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GOOD NEWS
In an earlier section, we mentioned that those
sincere believers who give themselves to Allah
will enjoy His blessings in this life before they
enter Paradise. One of the most important blessings
is the promise of good news to believers. Several
verses"speak of Allah's promise of Paradise and
the announcement of this good news to believers
as follows:
Their Lord gives them the
good news of His mercy and good pleasure, and
Gardens where they will enjoy everlasting delight.
(Surat at-Tawba, 21)
There is good news for
them in the life of the world and in the hereafter.
There is no changing the words of Allah. That
is the great victory! (Surah Yunus, 64)
The hearts of those believers who have hope
in this good news trust that their good works
will find favor in Allah's sight, that the blessings
they await are close at hand, and are filled with
contentment.
The Qur'an states that believers will receive
the good news also from angels. Those faithful
servants who sincerely believe in Allah and associate
nothing with Him, who carefully obey the Qur'an's
commands and counsel, and are eager to live according
to its moral teaching, may hope for this joyful
news. Certainly, this news is an indescribable
joy for all believers who ardently desire Paradise.
As we read in the Qur'an:
The angels descend upon
those who say: "Our Lord is Allah," and then go
straight: "Do not fear or grieve, but receive
the glad tiding of Paradise that you have been
promised. We are your protectors in the life of
the world and the hereafter. You will have there
all that your selves could wish for. You will
have there everything that you demand. Hospitality
from the One Who is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
(Surah Fussilat, 30-32)
Allah has also entrusted the prophets with
announcing this good news. In Surat al-Ahzab,
47, Allah commands the Prophet (saas) to proclaim
that believers will receive an immense reward
from Him; In Surah Ya Sin, 11, He reveals him
that "those who obey
the Qur'an and stand in awe of the Most Gracious
will receive pardon and an excellent reward";
and Surat az-Zumar, 17 announces that those
who shun the worship of false gods and turn
toward Allah will have good news. And in Surah
Yunus, 2, Allah tells His Messenger to "give
good news to those who believe, that they are
on a sure footing with their Lord."
When we look at the common characteristics of
the believers, those described in the above verses
as those given the good news of Paradise, we see
that they are sincere people who are extremely
close to Allah, acknowledge their weakness, obey
the Qur'an and the Prophet, and fear Allah.
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