Islam has no place for selfish desires

HARUN YAHYA

Published — Friday 13 March 2015

http://www.arabnews.com/islam-perspective/news/717461

Allah Almighty has created the human soul with a predisposition to selfishness as a test. Unless he lives by the moral values of the Qur’an and tames his earthly desires, this feeling will come to dominate his whole moral framework.

Such a person generally thinks of himself alone, rather than everyone else. He always wants the best, finest and most perfect of everything for himself. He wants to have possessions and children and for his own family merely to be comfortable. In face of difficulties, he will expect the people around him to undergo all kinds of risks and troubles for him and to support him, even at the cost of their own interests. He seeks to protect his own whims and interests and to ensure his own ease and comfort.

When the situation is different he can forgo many things he values, for the sake of protecting his own interests and preventing any harm coming to him.

Allah has revealed this passionate selfish feeling in human earthly desires as follows in the Qur’an: “Truly man was created headstrong – desperate when bad things happen, begrudging when good things come.” (Qur’an, 70:19-21)

They are a major threat to modern societies. The materialist thinking that is widespread in modern societies that do not live by religious moral values, reinforces the selfish and egotistical spirit in human nature and disseminates a “me-first” philosophy. Indeed, the idea of “So long as I’m all right, who cares what happens to anyone else?” or “Looking out for number one” generally dominates such societies.

Thus, oppressed and poor people; their children devoid of education or food; are of no interest to such people. This social structure generally leads to a troubled and unhappy atmosphere.

Only people living by the moral values of the Qur’an can bring about any change in such a contaminated society; only they can change the people of selfish interest — those who protect their own interests and violate everyone else’s; and who have no love or fear of Allah.

Islam cultivates love of Allah and which is the only way to acquire such values of good conscience as compassion and helpfulness, which are at the root of the Qur’anic moral values.

Fear and love of Allah enables people to submit themselves to Him, to see the best in everything and to have compassion. In the verses Allah reveals how the only interest of concern to believers is His approval: “They fulfill their vows and fear a Day whose evil will spread far and wide. They give food, despite their love for it, to the poor and orphans and captives: ‘We feed you only out of desire for the Face of Allah. We do not want any repayment from you or any thanks. Truly We fear from our Lord a glowering, calamitous Day.’ So Allah has safeguarded them from the evil of that Day and has made them meet with radiance and pure joy.” (Qur’an, 76:7-11)

Our Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “He who goes to bed full when his neighbor is hungry is not one of us.” It is an important warning to all those believers who desire to earn Allah’s approval. Therefore, anyone aiming to earn Allah’s approval will not just settle for a solution to his own problems; he will also assume responsibility for resolving the problems of others around him in need.

This may of course require people to give up things they love or to sacrifice their own comfort. The way that Muslims look to protect and watch over the poor by giving alms, help people in need by canceling their debts and spend their possessions on Allah’s path, rather than accumulating and hoarding them, are moral virtues bestowed by the ethical values of the Qur’an.

Responding to people’s needs and treating them kindly are forms of behavior that prevent atrophocation of the conscience. Empathizing with others, treating the needy with affection and showing respect and love make it possible to eliminate cruelty and selfishness. Verses reveal that the reward for good behavior comes in the Presence of Allah: “Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him. Be good to your parents and relatives and to orphans and the very poor, and to neighbors who are related to you and neighbors who are not related to you, and to companions and travelers and your slaves. Allah does not love anyone vain or boastful.” (Qur’an, 4:36)

Faith perfects people’s behavior, as it does so many other traits. A believer who constantly heeds his conscience as required by religious moral values will always behave in the best, most considerate, trust-inspiring and tolerant manner.

Someone possessed of these moral attributes has earned merit for his own life in the hereafter. At the same time, he is instrumental in freeing the world from its self-interested and selfish nature, and making it a place of the delights of Islam.

—

The writer has authored more than 300 books translated in 73 languages on politics, religion and science.

The moral virtue in Anatolia is a model of humanity for the world

The moral virtue in Anatolia is a model of humanity for the world

Excerpt from Mr. Adnan Oktar's Live Conversation on A9TV dated August 27th, 2014

There is currently a climate of peace in Turkey. They used to say that if the head scarf was allowed, there would be people wearing it everywhere. Then they saw that no such thing happened. Life carries on as normal. Some refused to have any dealings with the president’s wife because she wore the headscarf. They refused to shake the hand of the wife of the prime minister because she wore the headscarf. They refused to say hello or to go to places where she would be. We went through some horrible times, in other words. But there is a relaxed atmosphere on that subject in Turkey now. Ladies with the head scarf and those without are both respected. That is good.

The important thing is to abide by the spirit of the nation. The Turkish nation has a traditional warm spirit of brotherhood and friendship. A relative of Prime Minister Davutoğlu addressed him as ‘My son, Ahmet.’ The expression of love on her face was beautiful. That was a lovely thing to say, expressing the cleanliness and innocence of a child. That is how our people are. That is the mentality that is in power now. The alleged Ergenekon terror organization despised and oppressed a very large part of our nation. But now there is warmth and beauty. However, we must still be careful that fanaticism does not infiltrate us. The warmth and love of Anatolia is a different matter. But they may manage to squeeze a bit of fanaticism in. If they are on their guard against that, then the pure moral virtue of Anatolia is a good model for the world. The pure, clean moral virtue in Anatolia, its conception of love and altruism and brotherhood, is a perfect model of humanity for Europe and Japan and everywhere. It is a model that the whole world will hugely admire. By the will of God, the moral virtue of Anatolia has never been spoiled God. They never managed to spoil it in the Southeast with the PKK. They are all devout, kind, polite and respectful people. We see all their immaculate nature and sweetness on the television. God has preserved them. The presence of the TV has not spoiled them in any way. Various press organizations have also failed to spoil them. Because one can now watch anywhere in the world. Anatolia has preserved its purity and nobility. That has happened for a reason, otherwise it would have been spoiled. But God did not allow it. He preserved this community as a model for the world. That model of virtue will now prevail across the world. An ethical ready-made model that everyone abides by.

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Ahl al-Bayt (People of the House) were martyred by radicals because of their modernity and valuing women

Ahl al-Bayt (People of the House) were martyred by radicals because of their modernity and valuing women (05.06.2014)

Ahl al-Bayt (People of the House) were martyred by radicals because of their modernity and valuing women

Excerpt from Mr. Adnan Oktar's Live Conversation on A9TV dated June 05th, 2014

Hassan and Hussein, my dear ones, were very extroverted and joyful. Hz. Ali was also very affable and they were all ultramodern.

The reason why radicals martyred them was because they were not radicals like themselves, and did not approve of that radicalism.

They also did not  follow our Prophet (pbuh) and those hypocrites founded the Masjid al-Dirar (Mosque of Mischief).

The only reason why Ahl al-Bayt (People of the House) were martyred was their modernity, love for women and advocacy for freedoms of women, holding women to be greater and in high esteem, being stylish and clean, smelling nicely with beautiful fragrance, conversing with jokes and compliments, having love for all of humanity and compassion to people of other faiths, acting with courtesy and a classy attitude, all of which made the radicals angry.

On that account, those villains martyred them all. And it is the same dishonorable ones and that satan that have generated the same radicals appearing 1,400 years later again. These radicals are from the same family and if they were to see Hz. Hassan and Hz. Hussein  in our day, they would again martyr them. It is the radicals of this century that would martyr Hz. Ali once again.

They seem to have love for our Prophet (pbuh), but in their heart they have hatred, may God forbid.

And they state, ‘We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of God.’ Yet, God informs us, ‘God knows that you are indeed His Messenger and God bears witness that the hypocrites are certainly liars.’ Radicals are liars, and they try to turn life into filth. For instance, they make women have the most repulsive appearance. They attain the most appalling form; their eating, sitting, standing, all are abhorrent.

The Messenger of God  was a classy person, and everything about him was of quality.

-          You look like very much like him in that respect.

Masha’Allah, the grandson looks like the grandfather, insha’Allah.

Our Prophet (pbuh) had great love for women and he has mentioned this persistently in the hadiths.

Hz. Hassan and Hz. Hussein were together with the Companions and they were addressing the Prophet, saying all the young women were in love with Hz. Hassan  and Hz. Hussein. They said women were getting married with them, and none would be remaining for them, so what should they do. Our Prophet said they resembled their grandfather. Masha’Allah, alhamdulillah; what a beautiful statement, that girls would like to get married to them all the time.

When they went out to Mecca and Medina, everyone is fascinated, masha’Allah. Hz. Hassan and Hz. Hussein are breathtakingly handsome, pure and appealing with their eyes. Some have black or green eyes, for instance, Hz. Ali has  green eyes, insha’Allah.

But the mindset of radicals did not change throughout history, Hz. Ali is beautiful just like the Prophet Joseph (pbuh,) who is from the lineage of the Prophet David (pbuh), insha’Allah.

That beauty of those eyes has passed from generation to generation. And the beautiful eyes of the Prophet (pbuh) are from the Prophet Abraham (pbuh). They say the Prophet has exactly the same appearance with the Prophet Abraham with his black eyes, slight protrusion on the nose, well-built body and wide shoulders, strong arms and bones.

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Radicals being against music, arts and modernity is the reason of Islamophobia

Radicals being against music, arts and modernity is the reason of Islamophobia

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A Muslim must be open to all views

A Muslim must be open to all views

The Prophet Solomon (pbuh) had a very modern palace built in his time

The Prophet Solomon (pbuh) had a very modern palace built in his time

The Prophet Solomon (pbuh) had a very

modern palace built in his time

From Mr. Adnan Oktar’s interview on A9 TV on 22 June 2013

ADNAN OKTAR: “Could you explain about the modernity in the Qur’an?” What did the Prophet Solomon (pbuh) do? Look, some thousands of years ago, 4000 or 5000 years ago. He had a pool built inside the palace. But the palace was a glorious one. He decorated everywhere with statues. And walls covered in gold leaf. Gold leaf on top of wood. And fabrics dyed dark blue and emerald green and palace red. The drapes were silk and made of high quality linen. The most perfect timber was used. The wood was all covered in gold leaf, and there were fine statues. The most perfect marble was used on the floor and walls. The most select marbles. He had a pool built. Whoever looked at that pool, without exception, imagined it to be filled with deep water. But the pool was in fact made of crystal, of glass. The play of light created such an effect that whoever looked at it imagined it was full of water. Deep water. He invited Balqis, the queen of Sheba, as you know. She wore low-cut clothing. They worshiped the sun. Their clothes were low-cut but very well maintained. She wore a skirt when she came to the Prophet Solomon. The Prophet Solomon told her to enter the pool. “Enter the pool,” he said, the deep pool. What did she do? She pulled up her skirts. The Qur’an says that she raised her skirts. It says that she imagined that it was a deep pool full of water.” It says she raised her skirts. The Prophet Solomon played a fun trick, even though he knew she would raise her skirt. That is what he meant when he told her to enter the pool, insha’Allah. He played a trick on her. When she set foot on the pall she saw that she had not entered the water. But she had raised her skirt. The Prophet Solomon said he had played a trick on her. He said it was not a pool of water. He said it was made of crystal using a special technique.” The woman was amazed. Then he said, “Now I will have your throne brought for you.” A three-dimensional image of her throne immediately formed on the wall. What kind of technology was used? There is a much simpler and easier way of transporting images, but it has not been discovered now. Look, a very high quality three-dimensional image was transported. Using a very simple technique that is not known now. He had the image produced using that technique. Such things are today produced using very complex techniques. The woman said it was identical to her throne. The Prophet Solomon commanded that the image be changed a little. They altered it slightly. But the woman said it was identical. “Thanks be to God, I had already become a Muslim,” she said. You see the impact of art? The effect of a joke, conversation, pleasant words and love. The Prophet Solomon made the woman feel he loved her. He had a joke with her. He won her over. He showed her a glorious palace, and wonderful furniture. It looked magnificent. The woman said she had already become a Muslim. That is how to tell people about Islam. That is modernity.

“Salamun Alaikum” Alaikum Salam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu. “Mr. Oktar, does our faith not tell us to cover up? But you speak of modernity, of girls and women with bikinis. Fatih Üzüm.” He has no Facebook account. It makes no difference. They can write in. There is no need for people to conceal their names. Now, let us start with the Mediterranean. You start by coming to Izmir, then go from there to Marmara, and then from Çanakkale to the Black Sea. Travel the whole length, all the beaches are full. Millions of our people enter the sea in swimwear. You discount them all at the stroke of a pen. You look at them from another perspective entirely. Yet these are all very dear to us. They are immaculate and radiant Muslims. With that mindset, you just hurt yourself. Because your own sister goes there, too. She enters the pool and goes to the beach. And so do you. There is no need to interfere in what anyone wears. No interference in full body coverings or the bikini. One must respond to ideas with other ideas.

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Beauty and adornments are the artistry of Allah

Beauty and adornments are the artistry of Allah

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Our sisters with burqa and sisters without headscarves struggle together to spread the morality of Islam

Our sisters with burqa and sisters without headscarves struggle together to spread the morality of Islam

See Also:

• In the time of Mahdi women will no longer be bothered
• All our sisters are on the right path
• Respect Women
• In the time of Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) Muslims will treasure and have a very high opinion of women
  

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We have ensured that high society and a great portion of modern people get acquainted with religion

We have ensured that high society and a great portion of modern people get acquainted with religion

Excerpt from Adnan Oktar's Live Conversation on A9TV dated August 5^th, 2012 

Watch Online on HarunYahya.Tv 
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ADNAN OKTAR: Our special way of working, this special movement of ours has caused serious changes both in Turkey and in the whole world. We've made it possible for the socialite to get to know religion. They didn't know, there was no connection between them. The communities of mosques used to remain among themselves. Such ghettos were formed and there was a system they have formed among themselves. But as the result of our efforts, ladies wearing low neck clothes also started to perform their prayers, they have established a connection with Islam, the ladies wearing mini-skirts started to live Islam sincerely. Modern youngsters started to live Islam. There had been a serious revival all over the world. Especially our crushing Darwinism and materialism, the defeat of Darwinism has provided an amazing ease for youngsters who used to have difficulty in preaching religion. Previously they were not able to preach religion because they were defeated right from the start at the point of Darwinism. They only could conceal their piety. But later on, when we crashed Darwinism, their path is opened all the way. After that our explaining facts leading to faith scientifically, our proving them with documents and photographs enabled them explain the Qur'an very comfortably and then an amazing enthusiasm has come upon them. We also have had a great impact on the progress of devout people in Israel, on the progress of piety in there. That is because Darwinism used to prevail there as well, no one said anything about Darwinism. We have distributed our book that defeats Darwinism in Hebrew language, we have held meetings. And now in Israel youngsters started to turn towards religion as well. However if the wrong kind of conservatism, the wrong kind of fundamentalism is applied, religion would not widespread. A lady wearing low neck cloths would only learn about religion from a lady wearing low neck cloths, she would only accept her explanations. A beautiful and attractive lady would listen to a beautiful and attractive lady. It would be difficult for her to listen to a shapeless person who stinks and who is covered with unwanted facial hair, she wouldn't listen to her. That is because she would say; "this is already a sunken person with her cultural level, with her appearance and her state of mind. Such a person can only have expectations from the Hereafter. So there is nothing that she could do in this world."  But a beautiful woman could listen to everything a beautiful woman has to say.  That is why you have had a great impact. For instance I look at the connections in Facebook, I look at the groups, there are ten thousands, hundred thousands.. You have amazingly reached out to circles that some conservative circles could never reach. You have formed a great connection and a great circle of friends. The reason for this is because you are modern, high quality, elite and cultured, you think freely and you approach endearingly and above all, of course, it is because you are very devout, you are genuinely faithful. That is why you've been able to reach out to circles that some of our conservative brothers and sisters, some conservatively devout people would not even dream of. They cannot even think about them. I mean these people would never be object to such people yet you've reached them. That is a great success and that also holds true globally. For instance in the past, very rarely Christians became Muslims, now we do not pronounce it out loud but there are a lot of ultra-modern Christians becoming Muslims. We do not talk about that. And there is also something else that is astonishing; there are many Jews among their youth that become Muslims at the moment. Yet if you were not modern, if you did not display such quality, if you have had that classical conservative, classical bluenose appearance such a thing wouldn't have happened like it had never happened before.

2012-11-05 03:52:49 

Adnan Oktar Says 2012-10-18 to 21

A9 TV; October 21st, 2012

• Our older brothers who are the students of Bediuzzaman are like Companions for us. They are the real owners of this world. May Allah get illnesses off of them.
• Everything we do for the welfare of our big brothers is a religious obligation upon us. We will of course hang on to all sorts of means to ensure their welfare insha'Allah.
• Our Lord Allah is the Infinite Wisdom. How nice, Alhamdulillah.
• Religion is to live for Allah. It is to live love fervently. It is to avoid offending people and to strive for their welfare. Living a loveless introverted life, a dirty life by putting away freedom is not religion.
• It is a religious obligation to help a person who is ill.

A9 TV; October 20th, 2012

• The command is from Allah; Islam will prevail the world insha'Allah.
• If we present the modern face of Islam to the people, Islam would prevail in the world.
• We are against the hatred of the bigots that prevails in the world. We will present the truth to the bigots with compassion. 
• Muslim takes the Qur'an as basis. Bigotry on the other hand is the name of a loveless system that contravenes the Qur'an. 
• Yajuj and Majuj are Communism and Fascism. At the moment PKK is in the position of the Yajuj and Majuj.
• The system of the Mahdi will give people knowledge that encompasses the essence of the truth based on revelation.
• The year 1986 is the year that Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) will enter an environment of hardship and that he will dissapear from the sight of people.
• The story of Dhul-Qarnayn depicted in the Qur'an refers to the system of the Mahdi.
• Kurdish can never ever be accepted as an official language. Our official language is Turkish. But everyone can speak in any language they like.
• Communism is the greatest anti-christ movement in the history of the world.
• It is very important to be aware of the danger. In the south east region of Turkey there is the greatest communist rebellion in the history of the republic. All the communists of the world are supporting this rebellion. America does not accept our borders in the south-east either. They want the southeast to be separated from us somehow.
• In cases of disease accepting medicine and doctor help is a religious obligation. It is a religious obligation to accept the usage of all kinds of techincal appliances when doctor deems necessary for the treatment. It is a religious obligation to accept all kinds of conditions that could stop the progress of the disease; that can be a change of scenery or the things that one should eat. Not accepting such offers and declining such means is not acceptable.
• It can never be accepted to let people revile one another. Everywhere in the world people who revile the others are sued.
• Revilement is forbidden. There is nothing surprising in bringing a suit when one is reviled. No one would let himself or his loved ones be reviled.

A9 TV; October 19th, 2012

• According to the reference in the verse and according to what has been reported in the hadiths, Mahdi (pbuh) will not have any material wealth or children.
• The word insha'Allah is the password of the system of the Mahdi.
• Patience and perseverance are the characteristics of the students of Mahdi.
• Religion is not lived upon implications. All judgments are clear and explicit. Allah is Just, He would not hold people responsible of anything through implications.
• Allah communicates His commands and the things He forbids not through implications but through verses containing clear judgments. Allah lays stress on the judgments that are deemed obligatory, for several times.
• Bigots have implemented a system in which women would not perform their prayers half their lives.
• If scientific studies are carried out, Marxism will experience a sudden fall. Yet if the invalidity of Marxism and cruelty are not explained this disease would proceed step by step.
• In Syria both parties should stop violence and bloodshed. Both sides should be asking for the Unity of Islam.
• When a Muslim gets ill the right thing to do that is in compliance with the approval of Allah is to accept the doctor and the means for healing.

A9 TV; October 18th, 2012

• Unity of Islam would bring richness to everywhere. No one should resist such a beauty, on the contrary everyone should support it.
• Private meetings should be held with the leaders of the countries in order to establish the Unity of Islam. It would be much better to use a friendly, brotherly and sincere manner instead of a diplomatic language.
• To obstinate with the other party while explaining a subject matter would disrupt the other party's will to understand. It is an art to overcome the obstinacy. Not to push the other party's buttons is an important characteristic of a preacher.
• We carry the Qur'an in our hearts. We live with the Qur'an. The mindset which demands that there should be no fun around the Qur'an is a very wrongful mindset. There is joy, happiness and elation around the Qur'an.
• We congratulate the anniversary of Azerbaijan's foundation. May Allah give many beautiful days to Azerbaijan.
• Not appreciating women stems from the mindset of losers.