Time well spent? Re:Plato II

Submitted by Nura (United States), Oct 25, 2008 at 01:20

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah's Apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"The first group (of people) who will enter Paradise will be glittering like the moon when it is full. They will not spit or blow their noses or relieve nature. Their utensils will be of gold and their cups of gold and silver. In their censors, the aloe wood will be used, and their sweat will smell like musk. Everyone of them will have no enmity among themselves. Everyone of them shall have two wives. The marrow of the bones of the wives ‘legs will be seen through the flesh because of excessive beauty. They (the people of Paradise) will be neither have differences nor hatred among themselves. HTier hearts will be as one heart, and they will be glorifying Allah in the morning and in the evening."
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"The first batch (of people) who will enter Paradise will be (glittering) like a full moon, and those who will enter next will be glittering like the brightest star. Their hearts will be like the heart of a single man, for they will have two wives, each of whom will be so beautiful, pure and transparent that the marrow of the bones of their legs will be see through the flesh, they will be glorifying Allah in the morning and evening. They will never fall ill, blow their noses or spit. Their utensils will be of gold and silver and their cups will be of gold. The matte used in their censors will be the aloe wood, and their sweat will smell like musk."
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"Paradise and Hellfire disputed together and Hellfire said, ‘In me are the mighty and haughty.' Paradise said, ‘In me are the weak and the poor.' So Allah judged between them (saying), ‘You are Paradise, My mercy. Through you and I show mercy to those I wish. And you are Hellfire, My punishment. Through you I punish those I wish, and it is incumbent upon Me that each of you shall have its full.'"
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim and at-Tirmidhi]

Harithah ibin Wahb (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"May I tell you who the dwellers of Paradise are? (They are) every person who is considered weak and is despised, and who if he takes an oath of reliance upon Allah, will fulfill it. Now may I tell you who the people destined for Hell are? (they are) everyone who is ignorant, impertinent, proud and arrogant."
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The Women of Paradise

"But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that they will have gardens beneath which rivers flow, Every time they are provided with fruits there from they say, ‘Why, this is what we were provided with before,' for they are given things in resemblance. They have therein pure companions, and they abide therein forever."
[Baqarah, 2: 25]

"And (there will be) companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes, likened to well – guarded pearls, a reward for what they used to do."
[Waqi'ah, 56: 22-24]

"And beside them will be chaste women restraining their glances (companions) of equal age."
[Saad, 38: 52]

"In them will be chaste (Maidens) restraining their glances, whom no man or jinn before them has touched."
[Rahman, 55: 56]

"In them will be fair companions, good and beautiful."
[Rahman, 55: 70]

"We have created their companions of special creation and made them virgins, loving by nature and equal in age for the companions of the right hand."
[Waqi'ah, 56: 35-38]

"Companions restrained as to their glances in pavilions."
[Rahman, 55: 72

"Verily, for the righteous there will be attainment of security gardens enclosed and grapevines, companions of equal age and a cup full (to the brim)."
[Naba, 78: 31-34]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"The members if the first group to enter Paradise will have faces as bright as the full moon during the night. The next group will have faces as bright as the shining stars in the sky. Every person will have two wives, and the marrow of their shanks will glimmer beneath the flesh. There will be non without a wife in Paradise."
[Muslim]

After Harithah (radiAllahu anhu) had been martyred by an arrow thrown by an unknown person on the Day (of the battle) of Badr, his mother came to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) she said:
"O Allah's Apostle, you know the position of Harithah in my heart. (how dear he was to her). So if he is in Paradise, I will not weep for him. Otherwise, you will see what I will do."
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, "Are you mad? Is there only one Paradise? There are many Paradises and he is in the highest Paradise of Firdaus"
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) added, "A forenoon journey or an afternoon journey in Allah's cause is better than the whole world and whatever is in it. A place equal to an arrow bow of anyone of you or a place equal to a foot in Paradise is better than the whole world and what ever is in it. If one of the women of Paradise looked at the earth, she would fill whatever is in between them with perfume. The veil of her face is better than the whole world and whatever is in it."
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

The Garments of Paradise

"Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow, they shall be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments therein will be silk. They have been guided in this life to good speech, and they have been guided to the path of Him, the All Praised."
[Hajj, 22: 23-24]

"For them will be gardens of eternity, rivers flowing beneath them. They will be adorned with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, reclining on raised thrones. How good the reward! How beautiful a place of rest!"
[Kahf, 18: 31]

"As for the righteous, (they will be) in a position of security among gardens and springs, dressed in fine silk and in rich brocade, facing each other. And We shall join them to companions with beautiful, big and lustrous eyes."
[Dukhan, 44: 51-54]

"Gardens of eternity that they will enter, they will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls. Their garments will be of silk. They will say, "Praise be to Allah who has removed from us (All) sorrow, for our Lord is indeed oft –forgiving, appreciative out of His bounty. No toil nor sense of weariness shall touch us therein."
[Fatir, 35: 33-35]

"Upon them will be green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade. They will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord will give them a pure drink. ‘Verily, this is a reward for you, and your endeavor has been appreciated."
[Insan, 76: 21-22]

Al-Barah ibn ‘Azib (radiAllahu anhu) said: "Allah's Apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was given a silken garment, and its beauty and delicacy astonished the people. On that, Allah apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘No doubt, the handkerchiefs of Sa'd bin Mu'aadh in Paradise are better than this."
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

The Bracelets of the People of Paradise

"Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow. They shall be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments therein will be silk. They have been guided (in this life) to good speech, and they have been guided to the path of Him, and the All-praised."
[Hajj, 22: 23-24]

"For them will be gardens of eternity, rivers flowing beneath them. They will be adorned with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, reclining on raised thrones. How good the reward! How beautiful a place of rest!"
[Kahf, 18: 31]

"Upon them will be green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade. They will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord will give them a pure drink. ‘Verily, this is a reward for you, and your endeavor has been appreciated.'"
[Insan, 76: 21-22]

"Gardens of eternity they will enter. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls. Their garments will be of silk. They will say, ‘Praise be to Allah who has removed from us, (all) sorrow, for our Lord is indeed oft-forgiving, appreciative, who has settled us in the house of lasting residence out of His bounty. No toil no sense of weariness shall touch us therein."
[Fatir, 35: 33-35]

The Youthful Servants of Paradise

"Around them will circulate eternal youths with goblets, beakers and cups filled from clear and flowing fountains, no after, ache will they there from, nor will they suffer intoxication, and also with fruits, any that they may select; and the flesh of fowls, any that they may desire."
[Waqi'ah, 56: 17-21]

"Around them will circulate (devoted) youths resembling well guarded pearls."
[Tur, 52: 24

"Around them, youths of perpetual (freshness) will serve. If you see them, you will think they are scattered pearls)."
[Insan, 76: 19]

The Activities of the People of Paradise

"Verily, the companions of the Garden are in occupation they enjoy. They and their spouses will be in cool shade, reclining on thrones."
[Ya-Sin, 36: 55-56]

"Then those who have believed and worked righteous deeds will be in a garden (of happiness), honored."
[Rum, 30: 15]

"(They will be) facing each other on thrones. Passed around to them will be a cup from a clear, flowing fountain, crystal, white, of a taste so delicious to those who drink from it. It is free from headiness, and they will not suffer intoxication from it. Beside them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes of wonder and beauty, as if they were delicate eggs, closely guarded."
[Safat, 37: 44-49]

"But on this day the believers will laugh at the unbelievers. On thrones they will command a sight of all things. Are the unbelievers not rewarded (finally) for what they used to do?"
[Mutaffifeen, 83: 34-36]

"They will say, ‘Praise be to Allah, who has truly fulfilled His promise to us and has made us inherit the earth. We can dwell in the garden where we will. How excellent a reward for those who work (righteousness)!"
[Zumar, 39: 74]

"They will advance to each other, engaging in mutual enquiry. They will say, ‘We used to be fearful of Allah and His punishment among our people. But Allah has been good to us and has delivered us from the penalty of the scorching wind. Truly, we used to call upon Him before. Truly, it is He who is the Beneficent, the Merciful."
[Tur, 52: 25-28]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"The (members of the ) first group that will be admitted to Paradise will have their faces as bright as a full moon during the night. They will neither spit nor suffer anything. They will have their utensils and their combs made of gold and silver, and the fuel of their braziers will be aloes, and their sweat will be musk and everyone of them will have two spouses (so beautiful) that the marrow of their shanks will be visible through the flesh. There will be no dissension among them and no enmity in their hearts. Their hearts will be like one heart, glorifying Allah morning and evening."
[Muslim]

The Ranks of Paradise

"Those who believe, emigrate and strive with might and main in Allah's cause with their wealth and their persons have the highest rank in the sigh of Allah. They are the ones who will achieve (salvation). Their Lord gives them glad tidings of a mercy from Himself and good pleasure and of gardens for them wherein is lasting enjoyment. They will dwell therein forever. Verily, with Allah is a great reward."
[Tawbah, 9: 20-22]

"Look how We have bestowed more on some than on others. But verily in the hereafter is greater difference in rank and preference."
[Isra', 17: 21]

"O you who believe! When you are told to make room in assemblies, (spread out and) make room. (Ample) room will Allah provide for you. And when you are told to rise up, rise up. Allah will raise those of you who believe and who have been granted knowledge in rank. Allah is well – acquainted with all you do."
[Mujadilah, 58: 11]

"Verily, he who comes to his Lord as a criminal (at judgment), for him is Hell, wherein he shall neither die nor live. But he who comes to Him as a believer who has worked righteous deeds, for them are ranks exalted gardens of eternity, beneath which flow rivers, dwelling therein forever. Such is the reward of those who purify themselves (from evil)."
[Ta-Ha, 20: 74-76]

It is narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"Whoever believes in Allah and His Apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), offers prayer perfectly and fasts the month of Ramadan will rightfully be granted Paradise by Allah, no matter whether he fights in Allah's cause or remains in the land where he is born."
The people said, "Oh Allah's Apostle! Shall we acquaint the people with this good news?" He said, "Paradise has one hundred grades which Allah has reserved for the mujaahidoon who fight in His cause, and the distance between each of two grades is like the distance between the Heaven and the earth. So when you ask Allah (for something), ask for al-Firdaws which is the best and highest part of Paradise." (the subnarrator added, "I think the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) also said ‘Above it (alfirdaus) is the throne of the beneficent (Allah), and from its originate the rivers of Paradise."
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Sahl bin Sa'd (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"The people of Paradise will look to the upper apartment of Paradise in the same way as you see the planets in the sky."
[Muslim]

Abu Sa'eed al Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"The people of Paradise will look at the dwellers of the lofty mansions (a superior place in Paradise) in the same way as one looks at a brilliant star far away in the East or in the West on the horizon. That is because of their superiority over one another (in rewards)." Because of that, the people said, "Oh Allah's Apostle! Are these lofty mansions the prophets mansions which nobody else can reach?"
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) replied, "By Allah, in whose hands my life is, some men who believe in Allah and trust His Apostles will be able to reach them."
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Anas bin Malik (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Umm Ar-Ruba'i bint Al-Barah (radiAllahu anha) the mother of Harithah ibin Suraqah (radiAllahu anhu) came to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) and said:
"Oh Allah's Prophet! Will you tell me about Harithah?" Harithah had been killed (martyred) on the day of Badr with an arrow by an unidentified person. She added, "If he is in Paradise, I will weep bitterly for him." He said, "Oh mother of Harithah! There are gardens in Paradise, and your son got the Firdaus at A'la (the best place in Paradise)."
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

The Lowest Rank in Paradise

Abdullah (radiAllahu anhu) said: "The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
‘I know the person who will be the last to come out of the Hellfire and the last to enter Paradise. He will be a man who will come out of the Hellfire crawling, and Allah will say to him, ‘Go and enter Paradise." He will go to it, but will imagine that it has been filled, and then he will re turn and say, "Oh Lord, I have found it full." Allah will say, "Go and enter Paradise, and you will have what equals the world and ten times as much (you will have as much as ten times the like of the world)." On that, the man will say, "Do you mock at me (laugh at me) though You are the King?" I saw Allah's Apostle (SAW) (while saying that) smiling that his premolar teeth became visible. It is said that will be the lowest degree among the people of Paradise."
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) said: "Some people said, ‘O Allah's Apostle! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?' He said,
‘Do you crowd and squeeze each other on looking at the sun when it is not hidden by clouds?' They replied, ‘No, Allah's Apostle'. He said, ‘Do you crowd and squeeze each other on looking at the moon when it is full and not hidden by clouds?' They replied, No', Allah's Apostle'.
He said, ‘So you will see Him (your Lord) on the Day of Resurrection similarly. Allah will gather all the people and say, ‘Whoever used to worship anything should follow that thing.' So he who used to worship the sun, will follow it; and he who used to worship the moon will follow it and he who used to worship false deities will follow them. And then only this nation (Muslims) will remain, including their hypocrites. Allah will come to them in a shape other than they know and will say, "I am your Lord." They will say, "We seek refuge from you. This is our place (we will not follow you) till our Lord comes to us, and when our Lord comes to us, we will recognize Him." Then Allah will come to them in a shape they know and will say, "I am your Lord," They will say, "(No doubt) You are our Lord." And they will follow Him. Then a bridge will be laid over the Hellfire." And Allah's Apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) added, ‘I will be the first to cross it.

The invocation of the apostles on that day will be, ‘Allahumma sallim, sallim! (O Allah save us, save us!)' Over that bridge will be hooks similar to the thorns of as'sa'daan (a thorny tree). Didn't you see the thorns of as' sa'daan?' The companions said, ‘Yes, Oh Allah's Apostle.' He added, ‘So the hooks over that bridge will be like the thorns of as'-sa'daan, except that their greatness in size is only known to Allah. These hooks will snatch the people according to their deeds. Some people will be ruined because of their evil deeds, and some will be cut into pieces and fall down in Hell, but will be saved afterwards when Allah finished the judgments among His slaves and intends to take out of the Fire whoever He wishes to take out from among those who used to testify that none had the right to be worshipped but Allah.

He will order the angels to take them out. The angels will know them by the mark of the traces of prostration (on their foreheads), for Allah banned the Fire to consume the traces of prostration on the body of Adam's son. So they will take them out, and by then they will have been burnt (as coal). Then water, called maa'ul hayat (water of life) will be poured on them, and they will spring out like a seed springs out on the bank of a rainwater stream. There will remain one man who will be facing the Hellfire and will say, "OH Lord! Its (Hell) vapor has poisoned and smoked me, and its flame has burnt me. Please turn my face away from the Fire." He will keep on invoking Allah till Allah says, "Perhaps if I give you (what you want), you will ask for another thing?" The man will say, "No, by Your power, I will not ask You for anything else."
Then Allah will turn his face away from the Fire. The man will say after that, "Oh Lord, bring me near the gate of Paradise." Allah will say to him, "Didn't you promise not to ask for anything else? Woe to you, oh son of Adam! How treacherous you are!" The man will keep invoking Allah till Allah will say, "But if I give you that, you may ask me for something else." The man will say, "No, by Your power, I will not ask for anything else." He will give Allah his covenant and promise not to ask for anything else after that. So Allah will bring him near to the gate of Paradise. When he sees what is in it, he will remain silent as long as Allah wills, and then he will say, "Oh Lord! Let me enter Paradise." Allah will say, "Didn't you promise that you would not ask ME for anything other than that? Woe to you, oh son of Adam! How treacherous you are!" On that, the man will say, "Oh Lord! Do not make me the most wretched of Your creation," and will keep on invoking Allah till Allah will smile. When Allah smiles because of him, then HE will allow him to enter Paradise. When he enters Paradise, he will be addressed, "Wish from so and so" He will wish until all his wishes are fulfilled. Then Allah will say, "All this (what you have wished for) and as much again therewith are for you." Abu Hurairah (RA) added, ‘That man will be the last of the people of Paradise to enter Paradise."

'Ata (radiAllahu anhu) narrated while Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reporting: "Abu Sa'eed (RA) was sitting in the company of Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) and he did not deny anything of his narration till he reached his saying, ‘All this and as much again therewith are for you."
Then Abu Sa'eed (radiAllahu anhu) said, ‘I heard Allah's Apostle say, "This is for you and ten times as much." Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) said, "In my memory it is as much again therewith."
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Everlasting Life in Paradise

"But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the Garden, abiding in it eternally."
[surah al-Baqarah, 2: 82]

"There, no sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shall they ever be evicted."
[Hijr, 15: 48]

"They will not taste death therein, except the first death, and He will preserve them from the penalty of the blazing Fire. (It will be) a bounty from your Lord. That will be the supreme achievement!"
[Dukhan, 44: 56-57]

"As for those who believe and work righteous deeds, they will have the gardens of Paradise as hospitality. Eternally therein, they will not desire any other place."
[Kahf, 18: 107-108]

"Their Lord gives them glad tidings of a mercy from Himself and good pleasure and of gardens for them wherein is lasting enjoyment."
[Tawbah, 9: 21]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah's Apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"He who gets into Paradise (will be made to enjoy such and everlasting) bliss that he will neither become destitute nor will his clothes wear out nor will his youthfulness decline."
[Muslim]

Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) and Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) both narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"There will be an announcer (in Paradise) who will make this announcement, ‘Verily, there is in store for you (everlasting) health. You will never fall ill, and you will live (forever) and never die. You will reamin young and never become destitute.' (This is explained in) the words of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, ‘And it will be announced to them, "This is the Paradise you have been made to inherit for what you used to do.""
[Muslim, Quranic quote is from Al-A'raf, 7: 43]

Abu Sa'eed (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"Death will be brought on the Day of Resurrection in the form of a white – colored ram." Abu Juraib made the addition, "Then it will be made to stand between Paradise and Hell." (So far the rest of the hadeeth is concerned, there is perfect agreement between the two narrators.) "It will be said to the people of Paradise. ‘Do you recognize this? They will raise up their necks, look towards it and say, ‘Yes, it is death' Then a command will be given to slaughter it, and it will be said, "Oh people of Paradise, there is everlasting life for you and no death, Then (Addressing) the people of Hellfire, it is will be said, "Oh people of Hellfire! There is everlasting life for you and no death." Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) then recited the following verse pointing with his hand to this material world. "Warn them of the day of regret, when their affairs will be decided. They are unmindful, and they do not believe!"
[Muslim, Surah Maryam 19: 39]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"It will be said to the people of Paradise. ‘Oh people of Paradise, eternity for you and no death!' To the people of the Fire (It will be said), "Oh people of the fire, eternity for you and no death!'"
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

The Greatest Thing in Paradise

"Say, ‘Shall I bring your attention to things far better than those? For the righteous are gardens in nearness to their Lord, with rivers flowing beneath, eternal therein, with pure companions and the good pleasure of Allah. For within Allah's sight are all His servants – especially those who say, "Our Lord, we have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the agony of the Fire." Those who are patient, are truthful, who worship devoutly, who spend in the way of Allah and who prays for forgiveness in the pre-dawn hours.'"
[ali'-Imran, 3: 15-17]

"Allah has promised to believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein eternally and good homes in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the pleasure of Allah is greatest. That is the supreme triumph."
[Tawbah, 9: 72]

"Those who believe, emigrate and strive with mighty and main in Allah's cause with their wealth and their persons' have the highest rank in the weight of Allah. They are the ones who will achieve salvation. Their Lord gives them glad tidings of a mercy from Himself and good pleasure and of gardens for them wherein is lasting enjoyment. They will dwell therein forever. Verily, with Allah is a great reward."
[Tawbah, 9: 20-22]

"Their salutation on the day they meet Him will be ‘Peace!; and He has prepared for them a generous reward."
[Ahzab, 33: 44]

"Peace!' a word of salutation from a Lord most Merciful!"
Ya-Sin, 36: 58]

"Some faces that day, will beam in happiness, looking at their Lord."
[Qiyamah, 75: 22-23]
(This ayah is used as proof by ahl us-Sunnah that the people of Paradise will actually see their Creator).

Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"Allah will say to the inhabitants of Paradise, ‘Oh inhabitants of Paradise! They will say, Oh our Lord, we present ourselves and are at Your pleasure, and good ness rests in Your hands.' Then He will say, ‘Are you contented?' They will reply, ‘And how should we not be contented, oh Lord, when You have given to us that which You have given to no one else of Your creation?' Then He will say, ‘Would you not like Me to give you something better than that?' They will answer, ‘Oh Lord and what thing is better than that?' He will say, "shall cause My favor to descend upon you and there you shall never be displeased with you.'"
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim and at-Tirmidhi]

Among the greatness of the hereafter is that in Paradise, Believers will not remember the evil that they suffered on earth. Which brings a philosophical question: If suffering is not remembered then is it suffering?

There is a Hadith that a man who was greatly oppressed in life, but persevered. He looked at heaven and Allah asked him if he ever knew any evil in his previous life, and the man will answer that he never knew anything evil.

This Hadith proves that the reward of heaven is so great that once a believer looks at it, all of the sufferings of the previous life will be forgotten.

Pain of suffering can only exist within the memory of the event. I could be set ablaze. I would feel the burning my flesh at the time of the event, however, what if I did not remember the fire. Would it still hurt? How can it hurt if I don't remember and my body shows no signs of burning?

This is the likeness of this world. The suffering for the believer becomes non-existent when compared to the bliss of the hereafter.

If I remained hidden while he suffered, as Allah does, and then claims through some intermediaries of doubtful provenance, that I the one taking care of him I would understand if my son turned away from me and worshipped a picture of a statue as his saviour.

You act as if Allah created man and just left him without any guidance. There has been many prophets and books that has conveyed the message of Allah, his warnings, his promises, his love for the believers. We cannot seem him in this life, but the believer is promised to see him the hereafter.

If My servants ask you about Me, I am near. I answer the call of the caller when he calls on Me.

They should therefore respond to Me and believe in Me so that hopefully they will be rightly guided.
(Surat al-Baqara: 186)

Furthermore, if we did see him in this life, there would be no purpose of our creation which is the triumph of believing in him unseen. His knowledge, his signs, his creation, his sciences, his messengers, and his books are with us. What more do we need to believe? You believe in love? Do you see it? Can you measure it? How then do you know it exist? Is there anyone who would dispute the existence of love? No… so then why dispute in the existence of Allah solely because you cannot see him?

The believers love him and feel happiness in remembering him. Believers testify his existence.

Allah the Supreme is surely more than the father in your example. He claims to be all powerful and full of mercy. Yet He created physical and mental diseases to torture mankind, he created famines, floods, tsunamis and pitted one nation against another causing the death of millions. Should I thank Him and why?? I would rather thank a harmless idol which I know is incapable of doing me any harm unlike the so-merciful Allah who I know and have observed does enormous harm to the world which He claims to have created.

You sound as if you believe in Allah, but are angry with him in this statement. Does it make more sense that all the tragedies that you have mentioned are for no cause? They mean nothing but a cruel existence of the survival of the fittest? You would like to believe that suffering is for nothing? This is a depressing thought. Suffering and adversity must have meaning or what would prevent man from destroying himself. Perhaps this is why the suicide rate is so high in your country. No perceived meaning to life.

You should thank him for your senses which are priceless. How much would the blind pay for eyesight? For those who have no sight should thank Allah for hearing, how much would the deaf pay for hearing? For those who cannot not hear or see, should thank Allah for their hearts which beats for a lifetime unaided, and in which they will feel love for their families, there is not greater joy than love. Those who may have never known love should thank Allah for their existence; there existence is proof that they were a thought from the All mighty. Their soul was specially formed by the All mighty. They are promised loved by the almighty for loving him. This is why the thought of Allah eases souls of distressed. There are endless things to thank Allah for if you were intelligent.

He never sent me any letters. An illiterate Arabian claimed Allah had messaged him through a winged being no one except he could see. You expect men to believe this man?

All your life he has called to you and you reject him. He calls to you now and you reject him. You will see mountains of "return to sender" letters on the Day of Judgment.

An illiterate man Muhammad (PBUH) was, like the majority of your countrymen. This is the very reason why, he could not have created the Quran himself. It had to have been a revelation from God. How many illiterate men created a work as this Quran, the attested phenomenon? Many men do believe this. Over 1/6 of the world's population.

I am not aware of any such invitation to me. If He had talked to me directly, well, that would be a different story.

You are given a free choice and intelligence to make the best decisions. If you ignore guidance then you have rejected the message. Have you not read the Quran? Did Allah not call disbelievers to belief? He has called you then and you know it. Why do you believe that you are worthy of Allah speaking to you directly? The most pious Muslims did not have this honor in fact the only one whom Allah talked direct was Moses (PBUH).

Furthermore, if that it what requires your belief, then your faith is worthless. Many believe without this. When he does speak to you in the hereafter, you will wish that you had believed in him before.

Why should I be grateful for a heart that I know can give way any moment, without as much as a by your leave.

What a statement!! Why should your wife love you when you can walk out of the door at any minute!

*Your heart beats about 100,000 times in one day and about 35 million times in a year. During an average lifetime, the human heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times. Without rest!!

*Your body has about 5.6 liters (6 quarts) of blood. This 5.6 liters of blood circulates through the body three times every minute. In one day, the blood travels a total of 19,000 km (12,000 miles)—that's four times the distance across the US from coast to coast.

*The heart pumps about 1 million barrels of blood during an average lifetime—that's enough to fill more than 3 super tankers.

* 900 breaths in an hour.

* Our lungs inhale over two million liters of air every day, without even thinking. The surface area of the lungs is approximately the same size as a tennis court.

* Each cell in your body has an estimated 6 to 8 feet of DNA.

*The total length of your circulatory system stretches an amazing 60,000 miles. That is more than twice the distance around the Earth.

Do you need for reasons for thanks! Your body is a living miracle and testament to God!

This all-powerful Being needs servants to do his bidding! Allah needs servants in heaven to do tasks He is incapable of despite claiming to be all-powerful. And you think He is all-powerful, how naïve can one be!

If you disbelieve, then verily, Allah is not in need of you;(1) He likes not disbelief for His slaves.(2) And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you.(3) No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another.(4) Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you what you used to do. Verily, He is All-Knower of that which is in (men's) breasts. (Az-Zumar, 7)

Allah does not need us, we need him!! If you don't need him, then try to end your existence then. Can you choose not to exist? To not exist does not mean death because we all know that our bodies do not stop existing after death. It continues to transform into other forms of existence. Matter cannot be created or destroyed, who said that? So then, what does Allah need from us? What are we offering that is so wonderful that he could not get it himself? Allah desires nothing for himself because he has all. He desire good for us. Man offers nothing but persistent rebellion, annoyance.

I have yet to see my shadow prostrating unless I myself do so. Not even Allah can make it prostrate if I do not. And if it did it would be some kind of pyrrhic victory for Allah because it would mean He is incapable of making me do the prostration and has to make do with my shadow (recall Satan did not prostrate before Adam despite Allah's orders?)

Does your shadow not move with the light of the sun? It prostrates at various times of the day as the earth moves your shadow is never in the same place is it. Your heat prostrates when it beats. Your lungs when it breaths. Would you stop this?

What makes you think Allah is just. Recall the ‘tangible' story of the girl suffering from cancer I narrated above.

The promise of the hereafter and the Day of Judgment is proof that he is just. This is when the poor little girl with have her compensation for suffering. If it were not for this day, Allah would not be just.

Allah needs to be glorified?? Is He some kind of tin-pot dictator who needs to have his ego massaged by constant glorification by his subjects?? LOL what kind of an Almighty god is this you believe in, Nura?

I believe in the only Al mighty LOL! If he is Al mighty than he should be glorified. Does he need man to glorify him, no. His existence as the first and the last glorifies him. Humans glorify Allah because it brings THEM closer. It helps them to understand and overcome the hardships of this life. It allows believers to feel that Allah is with them although they cannot see them. When believers see the evidence of Allah's existence they bow down in adoration happily, not debased. The glorification of Allah is for the benefit of his glorifiers. The ones debased will be those who will wish to prostrate but cannot in the hereafter.

Egotism- this is a philosophical theory of human consciousness. It has not been proven to exist at all let alone be an attribute to God.

No they are not the same. One lives in a make-believe world full of angels, jinns, a heaven and a hell, miracles and such other fabulous stuff. And the other lives in the real world where there is injustice, pestilence, suffering and human greed tempered by human ingenuity, love, compassion and the knowledge that life is an adventure full of possibilities, good and bad.

Plato, we are all in this together. Those who believe in Allah and the promise of the hereafter are suffering as much if not more than any one else. Does your disbelief in Allah makes this suffering easier or harder? The believer believes that his suffering is for the greatness that comes from it. They are happy to suffer from him because they believe in the hope of the hereafter. A person who believes in nothing, there suffering has no meaning but despair.

If He had the nerve to come before me I would tell Him that torturing people for eternity for merely not believing in Him does not become someone who claims to be the most merciful and benevolent.

He warned you in the Quran, you know this. In your arrogance you presume to know what is just and unjust. If you believe in justice then why do you fight for it? Are you active in stopping the injustice in your country? Would you die to stop injustice in your country? If you were willing, you would be dead already. This is why injustice prevails; it prevails because people are not fighting for it. You want Allah to do everything for you?

Allah says that he is the Most Merciful and the Most strict in punishment. No one will punish as he punish. He only asks man to do good deeds and worship none along with him to avert this punishment and receive Mercy. It is not for you to decide what is just.

Who were these enemies that Allah wanted Muslims to fight? The peaceful Qureish caravans passing many hours march away? Or the hapless Jewish tribes of Arabia who were either driven out and their wealth appropriated or who were massacred without mercy.

The Meccans who left Mecca to destroy Medina. Do you think an army of 300 would pick a fight against an army of 1,000 unless they were in danger? The order was given for the survival of Muslims.

Who would want to fight for Allah who claims to be all-powerful and on the side of

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