The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam — Page 71
65 for transgression is baghi, which connotes excessive rain which ruins crops. A deficiency in the discharge of an obligation or an excess in its discharge are both baghĩ. In short, whichever of these three qualities is exercised out of place becomes tainted. That is why they are all three qualities conditioned by the due observance of place and occasion. It should be remembered that equity or benevolence or graciousness between kindred are not in themselves moral qualities. They are man's natural conditions and faculties that are exhibited even by children before they develop their reason. Reason is a condition of the exercise of a moral quality and there is also a condition that every moral quality should be exercised in its proper place and on its proper occasion. There are several other directions set out in the Holy Quran concerning benevolence which are all made subject to the condition of place and time. It is said: وَلَا تَيَمَّمُوا ا أَنْفِقُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ يَا يُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْفِقُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَتِ الْخَيْثَ مِنْهُ 7 لا تُبْطِلُوا صَدَقَتِكُمْ بِالمَن وَالْأَذَى كَالَّذِي يُنْفِقُ مَالَهُ رِئَاءَ النَّاسِ 19 79 78. O you who believe! spend of the good things that you have earned,. . . . . . and seek not what is bad to spend out of it (The Holy Quran, al- Baqarah 2:268)