A SOUL-STIRRING REMINDER
The Final Judgement
WHEN religion becomes part of a national tradition, a new phenomenon comes into existence; ceremonies performed in the name of religion increase, but true religion disappears entirely. This is exactly the case with the Muslims today. The number of people who pray is on the increase, but there are few who really fear God. There is no lack of people who speak on behalf of Islam, but there are few who will remain silent for the sake of their religion. Everyone is sure of his own righteousness, but few acknowledge righteousness in others. There are plenty who are ready to display their piety in public, but few are really pious in private.
Muslims want to see Islam established in the whole world, but no one has time to establish it in the individual self. Everybody has huge reserves of fine words at his disposal, but few have any fine action to offer. Everybody thinks they have the keys to Paradise, but few feel the need to tremble in fear of Hell. Everybody is enthusiastic about Islam when it is embellished with material grandeur, but no one is interested in the Islam which shakes one’s soul and makes one live in awareness of the afterlife. Never before in the midst of such a proliferation of religious activities has there been such spiritual bankruptcy.
Everybody is enthusiastic about Islam when it is embellished with material grandeur, but no one is interested in the Islam which shakes one’s soul and makes one live in awareness of the afterlife.
According to the creation plan of God, in this world of trial every man is free. It is possible to torment one’s neighbour, yet still be acclaimed for one’s piety. One may be struggling for leadership, yet still be hailed as a holy crusader. One may choose to be unjust to those one deals with, yet still be invited to preside over meetings whose aim is to promote peace and justice. One may be forgetful of God in private, yet in public places be considered a representative of the divine cause. One may be totally indifferent to the plight of the oppressed, yet still find a place in the headlines as a friend of the downtrodden. One may only be spouting empty words, yet be given credit for beneficent actions.
A true believer will ponder about the awe-inspiring day when God sits in judgement. No one will be able to be defiant or proud. Those who were loquacious in the world will be rejected by God. Those who were thought of as mighty and powerful in the world will be rendered powerless. Those who feigned piety in the world will be exposed for the impious beings they really were. People may hide behind artificial appearances in this world. They may hide behind seductive words; they may conceal their true nature behind material grandeur and splendour.
But they will be denied these things in the life to come. Everyone will appear in his true garb.
A true believer will ponder about the awe-inspiring day when God sits in judgement.
Those who had been considered worthless and rejected in the world will be raised in value and accepted in God’s sight. Those who had been considered weakest among people will, by the grace of God, be given great importance; it will be according to their testimony that people will be sent either to Heaven or hell. One who realizes the aweinspiring nature of that day will suddenly be reduced to silence; worldly honour will seem to him as meaningless as worldly disgrace.
No facade, however perfect, can conceal man’s true nature from God. But God keeps His superior knowledge hidden in this world and will reveal it only in the Hereafter. The scales of God will be put into place and everyone will be seen for what he is. There is no doubting the coming of that day. No one will be able to postpone it or escape from it.
Wise are they who prepare for that day by placing themselves today on the divine scales of justice; for those who are placed on them tomorrow will be damned.
A strong man is not one who
overwhelms his opponent. A strong
man is one who controls himself when
he becomes angry