness or productivity to molest, frustrate, kill animals, humans that have righteous and productive means and purpose of seeking their provisions from Allah (swt). Irregardless of how much the Thamudi people were producing themselves...this behavior made them unrighteous and non-productive.
Matthew 21:18-20 ~ Story of a Fig Tree cursed by the Messiah (epbuh).
18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, 19 and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. 20 The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”
Matthew 25:14-30 ~ Story of the 3 Servants handed Gold.
14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 15 He gave five bags (talents) of gold to one, two bags (talents) of gold to another, and one bag (talent) of gold to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. 16 “The servant who received the five bags of gold began to invest the money and earned five more. 17 The servant with two bags of gold also went to work and earned two more. 18 But the servant who received the one bag of gold dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. 19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of gold came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of gold to invest, and I have earned five more.’ 21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together! ’ 22 “The servant who had received the two bags of gold came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of gold to invest, and I have earned two more.’ 23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ 24 “Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ 26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ 28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold. 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Only Allah can really question the Messiah's (as) will to pronounce a curse. I pray that I never be cursed by a Prophet of Allah. Ameen.
Matthew 18:21-35 ~ Story of the Unforgiving Debtor. Importance of Replicating Forbearance.
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! 23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. 26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. 28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. 29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. 31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. 35 “That’s what my heavenly Lord will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
Matthew 19:16-26 ~ Good Teacher Passage. Importance of Charity.
16 Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 20 “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” 21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 25 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
The Messiah's charge against that fig tree seems to be that it was non-productive. He cursed it to wither up and die, but, not all fig trees, just that one. The Messiah's charge against the Servant that was given one talent of gold was that he was non-productive. He cursed him as, “Wicked”, “Lazy”, and “Cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth”. It can be understood that the Messiah does not prefer non-productivity, but can be forgiving of debts, and charity is a factor. And of course we in Al-Islam have to stay away from Riba or Interest. But, can still get the message about the servants handed bags (talents) of gold.
Non-productivity, however, must be viewed in light of counter-productivity; or those that stand in opposition to another's righteous productivity (in the Spirit and Flesh), in which case, those of Faith who have been hindered can be blameless. The Thamudi are an example of that opposition. The above Ayats and Verses should be complimented with 3 verses below.
Those who reject God and hinder (men and women) from the Path of God (the Paths of Righteous Works),- their deeds will God render astray/futile/fruitless (from their mark). ~ Holy Quran 47:1
"And Allah is not an Unjust One (Zulmana) in the (The two Worlds) Alamin" ~ Holy Quran 3:108
A poor person's land may produce plenty of crops, but injustice (Zalama. Zalimun - those who are unjust) sweeps it all away. ~ Proverbs 13:23 NLT
Also worth noting is this graphic below, very important, on the importance of fulfilling obligations.
Below is a quick summary of what was stated all-above the graphic of the Chapter of the Heights Verse 58.
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