Moral Restraint

Success is only for those who save themselves from evil, who are able to differentiate between right and wrong and who lead a life of modesty and self-restraint.

The Quran states: “For those who believe and are mindful of God, there is good news in this life and in the Hereafter: the Word of God shall never change. That is the supreme triumph.” (10:63-64)

According to the Quran acknowledgement of God is acknowledgement of the greatest reality. One who acknowledges God in the full sense has found the right starting point for his life. On the contrary, one who does not acknowledge God cannot find the right starting point for his life. Success is destined for the former and failure for the latter. When a person acknowledges reality, he necessarily becomes serious. This acknowledgement tells him that there is a superior power in this world besides him, and to ignore this is just not possible. This feeling compels him to lead a life of restraint, a responsible life. This is a life which is mindful of God.

No change can be made in the law God has laid down for this world. The only possible way for a person to build his life is in accordance with this law. If he does not conform to this law of nature he himself will be the loser rather than the law of nature.

In this world, success is only for those who save themselves from evil, who are able to differentiate between right and wrong, who know that, in this world of God, they have to lead a life of modesty rather than a life of arrogance. They have to know that for them the right way is to lead a life governed by moral principle rather than a life of permissiveness. Here a person has to lead his life within the limits of morality. He cannot lead an unbounded life like the animals of the jungle.

In this world, moral restraint is as essential as abstinence from those fruits which are not good for health.