Page 112 - Islam and Buddhism

Islam and Buddhism

against that day in many verses of the Qur'an, including this one

(59:18):
You who believe! Heed God and let each self look to what it has
sent forward for Tomorrow. Heed God. God is aware of what you
do.
Believers who fear God's punishment, serve only Him, obey His

commands absolutely, avoid evil and act in ways that will win our
Lord's pleasure. To be attached to God with strong bonds of love,
fearing Him and heeding His commands and being determined to
serve Him—that is the only way to gain moral superiority that a per-
son should commit to. He would never compromise that goal, even if
it conflicts with his interests. He may have a few fine moral qualities
otherwise, but these will be restricted, short-lived or depend on some
condition.

Buddhism also recommends good deeds, of course, but they
may have no value in the sight of God. What value lies in a person's
doing some good to those around him, if he is ungrateful to God,
denying the existence of the One Who created him from nothing? In
order for his deeds to have any value, they must be done with faith in
God—with a view to gaining His approval, in awe of His glory, obe-

dience, and with awareness of His power. For this reason, believers'
superior moral character does not rest on romanticism. Their worship
is continual and uninterrupted, as God has commanded in the
Qur'an:
God augments those who are guided by giving them greater guid-
ance. In your Lord's sight, right actions that are lasting are better
both in reward and end result (Qur'an, 19: 76).

Everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Him, and the reli-
gion belongs to Him, firmly and for ever. So why do you fear any-
one other than God? (Qur'an, 16: 52)

110