Page 106 - Basic Tenets of Islam

BASIC TENETS OF ISLAM

whose character Allah is pleased, must, in accordance to
Allah's command, and in conformity with their natural

inclination, always remain together.
Indeed, it is an act of worship commanded by Allah in the
Qur'an. Allah commands believers to remain together with
other believers, and not to obey those who are irreverent:
Restrain yourself patiently with those who call on their
Lord morning and evening, desiring His face. Do not

turn your eyes from them, desiring the attractions of
this world. And do not obey someone whose heart We
have made neglectful of Our remembrance and who
follows his own whims and desires and whose life has
transgressed all bounds. (Surat al-Kahf: 28)
Believers are the only group of people on earth that seek
Allah's pleasure. Only they adopt the character traits with
which Allah is pleased. These are not sufficient alone,

however; it is necessary for there to be an environment where
these values may be practiced and people to whom they may
be exercised. Allah wants us to be just, to behave
compassionately and mercifully, to enjoin what is right, and
to adopt the values praised in the Qur'an. However, one
cannot adhere to these values without the existence of other
people. In other words, to be a compassionate and self-

sacrificing person, one needs to be around the type of people
who can appreciate this excellence of character, as well as
deserve such treatment. Such people are the believers.

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