The World and the Hereafter

The Quran is written in Arabic, the language in which it was revealed in Arabia. But as far as its message is concerned it is, in its nature, entirely global and universal. It addresses all the nations of the world rather than any one particular nation. The basic message of the Quran is that God is One. And it is clear that this is not any temporary or local matter. This is such a fact as concerns all human beings. It has been made clear in the Quran that a man does not die and end forever but that after his death he will be brought to life again and made to stand before God for the final reckoning. This is also such a reality as concerns the whole of humanity. Similarly, it has been enjoined in the Quran that we should adopt the path of justice in our dealings with others. This is also such a teaching as relates to all human beings. Moreover, it has been declared in the Quran that all human beings are the children of one and the same parents, i.e., Adam and Eve, and so all human beings are brothers and sisters to each other. If there is any difference, it is not on the basis of race but on degrees of piety. This is also such a teaching as relates to all human beings. Similarly, all the teachings of the Quran enjoy the position of universality. They provide guidance for all human beings from here to eternity. Light and Darkness It is a fact that what can be expected from light cannot be expected from darkness. Similarly, what can be had from shade cannot be had from the sun. The same is true of human beings. Among human beings, some are blind and some are sighted. The sighted recognizes his path immediately. But the blind will forever stray. He will never recognize his path. What is meant by faith is realization. God’s desired faith is that which is achieved as a discovery. Potentially, every man has the ability to have this realization within him. But only those avail of this ability who have the courage to reach their destination by crossing the horizon of realization. At the Time of Dispute The answer to how the believers should live with each other is, in a word, that they should live in the way that brothers live with each other. A religious relationship is in no way superior to a blood relationship. If two believers choose to fight against each other, they should not keep adding fuel to the fire between them but should rather make peace between them as a matter of brotherly feeling. Human Behaviour There are two ways of leading one’s life. One of them is to be serious about reality. One who is sincere about this will necessarily become a responsible person. He will live in a state of concern, as he will fear that if he is deprived of God’s mercy, nothing will await him except eternal punishment. On the contrary, one who is not serious about reality will lead a life of thoughtlessness. He, being negligent of tomorrow’s end, will remain engrossed in today’s interests. Those who tread the right path eventually develop an extremely cautious temperament. They come to abhor accusing others. They prefer remaining silent to voicing disapproval on the basis of mere allegations. Such a temperament is a sign of their having received their share of God’s mercy. The faith they declare with their tongues is actually resonating in their lives. The Spirit of Fasting Fasting was not prescribed only for the followers of last Prophet. Fasting is such a form of worship as has been prescribed in the religion of the earlier prophets also. As it is amply clear from the Quranic verses that fasting has many benefits. The most important of them is that it instils piety, or the fear of God in a man. What is fear of God? It is the feeling that accompanies the belief that everything is the gift of God. When He wills, He will deprive man of His gifts. The fasting of Ramadan is an annual period of training calculated to produce this same feeling. In this month, a man on his own, temporarily abstains from eating and drinking. In this way, overwhelmed by hunger and thirst, he has the experience of how great problem he will have to face if God were to deprive him of food and drink