Chapter A’raf – Part 20

To Recap: the discussion is going on between the people of paradise and those of hell. The ones in paradise are the ones who do not contradict their reality, are in recognition of their Lord and content with whatever is created. 

Let’s focus on the latter part of the following verse. 

 وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِى صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ وَقَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى هَدَىٰنَا لِهَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِىَ لَوْلَآ أَنْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ ۖ لَقَدْ جَآءَتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَنُودُوٓا۟ أَن تِلْكُمُ ٱلْجَنَّةُ أُورِثْتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

7:43 We will have removed all ill feeling from their hearts. River will flow at their feet, and they will say: “All praise is due to God, who has guided us to this for we would certainly not have found the straight path unless God had guided us. Our Lord’s Messengers brought the Truth. A voice will call out to them, this is the Paradise which you have inherited because of your past deeds.

“Our Lord’s Messengers brought the Truth”: The answers to our human questions cannot be found in the universe but in the message of the prophet. We can confirm the message using the abilities we are endowed with and using the evidence in creation.

“Because of my past deeds”: We may think that I did something in the path of religion so God is rewarding me now. In fact, when we think about it, we have not done anything extra, more than what our reality tells us. For example, when I read a book and get some information from it, did I add anything to the content of the book or did I just benefit from the book. My studying of the book is to benefit me and not to serve the book. Similarly, I am not serving God by doing anything but benefitting for myself by being who I am as a created being. By not adhering to my reality, I have done nothing more than deny the truth, follow false ideas.  From the book example, when I don’t read the book, I don’t benefit and remain ignorant. 

Everything is for me, when I enjoy whatever is created, that is paradise on earth. Why is paradise a reward? The Creator is speaking to us to let us know that if I follow my human nature, the way that I am as a created being, I will be happy in this world. We have the choice to deny being an honorable person, trusting in Him. We are rewarded automatically just because we have not contradicted our capacity and not denied the fact that they are given to us freely by the Creator. When I realize that everything is created through His power, His wisdom, I should take my position not to go against the way I am, against my nature as belonging to an Absolute being. I have to keep my connection to this Absolute being by taking care of my free will now in this world; everything else is taken care of by Him. Paradise in the form of another creation, it is what we need when we don’t contradict the way that we are made. My feelings plead that I need eternal, permanent satisfaction. 

When things don’t go according to my expectations – I have to calm down and work on what my mistakes are, see where I am wrong and correct them. When I look at the world, I see that it is run by a wise Administrator. If I condition myself that everything must be as I want, I may imagine that this would be the best for me – that is according to my self-centered criteria forgetting the purpose of my existence here on earth, which is acknowledging that I am not the Creator. This attitude leads to an unsolvable problem where everything wrong is attributed to the Owner of the universe, criticizing Him. This contradicts the reality that I observe in the universe which demonstrates a wise, conscious Creator. I have to see whether I followed my pure senses or corrupted ones.

For example – hunger is my real sense telling me to look for food. Follow the order operating in the universe and look for food.  If I don’t get it, I have to see the reason why I didn’t get food even though I worked for it. We have to see that the world is full of provision normally– mostly it is because something is wrong in the system established by men. Most of the time, we see plenty of food is created but the distribution may be unjust, division of the food supply is manipulated, certain geographical places are blocked to disrupt the food supply by certain administrations. 

In fact, administrations are necessary but the human unjust decisions, setting of borders are not necessary. Islamic administration cannot have borders as historically in Medina at the prophet’s time, the administration was open to everyone to come in, join the community and work honestly otherwise face punishment as long as they are within the care of the administration. Nowadays, we see corruption in administrations as a result of corrupted human nature. 

Paradise in the next creation – do we deserve it? We have already enjoyed this creation. I have lots of responsibilities in this world. Whatever I am faced with or have to do is out of wisdom that benefits me. For example, praying reminds me of who I am, where I am, what am I expected to do in this world? Who is giving my life right now – I refresh my connection with my Creator. Paradise is deserved not for performing the work but for not denying my reality and living according to why I am created without spoiling my creation. If I didn’t waste or spoil my nature then I deserve another upgraded creation. There must be another creation for those who appreciated this creation and those who misused should also have another type of hellish creation. 

 وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ أَن قَدْ وَجَدْنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقًّۭا فَهَلْ وَجَدتُّم مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمْ حَقًّۭا ۖ قَالُوا۟ نَعَمْ ۚ فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌۢ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن لَّعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ  

7:44 The people of Paradise will cry out to the people of the Fire, “We have found what our Lord promised us to be true”. Have you found what your Lord has promised you to be true?” and they will answer, “Yes”, A voice will proclaim from their midst, “God’s rejection is on the evildoers (Shirk)”

By giving me existence, life in this world, the Creator is telling me that He is an Absolute being. He lets me know to taste creation, appreciate it and thus saying: I can give this pleasure to you permanently. Under the witnessing of the universe, I can say that my Creator must be an Absolute One. I have to understand that anything created in this world is pointing to an Absolute being that must exist. 

I have to take care of my responsibilities. Look at why I may be unhappy with my life and correct myself. If I forget that I am only a created needy being and deny the Creator I would definitely feel unhappy. For some, pleasure can only be until my lifespan here – no hereafter, just temporary. Human spirit seeks security and comfort in this world but would like that to continue. “Have you found the Lord’s promise to be true”? I have found in my experience living in this world that promise. When I am honest in my creation, I will be happy. Otherwise, by misusing my creation will result in my unhappiness. For example, if one misuses, abuses their laptop which is given freely as a gift will not be given another better laptop in the future.

ٱلَّذِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًۭا وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ كَـٰفِرُونَ

7:45 who turn others away from God’s path and try to make it appear crooked, and who refuse to acknowledge the truth of the life to come!”

The order in the universe cannot be the production of matter but matter is subject to the order. So how can matter result in producing the order? For example – What is creating the baby today?  If one says the cells; the cells have no consciousness, no free choice, they are subject to the order. We see that secular interpretation presents the Truth to be crooked, corrupted by attributing the qualities to matter (“Shirk” in the language of the Quran). 

Just like we look for physical solutions to our physical problems, i.e. we look for experts such as doctors, psychologists for mental health, etc. If one is dissatisfied with oneself – go to people that will help you explain the truth of this life, our existence and purpose in this world.