Page 53 - The Courage of the Faithful

Examples of Courage Among the Prophets and Sincere Believers

is mentioned in it, you see those with sickness in their
hearts looking at you with the look of someone about to
faint from fear of death... (Surah Muhammad, 20)
As can be discerned from the above verse, cowardice is one of
the most pronounced characteristics of hypocrites. In another verse,
we are told:

When you see them, their outward form appeals to you,
and if they speak you listen to what they say. But they are
like propped-up planks of wood. They imagine every cry to
be against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them.
Allah fight them! How they are perverted! (Surat al-
Munafiqun, 4)
When the order arrived, the hypocrites, who claimed that they

w e re Muslims, who until then had vouched that they would fight,
tried to act as if it was not they who had said such things. They did
not keep their promises. Allah declared the following on the matter:
… More fitting for them would be obedience and honor-
able words. Once the matter is resolved upon, being true to
Allah would be better for them. (Surah Muhammad, 20-21)
They were afraid to fight because they did not have a sure faith
in Allah and the Hereafter, and therefore, failed to show the courage
typical of true believers. When the sincere Muslims heard these

verses, their determination increased. To emphasize this sentiment
in the faithful, Allah tells us in one verse: "… Some of them have
fulfilled their pact by death and some are still waiting to do so, not
having changed in any way at all." (Surat al-Ahzab, 23) Those who
w e re of sincere faith resigned themselves to such severe tests, be-
cause courage is a characteristic of the believer. And, is not some-

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