Advice for Missionaries — Page 31
31 such politics and teach them to give precedence to their faith over worldly matters. HOW TO DEVELOP OBEDIENCE In Surah Al-Ma’idah Allah the Exalted says: 8 ۰۰ َو ُهّٰللا اَل يِدْهَي َمْوَقْلا َنْيِقِسٰفْلاؒ ١ؕ َو اوُقَّتا َهّٰللا َو اْوُعَمْسا Fear Allah, and follow His commandments to the full. Allah does not bestow success on those who are disobedient. It is evident from this verse that taqwa (righteous- ness) is simply another name for obedience. Obedience emanates either out of love or fear. Love comes from reflecting on the beauty and grace of a thing, while fear comes from understanding its power. Since human nature is endowed with dual attributes, the parallel of two divine attributes are described in Surah Al-Fatihah. It says: 9 ۰۰ ِنٰمْحَّرلا ِمْيِحَّرلاۙ ۰۰ ُدْمَحْلَا ِهّٰلِل ِّبَر َنْيِمَلٰعْلاۙ God has drawn people towards His obedience by 8 Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:109 [Publishers] 9 All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds, the Gracious, the Merciful. Surah Al-Fatihah, 1:2-3 [Publishers]