Page 65 - Romanticism: A Weapon of Satan

The True Wisdom That Comes From Faith

of the television, they should get up and do something, it would
accomplish nothing. They would try to get out of it by making
excuses, such as, "What's there to do?" "What can I do all by myself?"
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Emotional people contribute in pessimism by suggesting that a
problem is too complex to be solved; and this makes others like them
adopt the same hopelessness.
Many a good moral quality loses its virtue by being affiliated with
sentimentality, to the point of even becoming dangerous. For example,
compassion is a moral sentiment encouraged by God in the Qu'ran,
but it is abused by an emotional person who may feel sorry for an
oppressor, commend his deeds, and tolerate his ruthlessness. On the
contrary, a wise person cannot possibly see any justification in any
attitude, behaviour or thought associated with sentimentality. That is
because as long as this emotional temperament is nurtured in the soul,
its more insidious aspects may emerge at any time depending on the
circumstances and the environment.
Now, it is necessary to point out the difference between being
sensitive and empathetic and being emotional. In the Qu'ran, God
makes it clear that to be "sensitive, empathetic and gentle" are qualities
best exhibited in a prophet. Sentimentality is the exact opposite of the
moral attitude that is recommended in the Qu'ran. Believers are not
sentimental, but are empathetic and humane. In other words, they are
sober individuals, of superior wisdom, who possess very strong moral
qualities. In the Qu'ran, God speaks about the good moral character of
the prophet Ibrahim: "Ibrahim was forbearing, compassionate,
penitent." (Qur'an, 11:75)
It must not be forgotten that emotional people only feel pity for
others; they make no attempt to help them out of difficult situations,
or to find solutions to their problems. However, someone who
possesses the kind of empathy commended by God will do anything
he can to help another person to find solutions to his problems, and
take the necessary measures to get him out of his difficulties. This is
true compassion and love.