Page 20 - Self-Sacrifice in the Qur'an's Moral Teachings

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

ers, for they lack the desire to win Allah's favor and love, and attain
Paradise, and therefore cannot sacrifice what they value to attain those
goals. Sometimes, they may pretend to do so in order to hide their ig-
norance of the Qur'an's morality or gain some personal benefit. But
when they are sure that no benefit is forthcoming, they lose their en-
thusiasm. When they think that they are about to lose something or
suffer some emotional or physical setback, they cannot find the inner
strength that comes from belief and so reveal their insincerity.
But believers regard any attempt to sacrifice for Allah's sake as a
valuable opportunity to show their sincerity. They know that Allah
creates difficult and troubling situations, which require patience and
self-denial, for a good purpose. They act in the knowledge that this
world is a short and transient place of testing to win Allah's favor, and
so they seek to win His approval and attain Paradise:

The life of this world is nothing but a game and a diversion. The
abode of the Hereafter – that is truly life, if they only knew.
(Surat al-'Ankabut: 64)
Allah expands provision to anyone He wills and restricts it.
They rejoice in the life of this world. Yet the life of this world,
compared to the Hereafter, is only fleeting enjoyment. (Surat
ar-Ra'd: 26)
Whatever you have been given is only the enjoyment of the life
of this world. What is with Allah is better and longer lasting for
those who believe and trust in their Lord. (Surat ash-Shura: 36)
In this world, Allah tests individuals so that they can overcome
the lower self's desires by seeking to win Allah's favor and mercy.
Thus, Allah tests people with blessings and with difficulties: "Every
self will taste death. We test you with both good and evil as a trial.
And you will be returned to Us" (Surat al-Anbiya': 35). He also reveals

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