“Let not the hatred of a people move you to act unjustly. Be just; that is nearer to God-fearingness.” (Al-Ma’ida, 8)

He, the Exalted, also says:

“Fight in the path of Allah those who fight you, but do not overstep the limits; truly Allah does not love the transgressors.” (Al-Baqarah, 190)

He forbade wearing silk, putting on gold rings, drinking from gold and silver vessels, and allowing one’s clothes to hang low below the ankles, along with other forms of wastefulness and swagger in times of ease. He disparaged those who legalize fornication, silk, wine, and musical instruments, and declared that they would be swallowed up by the earth and transformed.

Allah the Exalted says:

“Allah does not love anyone who is arrogant and boastful.” (An-Nisa’, 36)

And about Korah He said:

“His people said to him, ‘Do not exult, for Allah does not love those who exult.’” (Al-Qasas, 76)

These three matters—together with restraining oneself from aggression when driven by desire—form the comprehensive principles of this topic.

A human being is constantly torn between what he loves and desires and what he hates and shuns. He seeks the first out of love and craving and repels the second out of aversion. When he attains what he loves or averts what he hates, he feels happiness and joy; but when the opposite occurs, sorrow befalls him. Therefore he needs patience to avoid transgression when moved by love and desire; patience to avoid transgression when stirred by anger and aversion; patience to avoid excess when rejoicing; and patience to keep from panic when struck by calamity.

Accordingly, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—mentioned two foolish, immoral voices: the voice that leads to aggression in times of joy until a person becomes boastful and vainglorious, and the voice that