The strength of a believer’s faith, sincerity and commitment to Allah’s cause becomes obvious from his steadfastness, which also reflects the intensity of honor he feels for his religion.
Giving up in matters of religion is a weakness peculiar to those who have not yet attained maturity, despite living among believers. It often appears in the form of evasion during times of hardship, avoidance of risks or whatever is likely to harm one’s private interests and giving priority to personal interests. rather than those of the religion. In times of ease, on the other hand, apathy manifests itself as not being disturbed about the unrest caused by unbelievers, avoidance of responsibility and difficult tasks and remaining passive and unwilling to take action in the face of unfavorable developments while engaged in an intellectual struggle. Faculties of reasoning and judgment grow blurred to such an extent that people consider avoiding of exertion in the service of Allah as a gain or blessing:
Among you there are people who hang back, and if you encounter a setback then they say, ‘Allah has blessed me in that I was not there with them.’ (Surat an-Nisa’; 72)
People foolishly tend to ease their consciences by pointing out that there are others who do undertake these tasks. However, once Allah gives relief and grants victory in which they have no share, they disclose their regret and are aware of how far removed they are from the superior morality of believers:
But if you meet with favor from Allah they say–as if there were no friendship between you and them–‘Oh! If only I had been with them so that I too might have won a great victory.’ (Surat an-Nisa’; 73)
But they have also lost great rewards and a superior status in the Hereafter. Allah warns believers against displaying similar attitudes or being negatively influenced by people with weak faith:
So be steadfast. Allah’s promise is true. Do not let those who have no certainty make you impatient and shake your firmness. (Surat ar-Rum; 60)
A person with real faith is never idle. A Muslim must strenuously fight against weaknesses such as uncertainty, listlessness, irresponsibility and adherence to the desires or whims of his lower self. Here are some verses that forbid believers from being idle in various circumstances:
Do not relax in pursuit of the enemy. If you feel pain, they too are feeling it just as you are, but you hope for something from Allah which they cannot hope for. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (Surat an-Nisa’; 104)
Do not give up and do not be downhearted. You shall be uppermost if you are believers. (Surah Al ‘Imran; 139)
The ideal Muslim supports the interests of his religion in times of difficulty as well as ease and prefers the approval of Allah over his own whims and desires. No difficulty or hardship daunts him or makes him lose his firmness and zeal. Examples from the past serve as his role model:
Many a prophet has been fought, when there were many thousands with him! They did not give up in the face of what assailed them in the Way of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor did they yield. Allah loves the steadfast. (Surah Al ‘Imran; 146)
In another verse, Allah mentions the value of serious effort:
But as for anyone who desires the Hereafter, and strives for it with the striving it deserves, being a believer, the striving of such people will be gratefully acknowledged. (Surat al-Isra’; 19)
Statements by Mr. Adnan Oktar regarding the importance of being eager to undergo difficulties
ADNAN OKTAR: Mash’aAllah. The heroes of Siirt, our heroic brothers in the Southeast. They are very dear to us, insha’Allah. Let them relax in the knowledge that the community of Islam, the whole Turkic world, is heading toward a great salvation, and those heroic people will be able to live at ease, insha’Allah. They must love, watch over and protect one another. They must raise their levels of knowledge and culture. They must treat everything with humanity so their hearts can be at ease. The end result will be great salvation. But look, just yesterday I was reading the Qur’an; Allah always refers to the destructions of people. The people of ‘Ad or Thamud, Pharaoh’s people; they never heeded Allah’s word. And tragedies were always inflicted on them. But there is something that Allah wants, that He insists on. Allah does not accept that religion without trouble and difficulty. A traditional conception has grown up among people. They imagine that they are born, grow up, go to school, pray and lead uneventful lives. If necessary they will go and study in Europe, have businesses, get married, have children, pray and die. But I see no such life in the Qur’an. If anyone else does, let them tell me, but there is nothing of the kind. On the contrary, Allah says; “Or did you suppose that you would enter the Garden without facing the same as those who came before you?” (Surat al-Baqara, 214). Of course, believers undergo severe tests. So everyone could choose such an easy life. I could have done so myself, and so could Süleyman Hilmi Tunahan. So could Bediüzzaman, couldn’t he? And so could Abdulhakim Arvasi and Ali Haydar Efendi. None of them did. There is no question of one being able to say, “Let the holy ones get on with it, while we sit back and watch.” They could have secured their own salvation. They would have no effect on our salvation. So everyone must share the same spirit as that of Bediüzzaman, Süleyman Hilmi Tunahan or Abdulhakim Arvasi. Of course. I am issuing a warning. I am telling the truth. We are in the age of the Mahdi (AS). Great things are happening in the age of the Mahdi (AS). There will be climates of great suffering.
