|
Cont’d from page 1
But we did our job which was to be truthful and not tell them something that’s outside Quran. Now they cannot say, “I didn’t realize it was so bad.”
Truthfulness is a trait of the righteous, and being truthful saves our souls.
[5:119] GOD will proclaim, “This is a day when the truthful will be saved by their truthfulness.” They have deserved gardens with flowing streams. They abide therein forever. GOD is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. This is the greatest triumph.
[33:24] GOD will surely recompense the truthful for their truthfulness, and will punish the hypocrites, if He so wills, or redeem them. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
[49:15] Mu’mens (believers) are those who believe in GOD and His messenger, then attain the status of having no doubt whatsoever, and strive with their money and their lives in the cause of GOD. These are the truthful ones.
[7:159] Among the followers of Moses there are those who guide in accordance with the truth, and the truth renders them righteous.
[9:33] He is the One who sent His messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, and will make it dominate all religions, in spite of the idol worshipers.
[22:62] It is a fact that GOD is the Truth, while the setting up of any idols beside Him constitutes a falsehood, and that GOD is the Most High, the Supreme.
[35:5] 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.
[17:81] Proclaim, “The truth has prevailed, and falsehood has vanished; falsehood will inevitably vanish.”
Righteousness Defined
[2:177] Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the 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 (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat); 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.
What you notice is that after all the traits, God says, “these are the truthful, these are the righteous.” So in other words, the people who believe in God, the last day, do charity, do Salat … these are truthful people. We are striving to be righteous; we must strive to be truthful.
[39:33] As for those who promote the truth, and believe therein, they are the righteous.
* * * * *
Recent forest fires in Arizona saw 19 dead firefighters, by God’s will. These fires were described as some of the fiercest fires battled to date. This reminds one of the retribution of the Hereafter, where people will be confined in columns:
[104:6-8] GOD’s blazing Hellfire. It burns them inside out. They will be confined therein. In extended columns.
Imagine being confined in such a fire, or worse, being blind, blundering through this fire. As you see, 19 firefighters, trained and ready, died, even though it is their JOB, their livelihood. It is what they do, as God willed for them, yet even they couldn’t handle it!
So what makes a person, who is blind/untrained think that he or she can safely walk through this temporary hell without any instruction or guidance?
[51:11] In their blundering, they are totally heedless.
[41:48] The idols they had idolized will disown them, and they will realize that there will be no escape. [3:56] “As for those who disbelieve, I will commit them to painful retribution in this world, and in the Hereafter. They will have no helpers.”
It is like that for most in this world. Their souls are blundering and heedless, not sure when they are going to run into a burning tree, except for the righteous.
[29:33] When our messengers arrived at Lot’s place, they were mistreated, and he was embarrassed by their presence. But they said, “Have no fear, and do not worry. We will save you and your family, except your wife; she is doomed.
Worst of all, is that people don’t perceive, and it’s a surprise when they open their eyes on the Day of Judgement, to see themselves in the middle of such a fire! Eternally! Without God’s guidance, one is left in the fire lost and confused, and shockingly for them, this loss and confusion will last forever.
[51:11-13] In their blundering, they are totally heedless. They question the Day of Judgment. The day they are presented to the fire.
[32:12] If only you could see the guilty when they bow down their heads before their Lord: “Our Lord, now we have seen and we have heard. Send us back and we will be righteous. Now we have attained certainty.”
[39:72] It will be said, “Enter the gates of Hell, wherein you abide forever.” What a miserable destiny for the arrogant.
[39:38] If you ask them, “Who created the heavens and the earth?” they will say, “GOD.” Say, “Why then do you set up idols beside GOD? If GOD willed any adversity for me, can they relieve such an adversity? And if He willed a blessing for me, can they prevent such a blessing?” Say, “GOD is sufficient for me.” In Him the trusters shall trust.
[30:59] GOD thus seals the hearts of those who do not know.