Page 58 - Taking the Qur'an as a Guide

TAKING THE QUR'AN AS A GUIDE

Allah's good pleasure and mercy, and who lead a life in com-
pliance with their conscience, are rewarded with Paradise in
the Hereafter. The Qur'an relates that the Angels of Death will
take the souls of such virtuous people to Paradise in groups in
the following manner:
Gardens of Eden that they enter, with rivers flowing
under them, where they have whatever they desire. That
is how Allah repays those who guard against evil, those
whom the angels take in a virtuous state. They (the an-
gels) say: "Peace be upon you! Enter the Garden for what
you did." (Surat an-Nahl: 31-32)
The Qur'an also conveys the speech of believers, who are
granted a honorable and superior rank in Paradise. They al-
ways exalt Allah in their conversations, which are always
based upon themes of beauty, love, peace, and goodness:
They will say: "Praise be to Allah, Who has removed all
sadness from us. Truly our Lord is Ever-Forgiving, Ever-
Thankful. He Who has lodged us, out of His Favor, in
the Abode of Permanence, where no weariness or fa-
tigue affect us." (Surah Fatir: 34-35)
They will say: "Praise be to Allah, Who has fulfilled His
promise to us and made us the inheritors of this land,
letting us settle in the Garden wherever we want. How
excellent is the wage of those who work!" (Surat az-
Zumar: 74)
They will say: "Beforehand we used to live in fear
among our families. But Allah was gracious to us and
safeguarded us from the punishment of the searing
wind. Beforehand we certainly used to call upon Him,

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