In this regard, people fall into three groups:

Some take a stand only to serve their own desires. They are pleased only with what they are given and angered only by what they are denied. If one of them is given the lawful or unlawful pleasures he desires, his anger disappears and he becomes content. What he formerly regarded as an evil—to be forbidden and punished, and whose perpetrator he condemned and resented—now becomes acceptable to him. He begins doing it himself, sharing in it, helping others engage in it, and opposing anyone who forbids or condemns it. This is prevalent among the children of Adam; one sees and hears countless examples of it.

The reason is that man is deeply unjust and ignorant. Consequently, he does not act justly; indeed, he may be unjust in both situations. One sees people condemning a ruler for his injustice and aggression against his subjects, only for those critics to be won over by some benefit and turn into his supporters. At best, they cease condemning him. Likewise, you see them condemning those who drink wine, commit unlawful sexual intercourse, and listen to music, until the offenders draw one of these critics into joining them or win him over with a share of those pleasures. Then you find that he has become their supporter. Through their condemnation, these people may end up in a worse state than they were in before, or in something less than that or comparable to it.

Others take a stand out of genuine religious devotion, sincerely seeking Allah’s sake and setting matters right through their actions. They remain steadfast in this, even to the point of patiently enduring the harm inflicted on them.

These are those who believe and do righteous deeds, and they belong to the best nation brought forth for mankind: