ON THE THRESHOLD OF PARADISE
WHAT is Paradise? There is no mystery about Paradise. It is a scientific fact just like any other accepted fact. In reality, Paradise is a transformation of the earth. As we know, the earth was initially an inchoate, molten mass, and then 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.
Paradise is the natural culmination of creation which at a certain point of time had a definite beginning.
In the same way, in future, conversion shall take place on a far grander scale. At that time, this far from ideal world will change into an ideal world. This in religious terms would be known as Paradise. This instance of conversion is referred to, in the Quran in the following verse:
“When the earth is turned 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 not just a matter of religious belief or dogma. According to the eternal laws of nature, Paradise is a state which is bound to come into existence. A study of the laws governing earthly systems shows that the present world is undergoing a continuous evolutionary process, of which Paradise, logically, is the ultimate phase. Paradise is the natural culmination of a creation which at a certain point in time had a definite beginning.
In comparison to the universe our earth is infinitesimally smaller than a grain of sand.
Astronomical studies show that the Universe is so incredibly vast, and expanding at such a rapid 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. In comparison to the universe our earth is infinitesimally smaller than a grain of sand.
Throughout the universe our earth is a very rare exception, in that it is the only place where exceptional things such as water, vegetation, an atmosphere of air and oxygen are present. If life can prevail on this earth, it is because of the impeccable life support systems that are functioning on it. On earth, there exist all those valuable elements by utilizing 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 of its history to another, is moving on from its initial state of development to progressive higher levels altogether. Many studies in the history of mankind or 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 makes it clear that human civilization is continuously advancing along the path of progress and development. The result of such focused progress and sustainable development will be that which could be called a ‘Spiritual Civilization’, or Paradise.
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; The Industrial Age. It is a matter of common knowledge that these phases of civilization have already taken place. Alvin Toffler, author of the bestseller,”Future Shock” published in 1970, says in his book that the fourth phase or probably the last period of civilization will take place in the near future.
The author calls this fourth phase the Super-Industrial Age, which, when compared to the previous phases will be much more advanced. Therefore, in religious terms, it would be appropriate to consider this fourth phase as a spiritual civilization.
Let us briefly study the different periods of civilization. It was a time when man could only use whatever material was present on the earth in its original form. Of all the materials, stone was the most readily available as well as the most useful. Although many other things existed on earth, this material took pride of place as it was the most widely used so this phase came to be called the Stone Age. As far as early Stone Age Homo sapiens were concerned, they possessed the same natural qualities as the people of the present day. Research has shown that the human brain during the Stone Age civilization was no different from the human brain today. It was only because of a lack of knowledge that man at that time could not utilize his hidden potential.
Research has shown that the human brain during the Stone Age civilization was no different from the human brain today.
Then came the Agricultural period, during which man discovered more and more ways of harnessing nature. This age saw the development of irrigation, ploughing, the rearing and breeding of animals, and the use of iron and carts with wheels. In this way it was possible to lead a better life as compared to that of the previous age.
The Industrial Age began at the point when man moved ahead from animal power and invented mechanical power. Now man converted water into steam power and developed the steam engine. There was a further leap forward when oil was discovered as fuel and used for propulsion. Similarly, modern methods of communication were developed which converted the whole world into a global village.
In the Industrial Age, by using mechanical power, man engaged in new enterprises such as mechanised transportation, the rapid communication of news, and the building of cities along modern lines. In this way, there came into existence a whole new world, both beautiful and meaningful, with a fresh viewpoint on co-operation and education, which was called the industrial civilization.
The fourth phase of civilization is what Alvin Toffler has called the Superindustrial Age. In his view, the most exceptional aspect of this age will be complete automation, i.e. the use of electronics and control systems will be on such a large scale that most jobs will be performed with the absolute minimum of human intervention. In a normal situation a man would, ideally, be able single-handedly to fulfil all of his own personal requirements.
The advent of automation is an advance intimation of the joys of Paradise. Indeed, 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 period of the journey of civilization. Such a world by the law of nature will definitely come into existence in due course. Therein, all types of limitations and disadvantages will be brought to an end; there will be no fear or grief, nor will there be any hurt or pain. All those potentialities which have been apparent to man from the very first day will be fulfilled in the world of Paradise.
Moreover, the human personality will also attain new heights of development. This for man will be the culmination: he will become the perfect man. He will find an eternal life in which old age, accidents, disease and death are absent. This will be the ideal world where man will be in a position to utilize the full potential of his personality, thus experiencing complete fulfillment.
Paradise will be the pinnacle of the evolutionary process of human civilization. Paradise will be the dawning of the perfect and ideal world of which man has always dreamt. On reaching Paradise, man will be eternally free from all sorrows and hardship. Paradise will be the ideal realm of joy, peace and eternal happiness.
It should be borne in mind though that Paradise is not a place of stagnation. In Paradise, man will make new discoveries all the time and this series of discoveries will be unending. For this reason there will be no boredom in Paradise, because boredom prevails only where new discoveries do not take place. To man, a fresh experience is the greatest source of happiness, and in Paradise, the doors of unlimited truth will continue to open every single day. The pure bliss of Paradise will therefore, not be fleeting in nature but truly eternal.
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 different civilizations on earth. In the ancient Stone Age, there lay hidden a developed Agricultural Age, which emerged in due course. Similarly, in the Agricultural Age, the far more developed Industrial Age was hidden, and it also emerged at the proper time. We can, by the same token, 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 period, the earth has been beautified. Its cities have been meticulously planned. Developments in science and technology have made the earth, a far better place to live in. Similarly, with the dawn of the final period — the Spiritual Age — the earth will be further improved and it will then become an ideal world. There are a number of verses in the Quran giving 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 potentially a paradise. Tomorrow this potential will become a reality and then 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. On the earth, nature’s system may be at its best, but the simultaneous presence of 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 when the final phase of civilization approaches, all the bad individuals will be separated from the good.
They will be deprived of all 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 made 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: 29
After the appearance of human beings, the process of civilization set in on the earth. In the first phase man was only able to build a primitive world. But later, he 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.
Now according to this evolutionary process, 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. In this ideal world, all types of limitations will come to an end. By Divine arrangement, justice will prevail in its most perfect form. The wicked will be removed from the earth and only the virtuous will gain entry into this ideal world, where there will be no pollution of any sort. Calamities will cease to occur and all disadvantages such as disease, accidents, old age and death will be eradicated forever.
In the present world, all tasks are performed by hard work. Indeed, hardship and success are inseparable. Such a state of affairs will no longer prevail in paradise, for such refined changes will take place that each activity will be an enjoyable one. 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 special arrangements for human diversion, for there all activities will be a source of entertainment and enjoyment.
The heaven on earth man has been seeking for thousands of years, in response to his natural urges, will be found in a state of perfection. He will find a life of joy, peace and happiness forever in this world. There will be no necessity for physical labour; pleasant intellectual activities will suffice for the achievement of all desired goals.