Self-Sacrifice in the Qur'an's Moral Teachings

Allah reveals a very important truth in the Qur’an: “You will not attain true goodness until you give of what you love.” (Surah Al 'Imran: 92)
Self-sacrifice, one of the basic moral qualities that allows people to attain real goodness, can enable individuals to give up, happily and without a second thought, all that they own, love, and value. When necessary, they will endure every difficulty and exert all of their energy for the sake of their values and loved ones. When faced with choosing between their own advantage and that of their loved ones, they will forego their own benefit and make the greatest physical and emotional sacrifice that they can for their loved ones. However, people are created with negative moral tendencies that direct them toward selfishness and egotism. If one’s lower self is not trained, this selfishness will take control of one’s moral character.
Generally, such people think first - or even exclusively - about themselves. They always want the best of everything and expect to be treated with understanding and kindness. Allah describes the extent of this selfish passion:
Truly man was created headstrong, desperate when bad things happen, begrudging when good things come. (Surat al-Ma‘arij: 19-21)
However, people can overcome their lower self by understanding belief in Allah and practicing the Qur’an’s moral teachings.
This book examines the nature of self-sacrifice from all angles. You will see for yourself that self-sacrifice is a moral virtue that must dominate a believer’s life and that it must be lived in its totality to win Allah’s favor.