Page 132 - The Debased Culture of Superficiality

130 THE DEBASED CULTURE OF SUPERFICIALITY

Qur’an are noble, honorable and respectable individuals.
Allah tells us that they have the highest moral character:
Do not give up and do not be downhearted. You shall be
uppermost if you are believers. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 139)
This is a very important matter for those who have faith;
they must ponder it well and not think that the debased cul-
ture of superficiality is limited to certain areas. For example,
it is typically superficial to show a different character in dif-
ferent situations and to act mainly to please others. Lying
about an ordinary daily matter thinking it to be insignifi-
cant, not doing as much as one could to spread religious
morality, noticing where an act of generosity is needed but
having no desire to do it, not saying something positive
when the opportunity presents itself, attempting to justify
one’s ego, speaking sarcastically to others, behaving immod-
estly . . . All these are examples of superficial behavior.
Contrary to what one might think, there is no great or small
superficiality. In order to escape it, a person must have the
absolutely honest intention to practice religious morality
and give up deceiving himself with various excuses. In the
Qur’an, Allah promises this salvation and other good things
to His servants:
By it, Allah guides those who follow what pleases Him
to the ways of peace. He will bring them from the dark-
ness to the light by His permission . . . (Surat al-Ma’ida:
16)