A Known Provision

One’s actions are the result of one’s own effort, and these states are God’s reward for good deeds. God does not keep His supreme blessings in reserve; he grants them to us here and now. They descend upon us as soon as we show ourselves to be worthy of them. The sublime spiritual experiences which one feels when God accepts some action are an introduction to the heaven that God has promised those who believe in Him, and do good deeds. They are a fragrance of the garden of paradise which one scents in this world. Though they cause one to tremble, they are the greatest joy that one can feel. No worldly enjoyment can be compared to them. This in itself is intuitive proof of the fact that these states are a reflection of that supreme divine gift known as paradise. That is why the Quran says that the paradise which believers will enter in the next world will be for them a “known provision” (Quran, 37:41). It will not be strange to them; it will be something familiar with which they had become acquainted in the world. “God will admit them to the paradise He has made known to them,” or, as the Prophet put it: “The people of paradise will know their dwellings even better than anyone of you knows his dwelling in the world.” More engrossed in the Quran than anything else Whenever Umar sent officials on their duties, he would make them promise that they would not ride on horseback, would not eat white bread, would not wear fine clothes, and would not close their door to the needy. If they disputed any of these points, they were liable to be punished. When he had taken this promise, he would despatch them. He would say to any official he was relieving of his duties: “I did not authorize you to take Muslims’ blood; nor did I give you license to persecute them, attack their honour and appropriate their property. I appointed you to establish prayer and distribute wealth and revenues among them. You were sent to do justice.” Umar also used to tell his officials to remain engrossed in the Quran as much as possible, and be sparing in relating traditions of the Prophet (in case a statement should be attributed to the Prophet which he had not made). “And I am with you,” he would assure them.