The Covenant

This page presents several selected verses from the Quran, which therein mention the Mitha' [Covenant] in which every soul has testified that Allah is their Lord. Acceptance by man of the responsibility to maintain the balance of the universe according to the Will of Allah lifts man to a special status among other creations to be the Representative of Allah on Earth. As a spiritual being endowed with free will man can excel above the angels, yet can fall below the bestial level. Allah has entrusted man with this great responsibility that will require full accountability before Allah on Judgement day. Allah Says:

"When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam from their loins- Their decendants, and made them testify concerning themselves (saying):

"Am I not your Lord (Who cherishes and sustains you)?" They said: Yea! We do testify!" (this), lest ye should say on the Day of Judgement: "Of this we were never mindful." (Al-A'râf 7: 172)

After the children of Adam testify that Allah is their Lord; Allah then offers the trust of the universe to them, for there is none other in His creations ready to accept that trust, was it a blessing or a pitfall. Then Allah Says:

"We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; But they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof: But man undertook iy:- He was indeed unjust and foolish." (Al­Ahzâb 33: 72)

Then Allah bestows on man his special status as the represenatative of Allah on Earth, whose responsibility is to ensure that Allah's Creation continues its progression so that His Attributes are more and more perfectly expressed in physical world. To do this man must perfect himself in accord with the Will of Allah, perfect all of human society according to the Will of Allah, and to perfect the physical world of space and time (our planet Earth and the whole universe) according to the Will of Allah. Allah Says:

"And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a vicegerent [representative] on the earth, they said: Wilt thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we, we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know that which ye know not." (Al-Baqarah, 2: 30)

Being the Representative of Allah on earth is a most wonderful blessing of Allah bestowed upon the children of Adam, as ordained in Quran: Allah Says:

"And indeed We have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with At-Taiyibât (lawful good things), and have preferred them above many of those whom We have created with a marked preference." (Al-Isrâ', 17:70)

In addition, Allah raises man in ranks, some above another, and tests them with the talent He has given; Allah Says:

"It is He Who hath made you (His) agents, inheritors of the earth: He hath raised you in ranks, some above others: that He may try you in the gifts He hath given you: for thy Lord is quick in punishment: yet He is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful" (Al-An'âm 6: 165)

Being the Representative of Allah, man has become a special creation which is most favourable to Allah, He responds whenever man needs Him and He removes the evil from them. Allah Says:

"Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth. Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? Little is that you remember!" (An-Naml 27: 62)

As the Representative of Allah on Earth it is man's role to pass judgement over his fellow beings, in which the priciple of justice should be observed and must prevail. Allah says:

"Verily! Allâh commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due; and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allâh) gives you! Truly, Allâh is Ever All­Hearer, All­Seer." (An-Nisâ' 4: 58)

Then Allah reminds and warns man not to betray Him, not to betray His Messenger, nor to betray the Amana [trust] that Allah delegated to them. Allah Says:

"O you who believe! Betray not Allâh and His Messenger, nor betray knowingly your Amânât (things entrusted to you, and all the duties which Allâh has ordained for you." (Al-Anfâl 8: 27)

Allah, therefore, sent down the divine books- Taurât, Zabur, Injeel [Gospel] and Quran, therein guidence by which Men will judge among themselves justly, so that there shall be no more violation or exploitation. Fear Allah ! and the verses of Allah should not be sold with a miserable price of the worldly life. Otherwise, shall man be damned Kâfirûn [Disbelievers], Zâlimûn [Polytheists] and Fâsiqûn [Rebellious]. Allah Says:

"Verily, We did send down the Taurât (Torah) [to Mûsa (Moses)], therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allâh's Will, judged the Jews. And the rabbis and the priests [too judged the Jews by the Taurât (Torah) after those Prophets] for to them was entrusted the protection of Allâh's Book, and they were witnesses thereto. Therefore fear not men but fear Me (O Jews) and sell not My Verses for a miserable price. And whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed, such are the Kâfirûn (i.e. disbelievers - of a lesser degree as they do not act on Allâh's Laws." "And We ordained therein for them: "Life for life[], eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it shall be for him an expiation. And whosoever does not judge by that which Allâh has revealed, such are the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong­doers - of a lesser degree" "And in their footsteps, We sent 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)[], confirming the Taurât (Torah) that had come before him, and We gave him the Injeel (Gospel), in which was guidance and light and confirmation of the Taurât (Torah) that had come before it, a guidance and an admonition for Al-Muttaqûn" "Let the people of the Injeel (Gospel) judge by what Allâh has revealed therein. And whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed (then) such (people) are the Fâsiqûn (the rebellious i.e. disobedient (of a lesser degree) to Allâh" (Al-Mâ'idah 5: 44-47)

As the Representative of Allah, the Mu'minun [Believers] instructed to stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, though it might require the biggest sacrifice and prices that one can bear, for Allah is and the only best Protector and Rewarder. Allah Says:

"O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allâh, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allâh is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allâh is Ever Well­Acquainted with what you do." (An-Nisâ'4: 135)

Being given such a high status above other creatures in the universe, man should be very grateful and be devoted to seek the pleasure of Allah. Allah Says:

"Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists)." "He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims." (Al-An'âm 6: 162- 163)

Last but not least, the Prophet Muhammad [SAW] was reported to have said:

From 'Umar (radiyallaahu 'anhu) who said that Allaah's Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa'sallam) said: Each of you is a guardian and is responsible for those whom he is in charge of. So the ruler is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects; a man is the guardian of his family and is responsible for those under his care; a woman is a guardian of her husband's home and is responsible for those under her care; a servant is the guardian of his master's wealth and is responsible for that which he is entrusted with; and a man is the guardian of his father's wealth and is responsible for what is under his care. So each one of you is a guardian and is responsible for what he is entrusted with. (Reported by al-Bukharee (Eng. Trans. 9/189/no.252) and Muslim (Eng. Trans. 3/1017/no.4496))