Page 68 - Sincerity Described in the Qur'an

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SINCERITY DESCRIBED IN THE QUR’AN

The fact that people grant him their assents would in no way
be beneficial for him unless Allah wishes so. Yet, one who
earns the consent, support, love and approval of Allah has
already acquired the support that all these people can
provide. If he behaves sincerely, Allah will enable him to lead
the best of lives, both in the world and in the hereafter,
provide a means of support that no human being can
provide, and grant him a friendship incomparable to any
friendship among humans. In one of his works,
Bediuzzaman Said Nursi also highlighted this important fact

as follows:
"... The divine assent is sufficient. If He is your beloved, then
everything is your beloved. If He is not your beloved, then the
applause of the entire world is utterly worthless. The assent and
approbation of people if sought along with such an otherworldly
deed shall cancel that deed. If preferred, they shall destroy the
sincerity of the said deed. If they are tempting, then they shall
remove its purity." 14

"O lower self, if you acquired your Creator’s assent with your piety
and devotion, then it shall be sufficient and there shall be no need
to look for people’s assent. If the people agree and accept on Allah’s
behalf, then it is good. If they act to gain worldly blessings, then it
shall be utterly worthless. Because they are weak servants, just like
you. Preferring the second option shall mean idolatry. If a man
applying to the sultan for a business matter suckles the sultan, then
the said matter shall be settled. If not, there shall be many troubles
and inconvenient situations with the preferential treatment of the
people. In any case, the sultan’s permission is obligatory. And this
permission depends upon his assent" 15