[[ Ruby’s notes on verse 2:251 and 22:40 -

These verses contain far reaching solutions for a society. The Quran proclaims that if God does not replace formidable powers that become utterly corrupt and arrogant or not check people that become extremely mischievous and destructive by others the world would become completely dysfunctional.

There are inherent human propensities to become increasingly manipulative, corrupt and abusive if a group stays in power for a long time without being checked by others. These propensities led many empires and regimes rot to the core before the downfalls. The Quran exposes the causes of defeat and downfall of such formidable powers in the past that were oppressive and unjust. These powers often were replaced by the ones that were better -- fighting for the cause -- but previously weak and underdogs of the society.

The Quran alludes that two major ways the needed checks are provided. The first one enables a weaker party bring about a dramatic shift by defeating and displacing the formidable party in power. The verse [2:251] in the context of David and Goliath expounds that even a weak but righteous party like David could kill a giant evil like Goliath and bring about a just rule. Human history is full of occasions when formidable powers were replaced by underdogs. Without this process of good replacing evil human race would have perished long ago.

2. The other method is more insidious but no less profound in its capacity to fight injustice. It is provided by empowering the opposing forces that controls evil forces in a society that are destructive. If these counter forces are not empowered then the level of bigotry, prejudices, hatred, and arrogance could go to the level that could destroy even places of worship [22:40].

The Quran indicates that both of these measures are provided to restore functionality of societies.

History is a testament to the fact that when empires are at the zenith of power they start to decay and decline, when a ruler or a group become too powerful, it tends to become corrupt and abusive that often arouse people and insurgencies and revolutions ensue. History is full of these ups and downs of powers, one group replacing the other.

People are God’s representatives on earth. Therefore, believers should dispose affairs the way God does: deliberately creating proper checks and balances in all aspects of society especially in governance in order to establish accountability, a feature that is an effective roadblocks for corruption and abuse of power. These two verse imply that too much power in the hands of a few is a breeding ground for corruption and abuse of power. There must be the presence and empowerment of others who would pose as a counter force to help create the proper checks and balance in the governance of a society.

Believers should follow this policy of checking one group with another in socio-political affairs which concurs with the modern concept of ‘checks and balances’

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[[ sura al-Hajj, Medina 103

الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِن دِيَارِهِمْ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّا أَن يَقُولُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ...

22:40. (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right -- (for no cause) except that they say, "Our Lord is Allah."

...وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ...

Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another,

C2817. To allow a righteous people to fight against a ferocious and mischief-loving people was fully justified. But the justification was far greater here, when the little Muslim community was not only fighting for its own existence against the Makkan Quraish, but for the very existence of the Faith in the One True God.

They had as much right to be in Makkah and worship in the Ka'bah as the other Quraish; yet they were exiled for their Faith. It affected not the faith of one peculiar people. The principle involved was that of all worship, Jewish or Christian as well as Muslim, and of all foundations built for pious uses.

...لَّهُدِّمَتْ صَوَامِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَاتٌ وَمَسَاجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا اسْمُ اللَّهِ كَثِيرًا ...

there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure.

...وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ...

Allah will certainly aid those who aid His (cause);

...إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ ﴿٤٠﴾

for verily Allah is Full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (Able to enforce His Will).

C2818. 'Aziz means:

- Exalted in power, rank, dignity;

- Incomparable;

- Full of might and majesty;

- Able to enforce His Will.

The last signification is the one that predominates here.

الَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ...

41. (They are) those who, if We establish them in the land,

- establish regular prayer

- and give regular charity,

...وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ...

- enjoin the right and forbid wrong:

C2819. "Enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong" is an essential duty of the Muslim Ummah and one of the main purposes for which it has been raised.

See 3:104, 110; 9:71, 111-112.

...وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الْأُمُورِ ﴿٤١﴾

with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs. ]]

Asad’s version

(22:40) those who have been driven from their homelands against all right for no other reason than their saying, "Our Sustainer is God!" For, if God had not enabled people to defend themselves against one another, 58 [all] monasteries and churches and synagogues and mosques - in [all of] which God's name is abundantly extolled - would surely have been destroyed [ere now]. 59 And God will most certainly succour him who succours His cause: for, verily, God is most powerful, almighty,

(22:41) [well aware of] those who, [even] if We firmly establish them on earth, remain constant in prayer, and give in charity, and enjoin the doing of what ts right and forbid the doing of what is wrong; but with God rests the final outcome of all events.

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[[ Asad’s version - 58 Lit., "were it not that God repels some people by means of others" (cf the identical phrase in the second paragraph of 2:251).

59 The implication is that the defence of religious freedom is the foremost cause for which arms may and, indeed, must - be taken up (see 2:193 and the corresponding note 170), or else, as stressed in the concluding clause of 2:251, "corruption would surely overwhelm the earth". ]]