Page 160 - The Religion Of The Ignorant

THE RELIGION OF THE IGNORANT

ally held far above all kinds of belief, friendship and love. Members
of the Religion of the Ignorant therefore fear to support the faithful
openly. They do not openly live their beliefs for fear of losing pres-
tige. They do not defend what they know to be right. For them, the
ideas of the society in which they live, their jobs, friends or property,
are more important than Allah and His approval. The following
provision is issued on this subject in the Qur'an:
Say: "If your fathers or your sons or your brothers or your
wives or your tribe, or any wealth you have acquired, or
any business you fear may slump, or any house which
pleases you, are dearer to you than Allah and His messen-
ger and striving in His way, then wait until Allah brings
about His command. Allah does not guide people who are
deviators." (Surat at-Tawba, 24)
The verse lists a number of basic value judgments elevated by
Ignorantism and describes how esteeming these above the value
judgments of Islam is a feature of a society that has rebelled against
Allah. The erroneous conception of love in such societies is one such
value judgment. In the Religion of the Ignorant love of society and
human beings generally comes before love of Allah. The approval of
others is regarded more highly than that of Allah. This is described
in the Qur'an as shirk, in other words adopting deities other than
Allah:
Some people set up equals to Allah, loving them as they
should love Allah. But those who believe have greater love
for Allah... (Surat al-Baqara, 165)
However, these people imagine that this consists solely of wor-
shipping idols made of wood or plaster, and so regard themselves
as being very distant from such behavior. When told that the system

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