The Purpose
Cont’d from page 1
In order to be successful in worshiping God alone, and pass the
admission tests to enter God’s Kingdom, we need to choose
our priorities carefully. Throughout the Quran, God reminds us that
our top priority should be righteousness. That we should race towards
righteousness.
[5:48] You shall compete in righteousness.
[3:133] You should eagerly race towards forgiveness
from your Lord and a Paradise whose width encompasses the heavens
and the earth; it awaits the righteous.
[2:148] Each of you chooses the direction to follow;
you shall race towards righteousness. Wherever you may be, GOD will
summon you all. GOD is Omnipotent.
So, the formula for success is righteousness. To do righteous works
is to worship God alone. If we can fulfill these requirements, then
God promises us that He will forgive us, and admit us into His Kingdom
under His protection. God will let us know He is with us. We will
have no doubt about it.
[5:9] GOD promises those who believe and lead a righteous
life forgiveness and a great recompense.
In choosing our priorities, we must be careful not to become preoccupied
with this worldly life. Preoccupation with this life leads to exile
from God. Exile from God means that we are no longer under God’s
protection, so we become victims of Satan’s incompetence,
chaos, and misery.
[7:51] Those who do not take their religion seriously,
and are totally preoccupied with this worldly life, we forget them
on that day, because they spurned our revelations. |
[17:18] Anyone who chooses
this fleeting life as his priority, we will rush to him what we
decide to give him, then we commit him to Gehenna, where he suffers
forever, despised and defeated.
[3:14-15] Adorned for the people are the worldly
pleasures, such as the women, having children, piles upon piles
of gold and silver, trained horses, livestock, and crops. These
are the materials of this world. A far better abode is reserved
at GOD. Say 'let me inform you of a much better deal: for those
who lead a righteous life, reserved at their Lord are gardens with
flowing streams, and pure spouses, and joy in GOD's blessings.'
GOD is Seer of His worshippers.
We are reminded in the Quran that the materials of this world are
nil, and that we attain value at God only through righteousness.
The materials of this world are all that the disbelievers get. We
should not be impressed by their apparent success.
[57:20] Know that this worldly life is no more than
play and games, and boasting among you, and hoarding of money and
children. It is like abundant rain that produces plants and pleases
the disbelievers. But then the plants turn into useless hay, and
are blown away by the wind. In the hereafter there is either severe
retribution, or forgiveness from GOD and approval. This worldly
life is no more than a temporary illusion.
[3:91] Those who disbelieve and die as disbelievers,
an earthful of gold will not be accepted from any of them, even
if such a ransom were possible. They have incurred painful retribution;
they will have no helpers.
[9:85] Do not be impressed by their money or their
children; GOD causes these to be sources of misery for them in this
world, and their souls depart as disbelievers.
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We must never forget that Satan is our
worst enemy.
[35:5-6] O people, GOD's promise is the truth; therefore,
do not be distracted by this lowly life. Do not be diverted from
GOD by mere illusions. The devil is your enemy, so treat him as
an enemy. He only invites his party to be the dwellers of Hell.
So for our own good, let us make the best choice. For our own good
let us make righteous works our priority. For our own good let us
compete in righteousness.
[41:46] Whoever works righteousness, does so for
his own good, and whoever works evil does so to his own detriment.
Your Lord is never unjust towards the people.
Righteousness is God’s only criterion for distinguishing
among the people; and God defines righteousness in 2:177.
[49:13] O people, we created you from the same male
and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you
may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD
is the most righteous. God is Omniscient, Cognizant.
[2:177] Righteousness is not turning your faces towards
the east or west. Righteous are those who believe in GOD, the last
Day, the angels, the scripture, and the prophets; and they give
the money, cheerfully, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy,
the traveling alien, the beggars, and to free the slaves; and they
observe the contact prayers and give the obligatory charity; and
they keep their word whenever they make a promise; and they steadfastly
persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and war. These are
the truthful; these are the righteous.”
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