Page 70 - The Nightmare of Disbelief

or serve other people. They simply chase after their own selfish
whims and desires, seeking to gain prestige and a good repu-
tation, and enhance their social standing. Most of the time
when they feel their interests are at stake, they show their real

character.
In societies where the values of religion are ignored, those
who are known to be generous would actually be considered
selfish when their "generosity" is compared with the sacrifices
that believers make. What believers understand by the concept
of self-sacrifice is very different from how unbelievers view it.
Believers always prefer to meet the needs of others rather than

their own. Deep in their hearts, they wish the best of everything
for their brothers and sisters. This surely demonstrates the
morals of the Qur'an:
They give food, despite their love for it, to the poor and or-
phans and captives. (Surat al-Insan: 8)

Due to this moral sense, as we are told in the following
verse, believers "fight in the Way of Allah-for those men,
women and children who are oppressed." (Surat an-Nisa': 75)
Instead of thinking about only their own needs, believers
68
assume the responsibility for everyone and consider the gener-
al good. The Prophet's (saas) saying, "By Him in Whose hand my

soul is, a man does not believe till he likes for his brother what he likes
for himself," (Al-Bukhari, Muslim) very aptly reflects this spirit of
the believers.
Whenever religious values are pervasive, social relations
will be based on sacrifice and thus many problems will disap-

pear.

THE NIGHTMARE OF DISBELIEF