Here I look at a simple definition of VIRTUE in the Quran; specifically the verse at 2:177.
People get wrapped up in theories and minutia. What is important is faith and good words. This one verse has enough to keep any of us focused and busy with what matters and to attain good in this life and in the life to come.
This life is a test. Hardships draw the ungodly further way from God; and they purify those who believe. Just because you are serving God, doesn't mean that now everything should just be hunky dory. At least, that's not my experience.
We should love God and immerse ourselves in his words. But it is better to hold small portions of his word close to our hearts and apply them every day than it is to memorise huge portions or to be able expound on complicated theories.
At the end of the day, we are going to be judged on our faith and our deeds.
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It is not virtue that you turn your faces towards the east and the west.
But virtue is:
Whoso believes in God
And the Last Day
And the angels
And the law
And the prophets
And gives wealth in spite of love of it to relatives
And the fatherless
And the needy
And the wayfarer
And those who ask
And to manumit slaves
And upholds the duty
And gives the purity
And those who keep their pledge when they pledge
And the patient in affliction and adversity and battle.
These are they who are sincere
And these are those of prudent fear. 2:177
THE QUR'AN: A COMPLETE REVELATION
Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allāh, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakāh; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.
SAHEEH INTERNATIONAL
It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces to the East and the West; but righteous is he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Scripture and the prophets; and giveth wealth, for love of Him, to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask, and to set slaves free; and observeth proper worship and payeth the poor-due. And those who keep their treaty when they make one, and the patient in tribulation and adversity and time of stress. Such are they who are sincere. Such are the Allah-fearing.
M. M. PICKTHALL
Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west. Righteous are those who believe in GOD, the Last Day, the angels, the scripture, and the prophets; and they give the money, cheerfully, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the traveling alien, the beggars, and to free the slaves; and they observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat); and they keep their word whenever they make a promise; and they steadfastly persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and war. These are the truthful; these are the righteous.
RASHAD KHALIFA
True piety does not consist in turning your faces towards the east or the west1 - but truly pious is he who believes in God, and the Last Day; and the angels, and revelation, and the prophets; and spends his substance - however much he himself may cherish it - upon his near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer,3 and the beggars, and for the freeing of human beings from bondage;4 and is constant in prayer, and renders the purifying dues; and [truly pious are] they who keep their promises whenever they promise, and are patient in misfortune and hardship and in time of peril: it is they that have proved themselves true, and it is they, they who are conscious of God
MUHAMMAD ASAD
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