The Resurrection
The Fourth Indication
As we saw in the twelve aspects of the parable, it is in no way possible that such a ruler should possess a land serving as a temporary guesthouse, yet have no other enduring and permanent land that displays his greatness and magnificent dominion. In the same way, it is in no way possible that the eternal Creator of this transient world should create this world, but not the eternal world.
Likewise, it is impossible that the eternal Creator should create this astonishing yet transient world, but not create a permanent and everlasting world.
Moreover, it is also impossible that the All-Wise, All-Powerful, and Merciful Creator should create this transient world as an exhibition, a place of trial, and a field of cultivation, but not create the Hereafter, where the purposes of everything in this world will be fulfilled.
The truth of the resurrection and the Hereafter is accessible through twelve gates. In the following twelve truths, these twelve gates are opened. We begin with the shortest and simplest gate.
The First Truth
The Gate of RubūbiyyaAllah’s lordship over all creation and His provision for all their needs. and Sovereignty: The Manifestation of the Name ar-RabbThe Lord, who nurtures, sustains, governs, and brings all creation to perfection.
Is it at all possible that Allah, as required by His rubūbiyyaAllah’s lordship over all creation and His provision for all their needs. and divine sovereignty, would create such a universe with lofty aims and exalted purposes in order to display His perfections, and yet not reward the believers who respond to those aims and purposes with īmānFaith; belief in the six articles of faith: Allah, His angels, His revealed scriptures, His prophets, the Hereafter, and divine decree (qadar). and servanthood, and not punish the people of misguidance who respond to them with rejection and contempt?
The Second Truth
The Gate of Generosity and Mercy: The Manifestation of the Names al-KarīmAllah, the Most Generous One. and ar-RahīmAllah, the Most Merciful.
Is it at all possible that the Lord of this world, Who through His works displays boundless generosity, mercy, majesty, and dignity, would not reward people in a manner befitting His generosity and mercy, and would not punish them in a manner befitting His majesty and dignity?
Indeed, when the course of life in this world is carefully observed, it becomes clear that all living beings—from the weakest and most powerless to the strongest—are provided with suitable sustenance. The weakest and most powerless beings are even cared for in the finest way.[1] Every needy creature is provided with sustenance from an unexpected place. The generosity with which these favors are bestowed is so exalted that the hand of boundless generosity is plainly visible within it.
- Halal sustenance is not granted on the basis of strength or power, but on the basis of need. The decisive proof of this is that powerless young animals receive the finest care, whereas powerful wild beasts often suffer from scarcity of food. Likewise, unintelligent creatures such as fish are well-fed and thrive, while cunning foxes and crafty monkeys remain lean. This shows that strength and free choice are inversely proportional to the attainment of sustenance. The more a being relies on its own strength and free choice, the greater its struggle to obtain sustenance becomes. ↩︎