The Spectrum of Human Action According to the Qur’an

Spectrum -1 Bad

Level -1 is the level where an action has already entered the side of evil. It is wrong, blameworthy, sinful, harmful or in conflict with the guidance of Allah.

In the language of the Qur’an, evil is often referred to with words such as سَيِّئَة (sayyi’ah), سُوء (sū’), شَرّ (sharr), إِثْم (ithm) and other expressions according to context. These words are not absolutely identical, but they show that the Qur’an does distinguish good actions from bad actions.

The Qur’an states:

...وَلَا تَسْتَوِي ٱلْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ

“And goodness and evil are not equal...”

Excerpt from Surah Fuṣṣilat 41:34

This verse becomes a major foundation for the existence of the negative side within the spectrum. Goodness and evil are not the same. Therefore, our actions cannot be left unchecked as though everything is merely an ordinary choice. There are actions that truly stand on the side of goodness. There are also actions that truly stand on the side of evil.

The Qur’an also states:

Surah an-Nisā’ 4:79

وَمَآ أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ

“And whatever evil befalls you, it is from yourself.”

This verse shows that a human being must look at his own role in the evil that occurs. Not every evil can be easily thrown upon circumstances, other people, society or destiny. There is evil that comes from one’s own choices, negligence, heedlessness, nafs, wrongdoing and personal error.

Level -1 begins when a person does something that already conflicts with truth, adab, trustworthiness or the limits of Allah.

• It can happen through the tongue.
• It can happen through the hand.
• It can happen through writing.
• It can happen through wealth.
• It can happen through power.
• It can happen through intention and planning.
• It can happen through the attitude of allowing something wrong to continue even when one is able to stop it.

The Qur’an also states:

وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُۥ

“And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”

Surah az-Zalzalah 99:8

This verse is important for -1 because it shows that evil does not have to be great in the eyes of human beings to enter the scale of Allah. There are small evils that people take lightly, yet they are still seen by Allah.

• One hurtful word.
• One bad suspicion that is spread.
• One small lie.
• One trust that is neglected.
• One insult that is thrown.
• One right taken without permission.
• One comment deliberately made to ruin the atmosphere.

All of these can become -1 if they truly stand on the side of evil.

The Qur’an also warns about sins committed through speech and circulation.

وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا

“…And do not let some of you backbite others…”

Excerpt from Surah al-Ḥujurāt 49:12

Backbiting is a clear example of -1. It may happen in an ordinary conversation. It may appear light. Yet the Qur’an does not treat it as light. It damages another person’s dignity, damages the heart of the listener and trains the tongue to become familiar with evil.

The Qur’an also states:

...وَلَا تَلْمِزُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا۟ بِٱلْأَلْقَٰبِ...

“…And do not insult one another and do not call one another by offensive names…”

Excerpt from Surah al-Ḥujurāt 49:11

This shows that insulting, mocking, belittling others and calling people by bad names also belong to the territory of evil. It may appear like a joke. But if it degrades human dignity, it has already descended to the side of evil.

The Qur’an also mentions speaking without knowledge.

...وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ

“And do not follow that of which you have no knowledge...”

Excerpt from Surah al-Isrā’ 17:36

This is extremely important in an age of comments, posts, forwarded messages and information sharing. Spreading something without knowledge can begin as -1. It is bad because a person begins to speak or spread something that he has not verified. If it later slanders, misleads people or builds a greater corruption, it can descend even further.

The Qur’an also mentions wastefulness.

وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا
إِنَّ ٱلْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوٓا۟ إِخْوَٰنَ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينِ

“And do not waste with wastefulness. Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils.”

Surah al-Isrā’ 17:26-27

Wastefulness is an evil that people sometimes treat as ordinary. Buying without need. Throwing away food. Using wealth to show off. Spending provision on things that bring no benefit while other responsibilities are neglected. This can become -1 because it violates a limit that Allah has forbidden.

The Qur’an also states:

وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ...

“…And do not be excessive. Indeed, He does not love those who are excessive.”

Excerpt from Surah al-An‘ām 6:141

This shows that something originally permissible can descend into evil when the element of excess enters it. Eating can be ordinary. But excessive eating can descend. Adornment can be ordinary. But adornment used for arrogance, showing off or violating boundaries can descend. Speaking can be ordinary. But excessive speech that leads to backbiting and slander can descend.

Therefore, -1 is the initial point where an action begins to become corrupt.

Technically, Spectrum -1 has several characteristics.

First, the action already conflicts with the guidance of Allah. It is no longer neutral. It has already entered the territory of error, sin, wrongdoing, harm or negligence.

Second, it brings harm to oneself, to others or to one’s relationship with Allah. The harm may be small, but it still exists. Examples include hurting someone’s feelings, losing trustworthiness, staining dignity, wasting time, neglecting obligations or damaging the atmosphere.

Third, it has not necessarily become a system or culture. At level -1, a person may commit evil because of weakness, anger, heedlessness, negligence or being carried away. It does not necessarily mean he defends that evil as a principle of life.

Fourth, it has not necessarily become continuous. If a person makes a mistake, realises it, stops and repents, that evil does not necessarily move to a lower level. But if he repeats it, defends it, spreads it or turns it into a habit, it can descend to -2, -3 or -4.

Fifth, it still needs to be stopped early. Do not underestimate -1. Many major evils begin from small evils that are not stopped. A tongue that becomes used to sarcasm can descend into slander. Anger that is not controlled can descend into oppression. Small wastefulness can become a lifestyle. A harsh comment can become a culture that breaks human hearts.

Example from the Angle of the Tongue

A person speaks harshly when angry. He does not reach the level of slander or physical violence, but his words hurt and belittle others. This is -1. It does not necessarily become -2 if he quickly realises it, apologises and corrects himself. But if he repeats it, defends it and turns harsh speech into his style of communication, it can descend.

Example from the Angle of Comments

A person leaves a sarcastic, insulting or humiliating comment without necessity. This is -1. He may feel that it is only an “ordinary comment”. But if the comment damages the atmosphere, hurts people and prevents others from reading calmly, it has already entered the side of evil.

Example from the Angle of Knowledge

A person shares religious information without checking it. He does not deliberately intend to deceive, but he is careless. This is -1 because he follows or spreads something without knowledge. If he realises it and corrects it, it stops there. If he becomes stubborn and continues to spread it after being corrected, it can become worse.

Example from the Angle of Writing

A person writes a claim without sufficient evidence. He uses confident language as though it is certain. This is -1 if it misleads readers. If he deliberately cuts evidence to make his own view win, that can descend further than -1.

Example from the Angle of Charity

A person gives assistance, but afterward he reminds the recipient of his favour. Outwardly, he gives. But that reminder harms the recipient. This is -1 or lower depending on the level of harm. If it was only a one-time slip and he realises it, that is an evil that must be stopped. If it becomes a tool for controlling people, it can descend to -2 or -3.

Example from the Angle of Family

A person neglects the emotions of his family, speaks harshly, belittles the effort of his spouse or scolds his child excessively. This is -1. It is bad because the home should be a place of safety, not a place where the tongue wounds. If he realises it and apologises, there is still room to rise. If he turns harshness into a way of controlling the family, it descends further.

Example from the Angle of Work

A person steals work time, delays a trust without reason, falsifies a small report or uses office property for personal interest. This is -1. It may appear small, but it is still betrayal. If left unchecked, it can form a culture of corruption, deception and breach of trust.

Example from the Angle of Social Media

A person shares breaking news without checking because he wants to be the first to spread it. This is -1. He may not have evil intentions, but that carelessness can spread slander. If the news damages someone’s name, the harm can become heavier.

Example from the Angle of Suspicion

A person has a bad suspicion about someone without evidence, then begins telling others about it. This is -1. It is bad because the suspicion has left the heart and become circulation. If it develops into slander, it descends further.

Example from the Angle of Worship

A person treats prayer lightly, delays it without an excuse or prays while deliberately playing around. This is -1 or more severe depending on the situation. It is bad because the relationship with Allah has begun to be treated carelessly.

Example from the Angle of Wealth

A person buys something wastefully while basic responsibilities have not been settled. This is -1. Wealth is not the problem. Buying is not the problem. But wastefulness and neglect of trust make it bad.

Example from the Angle of Anger

A person does not hit, but he deliberately uses silence as punishment to emotionally torment someone else. Outwardly, it is silence. But if that silence is used to hurt and punish unjustly, it can become -1.

Example from the Angle of Advice

A person corrects another person’s mistake, but does so by humiliating him in front of many people without necessity. The content of the correction may be true, but the method brings harm. This can become -1 because truth does not make an unjust method lawful.

Conclusion

Spectrum -1 is the early level of evil.

It is the sign that an action has begun to descend.

It may not yet have become a great corruption.

It may not yet have become a habit.

It may not yet be defended.

But it is already enough to be stopped.

Do not wait for -1 to become -2.

Do not wait for a small wrong to become a habit.

Do not wait for a harsh tongue to become slander.

Do not wait for wastefulness to become a lifestyle.

Do not wait for negligence to become betrayal.

Do not wait for a small sin to become a veil over the heart.

Bad is when an action has already left the territory of goodness and begins to carry error, sin or harm. It may not yet have become great, but it still must be stopped before it descends further.

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