givethemselves 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 asfollows:
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 willfind 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
proclaimthat believers will receive an immense reward from Him; In
Surah Ya Sin, 11, He reveals him that"thosewho 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 asure footing with their Lord."
When we look at the common characteristics ofthe 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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