Essence of the Holy Qur’an — Page xvii
Essence of the Holy Qur’ a n xvii design and purpose in creating the universe. Death is merely the translation of the soul from one form of existence into another which is essential for its complete development. After its flight from its physical habitat the soul is given another body which grows and develops and takes forms which it is not possible for man to know or even to conceive of. Life after death is only an image and manifestation of the present life, and the rewards and punishments in the next world will only be the embodiments and images of the actions in this life. Heaven and hell are not new material worlds. Call them material, if you will, but they are only embodiments of the spiritual facts of this life. The entanglements of this world shall be seen as fetters in the next. The heart burning of this world shall likewise be seen as flames of burning fire, and the love which a believer feels for his Lord and Creator will appear as wine in the life to come. Thus, there will be streams, honey, meat of birds, wine, fruits, thrones, companions besides many other things in Paradise, but they will not be the things of this world but will only be the embodiments of spiritual facts of the life of this world. This is why the Holy Qur’ a n says: No soul knows what joy of the eyes is hidden for them (the believers) for their good works (v. 32:18). The Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) has said: “No eye has seen the blessings of Paradise, nor has any ear heard of them, nor can human mind conceive of them” (Bukh a r i ). Western Scholars and the Holy Qur’ a n Before closing these introductory remarks about the Holy Qur’ a n, it would be appropriate to draw attention to the opinions of some eminent scholars about the many excellences of the Holy Qur’ a n: “ I hope the time is not far off when I shall be able to unite the wise and educated men of all the countries and establish a uniform regime based on the principles of the Qur’ a n which alone are true and which alone can lead men to happiness” (Bonaparte et' Islam by Cherfils). “This book will go on exercising through all ages a most potent influence” (Goethe). “The creed of Muhammad is free from the suspicion of ambiguity and the Qur’ a n is a glorious testimony to the Unity of God” (Gibbon). “We may well say that the Qur’ a n is one of the greatest books ever written” (Dr. Steingass). “The dogma of Unity of God has been proclaimed therein (in the Qur’ a n) with a grandeur, a majesty, an invariable purity and with a note of sure connection which it is hard to find surpassed outside the pale of Islam” (Sir Thomas Arnold). “ The Qur’ a n was the prime inspiration of a religious movement which gave rise to a civilization of wide extent, vast power and profound vitality” (Prof. Arberry). “ We must not be surprised to find the Qur’ a n the fountainhead of the