Page 110 - The Debased Culture of Superficiality

108 THE DEBASED CULTURE OF SUPERFICIALITY

another verse Allah says:
Correct and courteous words accompanied by forgive-
ness are better than charity followed by insulting words.
Allah is Rich Beyond Need . . . (Surat al-Baqara: 263)
With their good works and exemplary behavior, Muslims
who practice religious morality seek only to win Allah’s
favor. They look with unalloyed intentions toward Paradise
and do so not expecting any material or spiritual return from
anyone. In this sense, they place no importance on the
appreciation or gratitude of others. Since they have no desire
to win the others’ praise, they behave in a dignified and sin-
cere manner. They never try to let others know the good
they have done, and so never mention them. They never
make another person feel obliged, and expect no thanks,
praise or compliments. Allah tells us in the Qur’an that they
expect their reward only from Him:
. . . [Hud said:] “My wage is the responsibility of Him
Who brought me into being . . .” (Surah Hud: 51)
As Allah points out in the Qur’an, they prefer to do good
deeds in secret:
If you make your charity public, that is good. But if you
conceal it and give it to the poor, that is better for you,
and We will erase some of your bad actions from you.
Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat al-Baqara: 271)
In another verse, Allah explains a Muslim’s basic goal:
. . . Whatever good you give away is to your own bene-
fit, when you give desiring only the Face of Allah . . .
(Surat al-Baqara: 272)