Page 35 - Loyalty Described in the Qur'an

The Misinterpretation of Loyalty
and when they want it. When they live a life of comfort and ease,
having gained the things they want, they do not hesitate to show
loyalty to Allah and His messengers. But, when they are required to
do something they do not like, or is not to their advantage, their lack

of sincerity immediately comes to light. In the Qur'an, Allah tells us
about the behavior of such individuals:
When they are summoned to Allah and His Messenger, so
that he can judge between them, a group of them immedi-
ately turn away. But if right is on their side, they come to
him most submissively! (Surat an-Nur, 48-49)
The moral disposition of this hypocritical character is far from

the self-sacrifice and patience that believers practice to gain Allah's
favor. Because they do not believe sincerely in their hearts, they are
unable to live in search of Allah's favor; they cannot submit uncon-
ditionally to His commands and prohibitions; and, they cannot be-
lieve and trust in the prophets. That is a disposition only those who
are bound by true faith and loyalty to Allah can have. The insincere,
on the other hand, will not always be able to hide their false loyalty.
Allah will eventually distinguish between these hypocrites and the
believers, who submit to Him with faithfulness, and He will create

those situations in which believers will be able to recognize their
true character.

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