Zeal and Enthusiasm Described in the Qur'an: Loyalty to Allah Until the End of Their Lives
Contents
- Introduction
- What is Zeal?
- Who Belongs to a Society of Ignorance
- The Excitement of Its Members is but a Temporary Desire
- The Source of Believers’ Enthusiasm: Their Faith, Love and Devotion to Allah
- Believers' Enthusiasm is Non-abating
- There are Those Among Believers Who are Foremost in Good Deeds.
- The Kinds of Behavior that Reveal the Zeal of Believers
- Loyalty to Allah Until the End of Their Lives
- Seeking the Kinds of Deeds that Most Please Allah
- Preference of the Religion’s Interests to Their Own
- Commitment to Live Good Morals
- Submission of Themselves and Their Wealth to Allah
- Competition in Righteousness
- Remaining Patient in the Face of Difficulties
- Becoming More Zealous in the Face of Hardships
- Seeking Allah’s Approval with Great Joy
- What the Believers’ Excitement is Like
- The Observance of Allah’s Artistry in Creation
- Seeing Blessings and Beauties
- Love and Friendship
- Protecting the Righteous
- Worship
- Reciting Verses of the Qur’an
- Supplication
- Repentance to Draw Closer to Allah
- Communicating the Good Values of the Qur’an
- The Thought of Paradise
- Obtaining Power and Strength
- Obtaining the Aid and Support of Allah
- Obtaining Paradise
- The Indifference of Those Whose Faith is Not Assured
- Those Whose Faith is Not Assured
- Their Presence Among Believers
- Their Lingering Behind
- Lingering Behind is Not Advantageous but Foolishness
- Consequences Resulting from Deeds Done Unenthusiastically and Reluctantly
- The Only Solution to Lack of Enthusiasm: Fear of Allah
- Conclusion

Throughout their lives people encounter various opportunities which bring them material or psychological benefits. When they find such an opportunity, most people abandon anything they deemed important until then, even dear friends, with the hope of gaining an advantage. The goals they had enthusiastically embraced may suddenly seem meaningless for them – the very goals they had pledged not to abandon no matter what the circumstances. A lack of true loyalty accounts for this inconsistent attitude. The only ones who live faithfulness in its true sense are the people who believe in Allah and commit themselves to remain faithful to Him. They know that nothing on earth can be more precious than earning the acceptance and good pleasure of Allah because they have grasped that the only one worthy of true devotion is Allah, the Almighty. The commitment of believers is described in the Qur’an as follows: "Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allah. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow, and among them is he who awaits [his chance]. And they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration."
"[They are] those who fulfill the covenant of Allah and do not break the contract."
The believers’ devotion to Allah is evident in how eagerly they are committed to Islam. Indeed, no worldly benefit, no material or other interest can in any way tempt them away from their devotion and loyalty to Allah. And nothing is more alluring to them than earning the approval of Allah. Their devotion inspires them to continually work and to do good deeds with zeal, as encouraged by Allah in the Qur’an: Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds."
And Allah gives glad tidings that He will reward the faithful: "...That Allah may reward the truthful for their truth and punish the hypocrites if He wills or accept their repentance. Indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful."