THE WORD OF GOD — From The Scriptures

I gave you the warning beforehand and My word shall not be changed, nor am I unjust to My servants.’ (50: 19-29) A picture of death and Doomsday thereafter has been drawn in these verses. It shows what will happen to those who, finding themselves free in this world, became arrogant. This pictorial description is so terrible as to cause extreme unease in the minds of all living beings. On that Day, We shall ask Hell, ‘Are you now full?’ Hell will answer, ‘Are there any more?’ Paradise will be brought near to the righteous and will no longer be far away. This is what you were promised—this is for everyone who often turned to God and kept Him in mind, who fears the Compassionate One, though He is unseen, and comes to Him with a penitent heart; so enter it in peace. This is the Day of everlasting life. There they shall have all that they desire, and there is even more with Us. (50: 30-35) Who are entitled to the eternal Paradise of God? They are the people who, in this world, went in constant fear of God’s punishment. Those who were afraid before they actually came face to face with their Maker will be the ones who will be safe from fear and grief on that Day, whereas others who knew no fear will be terror-struck. Fear of God creates heavenly attributes in man, while a lack of fear creates the attributes of Hell. How many a generation, far greater in prowess, have We destroyed before them! They searched the entire land: but could they find a refuge? There is truly a reminder in this for whoever has a heart, whoever listens attentively. (50: 36-37) Nations of the world progress and rise until they reach their zenith. But, when they are afflicted by God’s scourge, as a result of their misdeeds, they are reduced to such a condition that they cannot find any place in the world to which they can run away or in which they might take refuge. There are great lessons in these events of history. But lessons can be learnt only by one who is mentally alive so that he may derive their unspoken message from events, or by one in whom the capacity to hear is unimpaired, so that when divine messages are conveyed to him, they go straight to the core of his innermost being unimpeded. o