The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 204
THE PROMISED MESSIAH AND MAHDI nature, strives hard in a proper manner is rewarded with success in whatever his aim or undertaking be. If on the other hand a person indulges in inappropriate or evil action, and persists in it and does not repent this results in his ultimate downfall. What is true of individuals is in the same manner true for the rise and fall of a nation or a civilization. . God is the Master of the Day of Judgment which means that the reward and punishment are in His hands, both in this world and the hereafter. As the Promised Messiah has explained, the grand and final reward and punishment will be in the hereafter on the Day of. Judgment. But as the Holy Quran mentions, in so many places God rewards or punishes in this world also; though it may not be as apparent as in the hereafter. He is the Wise Judge. His Mercy encompasses his punishment. . From whatever has been written above about the attributes of. God and an examination of human history, it is apparent that history. is not just made by Man alone; rather, it is the handiwork of God and. Man. Under the overall framework of Divine attributes and His. Providence and Grace, and as a result of beneficent or inappropriate actions by Man, nations or civilizations rise and fall. . Before writing about history any further, we return to the subject of God and His Attributes. The principal object of all great religions is to bestow knowledge to man about existence of God and. His attributes. God, the Gracious and Merciful revealed Himself to the prophets and raised them for the guidance of mankind. It was by. Divine revelation that the prophets were given knowledge about God and his attributes. The principal and the fundamental teaching given was Unity of God, which means that God, the Gracious, the Merciful, the Creator, All-knowing, All-wise and the Supreme Master and Lord is One without any associates. He is One and Unique in His qualities or attributes. We learn about God by understanding His attributes. . Man was taught to worship God alone and love Him more than anything else. When a believer reflects upon the attributes of God; and he realizes His unlimited and unconditional beneficence and grace and also realizes His beauty which is also reflected in His 204