One God
Al-Risala (English), August 1985, p. 3
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
One God
1985 8 August 3 One God (285) Abdullah Ibn Masood has related a saying of the prophet in these words: “One who will have even an iota of pride, will not enter haven.” On being asked what pride consisted of, he explained, “to ignore and reject the truth and look down upon people.” Here is a relevant verse from the Qur’an:
“God will not forgive those who associate other gods with Him; but He will forgive whom He will for other sins. He that associates other gods with Him is guilty of heinous sin.”
There is, in fact, nothing more contrary to the true nature of things than to exalt objects other than God. This is the greatest crime in the eyes of God. Ascribing greatness to oneself is pride and evincing feelings of reverence for other living or dead objects is polytheism. The discovery of God demolishes all other notions of greatness including one’s own.
This world is a testing ground. Here all kinds of people are allowed to stay and partake of the blessings of God. But the world of the hereafter shall be an ideal world. There only those will be given positions of honour who have proved worthy of it in the present period of trial; who were capable of distinguishing the real from the false Leading a life of pride and polytheism is to live on an unrealistic plane. Those who opt for such a life in this world will have rendered themselves unworthy of inhabiting the eternal world. Paradise is for those sublime souls who constantly live in the greatness of God. Hell is for those lowly, debased souls who either bask in their own sense of greatness or who revere some other objects besides God.
