THE WORD OF GOD

THE WORD OF GOD From The Scriptures The Quran is the book of God. It has been preserved in its entirety since its revelation to the Prophet of Islam between CE 610 and 632. It is a book that brings glad tidings to humankind, along with divine admonition, and stresses the importance of man’s discovery of the Truth on a spiritual and intellectual level. Translated from Arabic and commentary by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan —A True Understanding of Death from the Quran— We shall certainly test you with fear and hunger, and loss of property, lives and crops. Give good news to those who endure with fortitude. Those who say, when afflicted with a calamity, ‘We belong to God and to Him we shall return,’ are the ones who will have blessings and mercy from their Lord: it is they who are on the right path! (2:155-156) Every human being is bound to taste death; and you shall receive your rewards in full on the Day of Resurrection. (3: 185) No soul shall die except with God’s permission and at an appointed time. (3:145) No soul knows in what land it will die. Surely, God is all knowing, all aware. (31:34) How can you disbelieve in God when you were dead (lifeless) and He gave you life? He will let you die once more, then bring you back to life again, whereupon you will be returned to Him. (2: 28) He gives life and brings about death, and to Him you shall all return. (10: 56) On the death of a loved one, one goes in a state of prayerfulness, deep thinking and contemplation. The experience reminds him that there is very little time at his disposal and that at any moment death can come calling. However, we are so involved in worldly things that we never stop to think about the day which is fast approaching us. The Prophet Muhammad said, ‘People are asleep, they will wake up only when they die.’ All of a