The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam — Page 128
122 contrast it is said: When they deviated from the right course and did not desire to tread along the straight path, the Divine action followed in that their hearts were made perverse. To illustrate this even more clearly it is said: مَنْ كَانَ فِي هَذِهِ أَعْلَى فَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ أَعْمَى وَأَضَلُّ سَبِيلا 0 170 That is, He who remains blind in this life will be blind in the Hereafter also, and even more astray. This is an indication that the virtuous see God in this very life, and they behold their True Beloved in this world, for which they give up everything. The purport of this verse is that the foundation of the heavenly life is laid in this very world and that the root of hellish blindness is also the vile and blind life of this world. Then He said: وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصّلِحَتِ اَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّتٍ تَجْرِى مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْاَنْهرُ 171 That is, give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that for them there are gardens beneath which rivers flow. In this verse God Almighty has described faith as a garden beneath which rivers 170. But whoso is blind in this world will be blind in the Hereafter, and even more astray from the way. (The Holy Quran, Bani Isrā'īl 17:73) 171. And give glad tidings to those who believe and do good works, that for them are Gardens beneath which flow streams. (The Holy Quran, al-Baqarah 2:26)