Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 237
237 however, that progress toward perfection must be constant and continuous. It does not end with this life, but continues in the Hereafter. Even in Paradise the prayer of the righteous will be: “Our Lord, perfect unto us our light and remove from us our shortcomings” (66:9). The Quran furnishes guidance as to how bad moral qualities may be discarded and good ones fostered. The very first necessity, of course, is to recognise and accept Divine guidance, which is always available (7:36). An essential element in the effort toward achievement of moral and spiritual excellence is the certainty that however low a person may have fallen, it is always possible for him to rise. Islam teaches that man has been endowed with a pure nature. The Quran says that God has created mankind in accord with the nature designed by Him (30:31). The Prophet said: “Every child is born in accord with a pure nature endowed upon him by God. ” It is true that each person is subject to influences of heredity, upbringing, and environment, but these can, where necessary, be corrected or eliminated. Evil comes from outside and can be kept out, or having entered, can be discarded. There is no room for despair. The Quran says: “O My servants, who have committed excesses against their own souls, despair not of the mercy of Allah: surely, Allah forgives all sins. Verily, He is Most Forgiving,