111- AND THEY SAID: “NO ONE WILL ENTER THE PARADISE EXCEPT THE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS”, SUCH ARE THEIR HOPES.  SAY: “SHOW US YOUR PROOF IF YOU ARE TRUTHFUL”.

112- CERTAINLY; WHOEVER SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO ALLAH AND DOES GOOD DEEDS, HIS REWARD IS WITH HIS LORD, AND THERE IS NO FEAR UPON THEM, NEITHER WILL THEY BE SADDENED. 

The Jews and Christians claim that they have a very great privilege with Allah the Highest; only they will enter the Paradise.  Each group claims that with them, the message from Allah the Highest came to an end.  Allah the Highest answers their claims:

First: He challenges them to produces a proof if they are truthful.  Saying “IF YOU ARE TRUTHFUL” this implies that they are lying.

Second: Allah the Highest states very briefly the conditions for entry to the Paradise:

1-    The person should submit themselves to God, which is the basis and meaning of Islam, Submission.  This submission, to Allah the Highest, has to involve believing in Him with no partners, this includes not having a son.  This is the basis of True Faith.

2-    To do good deeds.  This involves worshipping Allah the Highest obeying him as if you see him.  The word used is Mohsen which Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, told us what it means when he was asked about the meaning of Ihsan, he said: “To worship Allah as if you see him, for if he you do not see him, he sees you”.  (B:Eman;36 & M:Eman;1 & D:Sonah;16 & T:Eman;4 )

Belief comes before good deeds, for good deeds like charity, kindness etc without belief in Allah the Highest is rewarded in this life, not in the Hereafter.  It stands to reason, than any one who does not believe that there is a God and there is Judgment and reward or punishment, should not expect a reward from the God he did not believe in, in the Paradise he did not believe in?  Allah the Highest said about those: “THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE, THEIR DEEDS ARE LIKE A MIRAGE IN A DRY DESERT, A THIRSTY PERSON WILL THINK IT TO BE WATER, UNTIL HE REACHES IT AND FINDS IT NOTHING, AND FINDS ALLAH THERE TO PAY HIM HIS DUES IN FULL, FOR ALLAH IS SWIFT IN RECKONING”. 

(S: 24 A: 39)

Good deeds, starting with the worship of Allah the Highest, are the real proof of having good faith.

Those who fulfill these conditions will be rewarded by their Lord.  Allah the Highest also describes their state of mind then, and it is a happy one which has no fear.  Allah the Highest also said about them on the Day of Judgment “SOME FACES WILL BE BEAMING * LAUGHING AND REJOICING”.  (S: 80 A: 38-39)

This is beautiful description of the state of such believers who do good deeds when they meet their Lord. 

We ask Allah the Highest to let us be amongst them.  Amen

B: Bukhari  M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi