Page 29 - Self-Sacrifice in the Qur'an's Moral Teachings

Harun Yahya - Adnan Oktar

Situations That May Require

Self-Sacrifice

Allah created this life to test human beings with good and evil. For
this reason, people may encounter sudden unexpected and disorientat-
ing events in which only belief can enable them to maintain a good
moral character and adhere to the Qur'an's moral teachings. Their fear
and respect of Allah, as well as their deep belief, allow them to react in
the most appropriate way when confronted with unexpected and en-
tirely new events. Basically, people can demonstrate self-sacrificial be-
havior under certain circumstances even without such belief. For
example, if they think that they can gain respect in the eyes of others or
that some advantage will accrue from it, they will engage in self-sacrifi-
cial behavior. But they cannot display such a moral character if some
adversity happens to them suddenly and without warning.
In such unexpected situations, believers are happy and more than
willing to sacrifice themselves without a second thought. In the days of
our Prophet (saas), he and his Companions were shining examples of
the self-sacrificial moral character that comes from sincere belief.
Without regard for their lives or their possessions, they were deter-
mined to die in order to win Allah's approval when some people,

mostly deniers, showed great enmity toward believers. When re-
quired, they were prepared to leave behind their homes, families,
work, possessions, respect, and all the other worldly blessings to en-
sure the believers' comfort, contentment, security, and overall well-
being. Putting our Prophet's (saas) security above their own lives, they
became examples to all people, regardless of time or location, of supe-
rior moral character. In the Qur'an Allah tells us of the believers' faith-

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