Page 38 - The Debased Culture of Superficiality

36 THE DEBASED CULTURE OF SUPERFICIALITY

opportunity in the absence of the prophet, he established a
way to lead them back to their idolatrous lives. As we can

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deduce from his words “I saw what they did not see,” he
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presented himself as having special abilities; he wanted to
satisfy his own passion for rank and position. But those who
did what Samaritan said, instead of seeking Allah’s favor
and obeying the prophet, accommodated themselves to the
direction of an opportunist with worldly aspirations. Such
people have small goals and basic ideals. Their morality is
such that they take no pleasure in living as they should to
win Allah’s favor. And at the least suggestion of worldly
gain, they lose their faith.
Instead of following their prophet and waiting faithfully
for the revelation of Allah, the Israelites followed the fabri-
cations of some ill-intentioned individual and chose to pur-
sue transient worldly gain. As we are told in the Qur’an,
they did not obey Harun (as) but acted as unbelievers do
toward the prophets:
Say, “Obey Allah and the messenger.” Then if they turn
away, Allah does not love the unbelievers. (Surah Al
‘Imran: 32)
As you can see, those who pursue simple gains with no
view to the Hereafter can be deceived with very superficial
logic. It is no effort for them to abandon their faith. Their
weak wills can be broken by the slightest suggestion. They
can immediately fall into despair and be persuaded by non-
sense. Their faith, not founded on the fear of Allah or a belief
in the world to come, can be quickly shattered. Material
things that they can see with their eyes seem more real to