Page 15 - Zeal and Enthusiasm in the Qur'an

THE CONCEPT OF ZEAL IN A SOCIETY

OF IGNORANCE

Who belongs to a society of ignorance?
Ignorance is usually understood as being uneducated and un-

cultured. However, the ignorant people depicted throughout this
book are those who are ignorant about the religion of Islam, about
the infinite might and attributes of Allah Who created them, and
about the Qur’an that has been revealed to mankind. Such people
live according to information imposed on them by a society full of
misconceptions rather than facts revealed in the Qur’an. Allah de-
fines people of ignorance as those "whose forefathers were not

warned, so they are unaware." 4
The lives of people who are unaware of the Qur’an and have no
knowledge of the real nature of worldly life, the truth about death,
and the after-death experiences of Hell and paradise are compati-
ble with their ignorance. Consequently, the matters that make them
feel happy, eager and excited are based upon flawed and erro-
neous beliefs.

People of ignorance are enthusiastic
only about worldly goals…

"...Those who took their religion as distraction and amuse-
ment and whom the worldly life deluded." 5

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