How does Allah, the Most Exalted, want the Muslim community to act in life, and what kind of relations does He want it to establish among its members? How does He want this community to open up to Him, constantly renewing its belief in Him and fearing Him in a way that they will tremble when they mention Him?
At first, Allah, the Most Exalted, wants us to establish among the community of believers a covenant of faith. He wants every believer to feel in his heart and mind the brotherhood with all believers. He, the Most Exalted, says:
“The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.” Surah Al-Hujurat (49:10)
Such brotherhood is superior to that of lineage, since it is based on the relationship with the Creator of one's father and mother, who created all people and not merely a blood relation with one's father or mother.
This brotherhood of faith starts first in the mind through believing in the oneness of Allah, and then in the heart through the love of Allah, before it is demonstrated in life through obeying our Creator.
The first responsibility this brotherhood initiates lies in that every believer should follow up the relations among believers, and whenever he sees a difference among two of them—whether a husband and wife or other believers—he has to set it right to restore the relationship of brotherhood among them and not enable the differences to affect their life or the welfare of the community. This is true even with respect to Muslim groups (tribes, parties, sects, and the like). He calls on us:
“And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allah. And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.” Surah Al-Hujurat (49:09)
Thus, Allah, the Most Exalted, wants the believing community to open up to Him, to be afraid of His wrath and punishment, and to obey all that He has commanded.
Allah emphasized this command in Surah Al-Anfal:
“So fear Allah and amend that which is between you. And obey Allah and His Messenger, if you should be believers.” Surah Al-Anfal (08:01)
Obey Allah in all that He commanded in His Book, as well as the Sunnah of His Messenger—since obeying the Messenger is obeying Allah:
“Say, [O Muhammad], ‘If you should love Allah, then follow me, so Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.’” Surah Aal Imran (03:31)
Who Are the Believers?
“The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely.” Surah Al-Anfal (08:02)
“Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path.” Surah Al-Ma’idah (05:16)
“The only statement of the [true] believers when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say, ‘We hear and we obey.’ And those are the successful.” Surah An-Nur (24:51)
“And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger and fears Allah and is conscious of Him – it is those who are the attainers.” Surah An-Nur (24:52)
Not only are their hearts filled with fear when Allah—the Creator of the heavens and the One to whom all glory belongs—is mentioned, but also, when they listen to Allah's verses, their faith is consolidated. These verses are a light that illuminates their minds, hearts, and lives. Those who, if they fear the future and unexpected challenges, rely on God to protect them.
Then Allah talks about the traits of these Muslims:
“Who establish prayer, and from what We have provided them, they spend. It is they who are the believers in truth. For them are degrees [of high position] with their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision.” Surah Al-Anfal (08:03–04)
For belief is not a word. It is in the mind that feels the glory of Allah and acts accordingly in obeying Him and His Messenger.
The Traits of Hypocrites
There is also another point that the Qur’an describes: the qualities of hypocrites who claim to believe but do not practice this belief. Those people say they believe in Allah and the Messenger, professing the two testimonies, and say that they are ready to obey:
“They say, ‘We have believed in Allah and in the Messenger, and we obey’; then a party of them turns away after that. But those are not believers.” Surah An-Nur (24:47)
“But when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them, at once a party of them turns aside [in refusal].” Surah An-Nur (24:48)
If they are called to accept the ruling of Allah to judge among them, they will refuse, although Allah says:
“But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full] willing submission.” Surah An-Nisa (04:65)
“But if the right is theirs, they come to him in prompt obedience.” Surah An-Nur (24:49)
“Is there disease in their hearts? Or have they doubted? Or do they fear that Allah will be unjust to them or His Messenger? Rather, it is they who are the wrongdoers.” Surah An-Nur (24:50)
These are not the traits of the believers. On the contrary, the believers are those who:
“Make you judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full] willing submission.” Surah An-Nisa (04:65)
The Door of Repentance
Lastly, there is an invitation that Allah has made to the believers who commit sins. He opened for them the door of true repentance, in which one pledges not to go back to committing sins and disobeying Allah:
“O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow on the Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say, ‘Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent.’” Surah At-Tahrim (66:08)
Thus, Allah has opened for us the door of repentance that is greater than the distance between the earth and the sky. He is the One who accepts repentance from His servants and forgives sins:
“And He is the one who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons misdeeds, and He knows what you do.” Surah Ash-Shura (42:25)