Page 87 - Passivity in Religion

The Characteristics of the Passive

develop physical symptoms in response to their distress.
In the Qur'an, Allah tells believers of the anxiety these people
feel when they hear of the increase in the number of a Muslim's
blessings:
If good happens to you it galls them. If a mishap occurs to
you, they say, "We made our preparations in advance," and
they turn away rejoicing. (Surat at-Tawba, 50)
Every increase in blessings, whether small or great, material or
spiritual, is welcomed by a Muslim as an occasion to give thanks;
for these others, however, it is an occasion for an increase of their
jealousy. As Allah says in the verse, they "do not like anything
good to be sent down to you from your Lord. But Allah selects
for His mercy whomever He wills. Allah's favor is truly vast"
(Surat al-Baqara, 105).
They do not desire good for the Muslims. Worse still, even
though they live among them, they wish them to be struck by mis-
fortune.
If something good happens to you, it galls them. If some-
thing bad strikes you, they rejoice at it. But if you are stead-
fast and guard against evil, their scheming will not harm
you in any way. Allah encompasses what they do. (Surah Al
'Imran, 120)
This spiritual corruption of theirs is clear proof of their real in-
tentions.

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