Page 30 - The Importance of Following the Good Word

Surely, none except sincere believers, who seek Allah's
good pleasure, show forth such sensitivity. As long as their
personal well-being is not in detriment, those who do not live
by the religion never aim to correct others' mistakes and
weaknesses. The faults of others, despite the regret and
shame they will entail on the Day of Judgment, do not con-
cern them. For, they pursue nothing but the mundane things
of this world. If they are required to admonish another for
some reason, they are not careful of the words they use, but
say whatever comes to their minds, thereby causing anxiety
for the other party. However, their normal course is to not in-
terfere with anyone. For, to criticize someone, to admonish
them, telling them that they need to reform a particular mode
of behavior, are difficult tasks, since such attempts will often
entail a negative reaction from the other.
As we explained in detail, in the previous sections, believ-
ers accept all such risks, and, without expecting anything in
return, enjoin the good and forbid evil, only because it has
been commanded in the Qur'an. Allah describes this attribute
of the believers as follows:
You are the best nation ever to be produced before
mankind. You enjoin the right, forbid the wrong and
believe in Allah. (Surah Al `Imran, 110)
As recompense, to those who comply with the Qur'an,
Allah has made it easy for them to offer advice, and made it a
blessing. In a verse of the Qur'an, Allah advised our Prophet
(saas) that believers should not fear giving advice, but en-
couraged them, by informing them that it was for this very
reason why the Qur'an was sent down:
It is a Book sent down to you—so let there be no con-

28 THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING THE GOOD WORD