ON THE THRESHOLD OF PARADISE
Towards a Spiritual Civilization
PARADISE is no mystery. As we know, the earth was initially an inchoate, molten mass. Over time the surface of the earth cooled and became the crust, eventually taking the form of our world as we know it today. In a similar way, another transformation will take place in the future—but to a far greater extent—at that time, our earth will be turned into Paradise.
In this world, many things are brought into existence as a result of conversion. For example, rain results from the conversion of water vapour in the atmosphere into liquid water. A tree represents the conversion of a seed, using the soil’s nutrients. Machines are a conversion of raw materials such as iron and steel into complex mechanisms. The industrial world ensures the conversion of inert materials into socially-useful commodities.
Likewise, in future, a conversion shall take place on a far grander scale, changing this far from ideal world into an ideal one. This in religious terms would be Paradise. This instance of conversion is referred to, in the Quran in the following verse:
When the earth is changed into another earth. (THE QURAN 14: 48)
On our earth, conversion from one form or state into another is a repeated, continuous, known natural process—a normal, everyday occurrence. This being so, believing in Paradise is the same as believing in the continuance of a predictable series of events. It is just like saying that the thousandth product is being delivered from a manufacturing plant that has already produced nine hundred and ninety nine of the same.
Paradise is the natural culmination of creation which
at a certain point of time had a definite beginning
Paradise is not just a matter of religious belief or dogma. According to the eternal laws of nature, Paradise is a state that is bound to come into existence. A study of the laws governing earthly systems shows that the present world is under a continuous evolutionary process, of which Paradise, is the ultimate phase. Paradise is the natural culmination of a creation which at a certain point in time had a definite beginning.
Astronomical studies show that the universe is incredibly vast. It is Spirit of Islam Issue 35 November 2015 29 In comparison to the universe our earth is infinitesimally smaller than a grain of sand. expanding at an accelerating rate, that even with the use of the most powerful telescopes its total dimensions have yet to be accurately estimated. In this immeasurably vast universe, the earth is an extremely tiny planet, a grain of sand.
Across the universe, our earth is a very rare exception, the only place where exceptional things such as water, vegetation, an atmosphere of air and oxygen are present. If life on earth prevails, it is because of these impeccable life support systems that are functioning on it. On earth, there exist all those valuable elements using which man can, if he wills, build a civilization. It is, and has been, the task of humanity to convert this potential into reality.
It is quite evident that civilization, passing continuously from one stage to another, is moving from its initial state of development to progressive higher levels altogether. Many studies of human history and civilization will confirm this fact.
As the Quran puts it:
You will surely move from one stage to another stage. (THE QURAN 84: 19-21)
The evolution of history shows that human civilization is continuously advancing along the path of progress and development. The final result of such focused progress and sustainable development could be called a ‘Spiritual Civilization’, or Paradise.
In comparison to the universe our earth is infinitesimally
smaller than a grain of sand.
The history of civilization shows that it has passed through three major phases, and now all the indications suggest that it is in the fourth and final stage of its journey. The three major phases of civilization are: the Stone Age; the Agricultural Age; and the Industrial Age.
It is a matter of common knowledge that these phases of civilization have already taken place. In his bestseller Future Shock (published in 1970), Alvin Toffler says that the fourth phase, probably the last period of civilization, will take place in the near future. He calls this fourth phase the Super-Industrial Age, a much more advanced civilisation. In religious terms, it would be appropriate to consider this fourth phase as a spiritual civilization.
Let us reflect briefly, on the different periods of civilization. There was a time when man could only use what was present on the earth in its original form. Of all these materials, stone was the most readily available and the most useful. Although other materials existed on earth, stone took pride of place as it was the most widely used, and so this phase came to be called the Stone Age. Early Stone Age Homo Sapiens possessed the same natural qualities as we do today. Research shows that the human brain during the Stone Age civilization was no different from the human brain today. It was only a lack of knowledge that withheld man from utilising all his hidden potentials.
Then came the Agricultural Age, when man discovered more and more ways to harness nature. This age saw the development of irrigation, ploughing, the rearing and breeding of animals, the use of iron and carts with wheels. In this way, it was possible to lead a better life as compared to that in the previous age.
Research has shown that the human brain during the Stone Age
civilization was no different from the human brain today.
By using mechanical power, man engaged in new enterprises such as mechanised transportation, rapid communication of news, and the building of cities along modern lines. In this way, there emerged a whole new world, both beautiful and meaningful, with a fresh viewpoint on co-operation and education. It was called the Industrial Civilization
The fourth phase of civilization is what Alvin Toffler calls the SuperIndustrial Age. The most exceptional aspect of this age would be complete automation, that is, the use of electronics and control systems will be on such a large scale that most jobs will be performed with minimal human intervention. In this age, a man would, ideally, be able to single-handedly fulfil all his personal requirements.
The advent of automation is an advance intimation of the joys of Paradise. Of Paradise, the Quran says:
There you shall find all that your souls desire and all that you can ask for: a rich provision from a Benevolent and Merciful God. (THE QURAN 41: 31)
From the scientific and academic standpoint, the above-mentioned facts make the ideal age of the future—the ‘spiritual civilization’— understandable in terms of being a Super-Industrial age.
This fourth phase of civilization is yet to reach realisation, but it is in this phase that the ideal world—in religious terms, Paradise—will most probably take shape. The present transitional period is a condition which may be called ‘Paradise-in-the-making’.
Paradise is the final journey of civilization. By the laws of nature, such a world will definitely come into existence in due course. Therein, all limitations and disadvantages will come to an end; there will be no fear or grief, nor hurt or pain. All those potentialities which have been integral to man from the beginning of time, will be fulfilled in the world of Paradise.
Human personality will attain new heights of development. This, will be the culmination: he will become the perfect man. He will find eternal life where old age, accidents, disease and death are absent. This will be the ideal world, where man will be in a position to use the full potential of his personality and experience complete fulfilment.
The pure bliss of Paradise will not be
fleeting in nature but truly eternal.
Paradise will be the pinnacle of the evolutionary process of human civilization. It will be the dawning of the perfect and ideal world of which man has always dreamt. Paradise will be the ideal realm of joy, peace and eternal happiness.
Paradise will not be a place of stagnation. In Paradise, man will make unending discoveries. There will be no boredom in Paradise, because boredom prevails only where new discoveries do not take place. Fresh experience is the greatest source of happiness, and in Paradise, the doors of unlimited truth are ever open. The pure bliss of Paradise will not be fleeting in nature but truly eternal.
The making of Paradise is just as possible as the making of the earth and the development of civilizations. In ancient Stone Age lay hidden an Agricultural Age, which emerged in due course. Similarly, in the Agricultural Age, the hidden more developed Industrial Age emerged at the proper time. By the same token, we can say that there lies hidden in this Industrial period a far more developed, refined and spiritual world which will appear in time for all to see. The emergence of this spiritual, or heavenly period is, in practical terms, as much a possibility as that of previous periods of history.
In the Industrial Age, the earth has been beautified. Its cities have been meticulously planned. Developments in science and technology have made the earth a better place to live. Similarly, with the dawn of the final period—the Spiritual Age—the earth will be further improved to become an ideal world. A number of verses in the Quran give clear indications of this. For instance,
Praise be to God, Who has fulfilled His promise to us and bestowed upon us the earth to inherit, so that we may dwell in Paradise wherever we please. (THE QURAN 39: 74)
Paradise is described as being ‘as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who believe in God and his Messengers’. (THE QURAN 57: 21)
The earth will shine with the light of its Lord. (THE QURAN 39: 69) Today our world is potential Paradise. Tomorrow this potential will become a reality, and the earth will become a place of eternal happiness and joy.
By Divine arrangement, in Paradise, justice will
prevail in its most perfect form.
Although on earth there exists nature’s life support system in its perfect form, events have shown that the present state of the earth is not an ideal one. Nature’s system may be at its best, but the presence of both good and evil make it far from ideal. Here, individuals who do good and those who do bad exist alongside each other. The presence of people who misuse their freedom is the source of all kinds of evil. But as the final phase of civilization approaches, the bad individuals will be separated from the good. They will be deprived of the resources of the earth, and the earth will be entrusted solely to the good. This is the truth which has been mentioned in the following verse:
And indeed, We have written in Az-Zabur (Psalms) that My righteous slaves shall inherit the land. (i.e. the land of Paradise) (THE QURAN 21: 105) This statement in the Quran is recorded in detail in the Book of Psalms in the Bible:
The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell in it forever. (PSALMS 37:
The process of civilization set in on the earth once human beings came to exist. In the first phase, man was only able to build a primitive world. He later became more and more successful at constructing a highly developed world. This human success goes hand-in-hand with a continuous evolutionary process. And it is but natural to believe that one more stage is in the offing—that of a perfect world.
The emergence of this spiritual, or heavenly period is
in practical terms as much a possibility
as that of previous periods of history
This evolutionary process indicates the earth is heading towards a superior stage. This will be the last evolutionary stage of the earth, which we can call the perfect world. This ideal world will have no limitations. By Divine arrangement, justice will prevail in its most perfect form. The wicked will be removed and only the virtuous will gain entry into this ideal world, where there will be no pollution of any kind. Calamities will cease to occur, and all disadvantages such as disease, accidents, old age and death will be eradicated forever.
Now, all tasks are performed by hard work. Indeed, hardship and success are inseparable. In Paradise however, such refined changes will take place that each activity will be enjoyable. As it is said in the Quran:
Truly, the dwellers of Paradise that day (the Day of Resurrection) will be busy in joyful activities. (THE QURAN 36: 55)
In Paradise, there will be no need for any human diversion, since all activities will be a source of entertainment and enjoyment. For thousands of years, man has been seeking a heaven on earth. In response to this natural urge, he will find a life of joy, peace and happiness forever in a state of perfection in this world. There will be no necessity for physical labour; pleasant intellectual activities will suffice for the achievement of all desired goals.
The Test of Man
Although many allurements exist in
this world, they are there to put man
to the test. In avoidance of temptation, a
person shows that he is a man of principles.