As dealt with earlier in this book, jealousy and envy are defined as immoral states of mind in the Qur'an. That is why believers strictly avoid jealousy, an attitude, which is not in compliance with God's Will. There is no reason why someone who pays no attention to the values of religion should not feel envy since, according to his own rationale, there is not any kind of motive hindering such a feeling. Competition makes people prone to feelings of jealousy, selfishness and passion. A young girl feels envy of another girl who is more fashionable or better-looking than her. Similarly, young man envies his friend because he is more popular. Age, sex, profession or status, know of no exception to such a feeling. People from all sections of society show a particular sort of jealousy. They feel envy especially for others' possessions. Moving to a prestigious neighbourhood, spending the summer in a popular summer resort, a brand new car, travelling abroad may well be the reasons to envy others. Ambition holds some so deeply in thrall that they cannot even express happiness at what others have achieved or acquired. Especially in business life, the damage done by competition to the human soul is clearly observable. Ambition for prestigious status in business life and jealousy occurring as a consequence of it are almost normal patterns of behaviour in daily life.

But the Qur'an ensures that the believers lead a life purified of selfish desires: Believers feel pleased at the success their brothers attain or at what they possess:

…(They) do not find in their hearts any need for what they have been given and prefer them to themselves even if they themselves are needy. It is the people who are safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selves who are successful.

Those who have come after them say, "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and do not put any rancour in our hearts towards those who believe. Our Lord, You are All-Gentle, Most Merciful."(Surat al-Hashr: 9-10)

In accordance with the commandments of God, The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also advised the believers to avoid jealousy: "Avoid envy, for envy devours good deeds just as fire devours fuel." (Abu Dawud)

Islamic Morals Ensure the Prevalence of Love and Respect among People

The religion of truth is founded on the basis of good morals and love. In the Qur'an, God calls man to love and sacrifice. God is The Merciful to His servants. The love of God to His servants is related in the Qur'an thus:

He is the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Loving. (Surat al-Buruj: 14)

God demands that man reflect this love to others. Thus believers show deep respect and love for each other. That they will earn the approval of God by doing so is another factor encouraging this love and respect. Besides, believers know that a being God created and gave a soul and faith to, is precious. The fact that the world is a place for man to be tested leads believers to behave well to others, as they know that they will be rewarded for their good deeds in the hereafter. The intense fear of God in their hearts motivates them to do their best towards other people in every action they carry out. They see the reflections of God's beauty in every being they look at, which makes them full of love. Furthermore, knowing that the life beyond awaits all believers and that they will all be together in the hereafter make this love and respect rest on a stronger and more rooted basis.

Thus a warm and peaceful life is the lot of those who strictly adhere to religious values. The family relations will be better, with children profoundly respecting their elders and parents. The command of God, as stated in the Qur'an, also requires such an attitude:

Your Lord has decreed that you should worship none but Him, and that you should show kindness to your parents. Whether one or both of them reach old age with you, do not say "Ugh!" to them out of irritation and do not be harsh with them, but speak to them with gentleness and generosity. (Surat al-Isra': 23)

The Prophet (saas) also drew attention to this point by saying, "He does not belong to us who does not show mercy to our young ones and respect to our old ones, who does not recommend what is reputable and prohibit what is disreputable." (At-Tirmidhi)

In another verse God advises believers thus:

Worship God and do not associate anything with Him. Be good to your parents and relatives and to orphans and the very poor, and to neighbours who are related to you and neighbours who are not related to you, and to companions and travellers and your slaves. God does not love anyone vain or boastful. (Surat an-Nisa': 36)

When the morals of religion prevail, people eagerly compete with one another to improve in conduct and in their manner of speaking. Surely, only religion ensures such morality:

Do you do not consider how God makes up a parable? A good word may be compared to a good tree whose root is firm and whose branches soar up into the sky. It yields its fruit each season with its Lord's permission. God composes parables for mankind so that they may be reminded. (Surah Ibrahim: 24-25)

Those people who adhere to the commands of God experience the best examples of friendship, love and respect. This is a pure love excluding all interests other than earning the approval of God.

The true believers, both men and women, are friends to one another. They command what is right and forbid what is wrong, they attend to their prayers, practise regular charity, and obey God and His Messenger. They are the people on whom God will have mercy. God is Almighty, All-Wise. (Surat at-Tawba: 71)

The bond of friendship depicted in the above verse ensures an indivisible solidarity in society as a whole, which is intensely felt by every one of its members. Such people wish for their brothers the best.

In a society where religious values are not adopted, however, people can never experience love in its true sense, since what they love and respect is good looks, wealth and status.

The bonds of friendship of one who chooses his friends according to his taste in fashion or on the basis of good looks will inevitably rest on these values. In marriage too, the negative effects of this mentality is deeply felt. For instance, in disbelieving societies, a man's decision to marry a girl often depends on her good looks or prestigious status in society. It is most likely that the man will cease to love his wife if she loses her charms or she falls sick, for instance, if she becomes crippled; moreover, one who does not have faith in the hereafter would not like to "waste" his short life looking after a bed-ridden woman. Society abounds in such examples.

Respect is as important as love. It is, in a way, the expression of how much importance one attaches to another. Yet, in societies where the values of religion are disregarded, in order to respect others, people need certain criteria, which most of the time centre on money, status and power. In the absence of these conditions, they find no reason to respect their fellow men. Alternatively, they lose their respect for one who is no longer in possession of power or status.

Islamic Morals Teach Friendship in its True Sense

In societies far removed from the values of religion, you must certainly have heard people saying, "I have a lot of friends, but I do not have a single real friend," or "I do not trust any one of my friends." Despite having seemingly very close friends, these people feel deep inside that they are friendless. Moreover, it is also unlikely that they will be able to find a reliable friend. Knowing this fact, these people put no effort into forming better friendships. That is simply because a true friendship requires sacrifice and effort. In times of trouble, the individual should be ready to make personal sacrifices for his friends. Without any hesitation, he should readily spend his time, money or whatever he deems valuable on his friends. Yet, in societies where principles of religion do not prevail, people find it meaningless to make sacrifices.

For instance, if someone suddenly falls sick, his friend will most probably find it troublesome to take him to hospital, to pay for his treatment or to stay in the hospital with him and look after him. It is likely that he will make up excuses to go to his work, or school or be with his family rather than staying with his friend who needs help. What is interesting is that everyone considers this a perfectly normal attitude.

This is the main reason why people who pay no attention to the values of religion have no true friends. Even their spouses are not faithful: love and respect vanish in a short time. For long years they endure one another for economic reasons or because of social pressure. In brief, despite being married, couples lead separate lives. Under such circumstances, they rely on their children to secure their future, yet this is also a vain endeavour, since children also live their own lives. In the grip of worldly greed and selfishness, they often provide no help to their parents. Consequently, people who do not live by the principles of religion are doomed to be alone in this world, and this is a natural consequence of their mindset.

Adherence to the Values of Religion Erases all sorts of Worldly Fears

Not being companions of God and putting their trust in God, people who do not live by the morals of religion inevitably harbour groundless fears. They constantly go in dread of the future, of being alone, of losing their property and health. They greatly fear having an accident, and most importantly, are afraid of death:

Say: "Death, from which you are fleeing, will certainly catch up with you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the Unseen and the Visible and He will inform you about what you did." (Surat al-Jumu'a: 8)

For disbelievers, death is certainly a mystery. Even if they do not think about the life beyond, they ponder much on how they will meet death and they remain in the grip of this feeling. They think about all forms of death and feel too terrified to contemplate the possibility that, one day, one of these will befall them. With their having no serious faith in the existence of the hereafter, death becomes utterly frightening. They think they will be reduced to insignificance under the earth and will have no chance whatsoever to go back to life again. Their fear of death is basically oriented around losing worldly joys and being non-existent rather than the reality of the Day of Judgement.

People mostly endeavour to overcome this feeling of being reduced to nothingness by creating monuments to leave behind. This attitude is also stressed in one of the verses:

You construct fine buildings, hoping to live for ever. (Surat ash-Shu'ara': 129)

The very mention of death plunges disbelievers into a state of misery. No matter how hard they avoid the thought of it, they come upon death scenes every day in newspapers and on the TV. The death of people surrounding them or the occurrence of accidents and illnesses elsewhere become constant reminders of the end of this life. Yet, as is their general tendency, they avoid it and do their very utmost not to give so much as a thought to death. If anyone ever attempts to talk about death, they distract his attention and make him forget the approaching end.

That death may come in various forms terrifies them. They do not want to see a graveyard, for instance, nor do they buy a house close to a graveyard to avoid the thought of death. However, no matter in which corner of the world they are, death will lay hold of them one day. This immutable fact is related in the following verse:

Wherever you are, death will catch up with you, even if you are in impregnable fortresses… (Surat an-Nisa': 78)

Death and the hereafter are the two realities of which believers have a sharp comprehension. They spend their lives in anticipation of it. For them, death is actually the bliss of meeting with their Creator and attaining the true abode. They recognise that death is not an end and consequently they fear neither death nor anything else.

Adherence to the Values of Religion Erases The Fear of the Future

Almost all human beings, with the exception of believers, are curious about what the future holds for them. Considering all the unfavourable things which may be experienced all throughout life, they feel concerned. The undesirable events likely to happen in the future make them uneasy and anxious. In addition to these permanent fears, there are the everyday worries that appear in different forms at different ages. For a student, it may be as simple as a term paper with a short deadline to meet. As one grows old, however, people create different complications for themselves and the fear of these complications may last a lifetime.

For a young boy at high school, his looks, his relationship with his friends, his popularity in his group, his success at school, and his relations with his family seem to be the most important problems in the world. A minor unfavourable condition becomes a major source of distress. Especially at the crossroads of making a decision about a career, one experiences the toughest time. Needless to say, these are incidents at which one should not be so deeply distressed. It is, of course, perfectly normal for one to want to practise the profession in which he believes he will be both successful and happy. However, if one does his best to attain such a goal and still fails, then he should put his trust in God and pray to Him for another favour. Surely, successes and failures are doomed to vanish with death. What remains is merely the trust one puts in God and one's faith in Him.

However, those who do not live by the values of religion, being unaware of this important fact, feel even more fear for the future as they grow older. Apart from plans regarding the future, many mundane responsibilities and tasks make them feel concerned. Countless troubles surround them; in the course of time, they become obsessed with various thoughts like whether they will be promoted in the company, whether they will go on a holiday that summer, or where they will spend the holiday, will they ever be able to afford to move to a better house, or will they be at the meeting on time.

They are mostly haunted by the fear of a drop in their financial status. Whether they will be able to support their family in the future gives them serious concern. They have great worldly ambitions, yet possess limited resources to attain them. This actually becomes the major source of their fears. Because of this, despite having adequate money on which to live comfortably, they avoid spending it for the good of others. Be they wealthy or poor, they all feel fear for the future and behave meanly. But it is surely God Who sustains them in this world and they will never fall into trouble provided that they put their trust in Him. Yet, since they never feel secure in putting trust in God, they are deprived of such ease. Man is tested by his favours granted by God and he is responsible for using these favours for His cause. Yet, due to this fear felt for the future, the majority of people remain in the grip of self-interest. This situation is expressed in the following verse:

Satan threatens you with poverty and commands you to do what is indecent. But God promises you forgiveness and His bounty. God is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. (Surat al-Baqara: 268)

Another perpetual fear man has regarding the future is growing old. As he grows old, he experiences changes in his body; wrinkles appear on his face, his hair begins to fall out and starts turning white, and his sensory organs gradually lose their sensitivity. Each one of these effects of old age terrifies those who are unaware of the morality of religion. In case of a serious illness, they wonder if their children will care for them. They also think about how they will face death one day. Another major concern of elderly people is having to remain alone after their spouses pass away. They think about how they will manage to live in the absence of their partners.

These are simply the unavoidable fears and troubles one suffers in the absence of faith. For believers, however, the situation is otherwise. They have none of these fears. They believe there is goodness in everything, since whatever happens, it occurs under the control of God. They expect no more than God's guidance since they consider God alone their real protector. Besides, they are aware of the fact that they have nothing to fear in this world. They have only to submit themselves to God and always seek His approval. This point of view of the believers is related in the following verse:

Say: "Nothing can happen to us except what God has ordained for us. He is our Master. It is in God that the believers should put their trust." (Surat at-Tawba: 51)

The strong points of the believers' submission are explained thus in a saying of the Prophet Muhammad (saas):

…if you are mindful about God He will be mindful of you, and if you are mindful of God, you will find Him before you. When you ask for anything, ask it from God, and if you seek help, seek in God. Know that if the people were to unite to do you some benefit, they could benefit you only with what God had recorded for you and that if they were to unite to do you some injury, they could injure you only with what God had recorded for you. The pens are withdrawn and the pages are dry. (At-Tirmidhi)

When one sincerely lives by the principles of Islam, many troubles and sufferings naturally vanish; everyone leads a happy and peaceful life. Religion brings solutions to all concerns. People feel relieved and free from their burdens. That is because they feel the comfort of being aware that every incident one encounters in life is but a test by God. In times of trouble, they never forget that they will earn their rewards by putting their trust in God. Similarly, when they are granted a favour, they feel grateful to God, thereby hoping to attain a benefit in the hereafter. This state of contentment is surely a privilege given by Islamic morals to believers. But, a strong faith, trust in and submission to God are essential to enjoy this privilege. Only those who possess these strengths can free themselves from their anxiety. Others, on the other hand, beset by concerns and fears, start to take their punishment while they are still in this world.

Islamic Morals Teach Believers to be Modest

In many verses of the Qur'an, God commands human beings to be modest and humble and repeatedly reminds us that He is displeased with those who display arrogance. Consequently, a believer has no other alternative but to be modest.

Nevertheless, it would be meaningless to expect a person who does not live by the principles of Islam to be modest. Personal plus points like intelligence, wealth, good looks, and renown become matters on which such people praise themselves and because of which they feel an arrogant contempt for others. They always want superiority by being the most attractive, distinguished and intelligent of all the people of their circle. Meanwhile, it never occurs to them that one day they will ultimately face death, lose everything they are attached to by desire, and that their beauty and bodies, about which they are so arrogant, will decay under the soil. What they actually value is pride. To them, pride is almost a sign of personality.

Pride hinders them from feeling sincere love and respect for people, since this is also a matter of pride for them. They expect respect and love from others, but they think that they will look foolish if they reciprocate.

Those who are not bound by the principles of Islam are "egocentric." Assuming that they know everything, they endeavour to keep others under control, and take every opportunity to humiliate them. The most important point is that these people are no exceptions; many people in societies where the values of religion do not prevail are of this character.

In the Qur'an, a very delicate criterion is set for arrogance:

Do not strut arrogantly about the earth. You will certainly never split the earth apart, nor will you ever rival the mountains in height. (Surat al-Isra': 37)

Another verse says:

Do not treat men with scorn, and do not strut about arrogantly on the earth. God does not love anyone who is vain or boastful. (Surah Luqman: 18)

The Prophet Muhammad (saas) also warned believers against arrogance:

He is a bad man who is proud and puts on airs and forgets the Most Great and Sublime One. (Muslim)

Some people may deceive themselves by saying, "I am modest." However, modesty, as a matter of Islamic morals, has its influence over every moment of life and the entire behaviour of each individual. One who is modest in the real sense owes this trait to the fact that the Owner of everything, including oneself, and everything one possesses is God, and that God has created everything. He is aware that everything happens within the Knowledge of God. Such people cannot but be believers. A person devoid of religious understanding is unlikely to conduct himself modestly in the true sense, since he does not possess the grasp of morals and the outlook of a believer. Unless he lives by the commandments of the Qur'an, the modesty he displays, is no more than hypocrisy or behaviour which is a consequence of inferiority.

It is obvious that a society abounding in arrogant people is unbearable and a mere source of trouble and torment. There is an unbridgeable gap between a society with members who observe no rules or limits in being arrogant, cruel and egoistic and a society of humble and modest people. This gap exists merely because of those who have drifted apart from religion.

Islamic Morals Rid Society of Mercilessness and Disaffection

Cruelty, inhumanity and ruthlessness never appear in societies where people scrupulously abide by the values of the Qur'an. Instead, old people, children, the needy and the poor are protected and cared for. The above images are the consequences of a life far removed from the morality of the Qur'an.

As well as being an attribute of God, compassion is a virtue God demands from His servants. In many verses in the Qur'an, God advises believers to be compassionate. God's Messenger, the Prophet Muhammad (saas) also reminded believers to be merciful: "Those who are merciful have mercy shown them by the Compassionate One. If you show mercy to those who are on this earth, He Who is in heaven will show mercy to you." (Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi)

Not being committed to earning God's approval or to living by the principles of Islam will leave man without the purpose of attaining moral perfection. In a disbelieving society, a lack of compassion emerges in every walk of life and in all social relations. A disbeliever may treat even his immediate family members, his mother, father, grandmother, sisters, relatives, etc., in an uncompassionate manner. He may easily, become enraged at other people's shortcomings or errors and hurt them. Every form of behaviour becomes a matter for them to feel angry about, since they do not know to look at events from a compassionate standpoint.

The disbeliever never shows mercy to the poor and disabled, because his immediate or daily interests are more important than anything else. Such concerns hinder him from thinking about others. Surely, such a person develops his own interpretation of compassion, yet it is a perverted one… For instance, he feels pity for beggars and sees this as a great demonstration of compassion, yet in circumstances which call for real conscientious decisions and behaviour and, more importantly, self-sacrifice, he simply remains inconsiderate and thoughtless so as not to risk his own interests. For instance, if he witnesses a serious traffic accident, he does not stop and help. He makes up countless excuses for this. After all, taking the wounded to hospital will ruin his day, and will probably mean spending money and time. Furthermore, there is no point in going to any trouble or making a sacrifice for a person with whom he is unacquainted. After all, he will gain nothing in return.

A society where principles of religion are not observed abounds in such incidents. These inhuman acts of omission disappear only when people strictly adhere to the morals of the Qur'an. Only religion ensures an environment of bliss where people feel compassion and mercy for each other and are eager to display decent manners. Yet, it should also be stressed that it is not at all adequate for only a few exceptional people to attain these moral qualities. Moreover, adhering to Qur'anic principles when one encounters certain situations and diverging from them at other times, or avoiding certain wicked deeds on principle, but willingly committing others, does not establish the desired environment either. The existence of a truly peaceful social life is possible only when individuals collectively live by the principles of God's religion and are consistently self-sacrificing in their attitude.

Islamic Morals Ensure That Everyone Brings Solutions

One who adheres to the principles of the Qur'an brings solutions to problems and acts wisely under all circumstances. Thus, an individual living by the principles of the Qur'an never feels frustrated, no matter how complicated the situation might seem. This is also why, in a society where religious morals prevail, no member ever encounters a complication he cannot overcome.

When the morality of religion does not prevail, people do not show wisdom as they should. That is why, simple problems remain unsolved in societies far removed from the values of religion. Indeed, members of such societies experience many problems and troubles throughout their lives. But, rather than seek sound solutions for them, they incorporate the problems into daily life, as if they were doomed to remain unsolved. Being incompetent to solve problems has its repercussions in every aspect of the lives of those who live a life distant from religion. Mostly they fall into despair and complain. Meanwhile, failing to exercise their reason, they arrive at no solutions. Even if they attempt to do so, their solutions prove to be irrational, since they limit their thought to a very narrow perspective.

Furthermore, in societies where the values of religion are not observed, not finding any solutions is almost accepted as a legitimate excuse for inaction. It is often used as a pretext to cover up irresponsible, lazy, indifferent or sluggish manners. Especially at the workplace, everyone tries to present his responsibility as a complicated one and tries to build up an image of one who undertakes difficult tasks. This, however, is only a gambit designed to cover up his potential mistakes, negligence or failures.

The main reason why complications remain unsolved in societies far removed from the values of the Qur'an is that people are not even able to cope with their personal problems. One who does not adhere to the principles of Islam is carried away by his own desires. In this sense, he merely strives to satisfy his own desires and is not at all concerned about working for the good of society or of individuals. At all events, he attaches the utmost importance to his own interests and avoids going to trouble, spending energy and money, or undertaking responsibility for the benefit of others.

Even the most trivial, easily solved problem remains a riddle. Everyone seeks to impress others, ingratiate himself with his seniors, have his standpoint endorsed, or at least always wants to be the one who has the "last word." Such personal complexes and expectations ultimately cause man to fail to offer solutions. The main reason lying behind the incompetence of people who do not live by the principles of religion to bring matters to a satisfactory conclusion is stated in the following verse:

... Their adversity among themselves is very great. You consider them united but, their hearts are divided. That is because they do not use their intellect. (Surat al-Hashr: 14)

One frequently sees examples of this in the open discussion programs held on TV. Participants discuss an issue for hours, sometimes until the early hours of the morning. Since everybody is prone to argue, there is general disagreement. Participants may grasp what others think is really true, but their pride prevents them from admitting it and they simply feel the urge to humiliate others and even to show open opposition to it. This is because, what really matters is not to find the truth but to be the one who tells the truth, or to put it another way, the one who gives the last decision. Those who argue go into many petty details only because they want to be recognised for their knowledge. The main purpose here is to take any opportunity to look smart and knowledgeable. They often diverge from the main issue and only hours later do they realise that they had not arrived at a solution. To one's surprise, during these discussions, more complications, conflicts and divergent views arise. Actually, they initially do not intend to find solutions at all. They develop and take shelter in vain philosophies, holding that what really matters is to discuss, express and exchange views. They think it quite acceptable not to arrive any solutions after extended hours of discussion. Over and above this, they find this perfectly normal.

Believers, on the other hand, being conscious that God takes account of all things, remain wise, conscientious and thoughtful under all circumstances. They make the most pertinent decisions and find the best solutions. They swiftly decide on matters and are not hindered by any obstacle, since they are guided by the best morality, the strong feelings of responsibility and the faculty of thinking granted to them by the Qur'an. They "manage their affairs by mutual consultation." (Surat ash-Shura: 38) At all times, they take the option which most pleases God. In no case do they diverge from justice and righteousness, though it might be contrary to their personal interest and the desire for self-satisfaction.

Only serving God and awaiting their rewards from Him, believers do not descend to seeking the approval of others, attaining a particular status in their eyes, being appreciated by them, attracting attention or showing off. That is why, in every decision they take, they constantly receive the support, assistance, inspiration and blessing of God.

Having a deep fear of God and being meticulously obedient to His limits guide a believer in the exercise of discrimination (Surat al-Anfal: 29) so as to arrive at the most pertinent decision and solution. Having this fear and sedulously observing God's commandments, he is given a "way out" by God (Surat at-Talaq: 2), and "matters are made easy for him." (Surat at-Talaq: 4)

Islamic Morals Teach Man to Put his Trust in God

In societies where people do not adhere to the values of Islam, grief, sorrow, stress, trouble, anger and distress become part of people's daily lives. The fact is, however, that everything occurs under the control of God. For people who believe in this fact, nothing is actually evil. Everything turns into goodness for them. Unbelievers, on the other hand, will understand the meaningless of those events over which they feel grief or rage when they meet death. …It may be that you hate something when it is good for you and it may be that you love something when it is bad for you. God knows and you do not know. (Surat al-Baqara: 216).

The souls of those, who are unwilling to submit to the Will of God and live by the principles of Islam, are always pessimistic, rebellious and despondent; they see what befalls them as the consequence of pure chance. Throughout their lives, they suffer feelings of tension, insecurity and restlessness. Unlike the believers, they do not have the advantage of placing their trust in God and knowing that everything proceeds as predestined by God. They are unaware that, good or wicked, everything occurs by the Will of God to put man to test in this world, and that they can attain peace only when they act as God commands. This way, they suffer the consequences of their preferences and experience grief in every situation they encounter in life, no matter whether important or insignificant.

These people take their daily experiences too seriously and elaborate upon mundane incidents, treating them as if they were the most important events of the world. Thus, when things do not proceed as they like or plan, they simply display a negative attitude. Being dragged down by pessimism, they immediately fall into hopelessness and consider this as a misfortune befalling them. Meanwhile, they feel frustrated and can find no way out. If they encounter a seemingly unfavourable event, they are plunged into despair, and, cry and even lament. Given the fact that they have not surrendered themselves to God, they cannot conceive that every single incident occurs under His control.

Based on daily affairs, their moods are like a roller-coaster. In this life, there are many small details which make them uneasy. They spend their days, and even their whole lives, in sorrow and lamenting. This attitude of not putting their trust in God manifests itself in everyday life under all circumstances and indeed, throughout their lives.

For instance, a housewife's priorities in life are limited to her family, home and housework. If she encounters a problem which she fails to handle, she never thinks this to be an incident occurring under the control of God and that ultimately there must be some good in it. She perceives a trivial incident as a misfortune and nurses a grievance about it. This minor event even makes her lament and causes her to sink into a depressed mood. Yet, what troubles her so much is probably nothing but a meal she forgot in the stove or the failure of the vacuum cleaner. However, not surrendering herself to God and living by the principles of religion, she finds even the simplest problems becoming a great source of sorrow for her.

The same mentality characterizes this housewife's husband, the manager of a company who has some problems in his business life. He thinks what distresses his wife at home are all minor irritants. Yet, according to him, his own matters are of vital importance. Failing to grasp that everything proceeds under the control of God, such a person lacks a positive attitude and psychologically becomes troubled. The same applies to children who live in an environment where religious values are not honoured. In their world, confined within school walls, the educational life, lasting 10 to 15 years, greatly obsesses them. They can hardly overcome their despair at having had single poorly-done exam, even after earning a respectable number of A's. They feel worried most about friendship and popularity. Pessimism, hopelessness, failing to find solutions and complaining are largely a legacy of their parents and people they are intimate with. This remains a permanent mood for them. Yet, the sole reason for this mood is their non-adherence to the principles of religion. That they do not know their Creator and do not put their trust in God are other reasons for their desperate situation.

In societies where religious values are not cherished, just as the above-mentioned people live in constant pessimism and hopelessness, thinking that they have the most important problems in the world, those who occupy respectable positions in society likewise suffer the same gloomy mood when encounters in life do not meet their expectations.

However, man needs never sink into depression and despondency provided that he puts the solutions provided by the Qur'an into practise whenever he feels frustrated and keeps in mind that there is definitely something positive created by God in the most seemingly negative situation. Adherence to the morals of Islam eradicates all sorts of pessimism and feelings of failure. One then considers every issue minor or important, and whatever befalls one, from a positive perspective. This stance brings peace both to personal and social areas of life.

In adherence to the morals of Islam, nobody sees events as mere results of chance or coincidences. Considering that every incident takes place as predestined by God, one seeks to comprehend the purposes of creation lying behind the events and the messages God conveys to mankind.

That is why, in a place where religious values prevail, nobody says the words "if only". You never hear statements like, "If I had not gone yesterday, this would not have happened… If I had not entered this school, I could have gone abroad to study… If you had come earlier, you could have seen him… Why did we take this route? There is traffic congestion here… If I had not married you, I might have spent my youth… If I had not worn this dress, I might not have ruined my night… If I had not gone out, I would not have got sick… If I had not travelled, I would not have had an accident…If she went to another doctor, she would recover earlier…If he had not got on that plane, he would be alive." People spending their lives forgetting God and disregarding religion frequently say "if only" and ultimately say the same thing in the hereafter. Yet, surely this regret will be in vain:

If only you could see when they are standing before the Fire and saying: "Oh! If only we could be sent back again, we would not deny the Signs of our Lord and we would be among the believers." (Surat al-An'am: 27)