Quran Pocket Guide

The World is not the Real Aim One can live his life in two ways: one of them is achieving the world by worldly means, and the other is achieving the Hereafter while in this world. Both these opportunities are equally open to all people. It is man’s duty to make a choice. Man has been endowed with excellent physical and intellectual capabilities. Moreover, in the outer world, all types of resources are available in abundance. One who makes either of the above two objectives his target, is instantly supported by all kinds of resources. Patience and Trust “We shall lodge forever those who believe and do good works in the mansions of Paradise beside which rivers flow. How excellent is the reward of those who labour, and who are steadfast and put their trust in their Lord.” (Al-‘Ankabut 29:58-59) According to these verses, Paradise is for those individuals who have two types of moral qualities – patience and trust: these two qualities are the price of Paradise. Without these two qualities no one will be allowed to enter Paradise. The fact is that Paradise has always been for that sublime person who can provide proof in this world that he is possessed of a positive, divine personality. The quality of trust protects a man from being shaken. It gives him a confident, trustful life. The Basis of Truth “And still those who are unjust follow their own desires without having any knowledge. Then who can guide those whom God has let go astray? There shall be none to help them.” (Al-Rum 30:29) This verse tells us that the basis of truth is knowledge and the basis of falsehood is desire. In the present world the sources of guidance are so many that a man who is sincere and a true seeker of truth cannot fail to discover the truth. His own nature, his God-given reason, the signs spread all over the universe and God’s Book are sufficient for the right guidance of a man. The Religion of Nature God’s religion is innate in man’s nature. And the nature of man is synonymous with God’s religion. Hence, neither is the recognition of God’s religion difficult for man nor is his living his life according to it. Despite all this, a man may stray, but then he himself is responsible for it. The fact is that the true religion is one. And it was sent to each prophet in its complete form. That is: turning to one God, fear of one God, worship of one God and being devoted to one God. This is the religion of nature. This religion is eternally embedded in human psychology. All the prophets have taught this religion. But the later generations of their followers divided this religion into many religions. The God-oriented Life Every man has a direction to which he always remains attentive with his entire intellectual and material existence. The believer is the one whose direction has turned totally towards God. The life of faith is the God-oriented life and the life without faith is the non-God-oriented life. The Lesson of the Universe After deep reflection on the mechanism of the world, we come to know that its whole system stands on very wise bases, although it was also possible that it was a random system in which nothing had any certainty. The existence of the more fitting of the two possibilities indicates that its Creator erected this world a result of purposeful planning. And how can that world be purposeless in its final stage which is so purposeful in its initial stage? Every man in this world is free and independent. Observation shows that there are always some of the people who acknowledge the truth of their own free will and make themselves subservient to that truth. On