The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 425
Repeated Challenges 425 redeemed. This is because the worldly minded are unable to perceive this inner redemption and closeness to God and the distinction between the redeemed and the unredeemed remains in doubt. The followers of every religion claim to be redeemed. God Almighty has, therefore, appointed signs for the true believers who attain salvation in this very life, whereby they can be distinguished, and no doubt remains. Some of these signs are: الا ان اولیاء اللهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ لَهُمُ البُشرى في الحيوةِ الدُّنْيَا و في الأخرة لا تَبْدِيلَ لِكَلِمَتِ اللهِ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ 0 255 (Part 11, Ruku' 12, Sūrah Yūnus). This means that: 'Hearken, the friends of Allah shall certainly have no fear, nor shall they grieve. They are the ones who truly believe, i. e. , they became subservient to Allah and His. Messenger and then became pious. For them are glad tidings from God Almighty in this world and in the hereafter, i. e. , God will continue to give them glad tidings through dreams, visions, and Divine discourse. There is no changing the words of God. This is the great triumph which is destined for them, i. e. , through such success they will be distinguished from the disbelievers, who are not truly redeemed and who will not be able to stand against them. At another place it is said: إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَيْكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلا تَحْزَنُوا وَ ابْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنْتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَؤُكُمْ في الحيوة الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الآخِرَةِ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِيَ انْفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا 255 Yūnus, 10:63-65 [Publisher]