Love is a great blessing that unbelievers throw away
Love is one of the deepest, most intense emotions that a person can experience. It is also one of the most wonderful blessings that Allah has created for human beings in this world. Human beings take great pleasure in the material and spiritual gifts that Allah has created for them: They take pleasure in beautiful views, comfortable houses, good music, and fine cooking. But none of these satisfactions can compare with the happiness that love gives.
In order to experience love to the fullest, certain conditions are necessary. First of all, an individual must be able to see the good qualities in others and appreciate their fine points. The more open is an individual’s mind and conscience, the stronger his ability to love. But the only factor that can give him this ability is his faith and fear of Allah. Therefore, a person is able to experience love according to the measure of his faith and fear of Allah; and to that extent, he may take pleasure in it.
In the same way, in order for him to love another, that person must have qualities that can be loved – and again, these qualities arise from faith and the fear of Allah. The deeper an individual’s faith in Allah, and the more he fears Allah, the more lovable qualities he possesses. This is because the one who fears Allah has a good moral character; and along with the fear of Allah develop mercy, tolerance, reliability, courage, self-sacrifice, intelligence and good conscience. All these qualities naturally create a deep and strong sense of love in the heart of anyone who sees with the eyes of faith. But if these conditions, faith and fear of Allah, are absent – that is, if the basis of love is absent – then no one can experience true love.
The basic source of the love that believers feel for others is their love of Allah. The knowledge that Allah creates the joy that comes from their heart-felt love for others, as a manifestation of Himself, gives that love its depth. But since the love of unbelievers is founded on their expectation of gain, they can never truly experience love. They only love those who are useful to them, make them comfortable, and do for them what they consider to be favors. But such love rests on crumbling foundations and can never become sincere and heart-felt love. In reality, they love themselves more than others and, thinking that they are more valuable than others, want others to do them favors, protect them, and take an interest in them.
As long as they get this attention, they feel a certain sense of love. But most often, this type of love does not make others happy or feel loved, for it is false and directed toward gain. Being no more than a polite pretense for the sake of other people’s feelings, it ends when the goal is achieved. Naturally, they cannot show any sincere affection, no matter how often they express their love. All they can do is to mouth the stereotyped words and phrases generally available for this purpose and used on special days set apart for expressions of love. However, believers can express true love toward others with sincere, moving, and wonderful words, because the joy of love is alive in their hearts. Indeed, believers who sincerely honor and love their beloved will never do or say anything to harm that person. Above all, this type of love does not depend upon circumstances or any expected reward from people. True love expects a reward only from Allah, for its sole purpose is to win His favor.
Unbelievers think that love grows weak over time due to mutual boredom and a loss of enthusiasm. Of course, many relationships end this way among the unbelievers, for their love was based upon falsity and was never true. In true love, time always plays a positive role, for it enables each person to better appreciate the other’s compassion, mercy, generosity, consideration, self-sacrifice, and other good qualities. Their love grows stronger over time as their personalities, moral understanding, and attitudes develop toward perfection. There is never any boredom or frustration in true love, and good looks, material means, and prestige become irrelevant. The only important thing is the beloved’s moral character. But unbelievers, who judge everything by material standards, suffer material loss when that foundation collapses.
We can see that unbelievers have a broken faith in their hearts. For this reason, they live in a loveless world and cannot derive pleasure from the things that give the most joy to the human spirit. More importantly, since these people cannot know true love or how to love and be loved, they will not experience this blessing in Paradise, which is a place filled with the love of Allah. There, people will know how to love and experience the eternal joy of being loved. In the Qur’an, Allah tells us of the blessings that await believers in Paradise as a reward for their good moral character. One of these will be a passionate love shared by two partners. In the following verses, Allah describes what Paradise is like:
. . . on sumptuous woven couches, reclining on them face to face. There will circulate among them, ageless youths, carrying goblets and decanters and a cup from a flowing spring – it does not give them any headache, nor does it leave them stupefied. And any fruit they specify and any bird-meat they desire. And dark-eyed maidens like hidden pearls. As recompense for what they did. They will hear no prattling in it, nor any word of wrong. All that is said is: “Peace! Peace!” And the Companions of the Right: what of the Companions of the Right? Amid thorn-less lote-trees, fruit-laden acacias, wide-spreading shade, outpouring water, and fruits in abundance never failing, unrestricted. And on elevated couches. We have brought maidens into being and made them the purest virgins, devoted, passionate, of like age, for the Companions of the Right. (Surat al-Waqi‘a: 15-38)
MR. ADNAN OKTAR’S LIVE INTERVIEW ON TEMPO TV, 10 MARCH 2009
ADNAN OKTAR: A great many people have killed off the love in their souls. One has to resurrect that corpse in their souls. One has to release that love again. The real issue is for the love for and fear of Allah to enfold one. Someone who attains the love for Allah also attains all beauty in this world and in the Hereafter. After earning Allah’s approval, a person’s mind is thenceforth tied to Allah. That person will now be directed by Allah and will be freed from satan’s control. In surrendering his heart to Allah, he is placing himself under Allah’s rule. Such a person will constantly experience depth, beauty and happiness. … Love for the love of Allah, closeness through love of Allah, never wears off, but rather produces a desire and love that grows increasingly profound. It increases all the time. Normally women know, they have their honeymoon, which is very brief, after which the man cools toward them and is disgusted by them. But among believers, those honeymoons grow many times over. Their love and passion increases every month. That is a blessing on them from Allah. And that is how it will be in Paradise, as well as in this world. This is a blessing unique to believers, to those who believe in Allah.
OUR PROPHET’S (SAAS) VIEW ABOUT WOMEN
MR. ADNAN OKTAR’S LIVE INTERVIEW ON KACKAR TV, 12 FEBRUARY 2009
Adnan Oktar: Our Prophet’s (saas) wives were very much in love with him. They loved him very much. They regarded him as a manifestation of Allah. They married him for Allah’s approval. And there were women who donated themselves to our Prophet (saas), who gave themselves for Allah.
Our Prophet (saas) says that he was caused to love three things; beautiful scents, women and performing prayer (namaz), as the blessings of this world. Our Prophet (saas) was very considerate of his wives and full of love for them. He regarded them as a manifestation of Allah, and they saw the manifestations of Allah in our Prophet (saas). This was a great blessing, and they settled in very well alongside our Prophet (saas).
But some of his wives, as described in Surat at-Tahrim, made mistakes. He told them to keep certain matters secret, but they went and told other people. Then when he questioned his wife about this she asked who had told him, and he said that Allah, the All-Knowing and All-Aware had told him. It appears from other verses that certain of his wives troubled our Prophet (saas) somewhat. There is a warning where he says, “if you desire the life of this world and its finery, come and I will give you all you need and release you with kindness. But if you desire Allah and His Messenger and the abode of the Hereafter,” the verse continues. Then there is a warning as to be patient…
Hazrat Aisha was exceedingly devoted to our Prophet (saas) and loved him very, very much. She got married at a very young age, as you know. Generally speaking it was a very great blessing for his wives to be with and serve the Prophet (saas). They both acquired knowledge and also enjoyed great bounty.
Our Prophet (saas) was someone who knew all about passion. He was someone who knew all about depth. He was also exceptionally handsome. He had black eyes, as you know. He was well-built with broad shoulders. His hair was long and parted in the middle. He plaited it from time to time. He put kohl on his eyes and had a black beard and hair. He had very few white hairs until right before his death. His hair was largely black until the age of 63. That is a great miracle, masha’Allah. He smelled very delightful. Our Prophet (saas) always smelled of roses.
There was a mark on his back, on our Prophet’s (saas) back, just like Hazrat Mahdi (as). That will be handed down genetically right up to Hazrat Mahdi (as). Almighty Allah makes His wisdom, genetics, instrumental in this. Then in the End Times that seal will appear on the back of his descendant, Hazrat Mahdi (as), just as with our Prophet (saas) himself.
The Prophet (saas) was also physically very strong. He wrestled, and nobody ever beat him. He beat all his opponents. Masha’Allah. He made jokes, excellent and wise jokes. He was someone who experienced the blessing that is women in the most profound manner.
He was someone who gave women’s beauty its full due. He fully understood his wives’ beauty and saw in them a manifestation of Allah.
The loss of loyalty and faithfulness
As we have said from the beginning of this book, the ignorant base their behavior on getting all they can out of life and the other people around them. This shallow goal drives them to evaluate everything from the point of view of gain – and to this end they are prepared to sacrifice almost everything, including many of the very things they value the most and everyone they claim to love. Therefore, it is impossible for these people to experience true loyalty and faithfulness.
In their passionate pursuit of money, possessions, and property, unbelievers forget the importance of feeling love, respect, and loyalty. They think, mistakenly, that material things will make them much happier. However, as we said earlier, none of these things will bring them the contentment they seek. No matter how much respect, fame and renown they have in society and no matter how much property and how many possessions they have, none of these things can buy them true human friendship and loyalty. Bereft of these values, they can never truly make friends with anyone because they always ask themselves on what basis and according to what criteria they should choose their friends. Instead of looking for friends who fear and respect Allah and follow the Qur’an’s morality, they look for people who can benefit them and cause them to be respected in the eyes of their associates.
People who live in a good part of a city need to choose friends who live in a similar area. They must be wealthy, attractive and good-looking, have a new car, come from a good family, or have a respected name. For those who live in a more modest neighborhood, a future friend must at least be respected there: he or she must be a graduate of a good school, have a respectable profession, be noticeably attractive and good-looking, and be strong enough to ensure polite treatment. But none of these qualities allow a mutual sense of loyalty and faithfulness to grow. In such friendships, backbiting, betrayal, sacrificing a “friend” for a particular gain are quite common. In the same way, if one friend gets into material or psychological problems and needs help, it may end the friendship, given that the others may be unwilling to help out because it will not profit them to do so. Thus, the best solution is to abandon their friend and look for someone to fill the gap who will be useful to them.
We can see this faithlessness among married unbelievers. Indeed, they often speak of how they have been treated unjustly in this regard. There is so much unfaithfulness among spouses that it is no longer considered surprising. When they get married, couples promise to be faithful to each other in good times and bad, that they will not desert each other, and that they will care for and protect each other. But these promises are soon broken, and other ways to ensure faithfulness must be found. Some do it through prenuptial contracts to protect their property. In order to avoid potential material or emotional difficulties, they sign contracts as to who will get what if they decide to divorce. This makes it clear how these two parties regard each other. Clearly, their love, respect, and friendship is not based on faithfulness and loyalty, for right from the outset they accept the possibility that they will not always remain husband and wife. Such a shaky relationship is always in danger of ending.
Instances of disloyalty are often seen in their professional lives. To make more money, they may deceive one another or even steal money from others. Many unbelievers complain that their relationships with their friends have been broken for this reason and thus do not like to get involved in doing business with their relatives. This disloyalty can also be seen in society as a whole. Often, society treats certain people with respect and appreciation, and they receive praise and adulation from the people. But when they lose their usefulness, they also lose this love and respect. Examples of this kind of disloyalty can be observed almost everywhere. Orphanages, old people’s homes, and addiction treatment centers are places where this disloyalty is most clearly reflected. When people who were once useful to others and loved and respected lose whatever made them the objects of such attention, they are abandoned and left alone even by their children, grandchildren, and relatives. Parents may spend years and much effort bringing up their children but, because they do not follow the Qur’an’s morality, the children may leave their parents alone in their old age.
Over time, society forgets those who have served it well in the fields of politics, culture, or education. During the school years, families and students show great respect toward teachers, obey them, and try to ingratiate themselves with them. But as soon as school is finished, students forget their teachers because their usefulness has ended. The point to remember here is that the disloyalty and unfaithfulness encountered by unbelievers is, in fact, a reflection of their own “moral” character. Leading their lives according to their own guidelines and moral systems, they get the reward of not being attached to anyone with any real loyalty or faithfulness.
However, a society made up of believers who follow the Qur’an’s morality has none of these worries. Believers love one another without regard for gain, youth, or health. The only measure of their love is the others’ sincere love for Allah and their good moral character. If these are in place, it does not matter if a person becomes old, needy, or unable to earn money. Believers will continue to treat him with sincere love and respect. In fact, true loyalty and faithfulness come only from adhering to the Qur’an’s moral teachings. Those who love one another out of their love for Allah are steadfast in their friendships and in showing love and respect. Only they can understand the pleasure that comes from a sense of loyalty and faithfulness.
The loss of admiration and respect for others
Respect indicates people’s love for each other and the value placed upon them. The good qualities seen in others draw a deep sense of respect toward them. But a good character can only come from following the Qur’an’s morality, and a mature, reliable, and stable moral character that can be sustained under all circumstances can only be achieved by fearing Allah.
Of course, ignorant societies have a certain concept of respect, but their understanding is based on a false foundation. Those who live according to ignorant criteria show love and respect to those whom they think are their superiors. If another person is richer, more respected, more talked about, noticed and has an enviable career, that is an ignorant society’s basis for respect. To such a society’s understanding, a person’s moral character, whether or not he performs good works, and his attitude towards others around him are seen as unimportant. Even if they acquired their wealth and renown from questionable or illicit sources, they are treated with respect and admiration by some segments of society. But this is not true respect or admiration, for it is based on how others think they can benefit from them.
From the beginning of this book, we have stressed that because these individuals reject Allah, they cannot properly appreciate another’s good moral character, refined intellect or any other admirable qualities. For this same reason, they cannot feel any natural love or admiration in their hearts. On the contrary, it annoys them if only for the sake of gain, they must feign respect for someone they do not like. In fact, people who do not practice religious morality always want themselves to be superior, respected and admired. They want to have the last word and tell others what to do. And it hurts their pride if they must compromise their egos, even temporarily, for the sake of anyone else.
The interesting thing here is that the person on the receiving end of the false respect is aware of the situation. He knows that the other doesn’t really respect him, but uses the material power he has, pretending not to notice so that he can use the false respect to his advantage.
Believers, on the other hand, who are not governed by insincerity, sincerely love each other because of the fine moral qualities they see in each other. Therefore, their respect is unchanging. The Qur’an tells believers to respect each other, and thus they do their best to practice this high morality in order to win His favor. They act in the knowledge that false respect is unacceptable in Allah’s sight and that He will recompense them according to what is in their hearts.
It is rare to find such respect and admiration among unbelievers. Some individuals may be disrespectful toward their parents, who brought them up in difficulties. Others may show great disrespect to elderly people they meet on the street by harassing them or making fun of the weakness caused by their age and ill health. However, Allah advises believers to be compassionate, giving, respectful toward the homeless, the poor, prisoners, parents, and orphans. And so sincere believers do their best to respect the elderly and be patient when their parents become needy and weakened by age. In the Qur’an, Allah reveals these commands to believers:
Your Lord has decreed that you should worship none but Him, and that you should show kindness to your parents. Whether one or both of them reach old age with you, do not say “Ugh!” to them out of irritation and do not be harsh with them, but speak to them with gentleness and generosity. (Surat al-Isra’: 23)
Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him. Be good to your parents and relatives, to orphans and the very poor, to neighbors who are related to you and neighbors who are not related to you, and to companions, travelers, and your slaves. Allah does not love anyone who is vain or boastful. (Surat al-Nisa’: 36)
They can never know the joys of friendship
Everyone is always looking for a good friend, someone with whom to share happiness, who will be a support in difficult times, and help find answers to difficult problems. Everyone wants to find someone who will offer unconditional love, loyalty, concern, understanding, and comfort during times of illness and in old age. But because such people are hard to find, most people are content to find just one good friend.
Of course, finding a true friend is a real blessing. Such friends are with you in good times and bad, want for you what they want for themselves, want you to be happy and to have the best as much as they want those things for themselves. In other words, such friends are never jealous of each other. Among their qualities is the desire that their friends be happy in both worlds. They are open and honest with each other about their faults and show them how to overcome them. People generally think this is an aggressive attitude; however, only a true friend would do it. Those who have a sense of rivalry or envy toward another will not point out other people’s mistakes if they do not have to, because they do not want the other person to be better than they are. And so they flatter them: “You’re very good,” “Don’t change,” and “Always stay the way you are.” In order to be a good friend, you must be able to love your friends for their lovable qualities: their fear and respect of Allah, sincerity, and good moral character. Only a friendship founded on these values is lasting. So, even though their desire to do so may be great, those of an ignorant moral character most often cannot find any good friends. No doubt you have heard people make complaints similar to these: “I’m very lonely.” “I don’t have a single friend,” and “Everyone has gone away and left me in the lurch. I guess they were fair-weather friends.”
Friendships based upon wealth, beauty, respect, position, or social status are never long-lasting, for conditions change. As soon as the conditions on which the friendship is based are changed in any way, the friendship itself comes to an end. For example, unbelievers may associate with someone who is attractive and good-looking. But if this person’s looks change due to an accident and needs to be looked after, the friendship ends. However, if their friendship was based on their mutual fear and respect of Allah, faith, and high morality, any physical change could not alter it. On the contrary, a real friend would feel even more compassion.
Unbelievers also suffer from this disloyalty themselves. For example, they may lose their looks, youth, health, wealth, and possessions and soon find themselves abandoned by those who they thought were real friends. In good times, these people were close and intimate and promised to be faithful until death; but now, they pretend not to know one another. They have no one with whom to share their problems, no one they can trust, ask for advice and assistance. They discover that their friends liked them only for what benefit they could provide.
However, believers live in an environment permeated by the fear of Allah and belief, all of which create feelings of love and respect. Those who do not follow the Qur’an’s morality and know one another’s unseemly moral character cannot trust or feel true love and respect for others. How can you love someone who you know is a liar and a hypocrite and who uses others for his own benefit? Even if you treat them as close and intimate friends, you know that their friendship is insincere because they have some ulterior motive in mind. This lifestyle, the product of unbelief, is a real dead end. They know this and always complain about the pleasures they have lost, and yet still do not seek happiness in belief or following the Qur’an’s morality. They will never solve their difficulties, because they look for solutions based upon unbelief.
WHAT MAKES ONE PRECIOUS IS ONE’S FEAR OF ALLAH, WISDOM AND FAITH
MR. ADNAN OKTAR’S LIVE INTERVIEW ON TEMPO TV, 3 FEBRUARY 2009
ADNAN OKTAR: It is intelligence that most beautifies a woman. In other words, an intelligent woman hypnotizes people and possesses an extraordinary power. If they want a secret, I can tell them the greatest secret of all; a woman with faith and intelligence and who fears Allah can hypnotize an intelligent man, in other words an extraordinary force emerges. That woman possesses a power that cannot be conceived of or imagined, one that has an intense impact on the soul. And she needs to give thanks to Allah for that power that is so very, very effective. Everything about an intelligent woman is beautiful. She will have a beautiful physical appearance. Allah will beautify her body, and her complexion and everything. This is an absolute law of Allah, something that definitely comes about. Everyone alive can see it. In the same way, an intelligent woman, a highly intelligent woman, will be extraordinarily influenced by an intelligent man. If they want to learn a secret, let me tell them this; that man will literally hypnotize them. The woman feels the spirit and intelligence of an extraordinary power, and the man and woman thus enter one another’s bodies through the eyes and have a profound impact on one another. This is a miracle of Allah. It is a feature unique to truly intelligent people. Irreligious people cannot understand it. If you describe it they will not understand, and they are in no position to understand the suffering that comes from not possessing it. But their souls literally burn from the inability to comprehend this profundity. They cannot understand it, even if you describe it to them. But there is a special secret from Allah for believers, and this is a miracle, a miracle that ignorant people cannot know. Only through this can someone be beautiful. But one does not come to faith in order to be beautiful, one is beautiful because one believes. A woman who genuinely believes has a huge impact because she never lies. A woman who lies is utterly repulsive. A woman who is not genuine, who hides behind a mask, is repulsive. I mean she may be physically very, very attractive, but she will have no effect on the soul, just like some meat in a butcher’s shop. The impact is the soul and power in that entity we call woman, and there is a special electricity we refer to as woman. That only surfaces with profound intelligence, deep sincerity and honesty. A man and a woman who speak the truth delight in one another’s company. But if both are liars, if both play games, as I see in films and on the television, then their false love is utterly degrading and oppressive. The man goes on bended knee before the woman with flowers in his hand and begs for her hand. That is a total disgrace. The woman will loathe such falsity and people who behave in such a childish and irrational manner. But she will not let on, or she will pretend not to understand what is happening, and she will also start behaving like a lunatic, resulting in a very unpleasant stage play that hurts everyone involved. And so it goes on.
They cannot enjoy the pleasures that come with being sincere
Sincere people are always the same, whether others see them or not, for what they feel and experience inside is reflected on the outside. They are honest, open and straightforward, do not hide their thoughts and true feelings, show their true character without being calculating, and present themselves as they truly are. Sincerity gives rise to trust and binds people together in love and respect. Allah has created human beings so that, if they practice the Qur’an’s morality, they will live in contentment, happiness, and ease. Thus, those who are not sincere lose the respect of others and, as a result, cannot love or respect their supposed friends and close associates. Living a public life that is the opposite of their private life, and basing their public life on deceit, dishonesty, and pretense, engenders anxiety and falsehood toward even those considered to be their close friends.
Unbelievers live this kind of anxiety-ridden life, one devoid of the pleasure of intimacy. Having no experience in their hearts of love, respect, and compassion, they can only imitate these feelings. Their pretense is obvious, however, for what people feel inside is necessarily reflected in their attitudes. Sincere love cannot be hidden, for it is obvious in one’s face, appearance, manner, and attitude. In the same way, one’s inner anger and dislike is reflected in one’s facial expressions, choice of words, and the emphases of sentences. The ignorant harm only themselves by this kind of behavior. They approach others with insincerity, under false pretenses and those whom they address direct the same insincerity back at them. All their lives, as we said earlier, they have longed for an honest and sincere friend, but they have never been able to find such a blessing – because of the warped moral understanding that dominates their society. They cannot be a genuine friend to anyone, and cannot experience any warm, close relationships. They will relate to their closest friends, spouses and even their parents with the same insincerity.
However, being honest, sincere, and having a transparent and sincere spirit brings great pleasure, for human beings were created to live in such a manner. For this reason, those who behave according to their own innate nature derive great pleasure from the quietness of their conscience. Even if they know that they will suffer some setback, the pleasure derived from their quiet conscience will never falter. But unbelievers who make no effort to be honest are sunk in their own negative moral qualities, afraid that other people will learn of their true qualities. Therefore, they conceal their true thoughts and feelings as much as they can. Believers, on the other hand, do not hesitate to show the good qualities in their hearts. If they think something good about someone, they tell that person openly; if they think something negative, they explain their feelings in a way that will be beneficial for the other person, for Allah tells believers to call people to good and dissuade them from evil:
Those who repent, those who worship, those who praise, those who fast, those who bow, those who prostrate, those who command the right, those who forbid the wrong, and those who preserve the limits of Allah: give good news to the believers. (Surat at-Tawba: 112)
Unbelievers believe that they will suffer if they show any understanding of honesty. However, this is an important source of love for people who live the same honesty and sincerity. None of the compliments and attention can create the love, closeness, and trust that sincerity puts in the heart. So, they consume the pleasures that these good qualities give to the spirit, for their own distorted ideas make them find duplicity and false pretense more attractive. Again, it is they themselves who suffer the most from what they believe; and even though they are deceived their whole life by those around them, they do not renounce their ideas. In the Qur’an, Allah tells us that those who deny Him realize that there is no other solution but religious morality. But the deniers are determined to live in their own distorted system, and in return, they suffer:
Who hears the signs of Allah recited to him and then persists in his arrogance just as if he had never heard them. Give him the news of a painful punishment. (Surat al-Jathiyya: 8)
[They were] persisting in immense wrongdoing. (Surat al-Waqi‘a: 46)
MR. ADNAN OKTAR’S LIVE INTERVIEW ON CAY TV, 4 MARCH 2009
Adnan Oktar: But generally, when people are sincere this conflicts with their logic. I have described this earlier. They evaluate the situation not according to their sincere feelings but according to rationale. They wonder whether to behave logically or else heed the voice of their consciences. Behaving logically they end up in serious trouble. There are always problems in logic. They should act according to their consciences. A genuine person always acts according to his conscience. Of course people who act according to their consciences encounter difficulties. Honesty is difficult, not easy. Honesty brings a thousand troubles with it. But these are all sweet troubles. People can avoid these troubles by using their logic, but it makes things worse, as then the real problem reveals itself.
For example, a car hits someone, knocks him down. All the other cars drive past, but leave the man there. You pick the man up and carry him to hospital. Then the police ask if it was you that killed him. This has happened to many people. So be it. I will pick the person up, for Allah’s sake, he will say, and you do whatever you will. If necessary, he will even be arrested. But that person should never be left there.
Or imagine a man who attempts to kill a woman. Another man merely looks on. That woman has to be saved, no matter what the cost. What would happen? So is he just going to sit by and watch? Recently I have seen such an incident. A poor woman, and the man had drawn a knife. They broadcasted it on the television. The man is plunging the knife into her. Everybody around is watching. What does that mean? I am unable to understand. In order to save that woman, one can resort to every measure. Everything is permissible there. You strike his hand with a piece of wood and kick the knife away, and it is all over. Why prolong it? They went to save her after she had been all cut up. I saw it on the television, there were lots of people around but nobody lifted a finger. What kind of harm can there be? Can one just sit by and watch? Or one could move in quite politely and say he wanted to tell him something. You can tell him that there is a truth you want to say. This is all very reasonable. And then, watching over his moment of heedlessness, you can move in and take the knife from his hand. What meaning is there in that poor woman being all cut up? So many similar incidents take place. Why? Because people prefer logic to good conscience.
They have lost the satisfactions of behaving in a moral way
Everyone likes to see mature moral attitudes that accord with those taught by the Qur’an, to be treated well, to have their failures tolerated, to be treated fairly if a problem arises, and to be approached with humble warmth despite the level of their arrogance. No matter how unacceptable their behavior is, they want others to be patient with them, offer help when they need it, forgive their mistakes regardless of their constant nature, and treat them with respect. When this does not happen, they become very irritated and never stop complaining that humanity is dead, people are not the way they used to be, everyone only thinks of themselves, and that people can no longer feel any human emotions in this material world. Despite these accusations, they make no effort to treat others in any better way. They want others to treat them kindly, while they think only of themselves. They want hardships to fall on others rather than on themselves, and because of their ignorant beliefs, they avoid moral behavior. At the root of this backward logic lies a lack of fear of Allah; as a result, these people act only for the sake of gain, rather than heeding the voice of their conscience.
Only belief and one’s fear and respect of Allah can bring about a good moral character. Otherwise, one’s good behavior is always calculated and intermittent. For example, when he feels that he can profit from some transaction, he may appear to set his ignorant morality aside; he may seem suddenly generous and tolerant, but is led into this apparent moral behavior by the profit he expects to gain. This distorted way of thinking is very harmful. No matter how much such people seem to belittle worldly gain and renounce any selfish, intolerant and unjust behavior; their unseemly moral behavior does great damage to their spirits. Every time they do something against their conscience, they become more confused and empty within, and more spiritually lost. Every day they have opportunities to act in a positive way, but they always misuse these opportunities. Their consciences become desensitized. Nothing moves them, and they can commit the worst actions without the slightest pang of conscience.
They want to live a good life in a beautiful world without working for it: “Humanity never tires of praying for the good” (Surah Fussilat: 49). But without work, nothing good can be produced. When the question of working toward a good moral character comes up, they say: “This is the way I am” or “I can’t change at this age.” But this individual’s personality is not a function of his age or the way he was brought up. He simply wants to do as he likes without putting forth any effort. A person can attain a good character only when he works at it and persists in doing the right things. But ignorant individuals see no reason to train their egos or use their wills. They do not believe in the Hereafter or that on the Day of Judgment, they will be called to account as to whether they acted according to their conscience. So they cannot see why they should subject themselves such drudgery or why they should not behave however they please. However, they are wrong and will give an account for everything they have done while not consulting their conscience.
In addition, a good moral character allows people to enjoy this life, for it produces joy and delight in the human spirit that cannot be compared in intensity to any material gain. No one can understand this in the absence of direct experience. This delight is the exact opposite of the emptiness produced in the human spirit by unbelief. Since the joy and contentment that comes from listening to one’s conscience cannot be found in the greed for worldly gain, the unbelievers’ egotistical character causes them to live in a world of darkness, one that has no room for generous and tolerant, gentle and forgiving, and compassionate and loving people. Therefore, they are doomed to live in a world of chaos and upheaval, one that offers no peace, friendship, or tranquility. Unable to take pleasure in being generous, they live with the pangs of conscience that selfishness brings. Since they have never known how to be tender or speak gently, they suffer from living in a contentious and quarrelsome environment. They know the physical and emotional misery of frustration, and respond to it by shouting and resorting to physical violence.
They live in a difficult environment, one in which people speak with sarcasm and anger and are anxious to satisfy their desire for revenge. Unable to easily show humility, they become hardened by pride and gloomy arrogance. They always want more, know nothing of the spiritual tranquility that comes from being thankful and content, and have to endure the difficulties that come from being greedy and avaricious. They are in constant distress because they act against their conscience. And the fact that those people around them display this same moral character makes them always sad and frustrated. Of course, those who intend to live good lives and make the best use of this world’s bounty are greatly disappointed by such benighted lives. But never forget, these individuals have chosen these lives of darkness by their own free will. While it is possible for them to believe in Allah and to enjoy both worlds’ abundant pleasures, they are content with this world’s few transient material pleasures. While they can live a good moral life by choosing to follow their conscience instead of their egotistical desires, they choose the latter. In their desire for a chaotic environment, they knowingly destroy the pleasures they could have had. Allah informs us what awaits such people in the Hereafter:
As for those who do not expect to meet Us, and [who] are content with this world’s life and at rest in it, and those who are heedless of Our signs, their shelter will be the Fire because of what they earned. (Surah Yunus: 7-8)
They cannot know the rewards that flow from compassion and mercy
Compassion and mercy are important components of a good moral character. Those with such a character show these qualities, which give them a deep sense of pleasure and enable them to win the love, respect, and admiration of those around them. Mercy brings a person many more fine moral characteristics, and thus they can show more love, respect, tolerance, maturity, sincerity, and helpfulness. Someone who is merciful thinks of the other person’s needs first; people who have no mercy are hardhearted and think of themselves first. Their main concern is to lead their own lives in the best way possible. But their debased character deprives them of many pleasures. In fact, some of them do not even notice the spiritual deprivation to which they have become subjected.
Only believers help those who are cold and hungry on the street, or are generous and humane toward those who are sick. The pleasure that comes from following the Qur’an’s morality is not like any material pleasure the world can give. Even if they were given millions of dollars, as well as property and wealth, none of these could be compared with the contentment that comes from having a good moral character. They show this kind of morality for His sake and hope for the reward of His favor, and enjoy the pleasure, joy, and excitement that come from following the Qur’an and the sayings of our Prophet (saas), which are above all other joys. But unbelievers cannot enjoy any of these pleasures because their hardened hearts contain no mercy and compassion. Of course, some of them seem to behave mercifully, but they expect others to be obliged to them in return, or to be able to demand something in exchange for the favors they have done. In the Qur’an, Allah tells us about such people’s unseemly moral character:
Have you seen him who denies the religion? He is the one who harshly rebuffs the orphan and does not urge the feeding of the poor. (Surat al-Ma‘un: 1-3)
Those who show off and deny help to others. (Surat al-Ma‘un: 6-7)
O you who believe. Do not nullify your charity by demands for gratitude or insulting words, like him who spends his wealth, showing off to people and not believing in Allah and the Last Day. His likeness is that of a smooth rock coated with soil, which, when heavy rain falls on it, is left stripped bare. They have no power over anything they have earned. Allah does not guide unbelieving people. (Surat al-Baqara: 264)
Unbelievers approach even their closest friends with the same debased expectations in the hope of obtaining some advantage. For example, as people become more materially and emotionally needy with advancing years, they need someone to care for them and take an interest in them. So, unbelievers show interest, love, and compassion to their relatives while calculating what may happen to them in the future.
But those who do not have a good moral character will be “rewarded” for their behavior. They will be shown only insincere compassion, and no one will form a sincere and close relationship with them. People will offer them compassion only for what they can receive in return. So, they force themselves to live in a world devoid of spiritual values, where compassion and love are debased and where material possessions are the only important considerations. In this way, they receive tangible rewards for their bad moral character. But in the Qur’an, Allah describes as “dark and narrow” the difficult lives of those who deny Him:
“But if anyone turns away from My reminder, his life will be a dark and narrow one and on the Day of Resurrection We will gather him blind.” He will ask: “My Lord, why have you gathered me blind, when before I was able to see?” He will say: “Just as Our signs came to you and you forgot them, in the same way you too are forgotten today.” That is how We repay anyone who is profligate and does not believe in the signs of his Lord. And the punishment of the Hereafter is much harsher and longer lasting. (Surah Ta Ha: 124-127)
They have lost the comforts of living in contentment and security
Unbelievers live in a state of constant tension and discontent, in a world filled with fear and anxiety. They walk the streets with an expression of worry on their faces, afraid that danger may befall them at any moment. Old people seem obviously anxious that someone is going to treat them badly. The needy and the poor appear sad because they know they are looked down upon and disrespected by society. The well-to-do fret that they will be swindled at any moment and have their wealth stolen away from them: These are just a few of the troubled faces to be seen in this society.
This is the situation on the streets, but at home, people experience this same tension and fear in the very place where they should feel safe and at ease. Almost every day, behind closed doors there are family fights and children are treated with impatience; these are but two of the possible sources of this tension. The situation is no different in the workplace. There is rivalry in which one colleague is intolerant of another and each tries jealously to undermine the other; as a result discontent reigns. Everyone in the department is terrified of making a mistake; and the greatest tension comes from trying to hide errors that have already been committed. Many cannot trust their closest friend; there is always the possibility that they will be duped or betrayed; and this gives rise to continual tension.
Everywhere in the world, children may steal from their families, families may beat the children to the point of death, and people can kill others in the streets without hesitation for money. Every day, scenes of fear and horror are dramatized on television. In many countries, terror and violence have become commonplace. Crowded shopping centers or workplaces are frequently bombed, a supposedly secure bank is robbed or the manager embezzles customers’ money, a person may be unfaithful to a spouse, a fellow worker, or someone he or she has protected and cared for. Newspapers are full of such stories. So, what is the cause of all this? The main reason is that people do not follow the Qur’an’s morality and do not believe in Allah. If people feared Him as they ought to, they would not treat other people unjustly. Everyone would think well of others, support them, and behave morally. Thus, no anxiety or tension would result, for their environment would be content and secure.
To escape this fear and anxiety, people must put their trust in Allah. Anxiety and tension arise from not being aware that Allah is in control of everything, and from refusing to trust Him and submit to Him. Those who live in constant anxiety do not realize that Allah controls everything that happens, not only to them but to everyone they are in touch with, without exception. They assume that earthquakes, floods, rainstorms and fires happen spontaneously with no connection with anything else. Because they lack any faith in Allah, they think all these disasters happen by chance or by some imagined bad luck.
This way of thinking only leaves them tense because another such “surprise” could occur at any moment. However, living in this kind of constant fear and anxiety is no solution. On the contrary, anyone experiencing such anxiety lives a very difficult, discontent and unhappy existence and cannot enjoy the good things in life. The solution is to trust in Allah. Everything that happens in the universe is under His control, and He has created everything to be good for His servants. Those who have faith know that whatever seems good, bad or ugly has been created by Allah as a test for human beings and to reward those who do good deeds. Therefore, no matter what befalls, they know that Allah will protect them and everything will turn out for their personal good. For this reason, they are content. He will support those who understand this truth and sincerely submit to Him by sending down to them a sense of serenity from His presence:
He sent down serenity into the hearts of the believers, thereby increasing their faith with more faith – the legions of the heavens and Earth belong to Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (Surat al-Fath: 4)
Every event and person is under Allah’s control and can only come about with His permission and knowledge. In the Qur’an, we are informed that no one can do anyone any harm or benefit without Allah’s permission:
If Allah afflicts you with harm, no one can remove it except Him. If He desires good for you, no one can avert His favor. He bestows it on whichever of His servants He wills. He is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah Yunus: 107)
Knowledge of this truth allows believers to live a secure and content life. Those unbelievers who persist in their own delusions without believing in Allah or obeying the Qur’an cannot know the pleasure that comes from this security, contentment, and happiness. This is only one of the losses that Allah makes them suffer in this Earthly life for having denied Him.
MR. ADNAN OKTAR’S PRESS CONFERENCE ON 2 APRIL 2008
ADNAN OKTAR: I look at people on the street, they even do not look at each other’s faces while passing by. Everyone fears one another, there is tremendous lovelessness. However when a person sees another one, he would greet him, ask after his health and smile, wouldn’t he? He would look at the other with love, but we cannot see it today. What is this state of affairs? People should love one another. Our people should love one another. It is time that this environment of terror, this scene of trouble should be removed...
MR. ADNAN OKTAR'S INTERVIEW WITH IHA, 6 APRIL 2008
Adnan Oktar: All that is needed is for the bonds of brotherhood to be reinforced. The bonds of love need strengthening. I go out and look at people, and they never smile. Nobody looks at anyone else, there is no sign of love in anyone. Their faces are stony cold. That tragedy needs to be rectified. For whatever reason the old joy has left our people, wherever it has fled, that needs to be resolved at once. Because their spiritual energy has departed, and it needs to be restored to the nation. They should approach one another with love.
They have lost the joy of living in hope
Unbelievers consider life to be a “certain number of basic facts” and think that being hopeful is a way to “console themselves.” In their view, the basic facts of life are that the wealthy have power and the poor are oppressed, that it is naïve to do anyone any favors, that those who tell the truth are taken advantage of, and having good looks, money, and position can open every door. According to this distorted way of thinking, people should live in this world and judge its people and events accordingly, for such “laws” determine the course of one’s life. And, as they say, unless the world does an “about-face,” these laws will not change.
But these so-called facts of life do not exist; the only facts are those that Allah has revealed in the Qur’an. And, He tells human beings to be hopeful, for His power suffices for everything. He tells us that He will hear our prayers and that those who do good deeds will always receive a better and more beautiful reward:
Everything in the heavens and everything in Earth belongs to Allah, so that He can repay those who do evil for what they did and repay those who do good with the very best. (Surat an-Najm: 31)
But ignorant people base their lives on perverse ideas that leave them in a pessimistic spirit. They judge the world, events and other people from this despairing point of view; and as a result, they live unhappy lives.
This negative, peevish way of thinking dominates their day. They are filled with constant worries about the future. They are constantly concerned about what will happen tomorrow and how they will ever manage to fulfill their desires and aspirations. They worry about these topics nearly all the day – on the street, on the bus, at work and when they go to bed at night – creating countless imaginary scenarios. For example, even before students are accepted into university, they worry about how they will spend their four years there; and worry about where they will find a job after graduation. Then sooner or later, they try to dismiss these imagined fiascoes and banish them from their minds.
But unbelievers always imagine the worst scenarios: They think that they will not be accepted by the university of their choice; if they are accepted that they will not be able to afford it; that they will have to get a job and their studies will suffer; that they will not graduate and, even if they do, will not find a job and be left high and dry after so much effort. This negative spiritual condition projects into the future and also into daily life. They worry about everything: traffic jams, missing the bus, being late for work, getting a reprimand from their supervisor, and making a bad impression. They begin to create imaginary solutions for their imaginary problems. For example, they construct imaginary excuses to explain to their boss why they arrived late. In order to show that they are not lazy or irresponsible, they create more scenarios about what they will accomplish in the rest of the day. But in the Qur’an, Allah tells us that only He knows what has not yet happened:
The keys of the Unseen are in His possession. No one knows them but Him. He knows everything in the land and sea. No leaf falls without His knowing it. There is no seed in the darkness of the ground, and nothing moist or dry that is not in a Clear Book. (Surat al-An‘am: 59)
He creates every event – in the past and in the future. So it is senseless for a person to write scripts in his own imagination and to become caught up in endless apprehensions. Everything will happen as Allah wills it.
In the Qur’an, Allah tells human beings never to let themselves be overwhelmed by despair.
. . . Do not despair of solace from Allah. No one despairs of solace from Allah except for the unbelievers. (Surah Yusuf: 87)
In another verse, He reminds us that those who offer prayers to Him will receive answers:
If My servants ask you about Me, I am near. I answer the call of those who call upon Me. They should, therefore, respond to Me and believe in Me so that, hopefully, they will be rightly guided. (Surat al-Baqara: 186)
If He wills, Allah will surely answer a prayer uttered in hope, and without any doubt or apprehension.
There is no reason to be pessimistic about the future or to look negatively at things that have happened. One must only believe in Allah with a pure heart, trust Him, and submit to Him in the knowledge that whatever happens will be for their own good. The unbelievers, who refuse to do so, will receive the “reward” of a pessimistic and despairing spirit. And as a recompense for their persistently denying Allah, in the world to come, they will live with no hope of salvation. In the Qur’an, Allah describes the state of those who deny Him:
The evildoers will remain timelessly, forever, in the punishment of Hell. It will not be eased for them. They will be crushed there by despair. We have not wronged them; it was they who were wrongdoers. (Surat az-Zukhruf: 74-76)
They do not know the rewards of wisdom and deep reflection
Wisdom is a most-needed quality, and yet it is rarely found. Faced with problems in their daily lives and bewildered by their plans for the future, some people strive to work out all the details as best they can and make the most intelligent decisions about proceeding forward. Whenever they feel that their own knowledge, experience and judgment are insufficient, they look elsewhere for intelligent, knowledgeable, and insightful individuals to give them advice. But they cannot always find such helpful individuals. And the advice they do receive from those around them as to how to solve problems is always much the same – mainly because ignorant people live their lives to please others and in compliance with their expectations. Instead of seeking out what is true, good and useful, they adjust their aims and goals to the expectations of those around them and live according to these criteria. Such people live unreflective lives.
Such a way of life leaves no room for intelligent thought and the exercise of wisdom. Such people already know what they will do, how they will do it, how they will act, and what methods they will use, for their lifestyle has been handed down from generation to generation. They have no desire to examine their way of life, recognize their errors, and correct them. In the Qur’an, Allah describes the way of thinking in ignorant society:
When they are told: “Follow what Allah has sent down to you,” they reply: “We are following what we found our ancestors doing.” What, even though their ancestors understood nothing and were not guided! (Surat al-Baqara: 170)
Many people are so accustomed to the manner of living they have inherited from their ancestors that they are not even aware of the lack of intelligence in every aspect of that life style; therefore, they cannot even begin to consider how they might improve their situation. The source of such needed wisdom is faith. Allah reveals this truth in the Qur’an:
O you who believe! If you fear Allah, He will give you the criterion (to distinguish between right and wrong), erase your bad actions, and forgive you. Allah’s favor is indeed immense. (Surat al-Anfal: 29)
Believers are able to use their intelligence to change things for the better, discover radical solutions, and abandon stereotyped behavior. Being able to grasp Allah’s truths and to live according to them grants one wisdom. As unbelievers are unaware of these truths and the fact that their lives rest on distorted foundations, wisdom is absent from their societies. To ignorant society, this lack of wisdom brings yet another deprivation. Because these people do not exercise their intellect, they are forced to live without the very important elements of thinking and reflection. In many places in the Qur’an, Allah stresses the importance of reason and contemplation. Human beings arrive at the truth through thinking; only through contemplation can they discover what is right and proper, and act accordingly.
In the Qur’an, Allah gives this example of people who do not use their minds:
The likeness of those who do not believe is that of the beast that, even if one calls to it, can hear nothing but a shout and a cry. Deaf, dumb, and blind. They do not use their intellect. (Surat al-Baqara: 171)
The worst of beasts in Allah’s sight are the deaf and dumb who have no intellect. (Surat al-Anfal: 22)
The concept of human intelligence includes the capacity to think, conceive, make judgments, and draw conclusions; the ability to comprehend a rare or sudden occurrence and understand, learn, and analyze; and the ability to hone the five senses, sharpen the attention, deepen the ability to think, and notice details. Consequently, those who are deprived of wisdom may be able to live and provide for their needs without it, or to manage to a certain point by training themselves to work by rote and using their accumulated knowledge and experience. But wisdom gives people a different depth and conception, for it opens a vast horizon before them. These people can then guide and direct others to what is true, react correctly to new or unexpected occurrences, solve difficult and apparently intractable problems, and always produce the best diagnosis for each problem. Besides, being able to live love and trust can only come from wisdom. People can only love and show respect insofar as their wisdom permits. Wisdom raises the spiritual and emotional quality of everything in life. There is richness in a wise person’s conversations, attitudes, and actions. The horizons of their thought are broad, unaccustomed, and exemplary, for whatever they do is pertinent and to the point, and everything they say is wise and true.
An ignorant society is deprived of this vital and important feature. People in such a society live out their unreflective lives without exercising wisdom; in a world where mass psychology determines how they feel they should act. Obviously, this prevents them from being aware of – or even examining – their deficiencies; they cannot develop any lasting solutions to their problems and they always look in the wrong places for happiness and satisfaction.
They have lost the rewards that come from being honest, dignified and honorable
Unbelievers respect others on the basis of specific material values. But this respect is false and based on the desire to obtain a benefit from someone. The virtues that command real respect are inimitable and immeasurable in terms of material values. Among these virtues are honesty, dignity, and honor, all of which give people worth and importance, and awaken within them real love and respect. No amount of wealth, beauty, and importance can evoke the respect felt toward an honest, dignified, and honorable person. Such people are naturally dignified and grandeur with the nobility and depth of spirit.
But unbelievers cannot experience these pleasures or admire those who possess these fine qualities. Their moral degeneration increases daily, and their society causes them to forget the importance of these fine qualities. Some unbelievers consider this degeneration as a kind of modernism and, instead of practicing these virtues, focus on those worldly qualities that will give them prestige in each other’s eyes. They place no importance on dignity and honesty, for it is more important where they live, what kind of car they drive, if they follow the latest clothing fashions, or have the latest albums. When it comes to choosing friends, the last thing they look at is the person’s moral character, dignity, and honor.
Some people who ignore the Qur’an’s morality do not want their friends to value honesty or to act with dignity and honor. For this reason, they prefer friends who are like themselves. Of course, such people cannot respect each other; rather, they behave toward each other in unseemly and peevish ways that reveal their moral degeneration. This is just one of the recurring frustrations that their unseemly morality brings upon them.
The unbelievers have also lost all honor. They do not respond maturely when confronted with ignorant attitudes, or do not hesitate to lie, be hypocritical, behave in unseemly ways, or commit fraud for small gains. They think they can attain honor by possessing more money, property and power, by being arrogant, being condescending toward others, and using their wealth to seem superior. So, having lost their honesty, dignity, and honor, they live in a world dominated by material values. Just what kind of life does such a world provide for them?
Above all, contrary to their assumptions, moral degeneration does not bring them comfort and freedom. On the contrary, living life to the extreme with unrestrained material desires removes the very qualities that make an individual human and worse, results in a model of society that drags people down into chaos and emptiness. Teenagers wasting their youth following perverse fads, getting addicted to drugs that ruin their lives and bringing themselves to the brink of suicide, are only one example of the extent to this chaos. All these things are caused by the emptiness in such a person’s spirit. Believing that they can live without honesty, dignity, and honor, as well as without needing to develop a good moral character by following the Qur’an’s morality and practicing human virtues, they collapse both physically and spiritually. The void in their spirits is reflected in their faces, looks, speech, and behavior. Their physical strength deserts them and their beautiful faces arouse no one’s admiration, for nothing is left of their spirit and their inner spiritual emptiness is reflected in their faces and empty eyes. Governed by this spiritual void, they cannot acquire the qualities that attract real love, respect, and loyalty. And so they cannot truly love, be real friends, or give value to anyone else. All this occurs because ignorant people have divorced themselves from the moral teachings of the Qur’an. This is the natural result of having no fear of Allah; it’s what transpires when people do not act according to their consciences, or place enough importance on a good moral character and the qualities it engenders. The moral teachings of the Qur’an are the only solution to these human frustrations. Only by living according to the morality that Allah has revealed can individual love, be loved, be happy and take pleasure in the beauties of this life.
Living to win Allah’s favor: a joy that unbelievers can never experience
Unbelievers waste their lives running after this worldly life and therefore lose the deep joy that comes from following the Qur’an’s morality and hoping for His love, friendship, and intimacy. Most people have never felt such a profound feeling. Allah is the believers’ closest friend, only helper and support, and only beloved, and so they dedicate themselves to winning His favor. From the moment a believer awakens up in the morning, he spends all his time behaving in the moral way that Allah approves, in the hopes of winning His love. For a person of faith, acting every moment so as to please Allah is a source of joy and great pleasure.
Allah is our All-Mighty Creator and what befalls every individual in the face of His Might is to properly and fully fulfill his obligations as a servant. A believer reveals himself through the care he takes over his religious observances; he enthusiastically performs the prayer 5 times a day, ablutions and fasting commanded by Allah throughout the course of his life.
Narrated Ibn 'Umar (ra):
The Prophet (saas) said, “The religion of Islam is based on five fundamental principles: attesting that there exists no deity but Allah, that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger, praying, fasting and pilgrimage.” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
In the same way, avoiding behavior that does not please Him, never compromising his faithfulness and attachment, produces a sense of deep happiness in a believer’s heart. A faithful believer tries all his life to be the one that Allah loves most, the one He is most pleased with and to be the closest to Him. The pleasure that these efforts bring cannot compare to the pleasure that any earthly blessing can give.
In the Qur’an, Allah reveals: “Allah took Ibrahim as an intimate friend” (Surat an-Nisa’: 125). Believers follow example of the prophets. In order to be worthy of blessing of friendship that Allah gave to Prophet Ibrahim (as) and be close to Him, they spend their lives pursuing this intimacy. In the Qur’an, Allah reveals the following about those who maintain their faith:
The forerunners – the first of the Migrants (Muhajirun) and the Supporters (Ansar) – and those who have followed them in doing good: Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. He has prepared Gardens for them with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever and ever. That is the great victory. (Surat at-Tawba: 100)
A person with faith will do everything he can to be the kind of person Allah describes in the Qur’an, so as to please Him. The joy that their sincere efforts create in their spirit, as well as the sense of contentment and security that it engenders in the conscience, give them great pleasure. All these are pleasures that believers will enjoy forever in the world to come. Allah announces the glad tidings of mercy, approval and Paradise for His servants:
Say: “Shall I tell you of something better than that?” Those who guard against evil will have Gardens with their Lord, with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, forever, and purified spouses, and the Pleasure of Allah. Allah sees His servants. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 15)
But ignorant people live unaware that these blessings even exist. They do not listen to their consciences and instead, pursue their own desires and passions; as a result, they are deprived of all these good things now and to come. And as is the case with other blessings, their deprivation will last in the world to come as long as Allah wills it.
