In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Islam teaches us that this life is temporary. It will someday come to an end for us and an end for humanity altogether, but the Hereafter is eternal. The realities of Paradise and Hellfire will last forever, so our most important goal in this life should be preparing ourselves for the Hereafter by performing good deeds.
The experience of the worldly life is almost nothing compared to the Hereafter. The Prophet gives us the parable of one of us dipping our finger into the sea as compared to the sea itself.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
What is the example of this worldly life in comparison to the Hereafter other than one of you dipping his finger in the sea? Let him see what he brings forth.
When we dip our fingers into the sea, the little bit of water we pull out of it almost nothing compared to the entire sea. In the same way, the temporary experience of this world is practically nothing compared to the Hereafter.
For this reason, the people of Paradise and Hellfire will soon forget whatever pleasures or hardships they experienced in the world.
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
The most privileged people in the world from the people of the Hellfire will come on the Day of Resurrection to be dipped in the Hellfire, then it will be said: O son of Adam, did you see any good? Did you get any blessing? He will say: No, by Allah, my Lord! Then the most miserable people in the world from the people of Paradise will come on the Day of Resurrection to be dipped in the Paradise, then it will be said: O son of Adam, did you see any hardship? Did you have any distress? He will say: No, by Allah, my Lord! I did not once see hardship or distress.
The person who endured the most hardship for the sake of Allah will soon forget all of his pain and suffering after he is dipped into Paradise only for a moment. In contrast, the person who had the most pleasure in the world for the sake of himself will soon forget all of his happiness after he is dipped into Hellfire for only a moment.
The reality is that the Hereafter is the true life and this world is only a means to prepare us for this true life. Allah has told us about the people who will realize on the Day of Resurrection that the Hereafter is the true life, and they will be filled with remorse because they did not perform any good deeds for their eternal life.
How is it that we attain inner peace and tranquility?
It is a process, and a process requires steps. There are many, so this article will hope to help one understand the beginning.
1- Understand the Majesty of Allah
Understand who Allah is, and how great He is.
One who understands the greatness of Allah will find peace knowing that everything else is petty and small.
2- Understand the Reality of this Life
When we know that life is more than just the “bling bling” that we see, we understand that at all times our focus should be forward-thinking. Understanding that the next life is everlasting helps us in keeping our focus and not losing our minds over the affairs of this world.
3- Remembering Allah at all Times Helps us Keep our Focus
Human beings are prone to forgetfulness and the constant remembrance of Allah reminds us of Allah at all times and places. One of the advice of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was:
Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah. (At-Tirmidhi)
Allah says:
In the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. (13:28)
If we are thankful, Allah will give us more and more of everything that we have and even more. He will keep increasing us, and it will also be in the form of our tranquility.
5- Be Content with Allah’s Decree
One of the best roads to tranquility is being content with Allah.
It is in understanding that no matter what happens to us, Allah’s plan is best. When we are content with Allah’s decree, we will work hard, we will do our best but be content with whatever result comes our way.
Allah’s decree is Divine, and not always understandable to us in the here and now. Only when we look back do we understand how Allah’s plan was perfect. Allah’s plan for us is the best for us, and knowing that makes life incredibly peaceful.
May Allah make us people who are tranquil in life, and tranquil in death.
May Allah make us among those who hear this call:
O tranquil soul, return to your Lord, pleased and pleasing to Him. Enter My Garden, Enter my Paradise. (Quran 89:26-30)
(From Discovering Islam’s archive)
Does God Care about us?
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The Most Loving – How God Shows Us Great Love
Allah’s Name Al-Wadud
Using God’s names in our interaction and communication with Him is very important. It was God Himself who chose those names and He has instructed us to use them.
We use them to understand the nature of God, to ponder His majesty, and to call attention to our needs and desires. And we also use them to worship God in the way that He has deemed most suitable.
God, none has the right to be worshiped but Him! To Him belong the Best Names. (Quran 20:8)
Some of God’s names are very familiar to us. We use them often in our prayers and supplications; names such as the Most Merciful, the Most Forgiving and the Most Generous.
In this article, we are going to look at a name that we often overlook, the Most Loving, Al Wadud.
Although not a day goes past that we do not experience manifestations of God’s love for us, we often fail to define the blessings and bounties as love.
One reason might be that the words Al Wadud, the Most Loving, are not found in the Quran as often as many of the other names of God. Al Wadud is mentioned only twice; once in chapter eleven and once in chapter eighty five.
And ask forgiveness from your Lord and turn to Him in repentance, Verily my Lord is Most Merciful, Most Loving. (Quran 11:90)
He is oft Forgiving and full of Loving Kindness. (Quran 85:14)
The Arabic words, Al Wadud means the Affectionate, or the Most Loving. However, it goes beyond what we usually think of as love. It comes from the root word wud which means love through the act of giving. It is the active expression of love rather than the emotion.
God’s Love
God is Al Wadud because He is actively showing us that He loves us through the manifestations of all His names and His attributes. His affection is with us through all of our trials, tribulations, triumphs and blessings. Every day we are surrounded by reminders of our Creator and His love for us.
Prophet Muhammad taught us about some of the ways God shows His love for us that might not be otherwise apparent.
He told us that God declares His love to the angels and that the love does not stay with the angels but descends to earth.
When God loves someone he calls to the angel Gabriel saying, ‘Oh Gabriel, I love so and so, (the name of a person) so love him.’ Then Gabriel will call to the angels in the heavens, ‘God loves so and so, so love him.’ And the angels will love that person and God will place acceptance on earth for that believer. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Hadith Qudsi
Prophet Muhammad explains more about God’s love when he tells us what God explained to him about His love for us.
God said:
And the most beloved thing with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing voluntary prayers and extra deeds apart from what is obligatory, until I love him, (so much so that) I become his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his legs with which he walks; and if he asks Me something, I will surely give (it to) him, and if he seeks refuge with Me I will surely protect him. (Al-Bukhari)
Ponder & Reflect
If we take a break from our busy lives and ponder the miracles we see around us every day, it is easy to see that they are expressions of God’s love. It is in the air we breathe and the food we eat.
Although that sounds clichéd and somewhat trite, if we reflect we will see that without God’s love we would not exist here for even a nanosecond.
When God is Merciful, it is because He loves us; when He is Generous it is because He is demonstrating His affection through His Generosity.
And when He forgives us, which He does over and over again, it is because He loves us. And God in turn loves it when we turn to Him in repentance. It is one way that we can reciprocate His love.
Prophet Muhammad tells us that:
God Almighty stretches out His hand during the night, turning towards the one who did wrong during the day, and stretches out His hand during the day, turning towards the one who did wrong during the night, until the day the sun rises from the place it set. (Muslim)
His Door is Always Open
God makes it easy for us to go to Him and be close to Him. His door is always open and He will continue to demonstrate His love for us no matter how far away we wander. He is Al Wadud, the One who loves and is the source of all love and loving-kindness.
God is the Most Affectionate and the source of all affection. He is also the One who is deserving of all our love and affection.
When we reflect on the love God shows to us, we should try to think of other ways of reciprocating that love. God is not in need of our kindness and affection, He does not need our love but He is also the Most Appreciative and loves it when we demonstrate our love for Him and our love for others.
Remember always that the believer should love for everyone else exactly what he loves for himself, and to that end, love and respect for others is of paramount importance.
Love and respect for God should be part of our everyday routine and going beyond our obligatory deeds will strengthen the bond between us and God.
The following words from God, repeated to us by Prophet Muhammad, give us a very profound definition of the love God has for us.
I am as my servant thinks (expects) of me. I am with him when he mentions Me. If he mentions Me to himself, I mention him to Myself; and if he mentions Me in an assembly, I mention him in an assembly greater than it. If he draws near to Me a hand’s length, I draw near to him an arm’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed. (Al-Bukhari)
Does God love us?
The all mighty God, is the most Merciful and the most Gracious. He put us on this earth NOT to punish us, but rather to test us. He gave us free will and the freedom of making our own choices. However, He does not leave us alone, He helps us in making the right choice by sending us messengers and revelations with guidance so we succeed in this test and enjoy eternal life in paradise.
We find many amazing descriptions of paradise in the Holy Quran and from Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) teachings. Here’s an example:
The Messenger of God (PBUH) said, that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: I have prepared for My pious servants which the eye has seen not, and the ear has heard not and no human heart has ever perceived such bounties leaving aside those about which Allah has informed you. He then recited: “No soul knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.” Quran (32:17)
Islam teaches us that this life is temporary. It will someday come to an end for us and an end for humanity altogether, but the Hereafter is eternal. The realities of Paradise and Hellfire will last forever, so our most important goal in this life should be preparing ourselves for the Hereafter by performing good deeds.
The experience of the worldly life is almost nothing compared to the Hereafter. The Prophet gives us the parable of one of us dipping our finger into the sea as compared to the sea itself. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: What is the example of this worldly life in comparison to the Hereafter other than one of you dipping his finger in the sea? Let him see what he brings forth.
God says in the holy Quran Sura 67 : Ayah 1 -3
Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion, and He is Able to do all things. (1) Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving; (2) Who has created the seven heavens one above another, you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious.
Is this life a punishment for the sin of our father?
God is The Most Just, He clearly says in the Quran that He doesn’t hold anyone accountable for the sins of others.
Quran 41:46
“If someone acts righteously, he does so for the benefit of his own soul, and if someone commits evil, he does so against it. Your Lord is not unjust to His servants.
Quran 39:7
If you disbelieve, then ˹know that˺ Allah is truly not in need of you, nor does He approve of disbelief from His servants. But if you become grateful ˹through faith˺, He will appreciate that from you. No soul burdened with sin will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you of what you used to do. He certainly knows best what is ˹hidden˺ in the heart.
Quran 4:40
“Indeed, Allāh does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom’s weight; while if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward.”
17:15 “Whoever accepts guidance does so for his own good; whoever strays does so at his own peril. No soul will bear another’s burden, nor do We punish until We have sent a messenger.”
If you think GOD is punishing us for the sin of our father Adam, think again! Wouldn’t life be ok if we were to see things just in black and white? God created our eyes capable of seeing things in beautiful vivid colors; We could have survived drinking only water, but yet God has created all sorts of fruits and drinks for us to enjoy; we could have survived eating one kind of food, but God has created all sorts of foods for us to enjoy; We can live eating and drinking without tasting the food, but God created us with tasting and smelling senses, and so on.. Does this sound like punishment to you?
Allah says in the Holy Quran 40:64:
“It is God who has given you the earth for a dwelling place and the heavens for a canopy. He shaped you, formed you well, and provided you with good things. Such is God your Lord, so glory be to Him, the Lord of the Worlds.”
According to Islamic teachings, although human beings can grasp just a small part of reality, they are inclined to make judgments as if they perceive the whole of reality. A story about Moses (18:65-82) illustrates both human impatience and the all-too-human failure in making accurate judgments. In this parable Moses meets a man, known as Khidr in the Islamic tradition, − who has special knowledge that he received from Allah.
Thanks to this knowledge Khidr could see the inner reality of things. Using that knowledge, he commits seemingly evil acts that are aimed at protecting innocent people and increasing their welfare in the long run. Once again, with this parable Muslims are reminded that “of knowledge, mankind have been given only a little.” (17:85)
The Quran not only points out limited human knowledge in relation to the problem of suffering, it relates, as many philosophers do, the suffering in the world to human free will. Although Allah guides and motivates human beings to be moral, just and righteous, He also let them to be free in making their choices, which includes acting immorally and causing suffering.
Part of the suffering in the world, then, is due to the existence of free will. Allah does not want human beings to be righteous because they have no other option. He wants human beings to be righteous because they choose to be. Without free will, human beings would be robot-like creatures. Evil and suffering are the price we pay for the greater blessing of free will.
This is closely related to another theme in the Quran: The existence of free will is crucial and indispensable in Islam because this world is believed to be a test for human beings. Thus, creating robot-like creatures who have no option other than committing moral acts would defeat the purpose.
He who created death and life—to test you—as to which of you is better in conduct. He is the Almighty, the Forgiving. (67:2)
Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you?(2: 214)
These verses also note that the reason behind the existence of suffering stem not only from human evil acts, but also from diseases and natural disasters. Although Allah wants to reward human beings, He wants them to earn this reward through being moral, righteous, grateful and patient in difficult circumstances. In the absence of hardships, staying righteous is not really challenging, and hence it does not act as a key distinguishing factor among human beings.
Growth Through Pain/Suffering
Pain and suffering are not only tools Allah uses to test human beings. They are also agents that provide us the opportunity to grow. This view, known as the “soul-making theodicy,” has been more recently promoted and developed by British philosopher John Hick. According to the soul-making theodicy, this world is not a paradise. We are here to develop our character − our soul − in the best way possible and earn God’s love and His paradise. The Quran makes a similar case about the function of suffering:
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.”. Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. (2:155-157)
Thus, from the Quranic perspective, pain and suffering restore the relationship between Allah and human beings. The bad experiences we go through remind us of our imperfect nature and vulnerability. If human beings were not reminded of their weaknesses, they would not easily feel the need they have for God in their lives.
No! [But] indeed, man transgresses. Because he sees himself self-sufficient. (96:6-7)
It is not only the Quran that states human beings have a tendency to seek shelter in God when they face hardships. In his Future of an Illusion Sigmund Freud argues that human beings created the concept of God because of their fragility and weakness. Although he did not believe in God, Freud understands that hardships make human beings search for a transcendental power.
The role of pain in fostering the right relationship between Allah and His creatures was so crucial that even prophets were reminded of their need to their Lord through pain:
…They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, “When is the help of Allah?” Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near. (2: 214)
Pain and suffering not only restore our relationship with God, they are also helpful in restoring our relations with others who are living in harder conditions. Passing through painful experiences, we start to empathize with those who suffer and get closer to them even though we were unconcerned about them before.
Consider the example of a 1999 earthquake that caused thousands of causalities in Turkey, and a less destructive but still strong earthquake that hit Athens a few months later. Historically, relations between Turkey and Greece have been tense, even to the brink of a war. The earthquakes forced Greek and Turkish NGOs and states to set aside their animosities and organize joint rescue operations.
Eventually, the earthquakes substantively changed the perception of the “other” in a positive way in both countries.
An Absurd World in the Absence of Pain
The existence of suffering in the world might also, ironically, give us an idea of the afterlife. If there were no pain and suffering in the world, or if the biggest pain we witnessed in the world was a mosquito bite, we would not be able to grasp what hell would be like. There are verses in the Quran that seem to support this idea. According to the Quran, when people experience the afterlife, they liken it to their experiences in the world.
And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, “This is what we were provided with before.” And it is given to them in likeness.(2:25)
Finally, as Hick states, a world without pain and suffering would be absurd on many grounds. In such a world working would be meaningless, since no one would experience hunger in a suffering-free world. And in a world without suffering, natural laws would not work properly. Gravity, for instance, would stop working when someone decides to commit suicide by jumping off a cliff. In such a world where natural laws keep changing, science would not be possible.
Does God forgives sins without Blood
Yes indeed, Allah says in the holy Quran:
4:27 – “God intends to redeem you, but those who follow their desires want you to turn away utterly.”
4:147 – What would God accomplish by your punishment, if you have given thanks, and have believed? God is Appreciative and Cognizant.
39:53 – Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says,˺ “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins.1 He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
The Universal Message of All Prophets 
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