The Benefits of Zeal and
Excitement for Believers

Obtaining Power and Strength

Throughout their lives people seek ways to attain mental and physical strength. Toward this end they turn to medicine and science expecting results from various drugs or mental exercises. Yet, they fail to find a formula which will keep them vivid, lively and energetic until the end of their lives.

The only thing that can keep a person mentally and physically strong and alert is faith. The fear of Allah in man’s heart makes him alert, aware and strong every moment. Allah grants believers this power because of their faith in Him and devotion to the Qur’an, and believers’ zeal and desire to earn Allah’s approval gives them this infinite power. Their constant remembrance of the fact that the life of this world is short and death and judgement are imminent is a constant source of motivation and activity for them. Their faith-related zeal disallows any frustration or disheartenment and inspires in them fresh energy to engage in good deeds one after another day and night.

Apart from physical strength believers gain awareness and clear consciousness. They can readily perceive the intricate aspects of events, devise ingenious solutions not visualized by others, identify occurrences in the most comprehensive way, and draw the most accurate conclusions. Even at times of exhaustion, they have a sharp consciousness due to their zeal. They carry out their tasks in the most precise and perfect way possible and, by the will of Allah, obtain successful results. In brief, they display boundless resolution and strength in everything they do and never become weak-hearted. In case they fail to attain immediate success, they never despair or lose their commitment, aware that the outcome of every effort is always favorable for believers.

Obtaining the Aid and Support of Allah

"And Allah will surely support those who support Him [i.e., His cause]. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might."97

In this verse Allah promises His aid to those who hold fast to the religion zealously. In the Qur’an, Allah gives the example of Tālūt and his army. Some of the men in Tālūt’s army who were about to fight against the army of Goliath (Jālūt) displayed weak-heartedness and feigned that they had no strength to fight. However, those who had true faith in Allah and served Him zealously showed courage and said:

"How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah. And Allah is with the patient."98

They sought refuge in Allah, so Allah supported the pious servants with His help and made them victorious over the army of Goliath in spite of their small number. The event is described in the Qur’an as follows:

"And when Talut went forth with the soldiers, he said, ‘Indeed, Allah will be testing you with a river. So whoever drinks from it is not of me, and whoever does not taste it is indeed of me, excepting one who takes [from it] in the hollow of his hand.’ But they drank from it, except a very few of them. Then when he had crossed it along with those who believed with him, they said, ‘There is no power for us today against Jalut and his soldiers.’ But those who were certain that they would meet Allah said, ‘How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah. And Allah is with the patient.’ And when they went forth to face Jalut and his soldiers, they said, ‘Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people.’ So they defeated them by permission of Allah, and Dawud killed Jalut, and Allah gave him the kingship and wisdom [i.e., prophethood] and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for Allah checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allah is full of favor to the worlds."99

In addition, Allah adds more faith to His devout servants’ faith and strengthens them by sending down tranquillity into their hearts when they hold fast to the religion. This feeling of tranquillity and calm enables them not to worry no matter what befalls them. The support Allah provided to believers for their zeal is shown in the Qur’an:

"It is He Who sent down tranquillity into the hearts of the believers that they would increase in faith along with their [present] faith. And to Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth, and ever is Allah Knowing and Wise."100

"Certainly was Allah pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you, [O Muhammad], under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquillity upon them and rewarded them with an imminent conquest."101

"Then Allah sent down His tranquillity upon His Messenger and upon the believers and sent down soldiers [i.e., angels] you did not see and punished those who disbelieved. And that is the recompense of the disbelievers."102

The Qur’an also provides us with the knowledge that while disbelievers were devising a plan to assassinate our Prophet Muhammad (saas), Allah supported him by sending down tranquillity:

"If you do not aid him [i.e., the Prophet] – Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two103, when they were in the cave and he [i.e., Muhammad] said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.’ And Allah sent down His tranquillity upon him and supported him with soldiers [i.e., angels] you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah – that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise."104

Allah’s help, as the Qur’an relates, is one of the rewards believers will obtain in this world because of their zeal. The recompense they will receive in the Hereafter, on the other hand, is certainly much greater.

Obtaining Paradise

Allah gives glad tidings to those who have faith and engage in good deeds:

"And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, ‘This is what we were provided with before.’ And it is given to them in likeness. And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally."105

Allah will bestow these blessings on them in return for the zeal and effort they displayed in the life of this world. Believers practice the verse:

"Hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden [i.e., Paradise] as wide as the heavens and earth."106

They devote all their efforts to attain Paradise, for Allah says:

"And whoever volunteers good – then indeed, Allah is Appreciative and Knowing."107

Allah rewards good deeds that are done sincerely and wholeheartedly, so believers will be rewarded for whatever they did sincerely even as much as an atom’s weight of good. Hence, they will be pleased with their Lord and their Lord will be pleased with them:

"Allah will say, ‘This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness.’ For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment."108

To the righteous it will be said:

"O reassured soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], and enter among My [righteous] servants and enter My Paradise."109

NOTES

97. Surah al-hajj, 22:40.

98. Surah al-Baqarah, 2:249.

99. Surah al-Baqarah, 2:249-251.

100.Surah al-Fath, 48:4

101. Surah al-Fath, 48:18.

102. Surah at-Tawbah, 9:26.

103. The second was his companion, Abu Bakr.

104. Surah at-Tawbah, 9:40.

105. Surah al-Baqarah, 2:25.

106. Surah ali ‘Imran, 3: 133.

107. Surah al-Baqarah, 2:158.

108. Surah al-Ma’idah, 5:119.

109.Surah al-Fajr, 89:27-30.