Actions carry weight only if they are based upon the correct beliefs. As I understand it, in this world we have been sent to be tested if we can be entrusted with the inheritance of the Gardens of Eternity. This is because The Human volunteered for The Trust.
The Quran uses the Arabic term for inheritance for the Gardens promised to the righteous Believers who do Good Deeds. Inheritance implies that we will not be guests but rather owners of those gardens. I think this means we shall have a much larger role and be entrusted with the land we inherit! The inheritance will vary in accordance with the faith and actions of each individual, as indicated in the size of the gardens mentioned in Quran 57:21 and Quran 3:133, and as stated in Quran 8:4. For those who believe and seek forgiveness for their sins, God will grace them with a garden as extensive as heaven [singular] and the earth, while those who also keep their duty to God, the pious, the reward will be greater: as extensive as the heavens [plural] and the earth. The believers will have exalted grades/grades of dignity, forgiveness and honourable sustenance. [Note: The term arabic term translated as heaven implies sky and not paradise; the Quran uses the terms Garden and Fire for the perpetual abode of the Hereafter. Personally, I imagine them with the concept of planets and stars] The last few verses of Quran Chapter 18 inform us: Quran 18:103-108 Say: "Shall we tell you of those who lose most in respect of their deeds?- "Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while they thought that they were acquiring good by their works?" They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their works, nor shall We, on the Day of Judgment, give them any weight. That is their reward, Hell, because they rejected Faith, and took My Signs and My Messengers by way of jest. As to those who believe and work righteous deeds, they have, for their entertainment, the Gardens of Paradise, Wherein they shall dwell (for aye): no change will they wish for from them. See if some of my blogposts are of any help: http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/ http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/ Samiya On Sun, Jan 31, 2016 at 11:41 PM, John Clark <[email protected]> wrote: > On Sun, Jan 31, 2016 Samiya Illias <[email protected]> wrote: > > > >> We believe that the quality of that life depends on the beliefs and >> actions in this life. >> > > > Actions I can understand but why beliefs? Why on earth would an omniscient > being consider > holding an > unshakable > > belief even in > > the face > > of overwhelming > > contrary evidence to be a virtue > and not a vice > ? Give me a good answer to that question and I > > promise I > > will start reading the Quran, although I'll have to learn Arabic first. > > >> > >> Do take the time to study the Quran or Torah or start with any scripture >> you feel more comfortable with. >> > > > Well, I'm comfortable with " > Feynman's > Lectures > on Physics", will that do? > > John K Clark > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Everything List" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
