Determination

Determination is the most significant attribute of a believer. A believer never loses his enthusiasm and devotion. He engages in his struggle only to earn the pleasure of Allah. That is why, no difficulty proves to be a hindrance to his endeavours. A believer never attaches importance to what others think or say about him. His only goal is to deserve the favour of his Lord; and he shapes his life accordingly.

Allah certainly puts the determination of believers to the test in various ways; either by periodically giving them trouble, or making them undergo suffering. Details of the test are given in the verse below:

However, a believer with total commitment displays his patience under all circumstances. Allah praises this attitude of believers in the following verse:

Lack of commitment, on the other hand, is not a trait attributable to believers. The following verse confirms this fact:

Besides hardships, trouble and distress, prosperity and affluence also shake people’s determination. Comfort dampens most people’s enthusiasm and excitement. Becoming insolent and turning one’s face away from Allah after receiving His favour is characteristic of unbelievers. Allah explains this in the following verse:

However, this is not the case with believers. Prosperity, grandeur, money or power never change the attitude of a believer. He is well aware that all favours are bestowed on him by Allah and that they can be taken back at any time. Hence, he never falls into exultation over his own prowess.

Desiring the hereafter and striving for it with all their might, as well as avoidance of extravagance in daily affairs are indications of determination demonstrated by believers. Those who “strive with all their might” are thus described in the Qur’an:

Never losing heart, demonstrating an unceasing enthusiasm is a command of Allah:

Neither lose heart, nor fall into despair: For you must gain mastery if you are true in faith. (Al-Imran, 139)

Determination, consequently, is a significant attribute of believers. Those who seek an “immediate gain and an easy journey” (At-Tawba, 42) fail to show an unyielding determination. Believers, on the other hand, accomplish what is expected of them and display an unchanging determination until they meet their death.

“Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah: of them some have fulfilled their vow to the utmost, and others still wait: but they have never changed their determination in the least”. (Surat’al-Ahzap, 23 )

Hypocrites, on the other hand, display inconsistent behaviours and attitude, and change according to the type of people they socialize with. When believers win a victory, hypocrites want to share this success, while in times of trouble, they stay away from the community of believers. This is indeed a sure indication of their hypocritical nature.

The community of Kahf, into whose hearts Allah put courage, (Al-Kahf, 14) sets the best example for believers in the sense of determination. Continuity in worshipping is also important in the sense of consistency.  Only death puts an end to the determination of a believer. A believer is responsible for showing patience and fulfilling his pledge to Allah until death comes.