Page 38 - The Basic Concepts in the Qur’an

So the Ark floated with them on the waves (towering) like mountains, and Noah
called out to his son, who had separated himself (from the rest): “O my son! Embark
with us, and do not be with the unbelievers!” The son replied: “I will take myself to
some mountain: it will save me from the water.” Noah said: “This day nothing can
save from the command of Allah but those on whom He has mercy! “And the waves
came between them, and the son was among those overwhelmed in the Flood.

...And Noah called upon his Lord, and said: “O my Lord! Surely my son is of my
family! And Your promise is true, and You are the most just of Judges!”He said: “O
Noah! He is not of your family: For his conduct is unrighteous. So do not ask of Me
for that of which you have no knowledge! I give you counsel, lest you act like the
ignorant!”Noah said: “O my Lord! I do seek refuge with You, lest I ask You for that of
which I have no knowledge. And unless you forgive me and have mercy on me, I
shall indeed be lost!”
(Hud, 42-47)

The message of the verse is apparent: Even if the immediate family members are in
question, the believers do not feel an attachment for unbelievers. It is only wise to love people
who really deserve love. Moreover, a believer never develops a feeling deep in his heart for
someone who goes astray.
The wives of Noah and Lut were also among the unbelievers who deserved to be severely
penalized by Allah. The people of Lut went astray and, hence, they were utterly destroyed. Just
before the destruction, the angels came to Lut telling him to abandon the city and to leave his
wife behind. Without a moment’s hesitation, Lut obeyed the command:
(The Messengers) said: “O Lut! We are messengers from your Lord! By no means shall
they reach you! Now travel with your family in the remaining hours of the night, and
let not any of you look back: but your wife (will remain behind): To her will happen
what happens to the people. Morning is their time appointed: Is not the morning
nigh?”
(Hud, 81)

Lut had fully obeyed the command of Allah. This is exactly the type of behaviour that one
can expect from a believer. Having a sentimental attachment for those who disobey the
judgement of Allah is not an attribute that one can see among believers:
You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the last day, loving those who
resist Allah and His messenger, even though they were their fathers or their sons, or
their brothers, or their kindred. For such He has inscribed the faith in their very hearts,
and strengthened them with a spirit of His own. And He will admit them to Gardens
beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein (for ever). Allah will be well pleased with
them, and they with Him. They are the party of Allah. Truly, it is the party of Allah
that will achieve felicity.
(Al-Mujadila, 22)

The essence of this attitude, so purified of emotion, is no doubt the understanding of love
which is peculiar only to believers. Allah informs us about the different concepts of love held
by believers and unbelievers in the following verse:
Yet there are men who take (for worship) others besides Allah, as equal (with Allah):
They love them as they should love Allah. But those of faith are overflowing in their
love for Allah.If only the unrighteous could see, they would know that to Allah
belongs all power, and Allah will be stern in retribution.
(Al-Baqara, 165)

As Allah states in the verse, believers truly love Allah. The affection they feel for people is
merely a reflection of their love for Allah. They love only believers,because believers are those