Those Who Allah Loves Most

Those Who Allah Loves Most

﴾The day when every soul will find what it has done of good brought forward, and what it has done of evil; it will wish there was a far space between itself and it (evil). And Allah warns you to beware of Him; and Allah is Compassionate with His servants.﴿ (3:30)

﴾They ask you what they should spend, Say: what-ever of wealth you spend, is for the parents, relatives, orphans, the needy and the traveler, and whatever good you do, Allah is surely omniscient of it.﴿ (2:215)

A man once asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his household): "What people does Allah love most?"

He answered: "They are the most useful ones to the people."1

It is also narrated from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his household) that he said: "All mankind belongs to Allah, therefore the most favored by Allah is the one who is good to his or her own family." (Ibid.)

It is also narrated that; "The doer of good is better than good itself and the evil-doer is worse than evil itself."2

It is also narrated that Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his household) said: "whoever guides others towards good is like the one who does it himself." (Ibid.)

It is also narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) said: Don't do anything of good so as to be seen by people, nor give it up because of shyness."3

It is narrated from Imam Ali (A.S.) that he said: "Speak much of good in order to be known by it and do good to be identified with its followers."4

Ideologies, laws, systems, ideas and theories created by the human beings in the fields of ethics, politics, sociology, economic, psychology and the arts, etc., all express their authors' ideological, psychological and social inclinations.

It is also obvious that the nature of human creation is defective, and incomplete. People generally differ among themselves in their psychological, ideological, ethical and social background and education.

Therefore, some ideologies and theories reflect the twisted and complex ethics of their authors and originators who produced these ideals either under the influence of their environment or by inheritance and education.

Thus, we see some of these ideologies bear the spirit of spite and revenge; while others are characterized by chaos and disorder. Still others reflect the greedy and selfish nature of their originators. In every aspect they mirror the nature, personality, disposition and psychological state of their authors.

The main difference between Islam and other ideologies is its being the Message of Allah to mankind and a call to reform humanity towards following the Divine Path.

Therefore, Islam through its laws and principles, expresses the perfection of the Great Creator, Who is the source of good, knowledge, mercy, love, and beauty in this world. His characteristics are made clear by the call of the Prophets and messengers in the spirit of goodness, love and peace.

Thus among the foundations on which the moral and social system of Islam is built, is its call to do good, to make the human being a source of power, and reformation in this world. Islam frees him from the wicked tendencies which cause him to abstain from doing good to people and society.

A major social problem for the human being is created by his selfishness, desiring good only for himself and sometimes forbidding that good be rendered to others.

This wicked tendency which the Qur'an collectively describes as "Shu'h" (Greediness) is condemned. The Qur'an also condemns whoever is characterized by it, considering him to be among the criminals and the aggressors who stand against human principles and life itself, and promises him intense punishment in the hereafter, as it views "Shu'h" as the source of all tribulations, the root cause of poverty and aggression, hatred, spite, covetousness, deprivation and sufferings in this present life.

In the Qur'an, the Almighty Allah says: ﴾The two of you do cast into hell every ungrateful, rebellious one. Forbidder of good, exceeder of limits, doubter.﴿ (50:24 – 25)

Quran also states: ﴾… and reconciliation is better, and souls are prone to avarice. And if you do good and be God-fearing, then surely Allah is Cognizant of what you do.﴿ (4: 128)

For the same reason, Islam considers prosperity and success as a protection against such harmful moral sickness.

In the Quran, the almighty Allah says; ﴾… and whoever is saved from the greediness of his soul, these it is that are the successful.﴿ (64:16)

When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his household) talks about good and its doers in the society, he wants to teach Muslims and Islamic society that an Islamic society is a cooperative one. The social service performed by a scientist, farmer, doctor, teacher, thinker, social reformer, and one who participates in charitable projects, or helps the poor and the needy; all these works are considered good deeds to which generous people in society contribute.

Therefore, those who are doing good and are inspired in their works by knowledge of Allah and who like to do good seeking His pleasure, these are the best people because of their social usefulness.

The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) has guided our social preferences through his example, that is, serving the society and encouraging social advancement while seeking Allah's Pleasure.

The Islamic view which sees society as one family and creation (the human being, animal, plant) as belonging to Allah and depends on Him. It aims to shape this world with all its individuals and elements into a unity and completeness, to deepen the cultured comprehension and consciousness of man and to confirm his role in serving to develop the world.

* Al – Balagh Foundation. Mahjubah Magazine.

^{1- Wasa'il ash – Shiah, P.6.
2- Tuhaf al – Uqul an Aali al – Rasool, P. 40.
3- Ibid., P. 41.
4- Mishkat al – Anwar, P. 144, 2nd edition.}