| Determination is the most significant
attribute of a believer. A believer never loses his
enthusiasm and devotion. He engages in his struggle only to
earn the pleasure of God. That is why, no difficulty proves
to be a hindrance to his endeavours. His only goal is to
deserve the favour of his Lord; and he shapes his life
accordingly.
God certainly puts the determination of believers to the
test in various ways; either by periodically giving them
trouble or making them undergo suffering. Details of the test
are given in the verse below:
We shall test you with fear and hunger, with loss of life
and property and crops but give glad tidings to those who
patiently persevere. (Al-Baqara, 155)
However, a believer with total commitment displays his
patience under all circumstances. God praises this attitude
of believers in the following verse:
How many of the prophets fought (in God's way), and with
them (fought) large bands of godly men? But they never lost
heart if they met with disaster in God's way, nor did they
weaken (in will) nor give in. And God loves those who are
firm and steadfast. Their only words were: "Our Lord! Forgive
us our sins and anything We may have done that transgressed
our duty; make us firm of foot and help us against those that
resist faith." (Al-Imran, 146-147)
Lack of commitment, on the other hand, is not a trait
attributable to believers. The following verse confirms this
fact:
Only those ask you for exemption who do not believe in God
and the last day, and whose hearts are fieled with doubt, so
that they waver. (Al-Tawba, 45).
Desiring the hereafter and striving for it with all their
might, as well as avoidance of extravagance in daily affairs
are indications of determination demonstrated by believers.
Those who "strive with all their might" are thus described in
the Qur'an:
Those who wish for the hereafter, and strive for it with
all their might and have faith- they are the ones whose
endeavours are acceptable (to God). (Al-Isra, 19)
Determination, consequently, is a significant attribute of
believers. Those who seek an "immediate gain and an easy
journey" (At-Tawba, 42) fail to show an unyielding
determination. Believers, on the other hand, accomplish what
is expected of them and display an unchanging determination
until they meet their death.
The community of Kahf, into whose hearts God put courage,
(Al-Kahf, 14) sets the best example for believers in the
sense of determination. Continuity in worshipping is also
important in the sense of consistency. Only death puts an end
to the determination of a believer. A believer is responsible
for showing patience and fulfilling his pledge to God until
death comes.
Truly, those who plight their fealty to you do no less
than plight their fealty to God: the hand of God is over
their hands: then anyone who violates his oath, does so to
the harm of his own soul, and anyone who fulfils his pledge
to God, will soon be granted a great reward by God. (Al-Fath,
10) |