Page 47 - The Truth of the Life of This World

ty given during happier days are suddenly replaced by egotistical, selfish
feelings.
Such incidents should not surprise us in a society where some forms of
behaviour, such as loyalty, are only shown when there is benefit to be
derived from them. No doubt, in a society where materialistic criteria are
well established and, more importantly, where people have no fear of
Allah, it is impossible to expect someone to remain loyal to somebody else
for no price. After all, we cannot expect someone to be sincere and hon-
est to others unless he believes he will receive punishment in return for
his failure to act so or reward for doing so. Such behaviour is believed to
be "idiotic" in materialist society. That is because there is no sense in show-
ing loyalty to someone who will, when death befalls him possibly in a few
decades, cease to exist for all eternity. Considering the situation in a sys-
tem in which both parties are convinced they will live for a short time then
die, such a mentality seems reasonable. Why, then, should they not prefer
the comfortable and easy way of doing things?
Yet, the facts are otherwise. Those who trust Allah, who, in His pres-
ence, are aware of their weaknesses and fear Him, assess other people in
the way Allah wants them to. The most precious feature of a person who
is in the presence of Allah is his fear, respect and, hence, the noble behav-
iour he displays arising from these qualities. If the one who fears Allah dis-

Diseases, such as
those that are illust-
rated next, are often
trials from Allah.
Such incidents are
rare opportunities for
believers to show
their patience and
devotion to Allah.
Yet, those who limit
their understanding
Shingles to this world alone
hardly comprehend
Hives
this essential secret.
Goitre

The Truth of the Life of This World 45