Page 102 - Self-Sacrifice in the Qur'an's Moral Teachings

Self-Sacrifice in the Qur'an's Moral Teachings

Other Excuses for Avoiding

Self-Sacrifice

Some people know what living by the Qur'an's morality entails,
and yet avoid self-sacrificial acts even though they know that their atti-
tude is wrong. Due to their weak belief, they do not use their conscious
will to change their behavior; rather, they place more importance on
pleasing people than winning Allah's favor. They do not care that He
sees the weakness of their hearts, belief, and conscience, for their goal
is to convince others of their sincerity by justifying their behavior and
appeasing their own conscience. They seek to give the impression that
they sincerely want to be self-sacrificial and take on responsibilities,
but that there are many reasons why they cannot do so.
They know that their excuses are false and that they could find a
way to sacrifice if they really wanted to. But they suppress their con-
science to pursue their own interests, thinking that they will have a
comfortable life if only they avoid assuming their responsibilities. But
this is impossible.
Their conscience continually reminds them every time they do not
please Allah and violate the Qur'an's moral teachings. They know ex-
actly what they are doing and what Allah ttells them to do in the
Qur'an. Nevertheless, they ignore their responsibilities, and so will be
burdened with a great responsibility in this world and the Hereafter.

Such people go to great lengths to convince others that they really
want to assume their proper responsibilities, but for some reason they
cannot. Therefore, in those societies where the Qur'an's morality is not
practiced, the best way to gain sympathy is generally thought to con-
vince others that one's excuses are valid. Those who actually have such
a misguided idea do not measure themselves according to the Qur'an's

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