Islam As It Is
Prophethood
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opinions of others, seeing the credit due to oneself
given to others, putting others’ interests before
those of one’s own household, and even handing
over one’s own hard-earned wealth to others, or
expending energy on apparently thankless tasks.
Without this spirit of sacrifice, society degenerates
into a den of deceit and plunder. It is when people
believe that there is no other life but the life of this
world that they have no incentive to be self-
sacrificing. Without God as the focus of attention,
society is inevitably torn with strife, making it
impossible for a harmonious environment ever to
develop on earth.
The Prophet, however, shows mankind a different
and better destiny, one which is based on the
worship of God and the self-sacrifice which that
entails. Moreover, he makes people realize that their
sacrifices are not a senseless waste, for they will be
fully rewarded in the afterlife. When people begin
to realize what value their right action will have in
the eyes of God, they will root out all injustice from
society and lay down a solid foundation for truth
and justice. Everyone will then be ready to sacrifice
his own interests, without which no stable and
