Obligations to God - Partial Obedience is Unacceptable

Partial Obedience is Unacceptable

It must be clear by now that Islam does not admit partial obedience, but demands complete submission.  Reference has already been made to ayah 208 of Surah al-Baqarah, which asks the believers to enter into the fold of Islam completely.  There is another Qur'anic ayah that brings home this point even more emphatically.  Although this ayah addresses the Jews, it should be borne in mind that God’s principles are not different for the Muslims.  The Qur'an projects the Jews as an example to show that if the Muslims behave in the same manner, their fate shall be no different.  The Qur'an says: 

Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture, and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you, except disgrace in this life? And on the Day of Judgment they shall be consigned to the most grievous torment. For Allah is not unmindful of what you do.  (Al-Baqarah  2:85)

 The Jews stand cursed for their partial and selective obedience to God’s commands, an attitude of hypocrisy and duality of behavior that is unacceptable in Islam.  In contrast, God demands total and exclusive devotion.  The Qur'an emphatically condemns hypocrisy is the following ayah: 

Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth of Hellfire. You will find no help for them. (An-Nisa  4:145) 

Those familiar with the contents of the Qur'an realize that God’s wrath is directed more against the hypocrites than against the unbelievers.  Another profound illustration of this is in the following ayah: 

O believers! Why do you say that which you do not. Most hateful it is with Allah that you do say that which you do not do (As-Saff 61:2-3)

In light of our reasoning thus far, it is easy to appreciate that entering into Islam is not necessarily a bed of roses, particularly in this world.  Perhaps this is why Allama Muhammad Iqbal has said:

When I proclaim that I am a Muslim, I shudder           For I am cognizant of the demands of faith

Source: Obligations to God (Book by Dr Israr Ahmad)