Page 13 - Zeal and Enthusiasm in the Qur'an

WHAT IS ZEAL?

Zeal and excitement are, in fact, intensely experienced feelings
with which everyone is familiar. However, the main purpose of
dealing with the concept of zeal in this book is to reveal some obvi-
ous differences between zeal as experienced in society at large
and the zeal the Qur’an communicates to man.

Zeal, in general terms, is used to express enthusiastic interest
and devotion to a cause, and sincere diligence in accomplishing it.
Whether important or insignificant, everyone has causes he eagerly
embraces throughout his life. Enthusiasm often directed toward
materialistic benefits, also surfaces when worldly passions are the
issue. Some people exert efforts to be rich, to have a brilliant career
or a prestigious position, while others try to appear superior or to
earn prestige, respect and praise. For example, everyone is familiar
with the determination a high school student shows to pass a col-

lege admission test, the enthusiasm of a person hired for a desired
position in a company, or the ambition and effort exerted for a busi-
ness deal which is expected to be profitable. There is one strikingly
common feature to all these – enthusiasm produces a distinctive
and strong character in a person which would be unlikely to appear
in the absence of zeal. Risks one never dared to run under normal
conditions may well be taken to realize a goal. An unprecedented

self-sacrificing manner is adopted without hesitation. Indeed, a
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