Page 20 - The Basic Concepts in the Qur’an

unless my Lord bestows His Mercy: but surely my Lord is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Joseph,
53). Knowing that the soul is always prone to evil, a believer should be ever alert to the
misdeeds in which his soul is likely to become involved.
From the foregoing we have a clear understanding of the “evil” side of the soul. However,
the soul is also open to the instigation of righteousness, in other words, to the inspiration of
Allah. This inspiration makes a person turn to himself and restrain his soul from fulfilling lower
desires. This inspiration leading man to righteousness, this faculty of judging between right and
wrong is commonly referred to as “conscience.”
Conscience is an infallible compass within the human soul continuously calling man to
righteousness. On that account, conscience is, in a way, the whispering voice of Allah.
Provided that a person listens to this voice and embraces the basic principles of the Qur’an, he
will always proceed in the right way.
As long as the individual follows the voice of his conscience, he will be a model
displaying the attributes of Allah in his personality. Allah is infinitely compassionate and
merciful; a person submitting himself to Him will also have mercy on others. Allah is infinitely
intelligent, so that a believer who serves Him will also be intelligent. The closer he feels to
Allah and the more he surrenders himself to Him, the purer he becomes in the presence of
Allah:
“Those who have faith and do righteous deeds, they are the best of creatures.”
(Al -Bayyina. 7)

The human conscience functions in compliance with all of Allah’s commandments.
However the criteria of the conscience given in the Qur’an are quite different from those
adhered to by society. Feeding stray dogs or giving charity to a beggar are typical examples
reflecting the inherent understanding of conscientiousness in society. The conscience of a
believer, on the other hand, demands complete compliance with the commandments and
prohibitions of the Qur’an. Furthermore, one comprehends and implements the details of many
issues stated in general terms in the Qur’an by the guidance of one’s conscience.
For instance, Allah commands man to spend whatever is in excess of his needs. The
individual can determine the extent of his needs only through his soul. One who lacks the
sensitivity of conscience, surely fails to arrive at a fair judgment of his needs and cannot comply
with the commandments of Allah in the best way possible.
In the course of daily life, a person continuously meets situations which require him to
make choices. Only one of these choices, however, best suits the will of Allah. Believers are
held responsible for making the right choice; the choice led by the whisper of Allah. This is
actually what one initially hears at the moment of making one’s choice, the voice guiding one
to the true path. Only then, at the second stage, does the soul come on the scene, diverting one
to other unacceptable alternatives. At this stage the soul whispers some excuses to justify the
wrongful options. The Qur’an gives a considerable account of these “excuses” in many verses.
Believers should know to cope with these whisperings, simply by showing no interest to
them, not listening to them, and going on their way, inspired by conscience. The examples
provided by the Qur’an about the conscience should lead man to ponder upon this issue. In the
following verse, the case of believers who are deeply grieved at not finding a way to fight is
related: