Self-Sacrifice in the Qur'an's Moral Teachings: Conclusion

The very short list of anti-Muslim activities should be enough to stimulate to action anyone with a conscience. In fact, however, some people remain unmoved, thinking that these practices do not immediately affect them, for they are interested only in pursuing the desires of their lower self. Even if these things happened closer to them and they became more sensitive, they would still be more concerned with their own interests. For example, if they learned that civil war had broken out in a country where they do business, their main concern would be for their potential profits as opposed to the people murdered, the children killed by cruelty, or the fear and anxiety suffered by its citizens. These people do not care about what happens as long as it does not affect them. But if they could change places with one of the sufferers for only a minute, their heart would melt. If they had to fight to survive, along with seeing innocent people being murdered and forced to endure hunger and unbearable poverty, they would not be so callous and selfish.

However, believers know that the basic reason for these troubles is that people do not practice the Qur'an's moral precepts. Therefore, they consider it a matter of conscience to spread this morality among others, for being reluctant, apathetic, or unwilling to do so only prolongs the people's pain and anxiety. In reality, the widespread nature of these problems is a sign that humanity is living in the End Times, the period that, as revealed in the hadiths of our Prophet, will come before the Day of Judgment. During this time, the Qur'an's moral teachings will not be practiced and many people will live in error because they have not heard of the importance of the Qur'an's morality. At such a time, every Muslim is even more obliged to live a life of self-sacrifice as regards his or her possessions and life. In these hadiths, our Prophet tells us that strife will increase, Muslims will be oppressed and slaughtered, innocent people will be murdered, and poverty and hunger will grow worse. For example:

In the End Times, troubles from their sultans will afflict my community, so much so that all places will be problematic for Muslims. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 32)

The Hour will come when violence, bloodshed, and anarchy become common. (Muntakhab Kanz al-`Ummal)

There will be widespread slaughter, and great strife will be seen. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi alMuntazar, p. 37) Judgment Day will not come to pass until these things come true: death and slaughter will be widespread. (Musnad, 2:492, 4:391, 392)

Disorder, corruption, and fear will emerge in the West ... Corruption will proliferate. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah Qurtubi, p. 440)

The poor will grow in number. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah Qurtubi, p. 455)

Hunger and the high cost of living will spread as widely as they can. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah Qurtubi, p. 440)

In the Qur'an Allah states that believers are responsible for supporting those in need: What reason could you have for not fighting in the way of Allah – for those men, women and children who are oppressed and exclaim:

Of course, many organizations are currently working to alleviate people's hardships. But regardless of their effectiveness, they are limited to finding superficial solutions that do not really solve the problems. Given that these problems involve all of humanity, solutions that fix the problems for a day, a week or a month are not enough. What is needed are solutions that are permanent and final. The best solution is for the Qur'an's morality to rule people's lives, for its moral teachings enjoin people to act according to their conscience and to be tolerant, conciliatory, and understanding. It requires that justice prevail and that everyone's rights are granted in full and respected, and that the rights of innocent people, the elderly, women, children, the abandoned, and those in need are respected. Thus, implementing this morality is the clear solution to all of the world's injustice, terror, turmoil, slaughter, pain, and misery. Allah reveals this solution in the Qur'an:

A good life, real contentment, security, and peace can only be enjoyed fully by adhering to the Qur'an's morality. Therefore, if most people understood this truth, all of the world's pain, anxiety, murder, trouble, injustice, or poverty would cease to exist and be replaced with peace, contentment, wealth, and ease. Together with the dominance of high morality, justice, tolerance, and self-sacrifice, one would find compassion and mercy to be widespread among the people. Everyone's rights would be granted and respected, those who are hungry would share what little they have with others, people would take care of others, and they would do their best to promote contentment among the people. In other words, any increase in the number of people who follow their conscience leads humanity one step closer to peace and contentment. As Allah reveals in the Qur'an, the man-made oppressive systems are responsible for all of the evil in the world:

For this reason, each individual is responsible for turning this evil into good. If the Qur'an's morality were actually practiced, all kinds of strife would disappear. Allah tells us that those who pursue their own luxury are oppressors, and commands virtuous people with awareness to work hard and sacrifice in order to end the world's strife:

Allah warns those whose moral character leads them to pursue their own luxury. Those virtuous and aware people who fear and respect Him cannot see the problems that afflict human beings and yet turn a blind eye to them in order to deal with their own concerns. They cannot put aside their responsibility to go in search of small worldly gain. In the Hereafter, Allah will hold each person accountable for knowing what to do but leaving the task to others because it seemed difficult. In such a situation, a believer must find and join with other believers to establish the Qur'an's morality throughout the world and struggle against oppression and disorder: "… spur on the believers…" (Surat an-Nisa': 84) egardless of their own difficulties and hardships, sincere believers choose to please Allah rather than placate their lower self. However, another segment of humanity does just the opposite. In moments of trial, these people, who assert the importance of supporting believers, frequently saying that they have no other aim in life, forget their words and even retreat when they see potential hardship coming their way.

One of the major reasons for this attitude is that they dwell on their personal problems: finding a good job, starting a family, and investing for the future, among others. They consider satisfying these concerns to be more important than striving to please Allah even though He states in the Qur'an:

O you who believe. Do not let your wealth or children divert you from the remembrance of

These possessions and children are blessings from Allah. Of course, people may try to find a good job, start a family, and engage in profitable business. However, these things must never become the main goals in life or divert them from the importance of praising Allah, working toward the Hereafter, and winning His approval. On the contrary, all of these should help them attain these goals. Otherwise, as Allah says in the above verse, these things may have evil consequences and cause a person's downfall in this world and the Hereafter. By pursuing their own interests and avoiding self-sacrifice, they cannot grasp the idea of Allah's power, His mercy and forbearance toward believers, or His protecting and helping them. Ignoring the fact that Allah sends their difficulties to test them, these people think that they have absolute power and strength. Since they think that other people can harm them, they are overwhelmed by fear. For an example, in the Qur'an Allah cites the case of those people who accompanied our Prophet to the battlefield but then wanted to retreat because they were terrified that they would be hurt. Allah tells these people to trust that Allah would help them:

At the time of our Prophet, many people had no will to sacrifice and were intimidated by hardship and difficulty. This attitude is well-documented in the Qur'an, where Allah encourages people by reminding them that they can be successful only with His help:

"… and when you asked the believers:

But they did not want to sacrifice, and so gave various excuses, hoping that our Prophet would allow them to stay behind:

Some said that their houses were exposed, or that it was too hot, or that they could not afford it. But although they did not have the means, many of our Prophet's Companions showed their selfsacrificial spirit by joining the battle on foot. Some even wept because they could not accompany him, while others did not sacrifice even though they could, and others hid behind each other and sneaked away from the Muslims:

However, the right thing for them to do would have been to show loyalty and faithfulness by sacrificing even when hard-pressed. Allah tells us that these people were more attached to this world:

In another verse Allah tells us that they had broken their promises:

This situation applies to all times. Some people claiming to have belief might avoid the responsibility of spreading the Qur'an's morality when they come up against the slightest difficulty. Caught up in their own transient worldly interests, they quickly return to thinking about their own problems. Even though they know, like all intelligent individuals with a conscience, that they are responsible for preventing injustice, helping those in pain and those suffering from poverty and oppression, and ending this oppression by showing people the true path, such people think it more sensible to remain on the sidelines and leave this responsibility to other believers.

Allah warns those who know what they should do but do not do it:

Allah states that the good attitude will, Allah willing, lead a person to salvation in this world and the Hereafter:

Allah reminds us that this is better. People without real belief think that it is enough to accept a bit of religion and sacrifice only when it is convenient for them. In the same way, they may think that it would be better for them to stay as far away as possible from difficulties and inconveniences. But Allah tells us that these people are the losers. By dwelling on their worldly concerns and personal problems, they neglect their responsibility and, later on, will realize that they have occupied themselves with vain concerns and then be overwhelmed by sorrow:

The kind of morality that will bring salvation in this world and the Hereafter requires people to sacrifice their personal interests and possessions, as well as to live the kind of moral life pleasing to Allah in times of hardship, sickness, and difficulty. But those who know this and, nevertheless, yield to the suggestions of their lower self and pursue their own interests and well-being will be called to account. Of course it is irrational to jeopardize one's eternal life by not being steadfast in the face of a minor hardship and by being unwilling to sacrifice. People who fully realize this truth and know that Allah always supports those who are faithful to the Qur'an's moral precepts must willingly sacrifice their interests and shoulder their responsibilities.

Furthermore, people must never forget that living according to the Qur'an's morality wins them His love: