SPIRIT OF ISLAM NOVEMBER 2019

43 Spirit of Islam Issue 83 November 2019 THE WORD OF GOD From The Scriptures The Quran is the book of God. It has been preserved in its entirety since its revelation to the Prophet of Islam between AD 610 and 632. It is a book that brings glad tidings to humankind, along with divine admonition, and stresses the importance of man’s discovery of the Truth on a spiritual and intellectual level. Translated from Arabic and commentary by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan Ta Seen. These are verses from the Quran, a book that makes things clear; it is guidance and good news for the believers who pray regularly and pay obligatory alms and have firm faith in the Hereafter. We have made those who do not believe in the Hereafter feel their actions appear good to them, so they wander blindly: they are the ones who will have the worst of punishment, and in the Hereafter they will be the greatest losers. You have received this Quran from One who is all- Wise, all-Knowing. (27: 1-6) When Truth appears before a man and he accepts it without any reservation, he immediately finds himself on the right path. His life becomes righteous in every respect. But, one who is not prepared to mould himself in accordance with the Truth, is forced to twist reality to suit himself. From this develops an attitude of perverseness which is expressed here as ‘their actions appear beautiful to them’ (zayyanna lahuma‘malahum) . Onewith such an attitude seeks self-made arguments to justify his behaviour. These so-called arguments gradually take hold of his mind in such a way that he believes them to be perfectly correct. In the light of his false reasoning, his misdeeds appear virtuous to him. Those to whom God has made their misdeeds appear beautiful are those who are not serious about the call to accept the Truth. As a result of this thinking, they become completely unmindful of self-reformation. They have to pay a heavy price for this tendency of theirs to consider their wrong as right: the path they tread leads straight to Hell. Tell of Moses who said to his family, ‘I have seen a fire. I will bring you news from there, or a burning brand for you to warm yourselves. ’When he came up to it, a voice called out, ‘Blessed be whoever is