FROM THE SPIRITUAL TREE

principle that if those who are not deserving of the inheritance are present at the time of distribution, some amount should also be given to them as a mercy.’ There is tremendous solace in this verse of the Quran for a true believer. Taking this verse as a point of reference a believer can plead with God: ‘Lord, I am a totally undeserving person. But this verse of Your book shows that Your mercy is so overspreading that it covers even those who are undeserving. Lord, this very mercy of Your’s is a beacon of hope for me. With respect to this very principle established by You, I beseech You, that You grant me a portion of Your mercy in spite of my total ineligibility; that to one as undeserving as me, You grant a place in the Paradise that You have made exclusively for the deserving. I acknowledge that by Your laws of Shariah, I am not deserving of Paradise, but by Your law of mercy, I beseech You grant me entry into Your Paradise.’ o Waste of Time In this world, time is extremely limited. We cannot afford to spend this precious commodity on revenge or retaliation or other such negative pursuits. The price we have to pay for such futile engagement is in terms of our own progress and development coming to a halt. A believer's prayer 'Lord, I acknowledge that by Your laws of Shariah, I am not deserving of Paradise but by Your law of mercy, I beseech You grant me entry into Your Paradise.'