SPIRIT OF ISLAM AUGUST 2O13

36 Spirit of Islam Issue 8 August 2013 Clearly, only the deeds of a person count before God. Every man and woman will be judged by Him according to this criterion. No self- invented criterion will be accepted in His court. According to the Quran, salvation will not be awarded generally to any group, but on the basis of personal merit. This Quranic verse makes it very clear: The believers, the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabaeans —all those who believe in God and the Last Day and do good deeds—will be rewarded by their Lord. THE QURAN 2: 62 This verse of the Quran refers to four religious groups—the Muslims, the Jews, the Christians and the Sabaeans, and says that none of these groups will be awarded salvation as a whole. Salvation depends on every individual’s deeds. It is notable that in this verse, the Quran brackets Muslims in with other religious groups, denying them any special status. There are many verses that make this point clear. For example, in another verse the Quran says: Paradise is for those who purify their souls. THE QURAN 20: 76 Again, there is no mention of qualifying beliefs, race, or sex. Salvation in the hereafter will be given to those who prove to be deserving candidates for it. The fact is that God created men and women, and then He settled them on this planet and gave them complete freedom. We have different options—good behaviour or bad behaviour, negative responses or positive responses, adopting a disciplined way of life or living in indiscipline and anarchy, following the divine path or going astray. In all these situations, if we follow the right path, we purify our souls and if we deviate from the right path, we pollute ourselves. This is the scheme of things set by God—those who purify their souls will be settled in paradise, and those who pollute their personality will go to the eternal Hellfire. o