Page 13 - Self-Sacrifice in the Qur'an's Moral Teachings

n the Qur'an Allah reveals a
very important truth: "You
will not attain true goodness
until you give of what you love." (Surah Al
'Imran: 92)
Self-sacrifice, one of the basic moral qualities
that allows people to attain real goodness, can en-
able individuals to give up, happily and without a
second thought, all that they own, love, and
value. When necessary, they will endure every
difficulty and exert all of their energy for the sake
of their values and loved ones. When faced with
choosing between their own advantage and that
of their loved ones, they will forego their own
benefit and make the greatest physical and emo-
tional sacrifice that they can for their loved ones.
All people are created with negative moral
tendencies that direct them toward selfishness
and egotism. If one's lower self is not trained, this
selfishness will take control of one's moral charac-
ter. Generally, such people think first - or even ex-
clusively - about themselves. They always want