By A. O.
Believers with total commitment display patience under all circumstances.
Determination: A Believer’s Attribute
Determination is the most significant attribute of a believer. Believers never lose their enthusiasm and devotion. Believers engage in their struggles only to earn the pleasure of Allah, which is why no difficulty proves to be a hindrance to their endeavours. The only goal of believers is to deserve the favour of their Lord, and they shape their lives accordingly.
Allah 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. Allah 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 endeavours 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 people of Al-Kahf, into whose hearts Allah put courage, (Al-Kahf 18:14) sets the best example for believers in the sense of determination. Continuity in worshiping 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 Allah 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 any one who violates his oath, does so to the harm of his own soul, and anyone who fulfills his pledge to God, will soon be granted a great reward by God.” (Al-Fath 48:10)
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Taken with slight editorial modifications from www.harunyahya.com.
A. O. is a Turkish writer and author.