Page 50 - Loyalty Described in the Qur'an
P. 50
LOYALTY DESCRIBED IN THE QUR'AN
something they could offer to further His way:
… those who, when they came to you for you to provide them
with mounts and you said, "I cannot find anything on which
to mount you," turned away with their eyes overflowing with
tears, overcome by grief at having nothing to give. (Surat at-
Tawba, 92)
One who feels sincere love and faithfulness towards Allah will
gladly and willingly offer what he possesses, or will possess, to pro-
mote His way. What Allah describes in verse 35 of Surat al-Hajj is an
important quality to be found in a believer:
... whose hearts quake at the mention of Allah, and who are
steadfast in the face of all that happens to them, those who
establish prayer and give of what We have provided for
them. (Surat al-Hajj, 35)
Believers exploit every blessing Allah has given them to exercise a
level of generosity that will win His favor, trying to the best of their
ability to demonstrate their devotion and submission to Him.
Moreover, for believers, spending in the way of Allah is not an act
of worship limited by the demands of a particular instance. A person
with limited means is as much responsible to complete this act of wor-
ship as a rich person with much in goods and possessions at his dis-
posal. But, in the following verse, Allah explains that those who can
find nothing to give will not be held responsible so long as they are
"true to Allah and His Messenger," and remain sincerely devoted to
Him and exhort others to be generous:
Nothing is held against the weak and sick nor against those
who find nothing to spend, provided they are true to Allah
and His Messenger—there is no way open against good-
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