THE TRIAL OF MAN — Angels and Satan

displeases him. In every such situation, there is a choice between pure truth on the one hand and the demands of egotism and injustice on the other. Man however chooses to ignore the call of truth and becomes an enemy to his brother. Man refuses to accept the truth proclaimed by others because doing so amounts to acknowledging another's superior ideology. This is the real trial of human beings in this world. All such occasions will determine who has adopted the path of angels and who has chosen the path of Satan; who has qualified for eternal paradise and who is deserving of eternal punishment. Whenever such occasions arise one attitude is in conformance with the truth. The other attitude is one that arises from feelings such as stubbornness, hatred, egotism, selfishness and revenge. In the life of a human being, this is a repetition of the same historical case that occurred at the time of the creation of Adam. In such situations God sends His guidance through the Prophet's words as 'O believers submit to the truth'. On the other hand Satan instigates him, desiring that man follows the same egotistic method that he had adopted at the time of Adam's creation. The entirety of human history is the story of this two-sided clash. Everyone — man or woman, rich or poor, ignorant or learned, leader or follower — is standing between these calls from both sides. To some, this struggle arises in the day-to-day issues of life and to some it may occur in the major aspects of life. Some face this trial either with their relative, neighbour, tenant, or a business partner and some may be tested against other communities or nations. Each time there is a conflict between two persons on any issue the situation of this test arises. In such times, that person who adopts the method of submitting to the truth will be the companion of the angels and that person who adopts the method of pride and egotism joins the brotherhood of Satan. For one there is eternal paradise and for the other there is eternal punishment. o