CONTINUATION OF GOOD DEEDS AND WORSHIP
(Surat as-Saff; 2-3)
"You were bandying it about on your tongues, your mouths uttering something about which you had no knowledge. You considered it to be a trivial matter, but, in Allah's Sight, it is immense."
(Surat an-Nur; 15)
CONTINUATION OF GOOD DEEDS AND WORSHIP
"Spare time" is an alien concept to the believer who abides by the principles of the Qur'an. The fact that his obligatory acts of worship do not consume much time does not mean that he engages in trivialities during the rest of the day, according to his whims and desires.
Allah has commissioned believers to spend their lives struggling with both their own selves and intellectually with the unbelievers. In so doing, they engage in endless tasks that are geared to earning Allah's good pleasure. Therefore, accomplishment is not reason to take a break but marks the beginning of further activity. Allah ordered:
So when you have finished, work on, and make your Lord your goal! (Surat al-Inshirah; 7-8 )
In compliance with the verses, once a Muslim completes a task, he should immediately start a serious effort toward another. The only exception would be taking rest in order to regain strength to struggle again for the cause of Allah. Benefit from the blessings granted by Allah within legitimate limits causes a believer to be thankful to Him and to feel more energetic.
There is no similarity between the intellectual struggle of a Muslim to spread the Qur'an's moral teachings and that of an unbeliever's difficulties, hardship, sadness and despair that he refers to as "struggle in life." The exhaustion and anguish an unbeliever experiences in this world is but a slight preview of never-ending grief in the Hereafter. In contrast, the efforts of a believer who loves Allah above everything else with great loyalty and zeal will bring him great spiritual joy similar to that in Paradise. Meanwhile, his efforts will earn great and infinite rewards in the Hereafter, Allah willing.
NOT DIVULGING INFORMATION OF A DISQUIETING OR REASSURING NATURE
In an Islamic society, Allah instructs the conveyance of all kinds of information concerning Muslims directly or indirectly about a possible harm or benefit to the authority who is in the best position to interpret it:
When news of any matter reaches them they spread it about, whether it is of a reassuring or disquieting nature. If they had only referred it to the Messenger and those in command among them, those among them able to discern the truth about it would have had proper knowledge of it. If it were not for Allah's favor to you and His mercy, all but a very few of you would have followed Satan. (Surat an-Nisa'; 83)
There are many drawbacks to spreading information among people. First, the information in question may not reach the proper authority; or if it does, after passing through several channels, it will most probably become corrupted. It may delay a matter that needs urgent attention, causing harm to the interests of Islam or Muslims. Second, the spread of information better kept confidential allows unbelievers and hypocrites to become aware of it. Using this information, they can cause harm to Muslims or render a precaution ineffective.
Therefore, it is obligatory to immediately inform those in authority who are most capable of making the best interpretations, formulating pertinent decisions and insuring necessary precautions.
A believer possesses wisdom and awareness that will enable him to recognize information of reassuring or disquieting nature and then communicate it promptly to the appropriate authorities. Increase in the number of wise believers who possess this understanding will affect the spread of Qur'anic teachings.
SUSPECTING OF INFORMATION BROUGHT BY A DEVIATOR
A deviator has gone astray from the path of Allah and chosen a life based on rebellion against Qur'an. One cannot expect a rebel against Allah's religion to observe the limits of justice, righteousness, honesty or reliability, for such people have no fear of Allah, envy believers, are eager to cause them to deviate, and take pleasure from bringing harm to them or making them unhappy. This being the case, the accuracy of information reported by such people should be thoroughly scrutinized. As Allah reveals in the Qur'an:
You who believe! If a deviator brings you a report, scrutinize it carefully in case you attack people in ignorance and so come to greatly regret what you have done. (Surat al-Hujurat; 6)
Making a decision without investigating the accuracy of information according to the commands inscribed in the Qur'an would be ignorant behavior. In another verse, Allah states:
Do not pursue what you have no knowledge of. Hearing, sight and hearts will all be questioned. (Surat al-Isra'; 36)
LACK OF AFFECTION FOR THOSE WHO OPPOSE ALLAH'S WORDS
All the value judgments of believers are based on the standards of the Qur'an. Love is one of these. A believer loves only what Allah loves and dislikes what He dislikes. This is a definitive and certain measure that Allah states in the Qur'an and also is the natural inclination of any sincere believer. The love he feels for Allah and the believers is dependant upon his faith. The intensity of the love that Allah has towards believers increases according to the measure of their faith. A true believer cannot feel affection for enemies of his religion.
Allah explains in the following verse:
You will not find people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having love for anyone who opposes Allah and His Messenger, though they be their fathers, their sons, their brothers or their clan. Allah has inscribed faith upon such people's hearts and will reinforce them with a Spirit from Him. (Surat al-Mujadala; 22)
Some who have recently embraced Islam and not yet become acquainted with the values of the Qur'an may still have an erroneous understanding of love and friendship. A flawed attitude generally stems from insufficient knowledge of Islam and therefore, a failure to wholeheartedly embrace the Islamic outlook. But Allah addresses believers as follows:
You who believe! Do not take My enemy and your enemy as friends, showing love for them when they have rejected the truth that has come to you, driving out the Messenger and yourselves simply because you believe in Allah your Lord. If you go out to strive in My Way and seeking My pleasure, keeping secret the love you have for them, I know best what you conceal and what you make known. Any of you who do that have strayed from the right way." (Surat Al-Mumtahana; 1)
One who retains his former understanding of love and adopts values incompatible with the Qur'an despite this explicit warning will "stray from the soundness of the way." If he should try to conceal this state of mind and associates with Muslims because of personal interests, his wrong intention will be revealed by Allah sooner or later. In a verse Allah reveals as follows:
Or did you suppose that you would be left without Allah knowing those of you who have strived and who have not taken anyone as their intimate friends besides Allah and His Messenger and the believers? Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat at-Tawba; 16)
NOT FEARING CENSURE BY OPPONENTS
In every age, true believers have been criticized by the society in which they live since they serve Allah alone, observe His limits and strive to earn His good pleasure rather than that of the people. Unbelievers are antagonistic toward them because they are critical of their deviant lifestyles and philosophies and adhere to the ideal Allah describes in the Qur'an. The reaction of a disbelieving society has often been in the form of assaults or persecution by the ruling elite on believers, while the general population condemned them.
When faced with criticism and persecution, believers who enjoy firm faith and trust in Allah never stray from the principles of their religion. For this reason Allah's help and support is always with them, and they gain victory over the unbelievers.
A believer may not always be subjected to physical attacks. Yet, his meticulousness in obeying the law of Allah and determination to expose the unjust ideological systems of disbelief often make him a target of criticism and condemnation. But upon observing the strong character of believers who have firm trust in Allah and are not discouraged in the face of criticism, unbelievers soon realize their efforts are doomed to failure. Those who fear the blame of Allah alone are not shaken by censure. On the contrary, believers implant a deep anxiety in the hearts of their critics. This kind of condemnation motivates believers even more.
To fear the blame of people amounts to ascribing associates to Allah, since He enjoins fear of Him alone. Anyone failing to stand firm for his religion harms only himself. And Allah will replace such people with better ones:
You who believe! If any of you renounce your religion, Allah will bring forward a people whom He loves and who love Him, humble to the believers, fierce to the unbelievers, who strive in the Way of Allah and do not fear the blame of any censurer. That is the unbounded favor of Allah which He gives to whoever He wills. Allah is Boundless, All-Knowing. (Surat al-Ma'ida; 54)
HUMBLENESS BEFORE ALLAH
Perfection is an attribute particular to Allah alone. Even the prophets who had profound faith and whose moral excellence is praised in the Qur'an were not above human error. Believers are advised to avoid these kinds of errors. Throughout the Qur'an, Allah commands the prophets and all believers to seek His forgiveness because intentionally or not, people commit sins. This is a clear sign that man is weak, vulnerable, and in need of Allah, even while observing the limits set by Him.
The responsibility of a believer is to repent once he recognizes his mistakes and sins, seek forgiveness and be careful not to repeat them again. But this is not to make yourselves appear sinless and without error or to prove your innocence; such an attitude is not pleasing to Allah:
To whoever avoids the major wrong actions and indecencies—except for minor lapses—truly your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He has most knowledge of you when He first produced you from the earth, and when you were embryos in your mothers' wombs. So do not claim purity for yourselves. He knows best those who guard against evil. (Surat an-Najm; 32)
The reason a person pretends righteousness is his desire for distinction or eminence. However, such a person actually degrades himself both in Allah's Sight and in the eyes of believers. In one sense, even if it is not overt, his claims to being superior, it is discomforting to the heart of a sincere Muslim. He thinks he has deceived believers and attained value and worth in their sight; but he does not realize that he is pitiful and managed with patient tolerance. Shortly afterwards, he really starts to believe that he is perfect and day by day, his behavior becomes more humiliating.
He may even begin to believe he is infallible, and when seeing himself sinless, a person does not feel the need to ask for forgiveness from Allah. He becomes arrogant and thus virtually moulds himself into an idol. This is his certain downfall.
A sincere believer, on the other hand, is aware of his errors and continuously asks for forgiveness from Allah. He constantly hopes for Allah's mercy and approval. Therefore, Allah conceals his faults, forgives his sins, purifies his soul, and makes him a superior person.
Do you not see those who claim to be purified? No, Allah purifies whoever He wills. They will not be wronged by so much as the smallest speck. (Surat an-Nisa'; 49)
