Amanah

A Broader Concept of Trust in

Islam
Quran’s teachings on Amanah
‫ال فَأَبَي َْن أَ ْن يَحْ ِم ْلنَهَا َوَأ ْشفَ ْق َن‬
ِ َ‫ض َو ْال ِجب‬ ِ ‫ِإنَّا َع َرضْ نَا األ َمانَةَ َعلَى ال َّس َما َوا‬
ِ ْ‫ت َواألر‬
‫ان ظَلُو ًما َجهُوال‬ ُ ‫ِم ْنهَا َو َح َملَهَا اإل ْن َس‬
َ ‫ان ِإنَّهُ َك‬
We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the
Mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof: but
man undertook it;- He was indeed unjust and foolish;-
َ ِ‫وب هَّللا ُ َعلَى ْال ُم ْؤ ِمن‬
‫ين‬ َ ُ‫ت َويَت‬ِ ‫ين َو ْال ُم ْش ِر َكا‬
َ ‫ت َو ْال ُم ْش ِر ِك‬ِ ‫ين َو ْال ُمنَافِقَا‬
َ ِ‫ب هَّللا ُ ْال ُمنَافِق‬
َ ‫( لِيُ َع ِّذ‬
 ‫ان هَّللا ُ َغفُورًا َر ِحيما‬ َ ‫ت َو َك‬ ِ ‫َو ْال ُم ْؤ ِمنَا‬
(With the result) that Allah has to punish the Hypocrites, men and
women, and the Unbelievers, men and women, and Allah turns in Mercy
to the Believers, men and women: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful. Al-Ahzab 33,72-73
 Amanah here means Khilafah
(Vicegerence) upon earth
Amanah here means the Khilafah upon earth which Allah
(SWT) granted Adam (Alaih-Assalam).
He is given freedom of choice to obey or disobey Allah
(SWT). He is also given power over many of Allah’s (SWT)
creation on earth
He is responsible for his chosen path on this earth on the
Day of Judgment.
He will receive rewards if he fulfills the demands of this
Amanah or Khilafah. Otherwise will face chastisement.
This Amanah was offered to heavens, earth and mountains
but they begged to be excused.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Ibn Abbas )
Amanah here means obedience (by choice).
It was presented to heavens, earth and mountains but
they expressed their inability.
It was then presented to Adam.
He was told if he fulfilled its right, he will be rewarded
and if violated it, he will be punished. He accepted it.
Jahool means he has ignored accountability and
Zaloom means he is preparing way of his own
destruction by ignoring this Amanah.(Maudoodi)
 We are now Khulafa on this earth
and trustees for Islamic message
َ ‫ض فَ َم ْن َكفَ َر فَ َعلَ ْي ِه ُك ْف ُرهُ َوال يَ ِزي ُد ْال َكا ِف ِر‬
 ‫ين‬ َ ِ‫هُ َو الَّ ِذي َج َعلَ ُك ْم َخالئ‬
ِ ْ‫ف ِفي األر‬
َ ‫ُك ْف ُرهُ ْم ِع ْن َد َربِّ ِه ْم إِال َم ْقتًا َوال يَ ِزي ُد ْال َكافِ ِر‬
‫ين ُك ْف ُرهُ ْم إِال َخ َسا ًرا‬
035.039 He it is That has made you inheritors in the
earth: if, then, any do reject (Allah), their rejection
(works) against themselves: their rejection but adds to
the odium for the Unbelievers in the sight of their
Lord: their rejection but adds to (their own) undoing.
Fatir,35:39
Other Meanings of Amanah
Amanah is from “Aman” which means peace, no fear
or threat. In Islamic terminology it means utmost
honesty and fulfilling rights of people and Allah
(SWT). It has very broad meaning.
If someone is trusted with any valuable and he
returns it to the owner fully, this is amanah
All of our belongings in this world are Amanah from
Allah (SWT) including our body, health, wealth, time,
family etc.
 Meanings of Amanah
If someone shared with us a personal secret and we
keep it, it is Amanah.
To give honest advice is Amanah.
To fulfill our duty as employee honestly is Amanah.
To perform all the obligations of Sharia properly is
Amanah.
Proceedings of a meeting are Amanah.
To entrust the proper people with responsibility of
leadership is Amanah.
Word Amin is used for prophets,
angel and true believers
Prophet Mohammad (SAW) was called Sadiq and Amin even
before Prophethood.

َ ُ‫إِ ْذ قَا َل لَهُ ْم أَ ُخوهُ ْم نُو ٌح أَال تَتَّق‬

‫ون‬
Behold, their brother Noah said to them: "Will ye not fear
(Allah)?

ٌ ‫إِنِّي لَ ُك ْم َرسُو ٌل أَ ِم‬

‫ين‬
"I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust.” Shuara, 26,106-107
Similar ayahs are present in this Surah about Hood, Saleh, Loot,
Shuaib.
 Amanah is quality of Jibrael,
Moosa and desired quality of
believers
ُ ‫نَ َز َل بِ ِه الرُّ و ُح األ ِم‬
‫ين‬
026.193 With it came down the spirit of Faith and Truth- Shuara 26.193

‫ين‬ َ ْ‫ت ا ْستَأْ ِجرْ هُ إِ َّن َخي َْر َم ِن ا ْستَأْ َجر‬

ُ ‫ت ْالقَ ِويُّ األ ِم‬ ِ َ‫ت إِحْ َداهُ َما يَا أَب‬
ْ َ‫قَال‬
Said one of the (damsels): "O my (dear) father! engage him on wages:
truly the best of men for thee to employ is the (man) who is strong and
trusty".... Qasas, 28:26

َ ‫َوالَّ ِذ‬
َ ‫ين هُ ْم أل َمانَاتِ ِه ْم َو َع ْه ِد ِه ْم َرا ُع‬
‫ون‬
Those who faithfully observe their trusts and their covenants;
Mominoon, 23:8
 Give Amanah
to deserving people
 
‫اس أَ ْن تَحْ ُك ُموا‬
ِ َّ‫ت إِلَى أَ ْهلِهَا َوإِ َذا َح َك ْمتُ ْم بَي َْن الن‬ ِ ‫إِ َّن هَّللا َ يَأْ ُم ُر ُك ْم أَ ْن تُ َؤ ُّدوا األ َمانَا‬
‫صي ًرا‬ َ ‫بِ ْال َع ْد ِل إِ َّن هَّللا َ نِ ِع َّما يَ ِعظُ ُك ْم بِ ِه إِ َّن هَّللا َ َك‬
ِ َ‫ان َس ِمي ًعا ب‬
Allah doth command you to render back your Trusts to
those to whom they are due; And when ye judge
between man and man, that ye judge with justice:
Verily how excellent is the teaching which He giveth
you! For Allah is He Who heareth and seeth all things.
Nisa, 4:58
 Ahadith about Amanah
If you have 4 things in you, then even if you loose the
whole material world, you are not a looser:
1. Protection of Amanah
2. Truthfulness
3. Beautiful morals
4. Sustenance earned through Halal means.
(Musnad Ahmad)
 Ahadith on Amanah
He has no Iman who does not protect Amanah and he
has no Salaah who does not have Taharah. ( Targheeb,
Tabarani)
He has no Iman who has no Amanah and he has no
Deen who does not keep promises. (Tabrani)
Return the Amanah to whom it belongs and do not
commit dishonesty to even one who did it to you.
( Abu Dawood, Tirmizi)
  
Amanah is to choose right people for the right
position

Once Abudhur asked PROPHET for a position, He

replied O’ abudhur you are weak, the responsibility is
amanah, this will be a cause for humiliation on Day of
Judgment and only those will be saved who has taken it
rightfully and perfected it. (Muslim)
Prophet Yusuf P, when he presented his services to
king of Egypt, it was not because of his prophet hood
or piety but knowledge and skills. (Yusuf:55)
He said; "Set me over the store-houses of the land; I
will indeed guard them with full knowledge”
 Choosing right people
Prophet (s) said, Who ever appointed a person because
of kinship even though there was a better person
among them, who was most beloved to Allâh, then he
deceived Allâh, his messenger and all the Muslims.
Abu Baker advised zayed bin abe Safyan that do not
appoint people because of kinship, Prophet said,
whoever appoint a person over the matters of Muslim
because of his kinship, he will be curse by Allâh and
his deeds and judgments will not accepted and he will
be thrown in hellfire. [Hakim]
 Ignoring Amanah is sign of
Qiyamah
A person asked prophet about the sign of Qiyamah he
replied “when Amanah will be destroyed, then wait for
Qiyamah, person asked what it meant by destruction of
Amanah, He P said – the responsibilities are given to
weak and irresponsible people then wait for Qiyamah.
Amanah is fulfilling responsibilities
assigned
Fulfilling the responsibilities in best manner, with all
talent and potentials, indeed it is an amanah.
Not fulfilling the responsibilities is a mistrust and
deception.
On Day of Judgment, all dishonest people will be
given the flag and they will be recognized as corrupt
people.
 Taking undue advantage of
position is Khayanah
Do not take the personal advantage of position
If an employ take the bribe or use unlawful mean to
raise his salary – it is prohibited and unlawful. (haram)
Massager of Allâh said – if we give a position to anyone
we also take care of his needs if he take extra then he is
untrustworthy.
Mistrust is zulm or unjust with other.
 Do not take undue advantage of a
position of authority
Prophet P said - if an aamil (caretaker) do the job right, and
not take the advantage of his position he will consider as
Mujahid for sake of Allâh. Swt. [Tibrani]
Prophet P said – if a responsible person hides a needle, he
would be asked on Day of Judgment.
Prophet P sent a person for collection of sadaqa, when he
return he said this is your and this is gift for me - Prophet P
said people said we are given the gift, would they received that
gift if they would stay with their mother and father. Prophet P
said on Day of Judgment people will carry their unlawful stuff
on their shoulder and asking me for help. {Muslim}
 Warning about Khayanah
َ ‫ين َآمنُوا ال تَ ُخونُوا هَّللا َ َوال َّرسُو َل َوتَ ُخونُوا أَ َمانَاتِ ُك ْم َوأَ ْنتُ ْم تَ ْعلَ ُم‬
‫ون‬ َ ‫يَا أَي َُّها الَّ ِذ‬
008.027 O ye that believe! betray not the trust of Allah
and the Messenger, nor misappropriate knowingly
things entrusted to you.

ِ ‫َوا ْعلَ ُموا أَنَّ َما أَ ْم َوالُ ُك ْم َوأَ ْوال ُد ُك ْم ِف ْتنَةٌ َوأَ َّن هَّللا َ ِع ْن َدهُ أَجْ ٌر َع‬
‫ظي ٌم‬
008.028 And know ye that your possessions and your
progeny are but a trial; and that it is Allah with Whom
lies your highest reward. Anfal, 8,27-28
 Khayanah
Khayanah is opposite to Amanah
It means not to pay the rights of individuals and of
Allah (SWT) in honest way.
Khayanah happens by the heart, tongue, hands and
feet etc.

‫يَ ْعلَ ُم َخائِنَةَ األ ْعي ُِن َو َما تُ ْخفِي الصُّ ُدو ُر‬
(Allah) knows of (the tricks) that deceive with the eyes,
and all that the hearts (of men) conceal. Ghafir, 40:19
 Burden of Khayanah on the Day of
Judgment
Jihad fi sabeelillh eliminate all sins except khayanat
(mistrust of amanah); on the day of judgment a person
will be brought, who was martyr in way of Allâh. He
will be asked to fulfill the amanah, he will say how it is
possible now, then he will be taken to hellfire and his
khayanat of amanah will be shown to him. He will
recognize them and try to take them on his shoulder,
but would not be able to take it out form the hell fire.
 Signs of Hypocrite
Prophet (SAW) said,” Hypocrite has three signs even if
he fasts, establishes Salaah and considers himself a
Muslim.
1. When he talks he lies.
2. When he promises he breaks the promise.
3. When he is given Amanah, he commits Khayanah.
 Only people of Amanah will go to
Jannah
During the Khayber battle, companions started
talking about those who became martyrs. When they
mentioned one name, Prophet (SAW) said no. I saw
him in hellfire. He stole a sheet from the official
property. He told Omar to announce that only people
of Iman (and amanah) will go to Jannah. (Muslim and
Tirmizi)
 Warning to officials about
Khayanah
Muaz Ibn Jabal reported that when Prophet (SAW)
appointed him governor of Yemen he called him. He
said, “ I have called you for one reason. Whatever you
take without my permission is Khayanah. Every
Khayan person will bring his Khayanah on the day of
Judgment.” (Tirmizi)
Once Prophet (SAW) said,” When we appoint an
official and he takes one needle or something cheaper
than that (unjustly) then it is Khayanah.”Muslim, Abu
Dawood.