Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 224
224 patiently and to forgive is described as a “matter of high resolve” (3:187; 31:18; 42:44). Another natural instinct is love. Its proper regulation converts it into a high moral quality. Unregulated, it might do great harm. The Quran declares that the strongest and highest love of those who believe is for Allah, meaning that the love of God must come before everything else (2:166). A detailed and specific gradation is prescribed. The love of Allah and the duty owed to Him and the love of His Messenger and the duty of striving in Allah’s cause must come before the love of parents, children, brothers, wives, husbands, kinsfolk, country, home, possessions, business (9:24). The very notion of values involves the idea of gradation. Little difficulty arises where duty is clear and there is no conflicting inclination. Difficulty is encountered when duty points in one direction and inclination pulls in another, particularly when inclination also puts on the garb of a duty owed to one’s parents, or children, or kinsfolk, or nation, or business, or profession. In such a case, even if there be a duty involved, the duty lower in the scale of values must give way to one that is higher; otherwise, conduct ceases to have a moral quality and is merely an expression of natural instincts and inclinations. Another consideration affecting the regulation of the natural instinct of love is that preference must