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Determination is the most
significant attribute of a believer. Believers
never lose their enthusiasm and their
devotion. Believers engage in their struggles
only to earn the pleasure of God, which is why
no difficulty proves to be a hindrance to
their endeavors. The only goal of believers is
to deserve the favor of their Lord, and they
shape their lives 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-Baqarah 2:155)
However, believers with total
commitment display patience under all
circumstances. God praises this attitude of
believers in the following verse:
(And
with how many a prophet have there been a
number of devoted men who fought (beside
him). 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.)
(Aal `Imran 3:146-147)
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 feel doubt, so in their doubt they
waver. )
(At-Tawbah 9:45).
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 due
strive” are thus described in the Qur'an:
(Those
who wish for the hereafter, and strive for
it with all due striving and have
faith—they are the ones whose endeavors
are acceptable (to God).)
(Al-Israa' 17:19)
Determination, consequently,
is a significant attribute of believers. Those
who seek an (immediate
gain and an easy journey)
(At-Tawbah 9:42) 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 Al-Kahf, into
whose hearts God put courage, (Al-Kahf 18:14)
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 48:10)
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