87. To be 'humble towards believers' signifies that a person should never
use his strength against the believers. His native intelligence, shrewdness,
ability, influence, wealth, physical prowess should not be used for the purpose
of either suppressing, persecuting or causing harm to the Muslims. Among themselves,
the Muslims should always find him gentle, merciful, sympathetic and mild tempered.
To be 'firm towards unbelievers', on the contrary, means that by virtue of the
intensity of his faith, the sincerity of his conviction, his strict adherence
to his principles, his strength of character and his insight and perspicacity
born of faith, a man should be firm as a rock in his dealings with the opponents
of Islam, so that they find it impossible to dislodge him. There should be no
doubt in their minds that the believer would rather lay down his life than compromise
his position by yielding to external pressures.
88.In following the religion of God, in implementing His injunctions, in judging things to be either right or wrong according to the criteria of the faith, the believer will be afraid of nothing. He will be impervious to opposition, reproach, denunciation, name-calling and scorn. Even when public opinion happens to be hostile, and his efforts to follow Islam single him out for the scorn of the whole world, the man of faith will still follow the way which he recognizes in his heart to be true.