Page 164 - The Religion Of The Ignorant

THE RELIGION OF THE IGNORANT

refuge in the cave and your Lord will unfold His mercy to
you and open the way to the best for you in your situation."
(Surat al-Kahf, 13-16)
As can be seen from these verses, a believer who surrenders to
Allah must mentally fully distance himself and turn away from ad-
herents of false religion. This does not inevitably mean a physical
separation. (The Companions of the Cave entered the cave physi-
cally because of the attack from their opponents.) Believers must
distance themselves from members of the false religion, primarily in
mental terms.
The Prophet Joseph (as) is an instance of this. At a time when he
had been thrown into a dungeon because of a slander made against
him in Egypt he mentally distanced himself from the unbelievers.
This is how he spoke to those who asked him questions in the dun-
geon:
"... I have left the religion of a people who clearly have no
faith in Allah and who refuse to acknowledge the truth of
the world to come. I hold fast to the creed of my forebears
Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. We don't associate anything
with Allah. And that is how Allah has favored us and all
mankind, but most do not give thanks. My fellow-prison-
ers, are many lords better, or Allah, the only One, the
Conqueror? What you serve apart from Him are only
names which you and your forefathers have made up.
There is no mandate for them from Allah. Allah alone is
qualified to judge. His order is to worship none but Him.
That is in truth the straight and upright religion, but most
of mankind simply do not know." (Surah Yusuf, 37-40)
In another verse, the example is cited of how the Prophet
Abraham (as) and those around him distanced themselves from the

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