And His words: “When they are told, ‘Do not spread corruption on earth,’ they reply, ‘We are only reformers.’” (al-Baqarah 2:11)

— “When they are told”: that is, when the hypocrites are addressed.
— “Do not spread corruption on earth”: by disbelief and the various kinds of sin.
— “We are only reformers”: what we are doing, they claim, is not corruption at all.

Overall meaning of the verse: Allah, exalted is He, describes one of the traits of the hypocrites. When they are forbidden to commit sins that bring down punishments and cause corruption on earth, and are commanded to obey Allah—obedience that would set the earth right—they answer, “Our affair is one of reform.” Because of the sickness in their hearts they have come to regard corruption as reform.

Connection to this chapter: Whoever invites people to seek judgment by anything other than what Allah has revealed, or calls them to acts of disobedience, has produced the gravest corruption on earth.

Lessons derived:

1. A warning against enforcing systems and laws that contradict the Sharia, even if their proponents claim that their aim is reform.
2. The claim of seeking reform is no excuse for abandoning what Allah has revealed.
3. A warning against self-admiration and overconfidence in one’s own opinion.
4. A diseased heart sees truth as falsehood and falsehood as truth.
5. A good intention does not permit violating the sacred law.