Page 86 - Zeal and Enthusiasm in the Qur'an

Zeal and Enthusiasm Described in the Qur’an

observe some Qur’anic ordinances and disregard others, they are
not guided to the right path. Their decisions and behaviors are
based on ignorant rationales that will never help them to attain true
success.
The indifference in their hearts puts them into an idle and negli-
gent state of mind. They become lazy, and since they do not make

a serious effort toward the deeds that earn paradise, they never
complete a task in good time. They have no reason to be in a hurry
or to expend physical or mental energy. If they face a problem, they
fail to confront it with determination although they might have the
ability to find many solutions. In brief, the works of unenthusiastic
people are generally unproductive and unfruitful. Whatever excuses
they make for it, the reality is that they do not feel the zeal and ex-

citement of faith.
Let it be remembered, however, that people with such a disease
do the most harm to themselves because apart from what they lose
in the life of this world, they will also be disappointed in the here-
after. Then they will regret that they had not been among the fore-
most:
"Those will have lost who deny the meeting with Allah, until
when the Hour [of resurrection] comes upon them unex-
pectedly, they will say, ‘Oh, [how great is] our regret over
what we neglected concerning it,’ while they bear their bur-
dens [i.e., sins] on their backs. Unquestionably, evil is that
which they bear." 126

In the hereafter they will see that what they had undertaken su-
perficially or avoided completely has brought them loss. Similarly,
they will witness that whatever they did accomplish was of no avail
since they failed to understand the importance of earning Allah’s
acceptance and did not put forth the required effort for that. In

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