Spirit of Islam, Feb 2017

Being God-fearing or righteous means leading a life of restraint or guarding oneself against evil. GLAD TIDINGS From the Quran We have made it (the Quran) easy, in your own language, so that you may convey good news to the righteous. (THE QURAN 19: 97) T HE Quran is a divine book, revealed specifically for the purpose of conveying glad tidings to humankind. This good news is that if man treads the path of good and of 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. 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 it is only for the God-fearing (THE QURAN 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 Godfearing or righteous. Being God-fearing or righteous means leading a life of restraint or guarding oneself against evil. It is, in actual fact, a phenomenon of sensitivity. When someone becomes highly aware of something, then, naturally, he becomes very sensitive about it. Sensitiveness plays the greatest role in human life. One who is not sensitive about something will ignore it, while something about which he is sensitive will become his concern. He will pay his greatest attention to it. The message of the Quran for man is that he should save himself from distraction. He should awaken his consciousness to the extent that obedience to God becomes his sole concern. No other thing should become the object or centre of his sensitivity. Another verse in the Quran states: '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. The soundness of human life depends upon this. In both his words and actions the righteous person fully conforms to the divine laws.