Zeal and Enthusiasm Described in the Qur'an: There are Those Among Believers Who are Foremost in Good Deeds.

Not every person’s faith and devotion to Allah is the same. Allah has stated that in respect to their faith, believers are of various degrees: "Then We caused to inherit the Book those We have chosen of Our servants; and among them is he who wrongs himself [i.e., sins], and among them is he who is moderate, and among them is he who is foremost in good deeds by permission of Allah. That is what is the great bounty."

What gives strength to those who are "foremost" is undoubtedly their devotion to Allah and humility before Him. Their sincere faith gives them strong zeal to compete in earning the approval of Allah. In the Qur’an Allah states that those who strive and fight in the cause of Him with their goods and their persons will be granted high status in the Sight of Allah: "Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] – other than the disabled – and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred those who strive through their wealth and their lives over those who remain inactive, by degrees. And to all Allah has promised the best [reward]. But Allah has preferred those who strive over those who remain inactive with a great reward – degrees [of high position] from Him and forgiveness and mercy. And Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful."

Those who are "moderate" are the ones who prefer keeping to a middle course over striving hard with their hearts and souls to earn the pleasure of Allah. No doubt, their condition in the hereafter will not be same as those who are foremost in good deeds. In addition, Allah has mentioned a third group among Muslims: those who lag behind in terms of their zeal.

"And indeed, there is among you he who lingers behind." As stated in the previously quoted verse from Sarah Fair, such people wrong themselves, and their state in the hereafter will reflect the difference. While those foremost in good deeds will earn the highest status in the Sight of Allah, those who remain indifferent and hang back will see their labor lost unless they repent and compensate for their neglect. Two verses from the Qur’an can be cited as an example of each state.

The Efforts of Satan to Break

In the preceding pages it was stated that the believer’s enthusiasm never abates and always remains fresh and strong and that the source of continuity and steadfastness of a believer’s zeal is sincere faith. Therefore, satan exerts an all-out struggle to weaken believers’ determination and shake their zeal and enthusiasm. The goal of satan in this world is to deceive people and lead them to destruction by whispering suggestions. The evil mission of satan is related in the Qur’an in his own words: "And I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them [sinful] desires."

Satan approaches believers in various ways, as he does with all people, and tries to make good things appear to be wrong. Portraying some issues as insolvable, satan aims to turn men back and prevent them from completing their beneficial works. He tries to instill hopelessness in them by presenting their tasks as difficult, and he tempts them into negligence, encourages them to procrastinate and wants them to show weak will. However, in the Qur’an Allah stresses that all the efforts of satan and his schemes are weak: "He [i.e., satan] promises them and arouses [sinful] desire in them. But satan does not promise them except delusion." "Indeed, the plot of satan has ever been weak."

Those Allah describes in the Qur’an as people who lack a complete faith can easily fall into the trap of satan since they do not exercise wisdom and conscience. Such people claim that they have faith but never feel it deep in their hearts. The call of satan and the lifestyle to which he invites seems alluring to them, and thus they follow it gladly and willingly. As always, however, satan only calls people to delusion and hellfire, the eternal abode of punishment. True believers know well that the scheming of satan is inherently weak and are also aware of the kind of scheming satan employs when approaching them. They know ways to defeat him and never allow satan to break their zeal since they shape their lives according to Qur’anic teachings. The resolute and sincere attitude of believers is encouraged as follows: "And if an evil suggestion comes to you from satan, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing. Indeed, those who fear Allah – when an impulse touches them from satan, they remember [Him] and at once they have insight."

Believers ask Allah’s protection from all harms and thus do not come under the influence of satan’s whisperings prompting them to laziness and carelessness. An example of a believer’s prayer and refuge in Allah is evident in a supplication of the Prophet Muhammad: "O Allah, I seek Your protection from distress and grief, from failure and laziness, and from the burden of debt and from being overcome by men." Narrated by al-Bukhari¸ and Muslim.