Islam A PATH OF GREAT STRUGGLE

The Prophet of Islam said: “Hellfire is veiled by desires, and Paradise is veiled by hardships.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 6487; Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2822). If the reality of Islam has to be expressed in a single word, no word is more suitable than sacrifice. Islam is, in fact, a powerful struggle. It is a continuous process of sacrifice that begins after a person accepts faith and continues until his death. The first sacrifice a person makes is when he gives up his favourite ideas and inner inclinations and accepts the true religion. After this comes the second kind of sacrifice, which is made in the realm of action. In one’s character, dealings, and social and economic life, a person gives up those ways that are displeasing to God and adopts those that are pleasing to Him. Then, after passing through both these stages, he reaches the final stage of testing, where not only forbidden things but, if required, even the lawful things of life must be given up. This sacrifice marks the completion of the test and