Page 21 - The Basic Concepts in the Qur’an

There is no blame on those who are infirm, or ill, or who find no resources to spend
(on the cause), if they are sincere (in duty) to Allah and His Messenger: no ground (of
complaint) can there be against such as do right: and Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most
Merciful. Nor (is there blame) on those who came to you to be provided with mounts,
and when you said, “I can find no mounts for you,” they turned back, their eyes
streaming with tears of grief that they had no resources with which to contribute.
(Al-Tawba, 91-92)

Fighting against enemies obviously involves danger. One who decides to take part in a war
surely risks his life or health. Despite this fact, in the times of our prophet, believers had shown
an intense eagerness to fight in the cause of Allah and furthermore, suffered deep grief at not
finding a way to fight. This is indeed a striking example of conscience, as explained in the
Qur’an.
The evil side of the soul cannot lead a believer astray all of a sudden. Rather, it encourages
neglectfulness of the responsibilities he has to fulfill in the cause of Allah. By making excuses,
the soul tries to shake one’s commitment to observing the limits of Allah. The influence of the
soul becomes more profound wherever one appeases the desires of his soul. The resultant
effects of such an approach would be detrimental to his faith. He may even drift into disbelief.
Whatever the circumstances, he is obliged to comply with the commandments of Allah, and
invariably to curb his selfish desires and whims. Allah addresses His servants thus:
So fear Allah as much as you can; listen and obey and spend in charity for the benefit
of your own soul.Those saved from the covetousness of their own souls, they are the
ones that achieve prosperity.
(Al-Taghabun, 16)
In this verse Allah commands believers to fear Him, obey Him and to listen to His
judgements. They are also required to spend for the cause of Allah, since this will save believers

from “the covetousness of their own souls” and make them attain real prosperity. Another verse
declares:

And for such as had entertained the fear of standing before their Lord’s (tribunal) and
had restrained (their) soul from lower desires, their abode will be the Garden.
(Al-Naziat, 40-41)

A soul purified of selfish desires, and thus earning the pleasure and the heaven of Allah, is
referred to as “the soul in complete rest and satisfaction” in the Qur’an.
(To the righteous soul it will be said:) “O (you) soul, in (complete) rest and
satisfaction! Come back to your Lord, well pleased yourself, and well-pleasing to
Him! Enter then, among My devotees! You, enter My Heaven ! " (Al-Fajr, 27-30)
Those, on the other hand, who fail to purify their souls and thus attain Hell are full of
remorse for what they have done. The remorse felt by the billions of people that have ever lived
on earth is horrible to witness. This is an inescapable truth awaiting unbelievers. This is a real
day; so real that Allah calls to witness “the self- reproaching spirit” right after the resurrection
day:
I call to witness the resurrection day; and I call to witness the self-reproaching spirit.
(Al-Qiyama, 1-2)