Page 50 - Seeing Good in All
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                                    SEEING GOOD IN ALL

              punished. For this reason, for everyone who has faith in God
              and the existence of the hereafter, and thus lived a life
              devoted to his Lord, death is a gate through which to pass to
              blissful eternity. But, from the point of view of the ignorant,
              who deny the hereafter and disregard the Day of Judgment,

              death is a gate to eternal torment. For this reason, to them, it
              is difficult to regard death as a good. For Muslims, however,
              it is the beginning of total salvation.
                  The believer's reaction to the death of another believer
              differs clearly from that of the type of morality or attitude of
              the ignorant. Because, death, perceived to be the worst thing
              that could happen to anyone, is, in truth, a good for believers.
              The attitude of the believers' towards death is clearly
              described in the following verse:
                  If you are killed in the Way of God or if you die,
                  forgiveness and mercy from God are better than
                  anything you can acquire. (Surah Al 'Imran: 157)

                  As it is with their lives, the death of the believers also
              brings good. In the sight of God, special degrees await those
              believers who meet death while striving for His cause, for
              martyrdom is an honour and blessing that greatly increases a
              believer's reward in the Hereafter. The death of a believer,
              who makes his sole aim to attain the hereafter, and thus lives
              to earn God's consent, is, thus, a glorious event. Aware of
              these glad tidings given in the Qur'an, believers never grieve
              over the death of another believer who loses his life in God's
              way. On the contrary, seeing the good and blessings of his
              death, they are joyful. Truly, the greatest reward is in gaining
              the pleasure of God and His paradise.
                  Abeliever who had led a long life spent in the service of
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