Introduction

In the Qur'an Allah reveals a very important truth:""You will not attain true goodness until you give of what you love." " (Surah Al 'Imran, 92) Self-sacrifice, one of the basic moral qualities that allows people to attain real goodness, can enable individuals to give up, happily and without a second thought, all that they own, love, and value. When necessary, they will endure every difficulty and exert all of their energy for the sake of their values and loved ones. When faced with choosing between their own advantage and that of their loved ones, they will forego their own benefit and make the greatest physical and emotional sacrifice that they can for their loved ones.

All people are created with negative moral tendencies that direct them toward selfishness and egotism. If one's lower self is not trained, this selfishness will take control of one's moral character. Generally, such people think first - or even exclusively - about themselves. They always want the best of everything and expect to be treated with understanding and kindness. When difficulties arise, they expect others to take risks for them and support them at the cost of their own advantage. They always want to protect their own interests and comfort. When faced with adversity, they renounce whatever they value for the sake of protecting their interests and avoiding any harm to themselves. Allah describes the extent of this selfish passion:

Truly humanity was created headstrong – desperate when bad things happen, begrudging when good things come. (Surat al-Ma'arij, 19-21)

People can overcome their lower self by understanding belief in Allah and practicing the Qur'an's moral teachings. Those who grasp the truths revealed in the Qur'an and understand the morality that Allah has laid down for humanity are always able to sacrifice for others. Allah says that those who master their lower self will attain salvation in this world and the Hereafter:  "The people who are protected from the avarice of their own selves are successful." (Surat at-Taghabun, 16) 

Allah created the human conscience to help people avoid evil and practice the morality that pleases Him. The conscience always warns against evil and shows the way to goodness. The deep love for Allah and strong fear and respect for Him that reside in the believers' heart prevent them from being overcome by their lower self. They know that the main reasons for their existence are to win Allah's favor and to conduct themselves in ways that earn His good pleasure. They know that this earthly life is very short and that they have to work to attain success in the Hereafter. They do not forget that all of this world's benefits are transitory and that one day they will stand in Allah's Presence and account for their life. They are aware that those who pursue their own interests here, instead of trying to attain Allah's favor, mercy, and Paradise, will suffer eternal agony. In addition, they know that Allah will reward their self-sacrificial moral character with good things in this world and incomparable eternal blessings in the Hereafter: 

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)

Those who do good will have the best, and more. Neither dust nor debasement will darken their faces. They are the Companions of the Garden, remaining in it timelessly, forever.  (Surah Yunus, 26)

So Allah gave them the reward of this world and the best reward of the Hereafter. Allah loves good-doers.  (Surah Al 'Imran, 148)

If anyone desires the reward of this world, We will give him some of it. If anyone desires the reward of the Hereafter, We will give him some of it. We will recompense the thankful.  (Surah Al 'Imran, 145)

However, self-sacrifice is far more than just giving part of one's possesssions to someone in need. For believers, it is a way of life that comes from the strength of their belief, pervades their whole life, and requires that they sensitize themselves to their surroundings. This involves feeling a sense of personal responsibility for social problems and trying to solve the problems of oppressed and needy people. Rather than thinking that the rich and powerful will take care of these problems, they consider it a moral imperative and a demand of their conscience to get involved, for being a virtuous person means to act in the knowledge that every believer who listens to his/her conscience and fears and respects Allah has a responsibility: 

"Would that there had been more people with a vestige of good among the generations of those who came before you, who forbade corruption in the land, other than the few among them whom We saved. Those who did wrong gladly pursued the life of luxury that they were given and were evildoers. " (Surah Hud, 116)

This book will examine the nature of self-sacrifice from all of these angles. We will see that self-sacrifice is a moral virtue that must dominate a believer's life and that it must be lived in its totality to win Allah's favor. Basing their life on this strong understanding, believers strive toward what is good and thus serve as examples of this goodness both in this life and the Hereafter.

Some people avoid self-sacrifice, preferring this world's transient benefits to winning Allah's favor. But sooner or later, they will suffer great loss in both worlds. Thus, this book will stress the importance of this fact and call upon all believers to follow their conscience and lead lives of self-sacrifice. As Allah states in the Qur'an: 

"Say: "My prayer and my rites, my living and my dying, are for Allah alone, the Lord of all the worlds." " (Surat al-An'am, 162)

Chapter 1: The Importance of Self-Sacrifice (1/3)

Only Allah knows the depth of a person's belief, love, and attachment to Him: "He knows what they keep secret and what they make public. He knows what their hearts contain" (Surah Hud: 5). However, each one of us can form an opinion about another person's belief, fear, and respect for Allah by observing external signs. Allah states some important indications of a person's sincerity: observing the prescribed prayers, avoiding forbidden behavior, and doing one's best to live the kind of life of which He approves.

Allah tells us about those people who only pretend to believe. For example, they may act like believers, perform certain acts of worship, abstain from certain things that Allah has forbidden, and live as a believer lives. In addition, certain characteristics can reveal whether or not they are sincere, for some characteristics that are common among believers cannot be imitated. One of these is an unconditional determination to be self-sacrificial. This characteristic cannot be imitated by unbelievers, for they lack the desire to win Allah's favor and love, and attain Paradise, and therefore cannot sacrifice what they value to attain those goals. Sometimes, they may pretend to do so in order to hide their ignorance of the Qur'an's morality or gain some personal benefit. But when they are sure that no benefit is forthcoming, they lose their enthusiasm. When they think that they are about to lose something or suffer some emotional or physical setback, they cannot find the inner strength that comes from belief and so reveal their insincerity.

But believers regard any attempt to sacrifice for Allah's sake as a valuable opportunity to show their sincerity. They know that Allah creates difficult and troubling situations, which require patience and self-denial, for a good purpose. They act in the knowledge that this world is a short and transient place of testing to win Allah's favor, and so they seek to win His approval and attain Paradise: 

The life of this world is nothing but a game and a diversion. The abode of the Hereafter – that is truly life, if they only knew. (Surat al-'Ankabut: 64)

Allah expands provision to anyone He wills and restricts it. They rejoice in the life of this world. Yet the life of this world, compared to the Hereafter, is only fleeting enjoyment. (Surat ar-Ra'd: 26)

Whatever you have been given is only the enjoyment of the life of this world. What is with Allah is better and longer lasting for those who believe and trust in their Lord. (Surat ash-Shura: 36)

In this world, Allah tests individuals so that they can overcome the lower self's desires by seeking to win Allah's favor and mercy. Thus, Allah tests people with blessings and with difficulties: "Every self will taste death. We test you with both good and evil as a trial. And you will be returned to Us" (Surat al-Anbiya': 35). He also reveals the purpose of our creation: 

He created the heavens and Earth in six days, when His Throne was on the water, in order to test which of you has the best actions. (Surah Hud: 7)

He created death and life to test which of you is the best in action. He is the Almighty, the Ever-Forgiving. (Surat al-Mulk: 2)

Given this, the sensible course to follow is that of true sincerity and readiness to sacrifice, for the greatest virtue is to come in first in the race to do good deeds: 

Then We made Our chosen servants inherit the Book. But some of them wrong themselves, some are ambivalent, and some outdo each other in good by Allah's permission. That is the great favor. (Surah Fatir: 32)

Had Allah willed, He would have made you a single community. But He wanted to test you regarding what has come to you. So compete with each other in doing good. Every one of you will return to Allah, and He will inform you regarding the things about which you differed. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 48)

Those who seek to do good in order to win Allah's favor act with great eagerness, determination, and self-sacrifice. Their sincere belief gives them many fine moral qualities: trusting in their submission to Allah as well as remain courageous, patient, merciful, helpful, tolerant, subtle in mind, and thankful in all circumstances. They are not caught up in any passion for this world and the desires of their lower self, for their goal is to win Allah's approval and mercy and to attain Paradise. In other words, they are so attached to Allah by a deep bond of love, respect, and fear that they will give up everything without a second thought for the sake of that love.

In the following example, the great Islamic scholar Imam al-Ghazzali (1058-1111) shows us that human life has no value that can compare with winning Allah's favor and mercy and attaining Paradise, and that those who choose to win His approval will be deemed worthy of reward:

Those who seek to do good in order to win Allah's favor act with great eagerness, determination, and self-sacrifice. Their sincere belief gives them many fine moral qualities: trusting in their submission to Allah as well as remain courageous, patient, merciful, helpful, tolerant, subtle in mind, and thankful in all circumstances. They are not caught up in any passion for this world and the desires of their lower self, for their goal is to win Allah's approval and mercy and to attain Paradise. In other words, they are so attached to Allah by a deep bond of love, respect, and fear that they will give up everything without a second thought for the sake of that love.

In the following example, the great Islamic scholar Imam al-Ghazzali (1058-1111) shows us that human life has no value that can compare with winning Allah's favor and mercy and attaining Paradise, and that those who choose to win His approval will be deemed worthy of reward:

Let's assume that someone has a very valuable and exquisite jewel. If he sells it for a low price when he could have sold it for a high price, would not this behavior be a loss to that individual and a grievous error? At the same time, would not this behavior indicate a deficiency of labor, a weakness of vision, and a shortage of reason?

Thus, in comparison with millions and even the whole world and its contents, the praise and things of this world that a servant will receive from other people, if not contented with the mercy, reward, praise, and merit that he will receive from the Lord of the worlds, are as next to nothing. Therefore, is it not a clear error to lose these valuable offerings from Allah the Almighty in return for these worthless things of this world?

If these worthless worldly things are absolutely necessary to you, turn again toward the Hereafter and you will see that the world will follow after you. Seek only the approval of the Lord, the almighty Presence, Lord of the two worlds.

The Prophet (saas) states: "There is no doubt that Allah gives the things of this world in return for labor belonging to the Hereafter, but not the Hereafter in return for labor belonging to this world." (al-Suyuti)

Thus those people who genuinely labor solely for His approval and for the Hereafter will have gained both this world and the Hereafter. In the same way that they lose the Hereafter if they turn toward this world, they may also not acquire the things of this world, either. Even if they do, those things will not remain in their hands forever. They will eventually become disappointed both in this world and in the Hereafter. (Imam al-Ghazzali, Minhaj al-'Abideen, pp. 264-65)

Believers Seek to Please Allah

People who do not live according to the Qur'an's moral teachings see their lower self as a part of themselves that must be cared for and protected. They do all they can to foster it, justify it, and bring its desires to fruition. They arrange their life, ideals, friendships, and viewpoints according to its demands, because they see it as a force that they must obey and whose every desire they must fulfill if they are ever going to be happy.

But these ideas are based on wrong beliefs, for Allah reveals that the lower self will always lead a person into evil, unless He wills otherwise: "I do not say my [lower] self was free from blame. The [lower] self indeed commands to evil acts" (Surah Yusuf: 53). For this reason, only by renouncing it can people be happy and content. Instead of accepting its demands and bowing down to it, people must assert control over it and direct it as Allah wills.

Since the lower self is created together with much evil, people must listen to their conscience and do good. Otherwise, it will lead them to live in ways that do not please Him and that will cause them great disappointment in this world and the Hereafter. Out of His mercy, Allah inspires the human conscience with many ways to train the lower self: 

[People who guard against evil] give in times of both ease and hardship, those who control their rage and pardon other people. Allah loves the good-doers.(Surah Al 'Imran, 134)

And [I swear by] the self and what proportioned it and inspired it with depravity or a sense of duty, the one who purifies it has succeeded, [and] the one who covers it up has failed. (Surat ash-Shams: 7-10) 

Believers are aware of this truth because adopting the Qur'an as their guide means that they always listen to their conscience. But those whose belief is shallow sometimes fall victim to the lower self's desires even if they acknowledge this reality. As a result, many things in this life are more important for them than winning Allah's favor. Their basic goals are to get a good job, have a good marriage and a good circle of friends, be respected, have money, live in luxury, and make the best use of all of the blessings that this life has to offer. What is wrong with this? In short, they regard these things as more important than winning Allah's favor and so choose them instead of trying to please Him. Otherwise, it is legitimate to have all of the good things in this life.

People who think in this way generally do not believe in Allah, the Hereafter, or the Day of Judgment. They just take what they can from this life and placate their lower self. Some people want to hide their strong attachment to this life and their lower self by saying that they believe in Allah and that their main goal is to win His favor. Sometimes they might even display a moral attitude similar to that enjoined in the Qur'an. However, they show their real faces when something conflicts with their lower self's desires, and begins to harm their personal interests.

One can see this in daily life. For example, those who worry about the future think that guaranteeing their own material and emotional situation and that of their family is more important than winning Allah's favor. They may regard personal gain as more important than trying to conform to the Qur'an's moral teachings. In the Qur'an Allah describes the insincere nature of this spiritual state, for such people have no real belief and view their own profit as more important than Allah's approval:

 Yet you see those with sickness in their hearts rushing to them, saying: "We fear that the wheel of fate may turn against us." But it may well be that Allah will bring about victory or some other contingency. Then they will deeply regret their secret thoughts. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 52)

Such people do not consider that everything is under Allah's control and that everything happens, both now and in the future, only with His permission. No precautions can prevent a calamity from befalling them, and their efforts will be of no use if Allah has willed the calamity. In the same way, if Allah has willed that something good happens, no one can prevent it.

Those who are aware of this reality will not worry about this life or the future. As long as they are sincere and work to achieve Allah's favor, they will enjoy His assistance, mercy, and support, by His leave. In the Qur'an, He proclaims the glad tidings of this mercy: "Allah will certainly help those who help Him" (Surat al-Hajj: 40). Only Allah gives us blessings. People who forget this, thinking that they can obtain their own blessings by pursuing the things of this world, are living in great error.

For sincere believers, nothing is more important than winning Allah's favor in every sphere of life. For them, material possessions, wealth, status, respect, or concerns for the future are unimportant. They never compromise their goals, even if such a decision results in hardship or anxiety. They gladly undertake any act of self-sacrifice to win His favor, for they are aware that Allah's friendship, love, and mercy are beyond value and cannot be compared with any earthly blessing, and that nothing can be given in exchange for them. As Allah states in the Qur'an: 

They have iman in Allah and the Last Day, and enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and compete in doing good. They are among the salihun.(Surah Al 'Imran, 114)

Say: "My prayer and my rites, my living and my dying, are for Allah alone, the Lord of all the worlds." (Surat al-An'am: 162)

Allah has bought from the believers their selves and their wealth in return for the Garden. They fight in the way of Allah, and they kill and are killed. It is a promise binding on Him in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his contract than Allah? Rejoice, then, in the bargain that you have made. That is the great victory. (Surat at-Tawba: 111)

BIn another verse, He tells us that sincere believers regard winning His favor as more important than fulfilling their lower self's desires:

And among the people are some who give up everything, desiring the good pleasure of Allah. Allah is Ever-Gentle with His servants. (Surat al-Baqara: 207)

As Allah says, believers give up everything without a second thought in order to win Allah's favor. Knowing that He will reward them with much finer things in the Hereafter, they live in this world without pursuing their own comfort and advantage, without expecting any return for their self-sacrifice. Their only hope is to win Allah's approval:

"We feed you only out of desire for the Face of Allah. We do not want any repayment from you or any thanks." (Surat al-Insan: 9)

Chapter 1: The Importance of Self-Sacrifice (2/3)

Situations That May Require Self-Sacrifice

Allah created this life to test human beings with good and evil. For this reason, people may encounter sudden unexpected and disorientating events in which only belief can enable them to maintain a good moral character and adhere to the Qur'an's moral teachings. Their fear and respect of Allah, as well as their deep belief, allow them to react in the most appropriate way when confronted with unexpected and entirely new events. Basically, people can demonstrate self-sacrificial behavior under certain circumstances even without such belief. For example, if they think that they can gain respect in the eyes of others or that some advantage will accrue from it, they will engage in self-sacrificial behavior. But they cannot display such a moral character if some adversity happens to them suddenly and without warning.

We made everything on the earth adornment for it so that We could test them to see whose actions are the best. (Surat al-Kahf: 7)

In such unexpected situations, believers are happy and more than willing to sacrifice themselves without a second thought. In the days of our Prophet (saas), he and his Companions were shining examples of the self-sacrificial moral character that comes from sincere belief. Without regard for their lives or their possessions, they were determined to die in order to win Allah's approval when some people, mostly deniers, showed great enmity toward believers. When required, they were prepared to leave behind their homes, families, work, possessions, respect, and all the other worldly blessings to ensure the believers' comfort, contentment, security, and overall well-being. Putting our Prophet's (saas) security above their own lives, they became examples to all people, regardless of time or location, of superior moral character. In the Qur'an Allah tells us of the believers' faithfulness toward our Prophet (saas) and their self-sacrificial moral character:

The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves.  (Surat al-Ahzab, 6)

Islamic scholars have passed down many such examples of the early Muslims' determination, courage, patience, and self-sacrificial actions done solely to win Allah's approval and mercy and attain Paradise. Living in a non-Islamic society, the Companions risked everything and believed in Muhammad (saas) as His Prophet, despite the unbelievers' oppression and threats. At that time, the powerful and respected members of the Meccan community applied great pressure to make the believers recant and return to their ancestral idolatry. Many sincere believers were determined to resist in order to win Allah's approval. Some of them were maimed by torture, had their hands and feet cut off, or even died. But none of them recanted. On the contrary, this oppression caused them to become more resolute, more self-sacrificial, and more eager to spread the Qur'an's morality. They may have been wounded in battles, but even this did not daunt them; rather, they accepted it as a blessing and a great honor. Their excellent moral character is described in the Qur’an: :

Many a prophet has been fought when there were many thousands with him. They did not give up in the face of what assailed them in the way of Allah, nor did they weaken or yield. Allah loves the steadfast. All they said was: "Our Lord, forgive us our wrong actions and any excesses that we went to in what we did. Make our feet firm and help us against these unbelieving people." So Allah gave them the reward of this world and the best reward of the Hereafter. Allah loves good-doers. (Surah Al 'Imran: 146-48)

Allah tells us in another verse that the Companions knew that all of these things drew them close to Allah and were important opportunities to attain Paradise: "Nor will they give away any amount, whether large or small, nor will they cross any valley without it being written down for them so that Allah can recompense them for the best of what they did" (Surat at-Tawba: 121). Since it was an act of worship performed to win Allah's approval, believers knew the joy of returning wounded from a battle and the excitement of joining another. At a time when the hypocrites, those who have diseased hearts, hold back in fear of being wounded, sincere believers are prepared to sacrifice everything for His cause: 

Say: "What do you expect to befall us, except for one of the two best things? But what we expect to happen to you is for Allah to punish you either directly from Himself or through our hands. So wait. We are waiting with you." (Surat at-Tawba: 52)

They realize that every difficulty they encounter is a mercy from Allah, and so do not pursue this world but try to win His approval and success in the Hereafter. In the Qur’an Allah describes the tears of those who are eager to sacrifice themselves but cannot find a horse to ride into battle with our Prophet (saas) or help other Muslims:

… nor is anything held against those who, when they asked you to provide them with mounts and you said: "I cannot find anything on which to mount you," turned away with their eyes overflowing with tears, overcome by grief at having nothing to give. (Surat at-Tawba: 92)

All believers have experienced such things, for Allah says that He will test each person with regard to his/her possessions, life, friends and relatives, business, status, and respect. Satan stirs up in each person's heart a strong love of this world, a passionate ambition for possessions and position, worries about the future, and an addiction to a comfortable life; he urges them to follow their lower self's desires, robs them of their willpower, and urges them to be lazy and uninterested; and he leads them into fear and despair. But sincere believers always counter these incitements with the Qur'an's morality so that they can win His approval by refusing to placate their lower self.

Allah gives in the Qur’an examples of situations in which believers could be called upon to make such personal sacrifices. 

Abandoning Worldly Appetites

In the Qur'an Allah states that the world has been adorned in such a way to separate true believers from insincere people: "We made everything on Earth adornment for it so that We could test them to see whose actions are the best" (Surat al-Kahf: 7). Some of these adornments are described in the Qur’an: 

The love of worldly appetites appears fair in people's eyes, painted in glowing colors: women and children, heaped-up mounds of gold and silver, horses with fine markings, livestock, and fertile farmland. All of that is merely the enjoyment of the life of this world. The best homecoming is in Allah's Presence.  (Surah Al 'Imran, 14)

Each thing listed here was created as a blessing for humanity. However, it is up to individual human beings to realize that these blessings are from Allah and that they are obliged to thank Him and use them in ways to win His favor. Each blessing should draw people closer to Allah and lead them to give Him greater thanks and better appreciate His greatness, intelligence, artistry, infinite mercy, and generosity. Individuals should always be aware that He can remove all of these things whenever He wills and that, apart from Him, there is no power that can help them.

Those believers who are aware of this understand that, apart from Allah, they have no other friends, or helpers, and that only Allah protects and cares for them, gives them their blessings and daily bread, makes their work easier, and bolsters their heart with a sense of contentment and security. They are attached to Allah with such a deep love and unshakable trust that their greatest fear is that of failing to win His approval, pleasure, love, and friendship. Therefore, they avoid any action that might cause this by doing their best to please Him and conform to the Qur'an's moral teachings.

In accord with this sincerity, they use every blessing they have to win Allah's favor, friendship, and infinite mercy. Of course, all of the things listed above are blessings for believers; however, they are never more important than winning His approval. Believers are never greedy for such profits, for they would give up any one of them immediately in order to win His approval.

Some people measure self-sacrifice in terms of looking after their own needs, desires, and comfort before considering the well-being of others. But this view has nothing to do with the moral understanding of self-sacrifice described in the Qur'an. When these people say that they have been self-sacrificial in some things, they mean only with regard to things they do not need, things whose absence does not really trouble them. They may think they are being self-sacrificial, but the Qur'anic morality is being able to renounce all gain and give up without a second thought that which he/she loves the most:

You will not attain true goodness until you give of what you love. Whatever you give away, Allah knows it. (Surah Al 'Imran, 92)

Another measure is not expecting any benefits in return other than Allah's good pleasure in performing self-sacrificial acts and not making the recipient feel obligated. Some people do a favor for someone else and then take every opportunity to mention it so that the recipient will feel obligated and so that they can claim a favor in the future, if necessary. Some seek to collect appreciation from those around them, hoping that they will say how generous and kind-hearted they are. However, the purpose of sincere self-sacrifice is not to gain any material or emotional return, but to win Allah's approval: "The metaphor of those who spend their wealth, desiring the pleasure of Allah and firmness for themselves, is that of a garden on a hillside. When heavy rain falls on it, it doubles its produce; and if heavy rain does not fall, there is dew. Allah sees what you do" (Surat al-Baqara: 265). In addition: "Those who give their wealth to purify themselves – not to repay someone else for a favor done – desiring only the Face of their Lord Most High. They will certainly be satisfied" (Surat al-Layl: 18-21). Allah tells us not to belittle others and make them feel obligated, and mentions a reward for those who follow these words: 

Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and then do not follow what they have spent by demands for gratitude or insulting words will have their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (Surat al-Baqara: 262)

Allah also tells us that believers, because of their moral superiority, often keep quiet about what they have given:

[People of intelligence] are steadfast in seeking the Face of their Lord; perform prayer and give from the provision We have given them, secretly and openly; and stave off evil with good. They will have the Ultimate Abode. (Surat ar-Ra'd: 22) 

Do not direct your eyes longingly to what We have given certain of them to enjoy, the flower of the life of this world, so that We can test them by it. Your Lord’s provision is better and longer lasting. (Surah Ta Ha: 134)

Another measure of sincere self-sacrifice can be seen among those who are poor or who have limited means. Such people could claim material and emotional difficulties in an attempt to assuage their conscience. However, they must not forget that Allah cares for them, as well as supports and helps them, and that He will show them an easy way out of their difficulties if they show a good moral character. Allah says that better things await those who seek only His approval: 

Those who respond to their Lord will receive the best. But as for those who do not respond to Him, even if they owned everything on Earth and the same again with it, they would offer it as a ransom. They will receive an evil reckoning, and their shelter will be Hell. What an evil resting-place! (Surat ar-Ra'd: 18) 

Those who refuse to be self-sacrificial and do favors for others, worrying that such actions might harm their interests, might wish to give everything that they have as a ransom to save themselves from the pains of Hell. However, they will learn on the Day of Judgment that nothing they offer will be accepted.

The superior morality of believers is praised in this regard:

[The people who guard against evil] give in times of both ease and hardship, those who control their rage and pardon other people – Allah loves the good-doers. (Surah Al 'Imran: 134)

Your wealth and children are a trial. But with Allah there is an immense reward. (Surat at-Taghabun: 15)

Allah reveals in the above verse that the allures of this worldly life are only a trial and a source of temptation. In another verse, He warns those who are overcome by desire and forget about winning His favor:

You who believe. Do not let your wealth or children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. Whoever does that is lost. (Surat al-Munafiqun: 9) 

When those who have fear [and respect] of Allah are asked, ‘What has your Lord sent down?’ their reply is, ‘Good!’ There is good in this world for those who do good, and the abode of the Hereafter is even better. How wonderful is the abode of those who guard against evil.(Surat an-Nahl: 30)

There may be times when people have to sacrifice not only their material possessions, but also their life. It should not be thought that this is restricted to certain situations. People enjoy many different blessings in this earthly life. Believers know that all of these blessings come from Allah's mercy in the form of a test, and so always think about how they can best use the means at their disposal to win Allah's favor. Sometimes they may have to risk their life to save another believer or give up their respect, rank, and position to help another person. Likewise, they may have to use their own money to solve another person's problems, sacrifice their orderly life for a person's well-being, put their own needs second to somebody else's health, or become physically exhausted and have to expend more effort than usual.

Fully aware believers try every day to use their mind and talents, knowledge and experience, physical strength and time in the best way. When required, they give up their own comfort and free time. For example, they may deprive themselves of sleep and food, ignore their personal affairs, and do good works with the intention of benefiting others. It would be quite reasonable for them to set apart large blocks of time for themselves and use the rest to help others. Although such people may be considered to act according to their conscience and freely donate their spare time, each action can still be done better. The spirit of self-sacrifice that comes from sincere belief leads people to do more than they were going to and to make the best use of every second at their disposal.

Allah offers human beings many such possibilities. However, some people get caught up in a great desire for the things of this world. Instead of thanking Allah for the blessings they have, they become less generous, and even greedy to acquire more: 

Leave the person I created on his own to Me alone, the one to whom I have given great wealth and children who stay with him and whose way I have smoothed. Then this person wants Me to add yet more! (Surat al-Muddaththir: 11-15) 

Greedy for the allures of this life, such people avoid self-sacrifice and, instead of trying to win Allah's favor, pursue their own gain:

As stated in this verse, whatever people possess and may avoid sacrificing is like plant-growth in the field, for one day everything will pass away. Only good deeds done to earn Allah's favor will receive the finest reward in His Presence and turn into blessings in this life and the Hereafter. Allah reveals this truth:

Wealth and children are the embellishment of the life of this world. But in your Lord's Sight, right actions that are lasting bring a better reward and are a better basis for hope. (Surat al-Kahf: 46) 

Being Patient and Performing Self-Sacrificial Deeds

Allah tells us that people will encounter hardships and anxiety as well as blessings: "We will test you with a certain amount of fear and hunger, as well as loss of wealth and life and fruits. But give good news to the steadfast" (Surat al-Baqara: 155). Allah explains the reason for this: "We will test you until We know the true fighters among you and those who are steadfast, and test what is reported of you" (Surah Muhammad: 31) and: "Do people imagine that they will be left to say: 'We believe' and will not be tested? We tested those before them so that Allah would know the truthful and would know the liars" (Surat al-'Ankabut: 2-3).

Indeed, hardship brings out a person's true character: courageous or cowardly; generous or mean; humane, aware, and compassionate, or thoughtless and selfish. In the same way, the excellent character of those believers who have dedicated their life to Allah and striven to win His favor is also revealed under harsh conditions. No matter what difficulty or hardship they may encounter, they will remain steadfast in the eagerness and determination that their belief has imparted to them. Even in the hardest circumstances they will try to do their best and help others. They know that Allah creates such circumstances to test people, to see whether they will engage in the same amount of self-sacrifice as they would if they were in a comfortable situation. For example, they cannot just be generous when they are well-off, but must be the same when they find themselves in reduced circumstances. They know that being distracted with their own problems and not considering other people's difficult straits are incompatible with the Qur'an's morality, for Allah is pleased when they help those in need.

Allah tells us that the believers of Mecca, who abandoned all of their possessions and moved to Madinah to escape persecution, were welcomed by the believers of Madina. The latter took care of the former and gladly shared everything with them, even if they suffered as a result. In the Qur'an Allah tells us about the Madinan believers' (the Ansar [Supporters]) superior moral character toward the Meccan believers (the Muhajirun [Migrants]):

Those who were already settled in the abode, and in belief before they came, love those who have migrated to them, 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. Those who are safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selves are successful. (Surat al-Hashr: 9)

Allah reveals in another verse the good news about the Ansar, who put Allah's approval before appeasing the desires of their own hearts: 

The forerunners – the first of the Migrants [Muhajirun] and the Supporters [Ansar] – and those who have followed them in doing good, Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. He has prepared Gardens for them with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, forever and ever. That is the great victory. (Surat at-Tawba: 100)

Ali (ra) said that performing acts of self-sacrifice was a great blessing:

I do not know which of these two things is the greater in terms of gratitude: the first is my Muslim brother's applying to me with a pure intent with the idea of relieving my need. The second is Allah's making good his need through my hands. I swear that meeting the need of my Muslim brother is more delightful than having all the world's gold and silver by my side. (Muhammad Yusuf Kandahlawi, Hayat as-Sahabe  [Life of the Companions], vol. 2: Sentez Nesriyat, p. 474.)

Allah informs us of the excellent moral character of those believers who, in spite of their own need, gave to the poor, the orphans, and the captives: 

They give food, despite their love for it, to the poor, the orphans, and the captives. [Believers say:] "We feed you only out of desire for the Face of Allah. We do not want any repayment or any thanks. Truly, We fear from our Lord a glowering, calamitous Day." So Allah has safeguarded them from the evil of that Day, has made them meet with radiance and pure joy, and will reward them for their steadfastness with a Garden and silk. (Surat al-Insan: 8-12) 

In these verses, Allah shows us the extent to which believers can sacrifice their own interests. They spend their lives fearing and respecting Allah and listening to their conscience. These things determine their actions. They know that everything they have given up to win His favor will earn them a far better reward in the Hereafter. Their need may be short-lived, but their good deeds will bring them Allah's love, friendship, and mercy. This hope will make them forget their deprivation, for it will be the source of great joy and pleasure. This is the only basis of real goodness and self-sacrifice. Real goodness is defined in the Qur’an as: 

It is not devoutness to turn your faces to the East or to the West. Rather, the truly devout believe in Allah and the Last Day, the Angels, the Book and the Prophets; those who, despite their love for it, give away their wealth to their relatives, the orphans and the very poor, the travelers and the beggars, to emancipate slaves, and perform prayer and give alms; those who honor their contracts when they make them and are steadfast in poverty, illness, and battle. Those are the people who are true. They are the people who guard against evil. (Surat al-Baqara: 177) 

Here, it must be noted that people can never be sure of what they will encounter in the Hereafter. For this reason, believers have a constant hope, as well as a sense of fear, in regard to the Hereafter. Only knowing that they have spent their life seeking His approval and practicing the Qur'an's moral teachings keeps their hope constant and strong.

Chapter 1: The Importance of Self-Sacrifice (3/3)

Spreading Good Morals

When believers consciously seek to live an honest and sincere morality, they encourage others around themto do the same. As Allah says, urging others to live a moral life is one of their responsibilities: 

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

Allah does not impose on any self any more than it can bear. For it is what it has earned; against it, what it has brought upon itself ... (Surat al-Baqara: 286)

Moreover, believers want others to experience the blessings and contentment that living such a moral life brings. Allah says that leading a good life is possible only if people turn to Allah and live the kind of moral life that pleases Him: "Only in the remembrance of Allah can the heart find peace" (Surat ar-Ra'd: 28) and "if anyone turns away from My reminder, his life will be a dark and narrow one, and on the Day of Resurrection, We will gather him blind" (Surah Ta Ha: 124). Throughout history, a society's lack of religious morality has inevitably resulted in its people living lives full of anxiety in troubled, war-torn environments; suffering hunger, famine, exile, and oppression; and denying orphans and those old people who are in need proper care.

Believers are aware of this fact and therefore eager to spread religious morality among their people. This undertaking requires self-sacrifice, patience, and determination. Moreover, believers understand the true Qur'anic nature of self-sacrifice and thus naturally feel a sense of responsibility when they see other people coping with anxiety and problems.

Having this clear awareness, believers do not remain uninvolved out of the mistaken idea that it is not their responsibility, that someone more skilled and intelligent should solve the problem, or that someone with more material resources should do something about it. They would never be so selfish as to think that they have enough problems of their own and that other people should solve their own problems. They consider the guidance, intelligence, understanding, and openness that they have received from Allah as great blessings and act accordingly. Without waiting for someone to ask for help, they are prepared to shoulder every responsibility and transcend their own milieu in an attempt to solve all people's problems. They do this so that they might be examples of good moral character:"… make us a good example for those who guard against evil" (Surat al-Furqan: 74).

Sincere believers may be required to perform many acts of self-sacrifice to fulfill this responsibility. Such individuals place their own problems and needs second to solving the problems of others. They will mobilize all of their resources to do this, even to the point of suffering themselves. They will be patient, determined, and undaunted by the magnitude of the problems they encounter.

Allah tells us about the prophets' and sincere believers' great efforts to establish religious morality, and stresses the importance of having a good moral character in the Qur’an. Although they faced many difficulties while trying to fulfill this task, they spread their moral message with zeal, self-sacrifice, and complete sincerity, because their only purpose was to be rewarded with Allah's approval. Allah inform us of the prophets' many sincere acts, all of which are examples to humanity. For example, the Prophet Noah (as) preached the importance of having a good moral character only to win Allah's approval: 

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

... their brother Noah asked them: "Will you not guard against evil?" [Noah said:] "I am a faithful Messenger to you. I do not ask you for any wage for it. My wage is the responsibility of no one but the Lord of all the worlds." (Surat ash-Shu'ara': 106-109)

[Noah said:] "My people, I do not ask you for any wealth for it. My wage is the responsibility of Allah alone. I will not chase away those who believe. They are surely going to meet their Lord. However, I consider you to be an ignorant [of true belief] people." (Surah Hud: 29)

Allah tells us that the number of people who follow the prophets' advice is generally very small: "Those are the signs of the Book. And what has been sent down to you from your Lord is the Truth. But most people do not believe" (Surat ar-Ra'd: 1). Most people do not accept this invitation to salvation in both worlds, even though doing so would give them a good and happy life. Moreover, they are determined not to understand the message.

The prophets and other sincere believers who preached the importance of having a good moral character were always patient and displayed their moral excellence and sincere self-sacrifice by speaking the finest of words. They did all that they could not for their own gain, but to save people from the pain of Hell. They did not become angry with those who refused their message, for their awareness enabled them to proclaim the truth patiently and to find the best way to reach others. The Prophet Noah's (as) message to his people clearly shows his sincerity, self-sacrifice, and patience:

He [Noah] said: "My Lord, I have called my people night and day. But my calling has only made them more evasive. Indeed, every time I told them of Your forgiveness, they put their fingers in their ears, wrapped themselves up in their clothes, and were overweeningly arrogant. Then I called them openly. Then I addressed them both publicly and privately." (Surah Nuh: 5-9)

The Prophet Noah (as) used many methods to convince his people to follow the true path. We are told in these verses that this virtuous person advised his people day and night and that they opposed him so much that they put their fingers in their ears [and] wrapped themselves up in their clothes. But in spite of this, he continued to relay Allah's message with patience and sincerity: 

[Noah said:] "I said: ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Truly, He is Endlessly Forgiving. He will send heaven down on you in abundant rain and reinforce you with more wealth and children, and grant you gardens and waterways. Why do you not hope for honor from Allah, when He created you by successive stages? Do you not see how He created seven heavens in layers, placed the Moon as a light in them, and made the Sun a blazing lamp? Allah caused you to grow from earth, and will return you to it and bring you out of it again. Allah has spread out the land as a carpet for you so that you can use its wide valleys as roadways.'" Noah said: "My Lord, they have disobeyed me and followed those whose wealth and children have only increased them in loss. They have hatched a mighty plot." (Surah Nuh: 10-22)

No one responded to Noah's (as) sincere appeal; rather, Allah reveals that they hatched a mighty plot.

Other prophets and sincere believers encountered similar opposition from their people. But instead of being intimidated, they persisted in calling them to believe in Allah and live lives pleasing to Him. Allah tells His servants who engage in self-sacrifice only to win His favor that: 

If anyone desires the reward of this world, We will give him some of it. If anyone desires the reward of the Hereafter, We will give him some of it. We will recompense the thankful. (Surah Al 'Imran, 145)

Being Patient and Self-Sacrificial at All Times

Prophets and believers have always encountered many hardships, for their people seldom welcome them. Their attempts to spread the Qur'an's high morality conflicted with the interests of those societies inhabited by unbelievers, hypocrites, and idolaters. Such people thought that being honest and having good intentions, engaging in self-sacrifice and generosity, doing good deeds without expecting any return, treating people justly and kindly, and regarding everyone as equal without distinguishing between rich and poor would undo their social system. They understood that the unjust and immoral practices so far in effect would attract far more attention once people who practiced such a morality became the majority. These worries caused them to harbor a great enmity toward all believers, which, in turn, blinded them to the good that following the Qur'an's morality would bring them or the wisdom of the advice contained therein. The prophets spread the message through every kind of self-sacrifice and without expecting any reward, but their people, unable to conquer their own hostility, did whatever they could to stop them and invalidate the message in their people's eyes.

The unbelievers' reaction is always the same. In the Qur'an Allah tells us that this is a special test created for believers: 

You will be tested in your wealth and in your selves, and you will hear many abusive words from those given the Book before you and from the idolaters. But if you are steadfast and guard against evil, that is the most resolute course to take. (Surah Al 'Imran: 186) 

Believers know that all accusations and destructive calumny leveled against them are only part of the test sent by Allah. Therefore, they are not swayed by hardship; rather, they eagerly continue to spread the importance of good morality, hoping to be rewarded in the Hereafter. They experience full contentment and security in the knowledge that Allah always helps, advocates for, and supports sincere believers.

Unbelievers set traps for believers, thinking that they can put them off with accusations and attacks. But Allah reveals in the Qur'an that He will bless all believers with success and disprove all of the accusations made against them. For example, people slandered the Prophet Moses (as), but Allah exonerated him: 

O you who believe. Do not be like those who abused Moses. Allah absolved him of what they said, and he was highly honored with Allah. (Surat al-Ahzab: 69) 

Historically, all accusations made against prophets and believers have been pretty much the same. Whenever they called upon their unbelieving societies to practice true religion and high morality, the people accused them of sorcery and of being crazy poets: 

Do people find it so surprising that We should reveal to a man among them: "Warn humanity and give good news to those who believe that they are on a sure footing with their Lord?" The unbelievers say: "This is downright magic." (Surah Yunus: 2)

They say: "You, to whom the Reminder has been sent down, are clearly crazy." (Surat al-Hijr: 6)

Furthermore they say: "A muddled jumble of dreams!" "He has invented it!" "He is a poet!" and "Let him bring us a sign like those sent to previous peoples." (Surat al-Anbiya': 5)

[They said:] "Out of all of us, has the Reminder been given to him? No indeed! He is an impudent liar." (Surat al-Qamar: 25)

The ruling circle of his people who did not believe said: "He is nothing but a human being, like yourselves, who simply wants to gain ascendancy over you. If Allah had wanted, He would have sent down angels. We never heard of anything like this among our ancestors, the earlier peoples." (Surat al-Mu'minun: 24)

Those who do not believe say: "This is nothing but a lie that he has invented, and other people have helped him do it. They have brought injustice and falsehood." (Surat al-Furqan: 4)

Unbelievers use such slander to diminish the influence of the believers' words. But what makes the believers' words so effective is their sincerity, honesty, awareness, and truthfulness, not to mention the fact that they are calling people to solid truth. Only Allah can cause these words to influence people and move their hearts. So, such events do not affect the people in the way that the unbelievers had hoped.

In addition, other believers pay no attention to the slander directed toward fellow believers, for Allah reveals in the Qur'an:"O you who believe. If an unbeliever brings you a report, scrutinize it carefully in case you attack people in ignorance and later on come to regret greatly what you have done" (Surat al-Hujurat: 6). Knowing that all prophets and sincere believers have encountered such accusations, believers think good things about their fellow believers and support each other to prove that the accusations have no foundation. As befits their character, they pay no heed to these accusations and slurs, for they"strive in the way of Allah and do not fear the blame of any censurer" (Surat al-Ma'ida: 54).

But if they turn away, say, ‘Allah is enough for me. There is no deity but Him. I have put my trust in Him. He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.’(Surat at-Tawba: 129)

The unbelievers' war of words is not limited to making false accusations; sometimes, they actually threaten and oppress the believers in an effort to stop the spread of religious morality among their people. They threaten the believers with death, exile, prison, and torture; sometimes, they actually assault them. Allah tells us that this is nothing new, for: 

When those who do not believe were planning to imprison you or kill you or expel you, they were planning and Allah was planning. However, Allah is the Best Planner. (Surat al-Anfal: 30) 

Clearly, the unbelievers seek to get the believers arrested, killed, or exiled. But instead of doing so openly, they set traps to stop the spread of the Qur'an's morality. Allah tells us of these traps in many verses. One example is the case of the Prophet Lot (as) and his family, whom the unbelieving inhabitants of the land wanted to expel for trying to live a pure and upright life among them. The Prophet Lot (as) called upon the people to live a moral life and to abandon their shameless immorality, but:

Right after he and his family left, Allah destroyed the city and turned the traps set for believers against those who had set them.

The only response of his people was to say: "Drive the family of Lot out of your city! They are people who keep themselves pure!" (Surat an-Naml: 56) 

Believers were also threatened with imprisonment. In fact, Allah reveals that Pharaoh threatened the Prophet Moses (as) with prison if he did not obey him:

They said: "O Jethro, we do not understand much of what you say and we see you are weak among us. Were it not for your clan, we would have stoned you. We do not hold you in high esteem!" (Surah Hud: 91) 

Pharaoh and his inner circle made plans to kill the Prophet Moses (as). But with Allah's help, Moses (as) learned of this trap: 

A man came running from the furthest part of the city, shouting: "Moses, the council is conspiring to kill you, so leave! I bring you good advice." (Surat al-Qasas: 20) 

The Prophet Abraham's (as) people tried in vain to burn the prophet who called upon them to abandon their idols and worship Allah. But Allah miraculously rescued His messenger from this difficult situation:

The only answer of his people was to say: "Kill him or burn him!" But Allah rescued him [Abraham] from the fire. There are certainly signs in that for people who are believers. (Surat al-'Ankabut: 24) 

Unbelievers act with as much hostility toward sincere believers as they do toward prophets. But no matter how aggressive their assaults may be, all prophets and believers continue to call their people to accept the Qur'an's morality with great patience. Despite all of their hardships, they remain examples of courage and self-sacrifice. They submit themselves to Allah in trust and resignation, knowing that He controls everything:

Say: "Call on your partner deities, try all of your wiles against me, and grant me no reprieve. My Protector is Allah, Who sent down the Book. He takes care of the righteous." (Surat al-A'raf: 195-196)

[Believers are] those to whom people said: "The people have gathered against you, so fear them." But that merely increased their faith, and they said: "Allah is enough for us and the Best of Guardians." (Surah Al 'Imran: 173)

[Their messengers said:] "And why should we not put our trust in Allah, when He has guided us to our ways? We will be steadfast however much you harm us. Those who trust put their trust in Allah." (Surah Ibrahim: 12)

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

These traps and assaults, which always end favorably for believers, reveal those people who have a sickness in their heart, who work against believers, and who refuse to sacrifice for His sake. In the Qur’an Allah describes the attitudes of those who lose their zeal to spread the message in times of difficulty and who even rejoice in their lack of eagerness: 

Among you there are people who hang back 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) 

However, being slow and lazy in proclaiming the Qur'an's morality, avoiding self-sacrifice and putting the responsibility on others is not the proper way to behave. Those who ignore their conscience and abandon the truth, even though they understand it in their mind and conscience, must not think that they have gained anything. Those who are slow and among the last to live the kind of moral life pleasing to Allah will find themselves held accountable for such serious errors. Those who remain passive in this world in order to preserve their own comfort and protect their own interests will, in the Hereafter, suffer misery beyond their most vivid imaginations. Their ensuing pangs of conscience will cause them great anxiety. Besides this, if Allah wills, He may give such people misery in this life, too:

Leave them then until they meet their Day, when they will be struck down by the Blast, the Day when their ploys will not profit them at all and they will not be helped. And those who do wrong will have a punishment besides that. But most of them do not know it. (Surat at-Tur: 45-47) 

Believers place their trust in Allah when confronted with the pressure exerted on them by those seeking to block the spread of the Qur'an's morality. They will do their best to live according to the Qur'an's moral teachings regardless of their circumstances. Allah gives these people the following glad tidings: 

If Allah helps you, no one can defeat you. If He forsakes you, who can help you after that? So the believers should put their trust in Allah. (Surah Al 'Imran: 160)

O Prophet! Allah is enough for you and for the believers who follow you. (Surat al-Anfal: 64)

But if they turn away, say: "Allah is enough for me. There is no deity but Him. I have put my trust in Him. He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne." (Surat at-Tawba: 129)

Even in the face of hardship, sincere believers continue to spread the message with great enthusiasm, because they want to outdo each other in goodness and be in the forefront of those who win Allah's pleasure. They know that the self-sacrifice enjoined in the Qur'an is not limited to certain situations only, and realize that they must live every moment undaunted by hardship and determined to practice this morality. This moral character is praised in the Qur'an, and Allah promises them the following reward:

Many a prophet has been fought when there were many thousands with him. They did not give up in the face of what assailed them in the way of Allah, nor did they weaken or yield. Allah loves the steadfast. All they said was: "Our Lord, forgive our wrong actions and any excesses that we went to in what we did. Make our feet firm and help us against these unbelieving people." So, Allah gave them the reward of this world and the best reward of the Hereafter. Allah loves good-doers. (Surah Al 'Imran: 146-148)

Not All Acts Might Have the Same Value in the Sight of Allah

Earlier in this book, we referred to the fact that experiencing hardship and difficulties is an important test for distinguishing sincere believers from hypocrites. Allah reveals in many verses that even those who live among believers and display a similar moral character may act quite differently when confronted with hardship. Many people can put up with some hardship in an otherwise comfortable environment, but they may not show this moral quality when hardship occurs. In any case, only those people who have strong belief can really trust in Allah, remain committed to Him, and struggle to overcome their difficulties.

Some individuals ignore this fact, feeling that it is enough to do a few good deeds in the midst of their prosperity. However, in times of hardship, they avoid such self-sacrifice on the pretext of having done some good deeds already. They present these deeds as proof that they have the spirit of self-sacrifice described in the Qur'an. Such people also claim that they are not responsible for dealing with other people's problems when they have to deal with their own difficulties. They think that someone else should assume this responsibility.

But such thinking has nothing to do with the Qur'an's moral teaching, for Allah has made people responsible for living a good moral life. Therefore, everyone is responsible for making a life-long commitment to self-sacrifice and for remaining patient, trusting, sincere, honest, loyal, and faithful at all times:"Wealth and children are the embellishment of the life of this world. But in your Lord's Sight, right actions that are lasting bring a better reward and are a better basis for hope" (Surat al-Kahf: 46). The self-sacrifice described in the Qur'an is something undertaken willingly by those who are patient even when their own interests are thwarted and they are put at risk.

Allah tells us in the Qur’an that the self-sacrifice of those believers who are experiencing difficulties is not the same as the efforts made by those who are in the midst of secure prosperity. People in need and those dealing with their own problems, and yet who still give generously of what they have, have far more value in His Sight: 

And how is it with you that you do not give in the way of Allah, when the inheritance of the heavens and Earth belongs to Allah?Those of you who gave and fought before the victory are not the same as those who gave and fought afterwards. They are higher in rank. But to each of them Allah has promised the best. Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat al-Hadid: 10) 

In another verse, Allah reveals the real reason why people with weak belief are reluctant to engage in self-sacrifice in difficult times: "If it had been a case of easy gains and a short journey, they would have followed you. But the distance was too great for them…" (Surat at-Tawba: 42). These people live and work in harmony with sincere believers in times of comfort and prosperity, but are discouraged when hardships come. 

But because they fear and respect Allah, sincere believers show courage and determination even in times of hardship. Their zeal to win Allah's favor never falters. In fact, such apparently difficult situations actually become easy for believers who view them through the eyes of belief. They live trusting in the knowledge that Allah will help all sincere believers who are committed to practicing the Qur'an's moral teachings and winning His favor regardless of any worldly benefit. 

Believers who are aware of this reality must continue to practice self-sacrifice in times of hardship. However, Allah says that certain people are exempt from this responsibility:"Nothing is held against the weak and the sick, nor against those who find nothing to spend, provided that they are true to Allah and His messenger. There is no way open against good-doers. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful"(Surat at-Tawba: 91). Those who fear and respect Allah in their conscience and know this truth do not shirk their duty to pursue their own interests. For in the Qur'an Allah gives us some examples from the time of our Prophet (saas), revealing that no excuse for doing so is valid:

There are only grounds [of complaint] against those who ask you for permission to stay when they are rich. They were pleased to be among those who were left behind. Allah has sealed up their hearts, so they do not know. (Surat at-Tawba: 93)

They will make excuses to you when you return to them. Say: "Do not make excuses, [for] we will not believe you. Allah has already informed us about you. Allah will see your actions, as will His messenger. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the Unseen and the Visible, and He will inform you of what you did." (Surat at-Tawba: 94) 

These people try to persuade those around them that their attitudes are quite reasonable. But in reality, they are only attempting to quiet their own conscience. Sometimes they use the excuse of having family or business responsibilities to give the impression that they are not in a position to sacrifice for others. However, they know that their excuses are invalid. In addition, they are aware that everything in this life is transitory and that only Allah is eternal; He is the One to Whom everything will finally return. Allah knows their real intention: "We know those of you who have gone ahead and those who are still to come" (Surat al-Hijr: 24). In spite of this, they still prefer to satisfy their lower self rather than to win Allah's favor. They fall into the serious error of thinking that it is to their advantage to protect their own interests, whereas their real advantage is to seek His approval, for only He, the Lord of the worlds, can protect and bestow blessings upon them, and ensure their security, contentment, and ease.

Those who have a selfish moral character will find themselves belittled both in this world and in Hereafter. In fact, those who avoid self-sacrifice are proclaimed in the Qur'an: 

If Allah returns you to a group of them and they ask you for permission to go out, say: "You will never go out with me, nor will you ever fight an enemy with me. You were happy to stay behind the first time, so stay behind with those who are left behind." (Surat at-Tawba: 83) 

In addition, those who claim to believe and yet choose their own interests over earning Allah's approval will experience great sorrow in the Hereafter. But if they consider these truths and live as best as they can according to the Qur'an's moral teachings, they can hope to be saved from this eternal sorrow.