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| | They have been guided to speak good words and guided to the praiseworthy path. (Surat al-Hajj, 24) | |
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In the previous section, we discussed that those who do not comply with the good word will suffer immense regret in the Hereafter, and plead to be among those who had heeded the good word. Those who followed the good word, listened to the reminders given them, and prepared themselves for the Hereafter, on the other hand, will, by the grace of Allah, be purified of their mistakes and errors, and lead a sublime existence for the rest of eternity. Believers, who act in compliance with the admonitions they receive, behave humbly, are God-fearing, and, thereby, act conscientiously throughout their lives, will be brought before Allah's presence with an unblemished heart. Allah gives this good news to the believers in His book, as follows:
Those who shun the worship of false gods and turn towards Allah will have good news. So give good news to My servants.
Those who listen well to what is said and follow the best of it, they are the ones whom Allah has guided, they are the people of intelligence. (Surat az-Zumar, 17-18)
In another verse, Allah gives the good news of a glorious welcome, bestowed upon His servants at the gates of Paradise, on that day, for those who guarded against evil:
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| | And those who have heeded their Lord will be driven to Paradise in companies and when they arrive there, finding its gates open, its custodians will say to them, "Peace be upon you! You have done well so enter it timelessly, for ever." They will say, "Praise be to Allah Who has fulfilled His promise to us and made us the inheritors of this land, letting us settle in Paradise wherever we want. How excellent is the wage of those who work!" (Surat az-Zumar, 73-74) | |
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Also in a hadith, we are reminded of the reward of saying the good word in the words of Allah's Messenger (saas) who said that one of the deeds which will take one to Paradise is "never to utter a word except a good one." (Ibn Kathir)
These are the glorious tidings he who follows the good word can receive in this world: Being a servant with whom Allah is pleased, who will be welcomed by the gracious words of angels at the gates of Paradise, and be worthy of residing there for all eternity, and the many further rewards awaiting in return for his good deeds.
However, the good news given to Muslims does not relate to the afterlife alone. To those who heed Allah, exercise their conscience, and summon people to the morality of the Qur'an, Allah also promises blessings in this world. In fact, great rewards promised to believers are also shown to them when they are still in this world. Those believers who strive to attain a morality worthy of Paradise benefit from the kind of blessings that remind them of greater things in Paradise while they are still in this world. In the following verse, "Anyone who acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, We will give them a good life and We will recompense them according to the best of what they did." (Surat an-Nahl, 97) Allah relates this good news.
Due to their obedience, modesty, humility and submission to Allah, believers are removed from distress, difficulty or anxiety for much of their lives. Allah sends down His serenity over them, and leads them to attain what is best, for they know that every call and reminder is from our Lord.
Unlike the disbelievers, the believers, who adopt the good word in this world, will be greeted with the most gracious words and glad tidings from the angels, their souls will be extracted in a virtuous state, and thus, their life of the Hereafter will begin:
[Those who guard against evil are] those the angels take in a virtuous state. They say, "Peace be upon you! Enter the Garden for what you did." (Surat an-Nahl, 32)
All of the above represent the promises of Allah to His submitting servants. Surely, the infinite life in Paradise will be a great reward, granted by Allah to those who act conscientiously, and follow the good word.
Eternal Life in Paradise
The believers, who throughout their lives expend effort so as to be deserving of Paradise, observe Allah's limits, and adhere to the Qur'an. In Paradise, they will be conferred with countless blessings, such as no eye had ever seen, no ear ever heard. (For further reference, please see, Paradise: The Believers' Real Home by Harun Yahya) For the rest of eternity, they will have whatever they wish:
... They will have whatever they wish for with their Lord... (Surah ash-Shura, 22)
But those who heed their Lord will have Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever: hospitality from Allah. What is with Allah is better for those who are truly good. (Surah Al `Imran, 198)
What is the Garden promised to those who guard against evil like? It has rivers flowing under it and its foodstuffs and cool shade never fail. That is the final fate of those who guard against evil. But the final fate of the disbelievers is the Fire. (Surat ar-Ra`d, 35)
As the verse, "… And Allah's good pleasure is even greater. That is the great victory." (Surat at-Tawba, 72) maintains, the greatest spiritual pleasure enjoyed by believers who will have attained Paradise is Allah's good pleasure. Knowing that Allah is pleased with them, that He loves them, and that they will remain His friend for all eternity, is their greatest happiness. Attainment of Allah's good pleasure is a form of bliss incomparable to that derived from any material reward. Indeed, the fate of those who exhibit moral excellence is related in the Qur'an as follows:
"O self at rest and at peace, return to your Lord, well-pleasing and well-pleased! Enter among My servants! Enter My Garden." (Surat al-Fajr, 27-30)
