Page 18 - The Religion Of The Ignorant
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THE RELIGION OF THE IGNORANT
has revealed in the Qur'an how other people should be treated, and re-
sponsibility to Allah ensures that others must be treated in the most
compassionate, the most merciful, the most just, the most correct and
the most honest way. This perspective of believers is described in these
terms:
They fulfill their vows and fear a Day whose evil will spread
far and wide. They give food, despite their love for it, to the
poor and orphans and captives: "We feed you only out of de-
sire for the Face of Allah. We do not want any repayment
from you or any thanks. Truly We fear from our Lord a glow-
ering, calamitous Day." (Surat al-Insan, 7-10)
As can be seen from these verses, believers expect nothing from
other people, which detachment endows them with a very strong and
healthy character. The believer treats everyone correctly under all cir-
cumstances, and thus fulfils Allah's commandments. He neither hopes
for other people's approval nor fears their criticism. Indeed, in the
Qur'an Allah has described believers as not fearing "the blame of any
censurer" (Surat al-Ma'ida, 54). Therefore, a believer's character and at-
titude never change in the face of events and other people's approval.
He never becomes arrogant because of any rank or station given him,
nor ever despairs in the face of difficulties. This stable character of be-
lievers frequently draws attention, and their attitudes remain the same
when they obtain great wealth or power, as well as in the face of diffi-
culty and poverty. The believer knows that every blessing he enjoys of
wealth, power, or rank; or every difficulty he encounters such as con-
demnation and attack by others, exile, suffering poverty, and impris-
onment—all these come from Allah, and all these are trials to test him
and teach him. In contrast, the religion of ignorance is the religion of
people who cannot appreciate Allah, who strive to earn other people's
approval rather than the pleasure of Allah and who hope for the life of
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