format_quote Originally Posted by
ManchesterFolk
The thing about other religions is that many of them tell there followers to do good in this world and does not give them images of heaven, while Islam trys to put an amazing image of heaven in its followers heads.
What is wrong with that in my belief is that Muslims may very well be focused to much on heaven and might only do deeds because they can have paradise, not because they want to be good people.
But that is a generalization and I'm sorry if I offended anyone because I am sure there are a lot of Muslims that do good deeds because it is the right thing.
We are told repeatedly that "inma Al'Amal benyat" literally means your deeds count through your intentions ... that is what God would look at YOUR HEART ... do you think that God with all his sophistication, which anyone with a keen discerning eye can see through his tiniest of creations...... from the biochemical processes that go on in your body, on their own volition ... to the complexity of the universe around you ... to the beauty that exists in the most remote corners of this earth...... that he that same God, wouldn't be able to tell what your intentions are? that he'd be deceived into letting us into heaven, through some superficial exterior? truly most of us know that if we spent our entire life time in gratitude, it wouldn't equate with the blessings bestowed upon us... And again God does mention that in the Quran.......
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَى مِن ثُلُثَيِ اللَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُ وَثُلُثَهُ وَطَائِفَةٌ مِّنَ الَّذِينَ مَعَكَ وَاللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْرَؤُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَى وَآخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَآخَرُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَاقْرَؤُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًا وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ {20}
[Pickthal 73:20] Lo! thy Lord knoweth how thou keepest vigil sometimes nearly two-thirds of the night, or (sometimes) half or a third thereof, as do a party of those with thee. Allah measureth the night and the day. He knoweth that ye count it not, and turneth unto you in mercy. Recite, then, of the Qur'an that which is easy for you. He knoweth that there are sick folk among you, while others travel in the land in search of Allah's bounty, and others (still) are fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite of it that which is easy (for you), and establish worship and pay the poor-due, and (so) lend unto Allah a goodly loan. Whatsoever good ye send before you for your souls, ye will find it with Allah, better and greater in the recompense. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
*****
Though I certainly can't speak for every Muslim... We are told to seek knowledge,from the cradle to the grave... and in that knowledge we will learn of others, of ourseleves, and of God..... in spite of what they display on TV, the majority of Muslims, if not all, as I rarely see anything positive now, a bunch of uncivilized hooligans dancing on the streets celebrating the misery of other folk, our women all opressed ... the majority in fact are decent, who try to seek God in their daily life, through how they deal with others, seeking God's forgiveness in every aspect..... I can't recall a chapter in the Quran where charity and good will and humility isn't emphasized... ..... The attainment of paradise,
can ultimately be achieved through God's mercy ... not our deeds....