LINGERING DOUBTS

Islamic work, but it would be purely an intellectual pursuit, lacking genuine heartfelt commitment, much like many orientalists who study external subjects without any personal attachment. To serve faith, we need someone who isn’t satisfied even in luxury, finds air travel uncomfortable, and loses peace when surrounded by comforts that ordinary people enjoy. There are many such examples all around us. If you observe carefully, you can see what people have already gained and what they still lack. However, despite these obvious facts, if you claim, “I have not made any alteration in the religion; I only wish to establish it in its highest and most complete form,” then, in my opinion, such a claim holds no weight. For example, a Muslim who understands the hadith of the Messenger—“Whoever says La ilaha illa Allah shall enter Paradise” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2638)—as guaranteeing Paradise for anyone who utters the testimony, may not necessarily reject the commands of Islam. Yet it is certain that his motivation to act upon those commands will be weakened.