Be not, then, faint of heart, and grieve not: for you are bound to rise high if you are [truly] believers. (3:139) وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Despair not of God’s mercy (39:53) لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّـهِ

The struggle between THE TRUTH (Al-Haq - الحق) and FALSEHOOD (Baatil - باطل) has been going on throughout human history and will continue until eternity. Iqbal expresses this Quranic reality thus:

This perpetual struggle has always existed

Amid Mustafa’s light and Abi Lahab’s fire

To have Iman in Allah is a positive action. In reality, it is a change in mindset. It is this foundation what we call Iman on which the structure of دین (Deen) – the way of Divine life – is erected. It is fountainhead of willpower; it is the goal that determines the destination; it is the kernel of life’s decision making ability. It is the essence of Iman around which life revolves. Everything that is done according to it is a good and virtuous action. Anything that is against it is bad and evil. So, it requires obedience to the divine laws – now contained in the Quran – that takes humanity to the proper destination. This is where Allah’s دین (Deen) wants to take us. This is the path on which are our Prophet’s (PBUH) shining steps to guide us. This is the path that takes us to the correct destination.

The Quran says: وَاللَّـهُ مَعَكُمْ – That Allah is with you. (57:4) Allah is with those who chart their destination of life according to the Quran and proceed fearlessly towards it. In fact, Allah says: He is with you wherever you happen to be.  Since Allah is everywhere so why the emphasis especially in the fight between THE TRUTH (Al-Haq - الحق) and FALSEHOOD (Baatil - باطل)? Because: (47:35) – Be assured that you shall dominate because Allah is with you. Since your caravan is proceeding on the most balanced and straight path – الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ – under the guidance of Allah, so, He is with you. Because you have synchronized your will with the Will of Allah: (47:35) – Rest assured that you shall overcome forces of FALSEHOOD (Baatil - باطل) due to the support and assistance provided by Divine Laws. He shall never reduce the consequences of your efforts. He will never let you down.

The group that has only the material interests as its goal has no higher goal in front of it. The Quran says that this kind of life is a life at the animal level (47:12). This group enjoys material things, indulges in comforts of life, and dies. But the group that has the benefit of humankind in front of it, believes that material things are only a means to achieve a higher goal.

The Quran says (47:36): إِنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ ۚ وَإِن تُؤْمِنُوا وَتَتَّقُوا يُؤْتِكُمْ أُجُورَكُمْ وَلَا يَسْأَلْكُمْ أَمْوَالَكُمْ  – Also remember that your aim should not be gains of this worldly life. You should keep your attention focused on the sublime and permanent values of life. Worldly life and its gains are nothing more than a mere play and passing amusement. If you have firm faith in this reality, and in conflict between worldly gains and any permanent value and you guard the permanent value, then the Divine Law of Requital will grant you full reward for your efforts without asking for anything in return. Also, the Quran demands (47:33). That means it is not a question of believing once but believing at every step of life at every moment.

The Quran addresses the مُؤْمِنِين (Momineen): (47:38) – But some amongst you act miserly when asked to keep their wealth open for the Divine Order. They should know that the one who is miserly in this matter in fact harms none but himself, for Allah is indeed magnificent. Allah does not need you to give Him anything. It is for your own growth and development that you need Him. Should you turn back from your commitment, He will replace you with another nation which will not be like you!

In another place the Quran has mentioned this interchange of nations: (9:38-39) – O مُؤْمِنِين (Momineen)! Sometimes it happens that when you are asked to march forth in the cause of Allah some weak-minded amongst you act as though they are rooted in the earth. They prefer worldly gains to the blessings of the life hereafter although the gains offered by the life of this world are insignificant in comparison to what the life of the hereafter offers. Remember, if you do not march forth Allah will certainly chastise you with a serious chastisement – and He will replace you by another nation. You can do no harm to Allah since He has control over everything.

And the Quran says that this other nation will NOT be like you (9:39). So, the question is: what kind of nation would that be? (5:54) – O مُؤْمِنِين (Momineen)! Beware that if you turn away from Allah’s دین (Deen) (you should not be under the impression that it will cause any harm to Allah, nay – you will in fact harm your own self, because) We will replace you by others who will obey His Laws in preference to everything else in the world; and the result of their obedience will be recompense from Allah. They will act with humility towards each other but will be firm towards their adversaries. They will strive hard in the cause of Allah and will not care about what others say. This is blessing from Allah which He bestows on those who wish to have it according to His Laws for Allah is infinite and All-Knowing.

Allama Iqbal puts it in his own God-given beautiful style thus:

In the struggle of life be strong as steel

In the matter of love become soft as silk

Pass through hills and dales like fast moving seas

If floral gardens come by, be stirred with melodies

Iqbal has essentially explained above the following verse of the Quran: مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّـهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ – Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah and his companions are firm like hard rock in their resolve in dealing with the opponents of truth with, but are kind- hearted and sympathetic amongst themselves. (48:29) They strive hard in the cause of Allah and will not care about what others say (5:54): جَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لَائِمٍ

Striving hard in the struggle between THE TRUTH (Al-Haq - الحق) and FALSEHOOD (Baatil - باطل) for the cause of Allah and being firm in this conviction is a blessing from Allah which He bestows on those who wish to follow the goal set by Allah (5:54): ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّـهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاءُ

The guidance of the Quran is not limited to any particular nation. Allah is (1:2) رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ; His Messenger is (21:107) رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ ; His Book is (12:104) ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ  – and it is for all humankind and for all time until eternity.

Allama Iqbal has described in his book “Javed Namah” the eternal divine message of the Quran. Here is the translation of few of its verses:

Our assembly is deprived of Tauheed, our charge without leader

But the Quran is still there, its message is still there in its pages

It just needs its true message to be brought out loud and clear

The sky has many devotees to get its message out loud and clear

The Quran’s message is eternal and not dependent on nations

Its message is not dependent on any particular place or time

Whether one trusts or not, the Quran is eternally protected by Allah

It is not dependent on any country whether it be Rome or Shaam

If Allah has taken away the Quran from us since we abandoned it

Then He will give it to some other nation who will not be like us

Muslims are engaged in only blind following or mere speculation

When I see them doing this, then my soul and body start trembling

I am afraid of the day when the Quran will be taken away from us

And another nation will benefit from its light leaving us in darkness

And our Prophet (PBUH) will complain to Allah on the Day of Judgment:

And the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) will say: "O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Quran.” (25:30) وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَـٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا