Page 39 - Quick Grasp of Faith 2

sincerely and honestly, he may see that he in fact did wrong
in many instances in which he assumed himself to be right.
Perceiving things in this way is an enormous gain to the
believer, because seeing and admitting one's own mistakes
and amending one's wrongdoing is the first step in seeking
the forgiveness of Allah. Otherwise, no matter how right a
person may appear to be in the eyes of people, however
hard he tries to vindicate his soul and avoids attributing any
mistakes to himself, Allah knows the truth. And this truth he
will meet in the Hereafter.
It is a good action in the sight of Allah to reproach one-
self, to admit one's own imperfections and failings and to
turn to Allah in order to eliminate them, rather than to de-
fend one's lower self.

33. How can one avoid being swept away by the
life of this world?

This world is a particular place created by Allah where
man is being tested and is being prepared for the abode of
the Hereafter. Part of this test is that it is made to seem fair
and attractive to man. Some features of this world that are
alluring to people are stated in a Qur'anic verse as follows:
To mankind the love of worldly appetites is painted
in glowing colours: women and children, and
heaped-up mounds of gold and silver, and horses
with fine markings, and livestock and fertile farm-
land. All that is merely the enjoyment of the life of
this world. The best homecoming is in the presence
of Allah. (Surah Al 'Imran: 14)
As stated in the verse, invaluable ornaments, wealth,
profitable commerce, charming and wealthy mates, healthy

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HARUN YAHYA