Page 85 - The Mercy of Believers

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WHAT HAPPENS IF PEOPLE DO NOT LIVE BY THE QUR'ANIC UNDERSTANDING OF MERCY?

lessness brought about by disbelief.
Other than the concept of mercy as revealed by the
Qur'an, which stems from the fear and love of Allah, there
is no reason that would prevent an individual from com-
mitting wicked deeds. In a society where people do not
feel true mercy, there is nothing to prevent them from
abusing women and children, murdering people for theft,
leaving orphans on the streets and committing many sim-
ilar misdeeds.
In a society devoid of the Qur'anic understanding of
mercy, the well-off do nothing to ensure the well-being of
the poor, the rights of those who are unjustly treated re-
main undefended, and no shelter is provided for those
who sleep out on streets. Unless there is something to be
gained, no one troubles to help another. While there are
people out on the streets starving to death, the affluent
throw huge amounts of food—enough to feed hundreds
of people—into the garbage. Similarly, people stoop to
such venality as pursuing vested interests, perpetrating
fraud or violating others' rights.
Again, the members of such a society do not take any
serious action again of fraud, injustice and falsehood, but
simply keep their mouths shut. They never aspire to solve
the problems of others and even consider this a vain en-
deavour. Therefore, a system emerges in which no one
feels responsible for another, no one takes any risks to
protect others and no one stands up for others' rights.
The cruel and merciless oppress the weak as they
please. In an environment in which people do not live by
the Qur'anic mercy and good values instilled by religion,