Page 207 - An Index to the Qur'an

You have an excellent example in Ibrahim and Every self will taste death. You will be paid your
those with him, when they said to their people, wages in full on the Day of Rising. Anyone who
‘We wash our hands of you and all that you wor- is distanced from the Fire and admitted to the
ship apart from Allah, and we reject you. Garden has triumphed. The life of this world is
Between us and you there will be enmity and ha- just the enjoyment of delusion. (3:185)
tred for ever unless and until you believe in Allah Do you not see those who were told: ‘Hold back
alone.’ Except for Ibrahim’s words to his father: ‘I from fighting but perform prayer and give the
will ask forgiveness for you but I have no power alms’? Then when fighting is prescribed for them,
to help you in any way against Allah.’ ‘Our Lord, a group of them fear people as Allah should be
we have put our trust in You and have repented feared, or even more than that. They say, ‘Our
to You. You are our final destination. ’ (60:4) Lord, why have you prescribed fighting for us? If
It may well be that Allah will restore the love be- only You would give us just a little more time!’
tween you and those of them who are now your Say, ‘The enjoyment of this world is very brief.
enemies. Allah is All-Powerful. Allah is Ever- The hereafter is better for those who guard
Forgiving, Most Merciful. (60:7) against evil. You will not be wronged by so much
You who believe! Be helpers of Allah as ‘Isa son as the smallest speck.’ (4:77)
of Maryam said to the Disciples, ‘Who will be He said, ‘Go down from here as enemies to each
my helpers to Allah?’ The Disciples said, ‘We will other! You will have residence on the earth and
be the helpers of Allah.’ One faction of the tribe enjoyment for a time.’ (7:24)
of Israel believed and the other disbelieved. So But then, when He does rescue them, they be-
We supported those who believed against their come rebellious in the earth without any right to
enemy and they became victorious. (61:14) do so. Mankind, your rebelliousness is only
When you see them, their outward form appeals against yourselves. There is the enjoyment of the
to you, and if they speak you listen to what they life of this world and then you will return to Us
say. But they are like propped-up planks of and We will inform you about what you did.
wood. They imagine every cry to be against (10:23)
them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. There is the enjoyment of this world. Then they
May Allah destroy them! How they are per- will return to Us. Then We will let them taste the
verted! (63:4) terrible punishment because they disbelieved.
You who believe! Some of your wives and chil- (10:70)
dren are an enemy to you, so be wary of them. ‘Ask your Lord for forgiveness and then repent to
But if you pardon and exonerate and forgive, Him. He will let you enjoy a good life until a
Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (64:14) specified time, and will give His favour to all
who merit it. But if you turn your backs, I fear for
ENJOYMENT OF THIS WORLD you the punishment of a Mighty Day.’ (11:3)
But Satan made them slip up by means of it, ex- He sends down water from the sky and river-beds
pelling them from where they were. We said, ‘Go fill up and flow according to their size, and the
down from here as enemies to each other! You floodwater carries with it an increasing layer of
will have residence on the earth and enjoyment scum; a similar kind of scum comes from what
for a time.’ (2:36) you heat up in the fire, when you desire to make
To mankind the love of worldly appetites is jewellery or other things. That is how Allah de-
painted in glowing colours: women and chil- picts the true and the false. As for the scum, it is
dren, and heaped-up mounds of gold and silver, quickly swept away. But as for that which is of
and horses with fine markings, and livestock and use to people, it remains behind in the ground.
fertile farmland. All that is merely the enjoyment That is a metaphor which Allah has made.
of the life of this world. The best homecoming is (13:17)
in the presence of Allah. (3:14) Allah expands provision to anyone He wills and
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