Section

The terms “righteousness” and “corruption” also belong to this category. When used without qualification, righteousness encompasses all good; likewise, corruption encompasses all evil, as explained earlier concerning the designation “righteous person.” The same applies to the designations “one who sets things right” and “one who causes corruption.” Allah Most High says in the account of Moses:

“Do you intend to kill me as you killed someone yesterday? You only wish to be a tyrant in the land; you do not wish to be among those who set things right.”

“And Moses said to his brother Aaron, ‘Take my place among my people, set things right, and do not follow the way of those who cause corruption.’”

Allah Most High also says:

“When they are told, ‘Do not cause corruption in the land,’ they say, ‘We are only setting things right.’ Indeed, it is they who cause corruption, but they do not perceive it.”

The pronoun refers to the hypocrites mentioned in His words:

“Among the people are those who say, ‘We believe in Allah and the Last Day,’ yet they are not believers.”

This wording is unrestricted: it includes those who lived in the time of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and those who would come after them. Hence Salmān al-Fārisī said that this verse referred to people who had not yet been created when it was revealed. Al-Suddī also reported from his teachers: “Corruption is disbelief and sins.”

Mujāhid explained it as “failing to obey the commands and to avoid the prohibitions.” These two explanations have the same meaning.

Ibn ʿAbbās explained it as “disbelief.” This is also the meaning of the explanation: “The hypocrisy through which they befriended the disbelievers and disclosed the believers’ secrets to them.”

Abū al-ʿĀliyah and Muqātil explained it as “committing sins.” This, too, is comprehensive, like the first two explanations.