And it has also been mentioned as forbidden and blameworthy—such as rejoicing in falsehood, in positions of authority, or in worldly things that distract from the religion—as in His words, “He is indeed exultant and boastful” (Hud 11:10), and in what He said about Qarun: “His people said to him, ‘Do not exult, for Allah does not love those who exult’” (al-Qasas 28:76), and the like.

Thus joy takes its ruling from the object to which it is attached:
• If it is attached to goodness and its fruits, it is praiseworthy.
• Otherwise, it is blameworthy.

Benefit: The term saʿy (striving) appears in many Qurʾanic verses, and what is meant by it is diligence and earnest effort in action, as in His saying, “Whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it as he ought, while he is a believer—such people will have their striving appreciated” (al-Isrāʾ 17:19); His saying, “When the call is made for prayer on the Day of Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah” (al-Jumuʿah 62:9); and His saying, “Indeed, your striving is diverse” (al-Layl 92:4). All such verses carry the meaning of serious concern for righteous deeds—except in passages like, “A man came running from the farthest part of the city” (al-Qasas 28:20) and “A man came from the farthest part of the city, running” (Yā-Sīn 36:20), where the literal sense is physical running, which of course includes the first meaning and more.

Benefit: Allah has commanded truthfulness, praised those who are truthful, and mentioned their reward in many verses. By truthfulness is meant that the servant be true in his creed, true in his character, and true in his speech and action: he brings the truth outwardly and inwardly and affirms the truth brought by any who convey it, as the Exalted says, “The one who brings the truth and those who affirm it—such are the God-fearing” (az-Zumar 39:33).

Since a person of this description is the highest of creation in every state, Allah has promised him the highest and best recompense, saying: “For them there is whatever they wish with their Lord—that is the reward of those who excel, so that Allah may absolve them of the worst of what they did and reward them according to the best of what they used to do” (az-Zumar 39:34–35).