Page 70 - Passivity in Religion

PASSIVITY IN RELIGION

Mujadala, 19). These people are delighted to speak of trivialities
like food, drink, clothing, fashion, music and sport, but are not as
eager to remember Allah in their conversations. Though sullen
and reserved, they do not remain totally silent; they are hesitant,
and seem to speak as if rehearsed, and passing quickly from one
topic to another. It is almost impossible to ever hear such people
praise Allah, or speak of His majesty in a sincere way. They differ
from Muslims in that their conversations are insincere, and that
they tend to philosophize about religious topics. They refrain
from praising the name of Allah, and deliberately refuse to talk
about topics of faith or moral perfection. This is because they are
too proud to uphold a faith that they have not accepted in their
heart. For this reason, when they speak of Allah, they will merely
derive information stored in their memories, or express certain
formulas they have heard from others, and without sincerity.
However, Muslims' thoughts and words about Allah are al-
ways sincere, because He is always in their hearts and minds.
Allah tells us in the Qur'an about the way Muslims think:
[People with intelligence are] those who remember Allah,
standing, sitting and lying on their sides, and reflect on
the creation of the heavens and the Earth: "Our Lord, You
have not created this for nothing. Glory be to You! So safe-
guard us from the punishment of the Fire." (Surah Al
‘Imran, 191)
And, another verse says that the hearts of believers are satis-
fied only when they remember Allah.
Those who believe and whose hearts find peace in the re-
membrance of Allah. Only in the remembrance of Allah
can the heart find peace. (Surat ar-Ra‘d, 28)
The love that Muslims feel towards Allah is too great to com-
pare to the obsessive devotion that passive people feel for their

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