Page 127 - The Truth of the Life of This World

not desire removal from them. (Surat al-Kahf: 108)

The Most Important Favour of Allah: His Good Pleasure
Allah has promised to believers, men and women, gardens under which
rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlast-
ing bliss. But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of Allah: that is the
supreme felicity. (Surat at-Tawbah: 72)

In the preceding pages, we mentioned the glorious favours that Allah
bestows upon man in paradise. It is evident that paradise is a place con-
taining all the joys man can experience through his five senses. However,
the superior quality of paradise is the good pleasure of Allah. For believ-
ers, attaining the good pleasure of Allah becomes a major source of peace
and joy in the hereafter. Furthermore, seeing the favours of Allah and being
grateful to Allah for His benevolence makes them happy. In the Qur'an,
the believers in paradise are described as follows:
...Allah is well pleased with them and they with Allah. That is the great sal-
vation, (the fulfilment of all desires). (Surat al-Ma'idah: 119)
What makes the favours of paradise so precious is the good pleasure of
Allah. The same types of favours may also exist in this world, yet if the
good pleasure of Allah is not involved, believers do not enjoy these
favours. This is a very important issue on which one needs to ponder.
What actually makes a favour precious is something beyond the savour
and pleasure it gives. What really matters, is the fact that Allah has
bestowed that favour.
A believer who has the benefit of such a favour and is grateful to his
Creator derives his main pleasure from knowing that it is the benevolence
of Allah. The satisfaction can be found only from the fact that Allah pro-
tects him, loves him and that his Creator shows His Mercy to him.
Therefore, one's heart only takes pleasure from paradise. He is created to
be a servant of Allah and therefore he takes only pleasure from His benev-
olence.
In brief, paradise is a gift of Allah to His true servants and that is why
it is important to them. Since "they are (but) slaves raised to honour,"
(Surat al-Anbiya: 26) they attain eternal happiness and joy. The words of

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