THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY: Islam’s Ethical and Spiritual Outlook

A believer is certain that if they endure the harm caused by others with patience, God will grant them a far better reward. This certainty creates within them a deep and unwavering calm that no hostile remark can disturb. Guided by the spirit of faith, they turn anger into forgiveness. They treat provocation as something to be ignored. And when faced with words that might provoke the ego, they respond instead by drawing nourishment from humility and human compassion. TRUSTEESHIP AND PROMISES In the Quran, one of the defining qualities of the people of truth is that they are careful about fulfilling their trusts and promises. As stated in the Quran: “Those who are faithful to their trusts and their promises” (Quran, 23:8). Maulana Shabbir Ahmad Usmani (1887–1949), a prominent Muslim scholar of the Indian subcontinent, offers a clear explanation of this verse in his commentary on the Quran. He writes: “They safeguard their trusts and commitments. They do not engage in betrayal or breach of promise— neither in matters relating to God nor in their dealings with people.” (p. 443) Everything a person possesses is, in essence, a trust—either a trust given by God or by others. Similarly, every person is bound by agreements and commitments. Some of these agreements are explicitly stated, while others are implicitly