Page 42 - Zeal and Enthusiasm in the Qur'an

Zeal and Enthusiasm Described in the Qur’an

"And they had already promised Allah before not to turn
their backs. And ever is the promise to Allah [that about
which one will be] questioned." 50
A believer fulfills his commitment to Allah. He faces hunger,
poverty, fear, injury or death with steadiness, accepts them and
shows a thankful attitude towards his Lord. Even if innumerable

difficulties should come upon him one after another and his entire
life is spent in hardship, he knows that when he accepts difficulties
in this life (lasting but a few decades) with good patience for Allah,
he will experience no difficulty throughout eternity – not for a single
moment. His earnest behavior will, by Allah’s will, earn him the
most beautiful blessings: the pleasure and mercy of Allah and His
paradise. This good news is given in the Qur’an:

"And We will surely test you with something of fear and
hunger and loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give glad
tidings to the patient." 51
There is a final point to be kept in mind. The way believers face
difficulties with patience is different from the ignorant person’s un-
derstanding of patience, which is simply to endure. Believers’ un-
derstanding, however, is not only "endurance" but facing the
problems that one must solve and overcome. Therefore, believers
do their best to provide solutions by exercising their reason and

resorting to all material and physical means. While doing so, they
pray to Allah to give them strength and relief:
"Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgot-
ten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like
that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and
burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear.
And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us.

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