Who Are Believers?

How is it that someone does not understand the existence of God? It is indeed God’s plan that someone’s understanding, hearing and vision are sealed. Hence he is not chosen to be a believer. We must thank God for His immense mercy that He has blessed us with understanding. So who are the believers?

[2:3] who believe in the unseen, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and from our provisions to them, they give to charity. [2:4] And they believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you, and with regard to the Hereafter, they are absolutely certain. [2:5] These are guided by their Lord; these are the winners.

God explains to us the traits of the believers. As a believer one has to believe in the revelations of God. Hence a believer believes in the unseen. We have not seen Paradise, yet as a believer one has to believe Paradise exists without any doubt because God has mentioned it in His book. Giving to charity and observing contact prayers are also important traits of the believers. This life is very competitive so if we don’t strive hard we will fail to achieve. But God guarantees us in 2:5 that the believers will not only be guided but will also become the winners. And God has made

this race very simple and easy to win. Because there is no stress or pressure on you. No need to memorize answers or refer to a variety of books or different question sets. God has given us only one book to follow, “The Quran”. And He wants us to refer to it and follow it.  And the reward is eternal Paradise which is incomparably wonderful beyond anything in this material world.

[3:17] They are steadfast, truthful, submitting, charitable, and meditators at dawn.

I took stock of my day to day behavior. Out of 24 hours, say if I am awake for 14 hours, then how much do I fulfill the traits of the believers mentioned in 3:17? Perhaps I am most reverent for a couple of hours. Then what about the remaining period? Am I not alive during those remaining hours of the day? Don’t I breathe, don’t I eat, walk, talk, see, etc. And how can I forget that all this happens due to mercy of God?

[33:41] O you who believe, you shall remember GOD frequently.*

*33:41-42 Your god is whatever occupies your thoughts most of the time. Hence the commandment to commemorate God and glorify Him day and night. See Appendix 27.

 

As a believer do I follow this verse steadfastly? Most of the time I am preoccupied with worldly affairs. God has not asked us to totally cut-off worldly affairs. But it is my duty to find ways in which I can frequently remember God while performing my worldly duties.

[3:134] who give to charity during the good times, as well as the bad times. They are suppressors of anger, and pardoners of the people. GOD loves the charitable.

Giving to charity during the good times is very easy. But in the bad times it can be very difficult. A true believer gives to charity during bad times to please God. He is doing so just because God has asked him to do so.

Suppressing your anger is one of the best qualities of a believer. We sometimes get angry for silly reasons. And then this anger can lead us to sin, e.g., by way of using abusive language or even physical assault. Just imagine how much humiliation the Prophet Mohammed and the prophets before him like Noah, Lot, Abraham, etc. had to face. People not only mocked them but also abused and assaulted them. Yet they suppressed their anger and fulfilled their

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