Page 31 - The Importance of Following the Good Word

striction in your breast because of it—so that you can
give warning by it and as a reminder to the believers.
(Surat al-A`raf, 2)
Those who, if We establish them firmly on the earth,
will perform prayers and pay alms, and command
what is right and forbid what is wrong. The end result
of all affairs is with Allah. (Surat al-Hajj, 41)
Being aware of the significance of these verses, believers
warn one another, merely to earn Allah's good pleasure. And,
towards those believers who offer them advice, thereby sum-
moning them to the truth, they respond in the best way.

Disbelievers Do Not Heed the Good Word
When they are summoned by the good word to Allah, His
just Book, and the path of messengers, disbelievers do not
obey it. As is stated in the following verse, "If you call them
to guidance they will not follow you. It makes no differ-
ence if you call them or stay silent." (Surat al-A`raf, 193),
they react negatively. Behind every word said to them, they
are suspicious of some crooked intention. They often assume
that the one giving counsel is doing so for some personal mo-
tive, and found their denial on such suspicions.
The fact is, however, as we mentioned earlier, Muslims
who call through the good word do not do so for personal
gain; their only aim is to fulfill Allah's command. Reacting
negatively to such a sincere call is a type of response that re-
sults only in harm to one's self. Yet, the disbelievers fail to
grasp this fact; they fail to realize that the matter concerns the
outcome of that life they will live in eternity. Furthermore,
they falsely feel relieved, wrongly assuming that ignoring

Complying with the Good Word 29