Page 62 - The Basic Concepts in the Qur’an

Not Pursuing Personal Benefits

Striving purely in obedience to the Will of Allah, and not seeking self-interests are clear
manifestations of sincere faith. A believer who is well aware that all favours are given to him by
Allah and who accordingly offers sincere devotion to Him and fears Him, would surely never
pursue minor personal profit while striving in Allah’s cause.
Seeking personal benefits from one’s services in the way of Allah can never tally with one’s
faith. A person who is conscious of the existence of Allah and the Hereafter would definitely
attach no importance to simple benefits and, at the behest of Allah, would never try to satisfy
his own desires. Conversely, those who confine themselves to a world of minor interests, ideas
and thoughts only degrade themselves.
The Qur’an repeatedly reminds believers not to seek any personal benefits in service
rendered for the cause of Allah. All the prophets referred to in the Qur’an communicated the
message of Allah without asking for any reward in return. Some of the verses extolling this
virtue of the messengers are as follows:
To the ‘Ad People We sent Hud, one of their own brethren. He said: “O my people!
worship Allah! you have no other god but Him. Your other gods are mere inventions.
“O my people! I ask of you no reward for this message. My reward can be from none
but my Creator. Will you not then understand?”
(Hud, 50-51)

Say: “No reward do I ask of you for it but this: that each one who will may take a
(straight) path to his Lord.”
(Al-Furqan, 57)

Behold, their brother Noah said to them: “Will you not fear (Allah)? I am to you a
messenger worthy of all trust: So fear Allah, and obey me. No reward do I ask of you
for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.”
(Al-Shuara, 106-109)

As the verses suggest, no worldly gain is aimed at in the struggle made for the cause of
Allah. A believer does not aim to have a lot of money or attain great status or appreciation of
other people—also considered as worldly gain—in return for his services to Allah. The only end
is approval of Allah. However, provided that Allah wills, He grants victory, relief and favours to
believers in this world.
Consequently, the value of the services rendered for the cause of Allah depends not on the
appreciation of people but on the intention, namely the will to earn the pleasure of Allah. All
through their lives, messengers unceasingly communicated the message of Allah to their
people. There have been many messengers who were neither appraised nor obeyed, but rather
opposed. However, this is, by no means, a “failure” on their part. In the Qur’anic sense, success
is actually not to impress people but to earn the pleasure of Allah. A believer is responsible for
praying, building up his consciousness of Allah through reflection, and being a servant to Him.
The decision on victory, on the other hand, rests with Allah. A believer should fulfill his own
duty and not question what is destined for Him.
Those who follow the good pleasure of Allah ceaselessly worship Him. Believers are fully
aware that this world has an alluring, yet deceptive nature. That is why, money, luxury cars,
opulent houses, jewels, precious stones, prestige and status never impress them. This is in
accordance with Allah’s commands in the Qur’an: