Basic
Ethics & Manners
Surah: Al-Maidah (2)
Cooperate in Righteousness and Piety, Not in Sin and Aggression
وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلۡبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡعُدۡوَٰنِ
— المائدة الآية 2
Verse: "And cooperate in righteousness and piety, and do not cooperate in sin and aggression." (5:2)
The Islamic cooperation principle: Islam is fundamentally communal — "cooperate" is a participatory verb. Good is built by collective hands, not isolated individual effort.
Practical lesson: Before helping anyone in any project — ask: is this from righteousness and piety or sin and aggression? The answer determines whether your help is obligatory or forbidden.
The Islamic cooperation principle: Islam is fundamentally communal — "cooperate" is a participatory verb. Good is built by collective hands, not isolated individual effort.
Practical lesson: Before helping anyone in any project — ask: is this from righteousness and piety or sin and aggression? The answer determines whether your help is obligatory or forbidden.
Source: Ibn Kathir (3/4); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (6/32)
Test Yourself
What is the difference between "ithm" (sin) and "udwan" (aggression) in the verse?
Show Answer