Page 29 - Paradise: The Believers' Real Home

The State Of The People Of Paradise In This World 27

mit to these difficulties and retain their well-being, happiness,
or joy. These anxieties will not upset their spiritual balance or

adversely affect their perception or determination. In fact,
their enthusiasm will continue to grow, because they know
that they will receive the reward for their patience and sub-
mission in His Presence.
For unbelievers, the situation is just the opposite. Those
who deny the Qur'an suffer spiritual anguish in addition to the
physical pain that they endure in this earthly life. The fear, sor-
row, hopelessness, tension, pessimism, and other negative
feelings that they experience here are just the beginning of the
anguish they will suffer in Hell. Allah describes these people in
the following verse:
When Allah desires to guide someone, He ex-
pands his breast to Islam. When He desires to mis-
guide someone, He makes his breast narrow and
constricted, as if he were climbing up into the sky.
That is how Allah defiles those who do not believe.
(Surat al-An'am, 125)

Allah reveals that He wills to forgive the sins and errors
of those who stand in awe and reverence of His Glory, that
He will reward His faithful and repentant servants with the
finest blessings in this earthly life, and that they will find favor
with Him. As we read in the Qur'an:
Ask your Lord for forgiveness, and then turn to-
ward Him in repentance. He will let you enjoy a
good life until a specified time, and will give His