Page 42 - Self-Sacrifice in the Qur'an's Moral Teachings

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

Being Patient and Performing Self-
Sacrificial Deeds

Allah tells us that people will encounter hardships and anxiety as
well as blessings: "We will test you with a certain amount of fear and
hunger, as well as loss of wealth and life and fruits. But give good
news to the steadfast" (Surat al-Baqara: 155). Allah explains the reason
for this: "We will test you until We know the true fighters among you
and those who are steadfast, and test what is reported of you" (Surah
Muhammad: 31) and: "Do people imagine that they will be left to say:
'We believe' and will not be tested? We tested those before them so
that Allah would know the truthful and would know the liars" (Surat
al-'Ankabut: 2-3).
Indeed, hardship brings out a person's true character: courageous
or cowardly; generous or mean; humane, aware, and compassionate,
or thoughtless and selfish. In the same way, the excellent character of
those believers who have dedicated their life to Allah and striven to
win His favor is also revealed under harsh conditions. No matter what
difficulty or hardship they may encounter, they will remain steadfast
in the eagerness and determination that their belief has imparted to
them. Even in the hardest circumstances they will try to do their best
and help others. They know that Allah creates such circumstances to
test people, to see whether they will engage in the same amount of self-
sacrifice as they would if they were in a comfortable situation. For ex-
ample, they cannot just be generous when they are well-off, but must
be the same when they find themselves in reduced circumstances.
They know that being distracted with their own problems and not con-
sidering other people's difficult straits are incompatible with the
Qur'an's morality, for Allah is pleased when they help those in need.
Allah tells us that the believers of Mecca, who abandoned all of

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