Zeal and Enthusiasm Described in the Qur'an: Seeking Allah’s Approval with Great Joy

Another attribute of believers is the joy and happiness they feel while engaging in a deed they expect to earn them the pleasure of Allah. This is "the joy of faith." The joy of faith is a sincere, inner joy that cannot be felt by those who do not live the true religion, for it is a faith-related joy, looking forward to the pleasure of Allah, His mercy and paradise.

Hardly ever do those whose faith in Allah and the hereafter is dubious experience such joy. Similar to "ignorant" people they only find joy in what is related to immediate personal interest when they sense something "profitable." However, this is but a temporary joy. Once the worldly benefit is lost, joy also disappears. Those who lack true faith in their hearts will feel frustrated if earning the pleasure of Allah calls for a task they find hard to perform. They express their reluctance and indifference by carrying out the task discontentedly. They often consider voluntary work or a free service as a waste of time, failing to appreciate that to earn the pleasure of Allah is the best and most precious of all rewards. So they only feel as if they have taken on a great responsibility or made a great sacrifice. At this point emerges the distinctive nature of a believer’s enthusiasm. Whether hard or simple, a duty never frustrates a believer since he wholeheartedly, willingly and gladly renders his services to Allah. This enthusiasm manifests itself in attitudes of joy and happiness. That believers expect their reward only from Allah is also stated by Allah’s Messenger. Asked what reward there would be for a man who desired fame and compensation for having served in the way of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad said, "There is no reward for him." Then he said, "Allah accepts those deeds which were performed purely for His sake and which were meant to seek His pleasure."

Not Being Influenced by Those in Whose Hearts is a Disease

At the beginning of the guide it was stated that people’s faith and closeness to Allah are not the same and that there are some who are sincerely obedient to Allah and others in whose hearts is a disease. Scholars have explained this "disease" as hypocrisy or disbelief.

People who do not have wholehearted faith (although they live among believers and assert that they believe) show the reality of their faith in the way they conduct themselves. They lack the zeal to live the religion and gain the good pleasure of Allah, and may even want to weaken a believer’s enthusiasm and discourage him. However, those who have real faith are not influenced by such people’s words or their acts because they perceive what Allah has informed them in the Qur’an: "So be patient. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And let them not disquiet you who are not certain [in faith]." The indifference of some people is actually the result of their uncertainty. Aware of this fact, believers do not feel frustrated; on the contrary, they feel more committed to struggle for the interests of Islam since other people do not serve religion and do not put forth any effort to spread the values of the Qur’an. They become more determined to remind them of Qur’anic values and to live by the principles of Islam in the best way.

A great Islamic scholar, Said Nursi, expressed how people who exert sincere effort for the acceptance of Allah approach unenthusiastic people: "Weak-heartedness and the withdrawal of others becomes a cause that augments the zeal and efforts of sincere believers because they hold themselves responsible for the duties of those who have withdrawn."

Said Nursi observed that every time sincere believers see how those in whose hearts is a disease evade the service of Islam, they embrace the religion with added commitment. The indifference of unenthusiastic people toward adhering to the values of the Qur’an and toward communicating them reminds believers of their own great responsibility. Other people’s unwillingness to adopt good values becomes a cause for believers to conduct themselves even better. In contrast to the non-adherence of those who have no certainty about Allah and His messengers, believers display an exemplary obedience, which says "we hear and we obey." Those who have not truly adopted faith in their hearts unwittingly contribute to the development of believers in many ways. In no way, however, can they instill their indifference into the hearts of believers because believers derive their zeal and faith from their relationship with Allah rather than the attitude of people surrounding them. Whether or not believers witness such people’s indifferZeal and Enthusiasm Described in the Qur’an ence, they strive eagerly to fulfill the commands of Allah. However, observing the weak-hearted serves as a reminder which ultimately turns out to be good for them. While an indifferent person does not give much thought to his eternal life, he unconsciously augments the zeal of sincere believers and encourages them.