Rewards and Punishments

Cont'd from page 3

We know that this worldly life is transitory but nevertheless it is a stepping stone to the Hereafter. It is the instrument God has given us to make it to Paradise. This life then becomes the testing ground for our performance and our final destiny. 

God has allowed us to seek forgiveness for the wrongs we do. God in His infinite mercy knows that we will do many deeds due to our ignorance and if we earnestly realise them, repent and reform, then God will guide us to do better. As it is, He overlooks many of our sins (42:30, 34; 46:16). 

[2:160] As for those who repent, reform, and proclaim, I redeem them. I am the Redeemer, Most Merciful. [20:82] I am surely Forgiving for those who repent, believe, lead a righteous life, and steadfastly remain guided. But this repentance becomes null and void if we continue to persist in these sins [4:18] Not acceptable is the repentance of those who commit sins until death comes to them, then say, “Now I repent.” Nor is it acceptable from those who die as disbelievers. For these, we have prepared a painful retribution. 

 

Initially, we have the end of the world colloquially known as Doomsday when everyone and everything in this world will perish. God will then raise all up on the Day of Resurrection and the Day of Judgment (39:68-70). Paradise will welcome the righteous while the evil doers will be cast into Hell. The Quran repeatedly informs us of the allegories connected with Heaven and Hell. Both are spelled out in the most graphic terms, be it the everlasting delight of Paradise or the agony and anguish of Hell. All this is done to make us envision even the remotest idea of the joy or the pain. 

The Quran speaks of clothes of green velvet, satin, silver ornaments, drinks spiced with nectar and pure companions (76:21, 76:5, 2:25, 4:57, 4:122). The joy of the Hereafter is only for the righteous [6:32] The life of this world is no more than illusion and vanity, while the abode of the Hereafter is far better for the righteous. Do you not understand?! [12:57] Additionally, the reward in the Hereafter is even better for those who believe and lead a righteous life. 

On the other hand, we have Hell where the sinners and the hypocrites are thrown into to abide forever. Even the world’s most severe prisons have been breached now and again but from Hell there is no escape or reprieve [4:56] Surely, those who disbelieve in our revelations, we will condemn them to the hellfire. Whenever their skins are burnt, we will give them new skins. Thus, they will suffer continuously. GOD is Almighty, Most Wise. 

 

[14:16-17] Awaiting him is Hell, wherein he will drink putrid water. He will gulp it down, though he cannot stand it, as death comes to him from every direction, but he will never die. Awaiting him is a terrible retribution. 

The penalty is levied on those transgressors who buy the life of this world at the expense of the Hereafter (2:86, 3:77). This judgment will be of the highest order unlike earthly justice where a judge could be misinformed or be incompetent, bribed etc. Our smallest virtuous act will be rewarded as God is Omnipresent, Omniscient. [36:54] On that day, no soul will be wronged in the least. You will be paid precisely for whatever you did. 

We have not been created just to live for some years and then get completely obliterated. We have a role to play and our goal is to make it to the Gardens of Eden. We can only make it there if we strictly follow all the prescriptions and prohibitions enshrined in the Quran. 

The Quran seeks to convey to all of us that retribution only befalls those who do wrong actions in this world and that material success of power and wealth is not the real success because though life starts here it certainly does not end here. This beautiful message is not one of hopelessness, doom and pessimism but on the contrary it showcases the true facts equitably and unambiguously. 

Alim