Man and Paradise

In this world, man finds himself free. However, this freedom is not his by right; it is a test. Man must acknowledge the truth of the One God and surrender to Him—not by compulsion, but by his own choice. This voluntary surrender to the One God is, without doubt, the greatest sacrifice a person can make. Acknowledging the truth of the One God is an act of humility, not only before God but before others as well. Yet, it is this very virtue that will elevate man to the highest position and lead him to the very gates of Paradise. The second critical requirement is to lead a principled life. Generally, a person’s character is shaped by emotions such as anger, revenge, jealousy, hatred, and rivalry. These negative feelings often dominate one’s personality. However, a person must become disciplined in these matters. He should not shape his character based on external influences but rather by his own decisions rooted in higher principles. This is what is known as a divine character. THE BUILDING OF A PARADISIACAL PERSONALITY Man is born with great potential. He must turn this potential into actuality on his own. By facing life’s difficult situations as challenges, man reaches high levels of progress and develops a purified personality. This process makes him deserving of Paradise. The Quran states, “We have created man into a life of toil and trial.” (90:4) The word ‘toil’ here is used in a positive rather than