The Inheritors of Paradise

The Inheritors of Paradise

1988 4 April 8 The Inheritors of Paradise (327) The next world will be one of eternal honour and bliss, for Paradise is an ideal domain which has been specially designed by God for those who have evinced divine qualities in the course of their earthly lives. Whereas for mankind the present world is one of unmitigated toil and struggle, the next world will be one of unalloyed happiness and joy.

What people often fail to understand is that this present world is simply a testing-ground for the selection of those who are truly fit to inherit the life everlasting. It will be those whose minds and hearts are found to be as noble as the highest mountain peaks and as deep as the fathomless oceans who shall be deemed truly deserving of admission to Paradise. Only they shall pass through its heavenly portals who cause no harm or obstruction to others, moving through their midst with as little disturbance as the gentle breezes passing through a forest; who pursue a silent course through life, never colliding with anything or anyone, just like the stars moving across the firmament in the immutable fixity of their orbits; who show no prejudice towards others, but shine like the sun on friend and foe alike; who are indifferent to worldly fame and prestige, blossoming selflessly like the flowers; who are unfailingly kind and thoughtful towards others, like a river coursing through the land, giving freely of its blessings to those on either bank; who take their spiritual nourishment from the world around them, just as the trees sustain themselves by partaking of the divine gifts of earth, water and air; who are unblemished by pride and arrogance, lasting themselves upon the ground before their Lord like so many voiceless shadows.

God has patterned the functioning of the universe upon the perfection of His own attributes. It is those who measure up to those same flawless ideals who will be adjudged fit to inhabit the perfect world of the Hereafter.

Those who show mercy will be dealt with mercifully

1988 4 April 8 Those who show mercy will be dealt with mercifully (30) “The Merciful One shows mercy to the merciful,” said the Prophet. “Be merciful with those on earth. The One in Heaven will be merciful with you.”

(Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi)