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{{Short description|Arabic term for moral corruption}}
{{Distinguish|façade}}
{{Fiqh |criminal}}

'''''Fasād''''' ({{langx|ar|فساد}} {{IPAc-ar|//|f|a|.|s|aa|d}}), or '''''fasaad''''', is an Arabic word meaning 'rottenness', 'corruption', or 'depravity'.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Hans Wehr, J. Milton Cowan| year=1976 | title=A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic|url=https://archive.org/details/arabicenglishdic00wehr_111|url-access=registration|publisher=Spoken Language Services|edition=3rd|page=[https://archive.org/details/arabicenglishdic00wehr_111/page/n365 712]}}</ref> In an [[Islamic]] context, it can refer to "spreading corruption on Earth" or "spreading mischief in a [[Divisions of the world in Islam#Dar al-Islam|Muslim land]]",<ref>Oliver Leaman (2013), Controversies in Contemporary Islam, Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0415676137}}, Chapter 9</ref> moral corruption against [[Allah]],<ref>Oliver Leaman (2009), Islamic Philosophy, {{ISBN|978-0745645988}}, pp. 140-141</ref> or disturbance of the public peace.<ref>Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture, Editors: Coeli Fitzpatrick and Adam Hani Walker, {{ISBN|978-1610691772}}, p. 59</ref>

The spread of ''fasad'' is a major theme in the [[Quran]], and the notion is often contrasted with ''[[islah]]'' ("setting things aright").<ref name=study-quran-2-11>{{Cite book|author1=Nasr, Seyyed Hossein |author2=Dagli, Caner K. |author3=Dakake, Maria Massi |author4=Lumbard, Joseph E.B. |author5=Rustom, Mohammed. | year=2015 | title=The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary |publisher=HarperCollins (Kindle edition)|page=Loc. 3292 (Commentary to 2:11-12)}}</ref> Classical Quranic commentators commonly interpreted "corruption in the land" as open disobedience against God or its result.<ref name=study-quran-2-11/> In certain contexts, classical jurists took it to refer to the legal category of [[Hirabah]], comprising armed assault, rape and murder.<ref name=study-quran-5-33/> Some contemporary Muslims view destruction of the natural environment to be among the central meanings of verses referring to ''fasad''.<ref name=study-quran-2-11/>

The term has been used in the legal codes of the [[Islamic Republic of Pakistan]] and [[Islamic Republic of Iran]]. In Iran, laws referencing it have been used to prosecute or threaten political opposition figures.

==In Islamic scripture==

===Quran===

The spread of ''fasad'' is a major theme in the Quran, and the notion is often contrasted with ''[[islah]]'' ("setting things aright").<ref name=study-quran-2-11/>

Terms derived from the verbal root {{Transliteration|ar|f-s-d}} appear in a number of Quranic verses. The verb ''afsad'' (to cause fasad) appears, for example, in chapter 2 ([[Al-Baqara]]), verse 11-12, <blockQuote>When it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "Why, we only Want to make peace!" Of a surety, they are the ones who make mischief, but they realise (it) not. – {{Cite quran|2|11|style=nosup}}</blockQuote>

Classical Quranic commentators commonly interpreted spreading "corruption in the land" or "mischief on the earth" as open disobedience against God or its result.<ref name=study-quran-2-11/> Some contemporary Muslims view destruction of the natural environment to be among the central meanings of these verses.<ref name=study-quran-2-11/>

In chapter 5 ([[Al-Ma'ida]]) of [[Qur'an]], verse 33 contains the expression "to strive mischievously in the land" (yas'awna fi-l-ardi fasadan):

<blockQuote>The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and '''strive to spread corruption through the land''' is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter. – {{Cite quran|5|33|style=nosup}}</blockquote>

The scope of this verse has been limited by most classical commentators to the armed crimes falling under the legal category of [[Hirabah]], which comprises armed robbery, assault (including rape), and murder, particularly of innocent travelers on the road.<ref name=study-quran-5-33>{{Cite book|author1=Nasr, Seyyed Hossein |author2=Dagli, Caner K. |author3=Dakake, Maria Massi |author4=Lumbard, Joseph E.B. |author5=Rustom, Mohammed. | year=2015 | title=The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary |publisher=HarperCollins (Kindle edition)|page=Loc. 15198 (Commentary to 5:33)}}</ref> A "small minority" viewed this verse as applying to apostates in general.<ref name=study-quran-5-33/> This verse follows verses 26-31 which refer to the incident in which Qabil ([[Cain]]), son of [[Adam]], killed his brother Habil ([[Abel]]).<ref>{{citation|title=Atlas al Quran|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8BziirH6UKMC&q=qabil+and+habil&pg=PA24| first=Shawqi |last=Abu Khalil|year=2003|publisher=Dar us Salam |isbn=9960-897-54-0|page=24}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Tafsir ibn Kathir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jzdFxlrRoCQC&q=qabil+and+habil&pg=PA150| first=Safiur |last=Rahman Al Mubarakpuri |year=2003|publisher=Dar us Salam |page=150|isbn = 9789960892740}}</ref>

Those who cause mischief in the land (yufsiduna fi al-ard) are counted as "the losers" in Al-Baqara, verse 27:

<blockQuote>Those who break the covenant of Allah after ratifying it, and sever that which Allah ordered to be joined, and (who) make '''mischief in the earth''': Those are they who are the losers. –{{Quran-usc|2|27|style=nosup}}</blockQuote>

The word "losers" indicates being bereft of something, and can also mean "being lost", in the sense of losing one's way or one's self.<ref>{{Cite book|author1=Nasr, Seyyed Hossein |author2=Dagli, Caner K. |author3=Dakake, Maria Massi |author4=Lumbard, Joseph E.B. |author5=Rustom, Mohammed. | year=2015 | title=The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary |publisher=HarperCollins (Kindle edition)|page=Loc. 3451 (Commentary to 2:27)}}</ref>

===Hadiths===

Mischief has a broad meaning in Sahih Bukhari and other texts of Islam.<ref name=fahmed/>

Breaking ties with one's Muslim kith and kin is stated to be a form of ''fasad'' in Book 73 of Sahih Bukhari,<ref name=fahmed>Fethi Ahmed (2005), The Dilemma of Corruption in Southeast Asia, University Malaya Press, {{ISBN|978-983100-2643}}, pp 25-28</ref>

<blockQuote>The Prophet said, "Allah created the creations, and when He finished from His creations, Ar-Rahm (womb) said, "(O Allah) at this place I seek refuge with You from all those who sever the ties of kith and kin. Allah said, 'Yes, won't you be pleased that I will keep good relations with the one who will keep good relations with you, and I will sever the relation with the one who will sever the relations with you.' Allah's Apostle added. "Read (in the Qur'an) if you wish, the Statement of Allah: 'Would you then, if you were given the authority, do '''mischief in the land''' and sever your ties of kinship? (Surah Muhammad, Chapter 47: Verse 22)' –{{hadith-usc|usc=yes|Bukhari|8|73|16}}</blockQuote>

thieves who killed a shepherd and did other crimes were punished by death. [https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5727 bukhari:5727]

Sunan Abu Dawud, in 38.4359, states that the punishment for fasad was revealed for [[polytheists]].<ref>{{hadith-usc|usc=yes|abudawud|38|4359}}</ref>

==In modern politics and law==

===Pakistan===
Pakistan law includes the principle of fasad-fil-arz (corruption on earth), which allows an offender to be punished (with a sentence of up to 14 years of imprisonment) even if they are forgiven by the victim's party under Qisas and Diyat.<ref name=shahQD>{{cite news|last1=Shah|first1=Waseem Ahmad|title=Pros and cons of Qisas and Diyat law|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1043236|access-date=12 January 2015|publisher=dawn.com|date=September 16, 2013}}</ref>

===Iran===
After the Islamic revolution in Iran, suspected royalists were purged from the civil service and the army with justifications that employed the Quranic notions of ''fasad'' and ''[[Fitna (word)|fitna]]''. The clerical leadership attempted to present this campaign as analogous to the actions of the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad]] and [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]]. Acting as the prayer leader of Tehran, Ayatollah [[Hussein-Ali Montazeri]] commented that Muhammad was sent by God "to salvage [the inhabitants of Mecca] from corrupted moralities [''mafasid akhlaq'']". He identified fasad with "plotters, spies and traitors in government offices and institutions" and warned that failure to take action against it would put an end to "the sciences, the arts and progress".<ref name=haggay>Haggay R. (1992), "Crushing the opposition: adversaries of the Islamic Republic of Iran", ''The Middle East Journal'', Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 427–428</ref>

In the [[History of the Islamic Republic of Iran|Islamic Republic of Iran]] the offense is known as ''[[Mofsed-e-filarz]]'' and is a capital crime. The charge was used by Islamic Republican judicial authorities in the early days of the [[Iranian Revolution]], resulting in many imprisonments and executions. Possibly more than 8,000 people suffered that fate, ranging from former members of the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah's]] government, leaders of opposition or terrorist groups, or simply opponents of the regime.<ref>[http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2010/01/threat-execution/ Detained Protesters Threatened with Execution], ICHRI, 4 January 2010</ref> It has been used against leaders of the [[Baháʼí Faith]] on a [[Persecution of Baháʼís|number of occasions]],<ref>[http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2009/05/oneyearbahai/ Baha’i Leaders Remain Unjustly Detained After One Year], ICHRI, 14 May 2009</ref> and in February 2011 a large majority of members of the Iranian parliament called for the prosecution and execution of [[Iranian opposition]] leaders [[Mehdi Karroubi]] and [[Mir-Hossein Mousavi]] on the charge of mofsed-e-filarz.<ref name="nyt.com">[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/world/middleeast/16iran.html?hp Iran Lawmakers Want Opposition Leaders Killed], ALAN COWELL and NEIL MacFARQUHAR, nyt.com, February 15, 2011</ref>

==See also==
* [[Apostasy in Islam]]
* [[Corruption]]
* [[Mofsed-e-filarz]]
* [[War crime]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.islamfrominside.com/Pages/Tafsir/Tafsir(5_33).html Tafsir Sura 5, Verse 33]: Analysis of Qur'anic verses.

[[Category:Arabic words and phrases in Sharia]]
[[Category:Islam and capital punishment]]

Fasad - Revision history

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