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INTRODUCTION
The dictionary defines passive as "not active or not
participating perceptibly in an activity, organization, etc." and
"inert." When one refers to another as a "passive person,"
he means someone who lacks zeal, who is not concerned with the outside-world,
or with the problems and trials of others, and who makes no effort to
seek solutions to their problems. One who is passive lives unto himself,
immersed in his own little world. This book explores the nature of this
human type, one who consciously adopts this lack of commitment, a degree
of moral depravity which he then tries to impart to the rest of the community.
When commenting on this sort of character, we will refer to him as a "passive"
person, that is, "one who advocates passivity."
Some, among the Muslims, are of a temper that is contrary
to the zeal and enthusiasm expected of the believers. Far from feeling
the motivation endowed by faith, and believers' inner contentment and
peace, these people lead dull and selfish lives. They are loath to involve
themselves in any attempt to live according to the morality of Islam,
but watch such efforts instead from a distance, being reluctant to grasp
Allah's greatness, and to adopt the higher principles espoused in the
Qur'an. Vitality is found neither in that which they do, nor in their
understanding of faith.
They are devoid of those attributes of moral perfection that
please Allah, such as loving-kindness, sincerity, and loyalty. With their
lack of enthusiasm and passivity, which they deliberately make apparent,
they are aloof, insensitive and overly formal, and are those with whom
it is impossible to establish close bonds. Above all else, they are lacking
in fear of Allah, being instead highly prone to treachery. Allah informs
us about these character traits in the following verse;
Among you there are people who lag behind, and if you
encounter a setback then they say, "Allah
has blessed me in that I was not there with them." (Surat
an-Nisa', 72)
In several other verses, Allah introduces us to these people,
as those who strive to wreak the zeal of the Muslims, in communicating
the morality explained in the Qur'an, by "lagging behind." These
verses provide important information that will help us perceive the real
intentions behind their suspect aloofness.
Such people, who aim to demoralize the Muslims, while living
amongst them, may maintain they believe, but exhibit the attitudes of
the hypocrites and those with a sickness in their hearts. Or, they may
be of weak faith, and have not properly grasped its meaning, and failed
to justly assess Allah. Despite being among believers, these people are
deficient in their understanding of the morality of Islam, and how to
live by it, and wish too for other Muslims to behave as they do. Apart
from these, among the unbelievers and those who are ignorant of religion,
there may also be found such who make every effort to undermine the Muslims'
resolve and morale. These people will act openly or furtively to accomplish
their aims. For instance, the hypocrites, and those with a disease in
their hearts, may cooperate with the unbelievers against the believers.
Their goal, ultimately, is to harm the believers. And, through devious
insinuations, by being negative in speech or in action, they may aim deceptively
to demoralize the believers.
Nevertheless, these people often have certain characteristics
in common. Whether they are amongst the believers, or elsewhere, these
people mentioned above consistently exhibit these characteristics-it is
inevitable. Effectively, poor wisdom, lack of insight, indolence, fearfulness,
treachery, deceptiveness, greed, negativity, lack of love, pride, jealousy,
all vices the sincere believers carefully avoid become their salient features.
Whether they are together or apart, it is these common traits that allow
them to ally themselves against the believers.
Basically, this book will examine both the overt and subtle
methods employed by those who live amongst the Muslims, but who strive
to demoralize them. And, it will deal with the attributes of those unbelievers
who are prone to ally themselves with such people. In this regard, this
book will expose all those character-types who aim to deflate the zeal
of the Muslims. Finally, it will explain that what is incumbent upon the
Muslims is to further the intellectual struggle, as mentioned in the Qur'an,
against these ill-willed people, who strive to promote passivity and idleness
among the Muslims.
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