Page 82 - The Mercy of Believers

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THE MERCY OF BELIEVERS

Not to Harm Children for Fear of Poverty

Deliberately or unintentionally, it is impossible that a
believer could cause harm to an innocent person. No mat-
ter what the circumstances, for his own sake, a believer
does not display an attitude which may cause hardship to
another. He does not cause any material loss to anyone
else while trying to earn for himself. He does not risk
someone else's health to save his own. Neither does he se-
cure own well-being through others' starvation. In brief,
he always gives priority to the needs, peace and well-
being of others. Even if it be a child, a captive or someone
he has never known, a believer, thanks to his compassion,
always considers others' advantage before his own. In
order to display such nobility, he makes all kinds of sacri-
fices.
In the Qur'an, Allah gives examples of those who at-
tempt to kill their children for fear of not being able to
look after them and warns them against such a cruel and
violent attitude:

Say: "Come and I will recite to you what your Lord
has forbidden for you: that you do not associate any-
thing with Him; that you are good to your parents;
that you do not kill your children because of
poverty—We will provide for you and them…"
(Surat al-An'am: 151)
Do not kill your children out of fear of being poor.
We will provide for them and you. Killing them is a
terrible mistake. (Surat al-Isra': 31)
It may be that "killing children out of fear of poverty"