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

Amutawassim has such clarity that they are rarely misled. A true believer is such a person—someone who sees the essence of things, not just the form. This ability to see beyond appearances is what it means to “see with the light of God,” because God’s knowledge covers both the visible and the unseen. And who can challenge someone who sees with that kind of clarity? POSITIVE APPROACH The Quran emphasizes that positive and negative actions cannot be placed on the same level: “Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel evil with what is better.” (41:34) This principle is repeated in different ways throughout the Quran. It means that believers must always respond positively. In every situation, they should avoid reacting negatively. Their conduct should be good even under normal conditions—and if someone treats them badly, it is still their responsibility, as God-conscious individuals, not to fall into a reactionary mindset. Even then, they must stay principled and respond with dignity. Explaining this verse, Abdullah ibn Abbas said: “God has commanded the believers to be patient when angry, to be calm when confronted with ignorance, and to forgive when treated unjustly.” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Vol. 7, p. 181)