“The Holy Quran Describes Qualities of True Believers”
Al-Azhar Magazine – April 1971
- The Holy Quran declares: (Al-Rum: 47)
It means: “To help believers is incumbent upon Us”. (30:47). Who are the true believers? What are the characters and manners of them? The Holy Quran describes their characters, manners, and qualities in the following clear verses:-
- – What do they say:
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ (٢) ڪَبُرَ مَقۡتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُواْ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ (٣) إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ صَفًّ۬ا كَأَنَّهُم بُنۡيَـٰنٌ۬ مَّرۡصُوصٌ۬ (٤)
It means: “O you who believe! Why say you that which you do not? It is most hateful in the sight of Allah that you say that which you do not. Lo! Allah loves those battle for His cause in ranks, as if they were a solid structure.” (61:2-4)
- – Who should never despair or exult: The Holy Quran says:
مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ڪِتَـٰبٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن نَّبۡرَأَهَآۚ إِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ۬ (٢٢) لِّكَيۡلَا تَأۡسَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمۡ وَلَا تَفۡرَحُواْ بِمَآ ءَاتَٮٰڪُمۡۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالٍ۬ فَخُورٍ (٢٣)
It means: “Naught of disaster befaileth in the earth or in yourselves but it is in a Book before We bring it into being- Lo! That is easy for Allah- That ye grieve not for the sake of that which that been given. Allah loveth not all prideful boasters.” (57: 22-23)
- – Who put their trust wholly in God:
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلۡيَتَوَڪَّلِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ
It means: “Allah! There is no god save Him. In Allah, therefore let the believers put their trust”. (64:13)
- – Who are helpers of God’s ordinances:
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُوٓاْ أَنصَارَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ لِلۡحَوَارِيِّـۧنَ مَنۡ أَنصَارِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ قَالَ ٱلۡحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحۡنُ أَنصَارُ ٱللَّهِۖ فَـَٔامَنَت طَّآٮِٕفَةٌ۬ مِّنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ وَكَفَرَت طَّآٮِٕفَةٌ۬ۖ فَأَيَّدۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ عَلَىٰ عَدُوِّهِمۡ فَأَصۡبَحُواْ ظَـٰهِرِينَ
It means: “O believers! Be ye helpers of Allah’s ordinances.” (61:14)
- – Who are not coward , nor should be weary and faint-hearted against their enemies: the Quran says what means: “So do not falter and cry out for peace when ye (will be) the uppermost, and Allah is with you, and He will not grudge (the reward of) your actions.” (47:35)
- – Who should help each other and give asylum to those who adopt exile towards the cause of God; as the Holy Quran declares:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَهَاجَرُواْ وَجَـٰهَدُواْ بِأَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِہِمۡ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاوَواْ وَّنَصَرُوٓاْ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ بَعۡضُہُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءُ بَعۡضٍ۬ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَلَمۡ يُہَاجِرُواْ مَا لَكُم مِّن وَلَـٰيَتِہِم مِّن شَىۡءٍ حَتَّىٰ يُہَاجِرُواْۚ وَإِنِ ٱسۡتَنصَرُوكُمۡ فِى ٱلدِّينِ فَعَلَيۡڪُمُ ٱلنَّصۡرُ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ قَوۡمِۭ بَيۡنَكُمۡ وَبَيۡنَہُم مِّيثَـٰقٌ۬ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ۬
It means: “Lo! Those who believed and left their homes and strove with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah and those who took them in and helped them; these are protecting friends one of another.” (8:72)
- – Who do unite with those who are true in works and deed:
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
It means: “O ye who believe! Be careful of your duty to Allah and be with truthful”(9:119)
- – They should rely upon God for victory:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا لَقِيتُمۡ فِئَةً۬ فَٱثۡبُتُواْ وَٱذۡڪُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ ڪَثِيرً۬ا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ ( ٤٥) وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥ وَلَا تَنَـٰزَعُواْ فَتَفۡشَلُواْ وَتَذۡهَبَ رِيحُكُمۡۖ وَٱصۡبِرُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ لصَّـٰبِرِينَ
It means: “O ye who believe! When ye meet an army, hold firm and think of Allah much, that ye may be successful. And obey Allah and His messenger, and dispute not one with another lest ye father and your strength depart from; but be steadfast! Lo! Allah is with the stedfast.” (8: 45-46)
- – Who do not ask for exemption from joining the army of the Muslims when at war; the Holy Quran says:
لَا يَسۡتَـٔۡذِنُكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ أَن يُجَـٰهِدُواْ بِأَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِہِمۡۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمُۢ بِٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ
It means: “Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day ask no leave of thee last they should strive with their wealth and their lives. Allah is Aware of those of those who keep their duty (unto Him).” (9: 44)
- – Their behaviors: The Holy Quran describes the behaviors of the true believers in the following verses: “They hold together and unite together”. (3: 108). “They protected from since they abide by the instructions of their Lord and Benefactor, the true God, Allah” (5:108). “Their lives, honor and property are sacred” (4:92). “Believers should not disregard these who salute them and wish them peace even if the saluters are unbelievers” (4:95). “They should not sit when God’s attributes are ridiculed” (4:140). “O ye who believe! Chose not disbelievers for (your) friends in place of believers. Would ye give Allah a clear warrant against you?” (4:144)
“O ye who believe! Be stead fastwithness for Allah in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is informed of what ye do” (5:8). “O ye who believe! Ask not of things which, if they were made known unto you, would trouble you; but If ye ask of them when the Quran is revealed, they will be made known unto you. Allah pardoneth this for Allah is Forgiving, Clement” (5:10)
- – Their duties to God: “O ye who believe! Be mindful of your duty to Allah and seek the way of approach unto Him, and strive in His way in order that ye may succeed” (5:35) And: “O ye who believe! Turn unto Allah in sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your Lord will remit you into Gardens undereth which rivers flow, on day when Allah will not abase the Prophet and those who believe with him” (66:8)
- – Their qualities: the Holy Quran sets before mankind the qualities of true believers in following verses:
إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتۡ قُلُوبُہُمۡ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتۡ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ءَايَـٰتُهُ ۥ زَادَتۡہُمۡ إِيمَـٰنً۬ا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ (٢) ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ (٣) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ حَقًّ۬اۚ لَّهُمۡ دَرَجَـٰتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ وَمَغۡفِرَةٌ۬ وَرِزۡقٌ۬ ڪَرِيمٌ۬ (٤)
“They only are the (true) believers whose hearts feel fear when Allah is mentioned and when the revelations of Allah are recited unto them they increase their faith and who trust in their Lord; who establish worship and spend of that We hav bestowed on them. Those are they who are in truth believers. For them are grades (of honor) with their Lord, and pardon and a bountiful provision”. (8:2-4)
- – Their manners:
وَعِبَادُ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَمۡشُونَ عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ هَوۡنً۬ا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلُونَ قَالُواْ سَلَـٰمً۬ا (٦٣) وَٱلَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمۡ سُجَّدً۬ا وَقِيَـٰمً۬ا (٦٤) وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱصۡرِفۡ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَۖ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا (٦٥) إِنَّهَا سَآءَتۡ مُسۡتَقَرًّ۬ا وَمُقَامً۬ا (٦٦) وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَنفَقُواْ لَمۡ يُسۡرِفُواْ وَلَمۡ يَقۡتُرُواْ وَڪَانَ بَيۡنَ ذَٲلِكَ قَوَامً۬ا (٦٧) وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَدۡعُونَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ وَلَا يَقۡتُلُونَ ٱلنَّفۡسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا يَزۡنُونَۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٲلِكَ يَلۡقَ أَثَامً۬ا (
“The (faithful) slaves of the Beneficent are they who walk upon the earth modestly, and when the foolish ones address them answer: Peace; And who spend the night before their Lord, prostrated and standing. And who spend: Our Lord! Avert from us he doom of hell; Lo! The doom thereof is anguish; Lo! It is wretched as abode and station. And those who, when they spend, are neither prodigal nor grudging; and there is ever a firm station between the two; And those who cry not any other god along with Allah, nor take the life which Allah, nor take the life which Allah hath forbidden save in (course of) justice nor commit adultery-and whoso doeth this shall be the penalty” (25: 63-68).
وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَشۡهَدُونَ ٱلزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّواْ بِٱللَّغۡوِ مَرُّواْ ڪِرَامً۬ا (٧٢) وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُڪِّرُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمۡ لَمۡ يَخِرُّواْ عَلَيۡهَا صُمًّ۬ا وَعُمۡيَانً۬ا (٧٣) وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَٲجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡيُنٍ۬ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا (٧
“And those who will not witness vanity, but when they pass near senseless play, pass by with dignity. And those who, when they are reminded of the revelation of their Lord fall not deaf and blind threat. And who say: Our Lord! Vouchsafeus comfort of our wives and of our offspring and make us patterns for (all) those who ward off (evil)” (25: 72-74)
- – They make peace and act equitably: “And If two parties of believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them. And if one party of them doeth wrong to the other, fight ye that which doeth wrong till it return unto the Ordinance of Allah; then, if it return, make peace between them justly and act equitably. Lo! Allah loveth the equitable. The believers are naught else than brothers. Therefore make peace between your bretheren and observe your duty to Allah that haply ye may obtain mercy” (49: 9-10)
We have seen from the above Quranic descriptions of the characters, qualities and manners of the true believers that if we seek God’s help we must first be His helpers by dedicating ourselves entirely to Him, and obeying His ordinances, and forbidding what He has declared forbidden.