Page 68 - The Nightmare of Disbelief

ter. Moreover, it would be completely wrong for an unbeliever
to say: "There are such selfish people out there, but I am cer-
tainly not one of them." This is simply because if one does not
adhere to religious values there is no alternative but to be self-
ish. The reason for this is no different from the underlying rea-

sons for other types of immoral mindsets, such as having no be-
lief in the existence of the hereafter, having no conviction that
each misdeed in this world will be punished in the hereafter
and having no fear of Allah.
That is why those who do not live by religious values pur-
sue only their own interests and do not care about others. Their
major expectation in life is to be wealthier, to improve their
professional life, to attain better living standards... Meeting the

needs of their close circle, those in need, the poor and the el-
derly or doing something for the benefit of society is generally
the last thing that occurs to them. This is simply because the
unbeliever's assessment of life lacks any impetus to make sac-
rifices or to commit himself to displaying good character. The
general attitude they observe in the people around them is also
no different; indeed, the whole of society behaves in more or
66
less the same way. This general tendency of all people in such
a society provides some sort of salve to the conscience.
In brief, in a society where religious values are nor upheld,
selfishness is inevitable. Without exception, everyone is selfish.
However, man is tested in this feeling of selfishness which
Allah has placed in the unregenerate self (nafs). Allah draws at-
tention to this inclination in man in the following verse:

… But people are prone to selfish greed. If you do good and
have fear for Allah, Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat
an-Nisa': 128)

THE NIGHTMARE OF DISBELIEF