Page 16 - Character Types of the Unbelievers

CHARACTER-TYPES OF THE UNBELIEVERS
world, you will find that each member of the societies of ignorance—
rich or poor, villager or city-dweller, young or old—does not waver in
the pursuit of this goal. Because they are of the corrupt opinion that
life is limited by death, they seek to derive maximum enjoyment of

this brief and fleeting existence.
This notion, of course, is completely false. The life of this world
has been created to test us. Allah has created this world to be particu-
larly appealing to human beings by endowing it with many blessings.
Few realize that these blessings are from Allah, and that they are fleet-
ing. They give thanks for them, because their aim in this life is to do
the good that will earn Allah’s favor, and, ultimately, eternal life.

Others forget that these blessings derive from Allah; deceived by
these illusory adornments, they put any thought of the Afterlife out of
their minds.
Therefore, a society of ignorance is composed of individuals that
choose the second alternative, placing all their hopes in this life alone.
The life of this world to come does not figure in any of their future
plans. Allah revealed the reason for their choice in the Qur’an:
That is because they prefer the life of this world to the
Hereafter and because Allah does not guide disbelieving

people. (Surat an-Nahl, 107)
As related in this verse, the life of this world deceives them by
appearing more pleasant than it actually is. All that Allah has created
as a blessing and a test for human beings deceive the ignorant who
forget their responsibilities to Him, and lose themselves in this life.
That which lures the ignorant into heedlessness, as they indulge
their various passions, is obvious. They want to live a “good life,”

possessing wealth, respect, status, a good marriage and successful

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