Page 56 - Quick Grasp of Faith 2

You will see the wrongdoers afraid of what they
have earned, when it is about to land right on top of
them, whereas those who believe and do right ac-
tions will be in the lush Meadows of the Gardens.
They will have whatever they wish for with their
Lord. That is the great favour. (Surat ash-Shura: 22)

51. How does one take one's self as one's god?

One who unwisely takes his self to be his god is one who
considers his self-interests and his comfort more important
than the common interests of the religion, whereas a truly
and sincerely devout person takes only Allah as his god and
acts only in ways that would please Him. This applies to all
conditions. Such a person would never ignore the benefits of
the religion and the limits of Allah even when he is sick, or
suffering hardship or even if his self-interests would be com-
pletely ruined.
However, if a person cannot make even a minor self-sac-
rifice for the sake of religion, or if he prefers what appears
fine to his self leaving the religion aside when he faces a dif-
ficulty, then this person is seeking to please his self and thus
has taken his self as a false deity.
Allah describes those who, in deviance, take their own
selves to be their god in the Qur'an as follows:
Have you seen him who takes his whims and desires
to be his god—whom Allah has misguided know-
ingly, sealing up his hearing and his heart and plac-
ing a blindfold over his eyes? Who then will guide
him after Allah? So will you not pay heed? (Surat al-
Jathiyya: 23)

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