Opinion

The Chosen?

The connection of the human soul with the Unseen cannot be limited to believers of a single religion.

By Nikhat Sattar | May 2021

A twitter message read “I feel bad for non-Muslims, they don’t get the feeling we get when we pray.” Probably many Muslims, in our bubble of righteousness and pride, bursting with the presumed monopoly of possessing true religion and a unique spirituality, would agree.

The Quran says: Those who believe (in the Qur’an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians, - any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord. (2:62). The substance of these verses does not pertain only to those living in the Arabian peninsula and are not limited to the followers of Abrahamic religions. God has said that He sent messengers to all communities on earth. We can presume, therefore, that nations other than those living in the Middle East also received messengers to guide humans. People throughout the world do good deeds and worship the Creator in their own ways. God has advised humankind to develop piety, be good to fellow humans and other creations and strive to come close to Him. He promises that all human beings shall be accountable for what they do, since they have been awarded the right to choose. Thus, they shall be rewarded for the sincerity and purity of intention and deed and punished for adopting falsehood and arrogant attitudes. We have been instructed to do our best: the rest is up to God.

There is no preference of humans by God, except in piety. Whoever fulfils or even attempts to fulfil the expectation by God of humans being, His vicegerents on earth, would be considered worthy of reward. God has not chosen any nation or any religion over another. If He had, He would have created uniformity among humankind and made all generations obey His will. Instead, He has given the right to choose and with this right also its responsibilities. Not your desires, nor those of the People of the Book (can prevail): whoever works evil, will be requited accordingly. (4:123)

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