question 61

Are there any signs that characterise hypocrites?

Allah has described various characteristics of the hypocrites in the Qur'an, and has warned the believers against this group of disbelievers. For this reason, the features of these vicious, furtive people are obvious to anyone who knows the Qur'an well. A cautious believer who is familiar with the Book of Allah never misses the signs of the hypocrites, who have sickness in their hearts. No matter how hard they try to conceal them, the signs they bear of their disbelief reveal themselves in their actions, in their speech and in the way they react to events. Believers cannot name a person who reveals such signs as a "definite hypocrite", but would be cautious of this person. Some of the signs that help to identify hypocrites are mentioned in the verses below:

The hypocrites think they deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. When they get up to pray, they get up lazily, showing off to people, and only remembering Allah a very little. (Surat an-Nisa': 142)

The verse makes it clear that seeking to impress people by their behaviour and trying to show off are signs that can be perceived by believers. It is stated in a verse of the Qur'an that the real face of these people will ultimately be revealed and if Allah wills, they will be known by their features and by their manner of speech:

Or did those with sickness in their hearts imagine that Allah would not expose their malevolence? If We wished, We would show them to you and you would know them by their mark and know them by their ambivalent speech. Allah knows your actions. (Surah Muhammad: 29-30)

Our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) defines the signs that characterise hypocrites thus:

The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks he lies, when he promises he breaks his promise and when he is entrusted he betrays the trust. (Bukhari and Muslim)

question 62

Who is an "ignorant person" according to the Qur'an?

The adjective "ignorant" as used in the Qur'an has a different meaning to what is generally understood. Ignorance expressed in the Qur'an means being unaware of the reason for one's creation, being unaware of the exalted attributes of the Creator and the knowledge and wisdom contained in the Book which He has sent down, and being unaware of matters concerning the Hereafter and as a result of this ignorance adopting an unconscious life style.

The "ignorance" of people who do not accept Allah as the only true god and who do not follow the way He has sent with His messengers, is pointed out in the Qur'an as follows:

They said, "Have you come to us to divert us from our gods? Bring us what you have promised us if you are telling the truth." He said, "All knowledge is with Allah. I only transmit to you what I have been sent with. But I see that you are a people who are ignorant." (Surat al-Ahqaf: 22-23)

question 63

How is the creation of mankind related in the Qur'an?

Allah gives ample information in the Qur'an about the stages of the creation of mankind. Most of this information contains facts that could not be known by the people of that time, but have recently been discovered by modern science; which is one of the innumerable scientific miracles of the Qur'an. Information given in the Qur'an about the creation of mankind can be summarised as follows:

- The nutritive fluid called semen, which contains sperm, is not composed only of sperms. On the contrary, semen is composed of a mixture of different fluids. It is pointed out in the Qur'an that semen is a "mingled" fluid. This fact was recently revealed through the aide of modern science.

We created man from a mingled drop to test him, and We made him hearing and seeing. (Surat al-Insan: 2)

- Only one of the millions of sperms in the semen fertilises the ovum. In other words, the essence of man is not the whole semen, but only a little part of it. It is stated in the Qur'an that man is not created from the whole semen, but from a mere part of it as follows:

Was he not a drop of ejaculated sperm? (Surat al-Qiyama: 37)

- Without wasting any time, the "zygote", the cell resulting from the union of the sperm and the ovum, starts duplicate to become a "piece of flesh". The zygote does not spend this developmental stage in a cavity, but clings to the mother's uterine wall and sticks there by means of its extensions, like roots anchoring a plant to the ground. This fact, which has been recently revealed, was described in the Qur'an centuries ago:

Recite: In the Name of your Lord Who created, created man from alaq [i.e., something that clings]. (Surat al-'Alaq: 1-2)

- The womb is filled with the "amniotic fluid" surrounding the zygote which has started to develop. The importance of this fluid in which the foetus grows is to protect the foetus from external impact. The fact that the foetus develops in a secure place is also mentioned in the Qur'an:

Did We not create you from a base fluid, then place it in a secure repository for a recognised term? (Surat al-Mursalat: 20-22)

- Allah has given information about some of the stages of man's creation in Surat al-Muminun. Today it is a biologically proven fact that the developmental stages of man are exactly the same as what is described in the Qur'anic verses:

We created man from the purest kind of clay; then made him a drop in a secure receptacle; then formed the drop into an alaq (embryo) and formed the alaq into a lump and formed the lump into bones and clothed the bones in flesh; and then brought him into being as another creature. Blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators! (Surat al-Muminun: 12-14)

question 64

How can one call to the religion of Allah?

To communicate the religion and good conduct to people is a command of Allah:

Let there be a community among you who call to the good, and enjoin the right, and forbid the wrong. They are the ones who have success. (Surah Al 'Imran: 104)

In one verse Allah commands us to "Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair admonition..." (Surat an-Nahl: 125). Calling to the religion of Allah is done by means of spreading the commands of the Qur'an with "wisdom and fair admonition". During this communication process, topics such as the existence and unity of Allah, and His matchless perfection in creation are explained so that the respect, love and fear that the person who is invited to religion has for Allah are enhanced. How a right acting person should react to events is described in detail. The nature of man's existence in this world is that he is tried here, that death is near, that he will be judged after death, and that he will either enter Paradise or Hell according to this judgement. All of this is also explained by showing how Allah has prepared the Garden and the Fire with His infinite justice, it is ensured that the listener will strive to avoid coming to an evil end. If people who learn about Allah, the Qur'an and the Hereafter through these descriptions act according to their consciences, then they will try to fulfil the commands of Allah to the best of their ability.

question 65

How can one think deeply in daily life?

Man thinks about so many things during the flow of daily life. For example, he may think about the things to be done on that day, where to go, the pleasant or the unpleasant things said about him, what he has done or will do at his job or school, or about long term plans. Many such thoughts may keep one's mind busy during the day. These are surely necessary thoughts, yet they should occupy the person only as is necessary because there are much more important subjects on which man needs to reflect, things that concern one's eternal life.

Man should first think about how he and all the living beings that surround him have come into existence and how they continue to exist. Following this he should reflect on the attributes of Allah, Who created all these beings out of nothing and who maintains their existence. Then he should consider why his powerful and knowledgeable Creator created him and what He wants him to do. He should develop the resolve to fulfil the commands of Allah in the best possible manner. In the meantime, he should always remember and act with awareness of the inescapable end which awaits him; death and the Hereafter. He should avoid frivolous thoughts, behaviour and speech which would distract him from these urgent matters, leading to heedlessness and thankless pursuits that are of no advantage to him in the next life.

The mental capacity of man is, in fact, very great. What is important is to know how to use it and not to let unnecessary thoughts occupy one's mind.

One can reflect on these important matters while continuing with daily life. One can even consider each separate topic quite deeply in relation to the relevant Qur'anic verses. For example, a person who spends 9 or 10 hours a day at work or at school encounters so many things that he could think about during that time; different people whose characteristics are described in the Qur'an, or factors concerning the various circumstances he may find himself in throughout the day. One's daily experiences give rise to hundreds of thought-provoking matters such as heeding the voice of one's own conscience, not giving way to the urges of the self, struggling with feelings of jealousy, striving for modesty, putting trust in Allah and trying to be steadfast. Furthermore, one can ponder on these subjects in such a way as to increase the profundity of one's understanding. Therefore, the important point is to seize these opportunities whenever they present themselves.

In addition, one can also give thought to the kind of things that we often take for granted, varying from the blossoming of plants, to birds flying in the sky, from the benefit of the oxygen we breathe, to our hearts which continuously beat. One who has an enquiring mind that does not stop at the most obvious or facile explanations, will start to think deeply. Allah states in the Qur'an that believers are people of reflection:

In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are Signs for people with intelligence: those who remember Allah, standing, sitting and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth [saying]: "Our Lord, You have not created this for nothing. Glory be to You! So safeguard us from the punishment of the Fire." (Surah Al 'Imran: 190-191)

question 66

What prevents deep thinking?

One's attention may easily be distracted from a particular subject by other things. While thinking about an important matter, one may find oneself distracted by the ordinary things one intends to do the following day, or even by the pen one is holding in one's hand. Such distractedness hinders one from profound thinking.

Besides this, if a person does not have sufficient knowledge about a subject, the results of his thinking can only go so far. However, this need not represent a permanent obstacle to profound thinking. So long as one knows where to look and how one should go about it, one can always enhance one's knowledge if necessary.

Certainly one of the most significant barriers to proper thinking is over-familiarity with things and looking at things from a fixed perspective. A person who has constantly seen certain things happening since the day he was born will regard all these events as nothing unusual if he does not reflect on them thoroughly. Since he is used to seeing them everyday, he will be unable to appreciate the exceptional design that living things possess. He will not think about the ant, for instance, who easily carries 200-300 times its own weight for many metres, which means that he will never reflect on who has given the ant this physical mechanism which enables it to perform such hard work. By the same token, it will never dawn on him even for a single instant, that he could never achieve a comparable feat of strength. Another example might be the fine details in the structure of a bird's wing. He does not realise that the wing mechanism of the bird requires an eminently unique design. On the other hand, a person who is capable of thinking deeply can arrive at far reaching conclusions by taking up and examining even a single feather. He may even discover many significant new details ranging from the order in the feather, to the structure of the material that the feather is made of. His examination of this single feather can reveal to him the evidence of Allah's creation.

Yet it should be noted that one does not necessarily need to have great knowledge in order to break free from the common, habitual way of thinking. It would be sufficient to take a careful look at the living things one is surrounded by, the sky or one's own body. Allah draws attention to this point in the Qur'an with an example as follows:

Have they not looked at the sky above them: how We structured it and made it beautiful and how there are no fissures in it? And the earth: how We stretched it out and cast firmly embedded mountains onto it and caused luxuriant plants of every kind to grow in it, an instruction and a reminder for every penitent human being. And We sent down blessed water from the sky and made gardens grow by it and grain for harvesting and soaring date-palms with layered spathes, as provision for Our servants; by it We brought a dead land to life. That is how the Emergence will take place. (Surah Qaf: 6-11)

question 67

What is the loss of those who refrain from thinking?

In the Qur'an, Allah, advises man to think. In many verses He gives examples and asks "will you not pay heed?"

In fact, man has many opportunities in a day to take heed, to see the handiwork of Allah, to grasp the proofs in His creation and to praise Him with the understanding due to His glory and greatness. People who do not think, however, would fail to appreciate the importance of these openings, since to them they appear to be no more than ordinary events occurring in the flow of daily life.

For example, when such a person has an accident or catches a disease, it does not occur to him that it might be a special condition given to him to make him turn towards Allah. Yet, in the Qur'an, Allah mentions the hardships inflicted on people in order to make them think:

Do they not see that they are tried once or twice every year? But still they do not turn back. They do not pay heed. (Surat at-Tawba: 126)

Ignoring such reminders are disadvantageous only to the person himself. Furthermore, this would be only one of the innumerable losses incurred because of failure to reflect.

One who does not think cannot recognise the beauty that surrounds him. He cannot take pleasure in the subtleties of Allah's creation. He cannot grasp the proofs of the existence of Allah, the Creator of everything, and His exaltedness. This is the loss of a significant gift for man because he who cannot grasp that Allah is the creator of everything of beauty in the world cannot look forward to the Hereafter. Furthermore, since he assumes that everything in this world will vanish with death, it is not possible for him to experience a genuine enjoyment of these temporary things either. On the contrary, he sees these pleasures merely as things that he will ultimately lose some day. This leads to feelings of distress and anxiety, instead of enjoying the gifts that Allah has bestowed on him.

question 68

What are the advantages of reflecting on created things?

Unlike people who refrain from thinking, one who thinks that everything is created by Allah, sees His traces in every detail, and understands that everything is specifically created for mankind.

For example, reflecting on the exquisite systems possessed by living beings, including mankind, and remembering that the planet he lives on and the whole universe has been built by a supreme power, brings the person to a better knowledge of Allah. This softens the heart of the individual, and enhances the respect, love and awe that he feels for Allah. His faith increases, since he sees the signs of Allah's power and exaltedness in all living things, from trees to birds, to ants, to butterflies, and in every mechanism of their beings. Allah draws attention to the fact that only people who reflect will see and appreciate the evidence of the truth that is all around them:

In the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and day, and the ships which sail the seas for people's benefit, and the water which Allah sends down from the sky-by which He brings the earth to life when it was dead and scatters about in it creatures of every kind-and the varying direction of the winds, and the clouds subservient between heaven and earth, there are Signs for people who use their intellect. (Surat al-Baqara: 164)

A person who has certain faith in Allah comprehends that the world is not without a purpose and that there are important things he should reflect on. He knows that everything given to him is what Allah has bestowed on him, for which he gives thanks. He always thinks about the Hereafter and asks for forgiveness in order to be protected from the terror of that day.

The most important point about thinking is surely the fact that it is a gain which everyone makes with his own personal efforts. No one can force another to think. That is why one who thinks thoroughly helps only himself. Allah points out in the Qur'an that only people who reflect will take proper heed of the events they encounter, and that people who pay attention in this way can save their eternal lives. Allah states that some people avoid being reminded, and therefore will end up feeling endless regret:

Remind, then, if the reminder benefits. He who has fear will be reminded; but the most miserable will shun it, those who will roast in the Greatest Fire and then neither die nor live in it. (Surat al-A'la: 9-13)

question 69

How can one consider Allah with the consideration that is due to Him?

From the moment we wake up, we meet with the gifts that Allah has given to us. We can breathe, see, hear and think, our hearts beat, our cells are renewed. When we are hungry, we eat, enjoy the flavour and become stronger. When we are thirsty, we can quench our thirst. We can speak.

These are but a few of the gifts bestowed by Allah on mankind. The real important thing for a person who is aware of these gifts is to measure Allah with His true measure. Allah is the Glorious One, He is the Owner and Creator of everything. One needs to try to know Allah, reflecting on Him with His exalted attributes. Allah mentions the greatness of His glory in the Qur'an as follows:

They do not measure Allah with His true measure. The whole earth will be a mere handful for Him on the Day of Rising, the heavens folded up in His right hand... (Surat az-Zumar: 67)

In the universe, from the creation of man to the stages of the occurrence of the Day of Rising, from the creation of the heavens to the existence of the seas and the mountains, there is a magnificence and infinite power, which belong to Allah alone, Who possesses all knowledge.

Allah has sent mankind revelations and prophets. He makes Himself known to us both by the matchless knowledge and artistry manisfested in every living thing that He creates, and by means of His books and prophets. The responsibility of mankind is to think as profoundly as one can in order to measure the exaltedness and greatness of Allah with the measure that is due to Him.

question 70

What should one do when one makes a mistake or forgets?

Man is created weak; he may forget things or may make mistakes. Not to forget and not to be wrong are peculiar only to Allah. What is important is to act on it when one remembers what is right. Allah gives an example of this behaviour in Surat al-An'am as follows:

... And if Satan should ever cause you to forget, once you remember, do not stay sitting with the wrongdoers. (Surat al-An'am: 68)

As stated in the verse, one may, unawares or as a result of forgetting, behave in a way which is not good. That is why it would be inappropriate to feel sad or to be anxious because of things forgotten or because of mistakes made. What believers should do in such cases is to take refuge in the infinite mercy and forgivingness of Allah, and to pray as He has advised us in the Qur'an, "... Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake..." (Surat al-Baqara: 286).

question 71

Were messengers sent to every past nation?

Allah has informed us in the Qur'an that He sent a messenger to every past nation. Allah's messengers have invited their people to the religion of Allah, showed them the right way, conveyed the prohibitions of Allah, explained to them the closeness of death, the reason for their existence in the world and the existence of Paradise and Hell. With the justice of Allah, all mankind was warned and given good news by means of His messengers. This is a very important point which shows that everybody has heard the call of Allah, and that people will not be able to plead ignorance in the Hereafter. Allah enlightens mankind about this point in the following verse:

We have sent you with the truth bringing good news and giving warning. There is no community to which a warner has not come. (Surat Fatir: 24)

question 72

Why have unbelievers cast aspersions on all prophets throughout history?

The fact that prophets always communicate the religion of Allah never pleases unbelievers. This is because people who understand and fulfil what they are told demonstrate a change in themselves and move away from the superstitious systems of the unbelievers. For instance, since they know that they should fear only Allah after they become believers, it is no longer possible to frighten them with any other thing. Since they always consider the benefits of the religion in every action they take, it becomes very difficult to intimidate them or lead them astray. These people, no matter what the conditions are and no matter what they are offered in return, do not hesitate to say what is right and just, and do not diverge from what they believe to be right.

This annoys unbelievers, because it endangers their personal worldly interests. For instance, whereas unbelievers try to live and make others live according to their own ideas, believers who adhere to the example of the prophet follow only the commands of Allah. They teach people the inappropriateness of the ignorant system that unbelievers live in, and the beauty of the religion which will bring peace and happiness to people both in this world and in the Hereafter.

For these reasons, in every age, unbelievers have attempted to hinder messengers by using various methods. Examples of this are related in the Qur'an. By means of inconsistent and irrational arguments, unbelievers attempt to deny what Allah's messengers convey. They try to stop them with verbal threats. When verbal means fail, they try to make believers revert from the right way by means of real physical methods. However none of these methods works; they can never bring forth convincing evidence against the truths that messengers and sincere believers convey; nor can they put forward ideas that successfully oppose ideas based upon truth.

In many verses Allah has given examples of the verbal assaults of unbelievers, and of groundless allegations they made against prophets:

The ruling circle of those of his [Nuh's] people who disbelieved said, "This is nothing but a human being like yourselves who simply wants to gain ascendancy over you. If Allah had wanted He would have sent angels down. We never heard of anything like this among our ancestors, the earlier peoples. He is nothing but a man possessed so wait a while and see what happens to him." (Surat al-Muminun: 24-25)

What is he [i.e., Nuh] but a man who has invented a lie against Allah? We do not believe in him. (Surat al-Muminun: 38)

... But they said [for Musa], "A lying magician." (Surah Ghafir: 24)

Allah relates in one verse that such aspersions have almost been a tradition among unbelievers:

Equally, no Messenger came to those before them without their saying, "A magician or a madman!" Did they bequeathe this to each other? Indeed they are an unbridled people. (Surat adh-Dhariyat: 52-53)

question 73

Will the efforts of the unbelievers result in anything?

The verbal or physical opposition that unbelievers put up against the messengers of Allah and believers never results in anything positive. This is because Allah has declared that it is only His followers who will be the uppermost both in this world and in the Hereafter, stating "... you shall be uppermost if you are believers" (Surah Al 'Imran: 139).

We see that unbelievers have carried on their struggle against believers all throughout world history. Yet all these struggles have always come out in favour of the believers. This is what Allah has promised. Allah has mentioned this in the Qur'an as follows:

Allah has written, "I will be victorious, I and My Messengers." Allah is Most Strong, Almighty. (Surat al-Mujadala: 21)

question 74

Who are the true friends of the believers in this world?

Allah is the friend of believers. He is the protector and guardian of believers who take Him as their friend, and who seek only His good pleasure. There is the aid and support of Allah behind all the deeds of the believers. Every act that believers perform, seeking the pleasure of Allah, results in an absolute goodness. It is stated in one verse that "Allah is with those who fulfil their duty and with those who are good-doers." (Surat an-Nahl: 128). In another verse Allah gives the good news of His support to believers as follows:

Allah is the Protector of those who believe. He brings them out of the darkness into the light... (Surat al-Baqara: 257)

Besides this, believers are the friends and protectors of one another. They invite each other to goodness and forbid evil. They aim to direct each other to Paradise, and to raise each other's rank in the Hereafter. Allah has informed believers in the Qur'an whom they should take as friends:

Your friend is only Allah and His Messenger and those who believe: those who establish prayer and pay alms, and bow. As for those who make Allah their friend, and His Messenger and those who believe: it is the party of Allah who are victorious! (Surat al-Ma'ida: 55-56)

question 75

Why can't anyone other than a believer be taken as a friend?

People who do not have sincere faith in Allah, who do not comply with His limits and do not fear Him can never be friends to believers. First of all, Allah does not love these people. A believer who seeks the friendship, love and pleasure of Allah, surely, does not take those whom He does not love, and who are, in fact, His enemies, as his friends. He knows that such behaviour could lead to the loss of the friendship and pleasure of Allah. Allah has warned believers against such behaviour as follows:

You who believe! Do not take the disbelievers as friends rather than the believers. Do you want to give Allah clear proof against you? (Surat an-Nisa': 144)

Apart from this, those who do not believe do not deserve to be taken as friends. Before all else, they are not reliable. Faithfulness and loyalty in friendship cannot be expected from a person who does not mind losing the friendship of Allah. Undoubtedly, such a person would abandon his friend, should this friendship collide with his personal interests. What is more, he would not hesitate to betray this "friend" when it suited his interests.

Unbelievers can never be truly self-sacrificing, because their entire lives and mentalities are based on selfishness. They are not concerned with the reckoning of their so-called friend in the Hereafter, hence they do not urge him to what is right or discourage him from wrong in order to protect him from Hell. More concisely, they do not possess the attributes that a friend should possess. Allah has informed us that these people are enemies to the Muslims, and commanded believers not to take them as friends:

You who believe! Do not take any outside yourselves as intimates. They will do anything to harm you. They love what causes you distress. Hatred has appeared out of their mouths, but what their breasts hide is far worse. We have made the Signs clear to you if you use your intellect. (Surah Al 'Imran: 118)

question 76

Who takes Satan as a friend?

The most significant aspect of Satan is that he promised that he will divert mankind from the path of Allah. Therefore, anyone who rejects belief in Allah and His messenger, who tries to hinder people from the way of Allah, opposes Allah and the religion, or causes people to forget Allah, the Hereafter and the religion, is the supporter and friend of Satan. However, these people will be bitterly disappointed both in the world and in the Hereafter because of what they do. Allah has stated that Satan would aim to mislead mankind, and related the end of those who make him their friend as follows:

What they call on is a rebellious Satan whom Allah has cursed. He said, "I will take a certain fixed proportion of Your servants. I will lead them astray and fill them with false hopes. I will command them and they will cut off cattle's ears. I will command them and they will change Allah's creation." Anyone who takes Satan as his protector in place of Allah has clearly lost everything. (Surat an-Nisa': 117-119)

question 77

Can man be assured of entering Paradise while he is in this world?

No one can be sure of entering Paradise while he is still in the world. Allah tells us that man should be filled both with fear and with hope stating "... pray to Him with fear and hope..." (Surat al-A'raf: 56). Everyone should try to attain the good pleasure of Allah by trying their utmost to fulfil the commands of the Qur'an, and by implementing the good conduct approved by Allah in every moment of one's life. In return for these efforts he can hope for Paradise, yet can never be absolutely certain of it.

question 78

Who are the "ruling elite" mentioned in the Qur'an?

Each time messengers called their people to the religion of Allah, there has always been a section who opposed them, trying to impede their actions and causing difficulties for believers. The Qur'an tells us that these people were mainly among the ruling elite of that community. This is because of the fact that these people possess wealth, power and authority within their society. The reason for their furious opposition to the messengers of Allah is that they worry about losing this worldly power, and the influence and reputation they hold. It is stated in the Qur'an that there will be such people in every age:

And likewise in every city We set up its greatest wrongdoers to plot in it. They plot against themselves alone, but they are not aware of it. (Surat al-An'am: 123)

In fact these people, too, being people created by Allah in order to reveal the superiority of believers, completely yield to the fate decreed for them by Allah. As mentioned in the Qur'an, Allah has caused the evil purposes of the schemes these people hatched to backfire on them, and has taken what they possessed when they were still in the world and has bequeathed it to the believers. Allah describes the outcome of Pharaoh's opposition and that of his leading people, who had great power and authority in Egypt but were succeeded by the Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and the believers who followed him:

And We bequeathed to the people who had been oppressed the easternmost part of the land We had blessed, and its westernmost part as well. The most excellent Word of your Lord was fulfilled for the tribe of Israel on account of their steadfastness. And We utterly destroyed what Pharaoh and his people made and the buildings they constructed. (Surat al-A'raf: 137)

We expelled them [Pharaoh and his people] from gardens and springs, from treasures and a splendid situation. So it was! And We bequeathed them to the tribe of Israel. (Surat ash-Shu'ara': 57-59)

This word of Allah which is for all believers is related in another verse as follows:

We wrote down in the Psalms, after the Reminder came: "It is My servants who are righteous who will inherit the earth." (Surat al-Anbiya': 105)

On the other hand, what these leading unbelievers shall meet in the Hereafter will be an inescapable and painful punishment.

question 79

What does "right action" mean?

Right actions are deeds, which are performed utterly in order to earn the good pleasure of Allah. A person may perform some actions which seem to be remarkable in their goodness or self-sacrifice. For instance, he may give considerable amounts of help, money etc. to those in need. The amount of his aid, however, does not indicate that it is a right action because people may provide such help in order to be known as "good" by others, or to show off or to gain people's trust in a business transaction. For a deed to be a "right action", it should be performed only to please Allah.

One exerts oneself to do one's best while performing right actions not because one's aim is to show off, but to attain the result which would please Allah the most. On account of these sincere efforts, Paradise and a good life are promised to believers who do good deeds:

As for those who believe and do right actions and humble themselves before their Lord, they are the Companions of Paradise remaining in it timelessly, for ever. (Surah Hud: 23)

Anyone who acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, We will give them a good life and We will recompense them according to the best of what they did. (Surat an-Nahl: 97)

question 80

How do believers behave when they are given wealth?

A believer knows that Allah is the real owner of the entire Kingdom, and that He gives sovereignty to whoever He wills. Therefore, he does not become insolent and arrogant because of what he has, but thanks Allah for what He has bestowed on him and spends what he has in the way that would please Him the most.

In the Qur'an, Allah makes an example of a man of wealth and property. That man owns gardens which are remarkably fertile. However, boasting of what he possesses, he pretends not to understand that it is Allah Who has given these to him and becomes ungrateful. His companion, who is a believer, warns him about this attitude of his as follows:

His companion, with whom he was debating, said to him, "Do you then disbelieve in Him Who created you from dust, then from a drop of sperm, and then formed you as a man? He is, however, Allah, my Lord, and I will not associate anyone with my Lord. Why, when you entered your garden, did you not say, 'It is as Allah wills, there is no strength but in Allah?' "... (Surat al-Kahf: 37-39)

As exemplified in the verse, the behaviour of believers is to remember Allah and give thanks to Him for the gifts given to them.