ELIGIBILITY FOR PARADISE

ELIGIBILITY FOR PARADISE Towards a Life of Restraint T HE Quran is a divine book revealed specifically for the purpose of conveying 'good news' to the righteous. The good news is that if man treads the path of good and right action in the limited life of this world, he will find a place in eternal Paradise in the life Hereafter. The Quran makes it clear that these glad tidings of Paradise are meant only for the righteous. That is, this good news is for those who adopt a God-oriented or righteous life in this world. Paradise is not to be the destiny of all and sundry, for Paradise is only for the Godfearing (3: 133). It is to be given on a selective basis only to those who are deserving of it. To find a place in the ideal world of Paradise, there is only one condition, and that is being God-fearing, or righteous. Taqwa means leading a life of restraint or guarding oneself against evil. It is, in actual fact, a phenomenon of sensitiveness. When one becomes highly aware of something, then, naturally one becomes very sensitive about it. Sensitiveness plays the greatest role in human life. One who is not sensitive about something will ignore it, whereas if one is sensitive it will become one's concern towards which the greatest attention will be payed. The message of the Quran for man kind is that one should save oneself from distraction. We should awaken our consciousness to the extent that God’s obedience becomes our sole concern. No other thing should become the object or centre of our sensitiveness. There is a verse in the Quran in which it is stated: Do not follow what you do not know; for the ear and the eye and the heart shall be called to account. (17: 36) This verse of the Quran commands us to adopt right thinking. For the soundness of human life depends upon this. In both words and actions, the righteous person fully conforms to the divine laws. According to the Quran, this is in conformity to the creation plan for which man has been created and settled on earth. The earth is no luxury resort; in fact it serves as a testing ground for the purpose of Taqwa means leading a life of restraint or guarding oneself against evil. It is, in actual fact, a phenomenon of sensitiveness.