Episode 6

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah. Dear brothers, we are in the series ((They Are Not Equal)) where we discuss the difference between the Muslim and the disbeliever in this life and the hereafter, in value, reward, and destiny, based on the light of the Quran. What are our goals from this? First, to know the blessing of Allah upon us with Islam and to magnify Islam in our hearts. Second, to strive not to waste this blessing with a word or deed that transfers us from the honor of Islam and its dignity to the humiliation of disbelief and its degradation. Third: to strive for the guidance of humanity to Islam, whose greatness we have known. In the previous episodes, we discussed eight differences and reached the stage of death. At death and after it, the truths are revealed, and the falsehood of this world fades. The believer is told at his death with reassurance and comfort: ((O you soul at rest (27) Return to your Lord, pleased and pleasing (28) Then enter among My servants (29) And enter My Paradise (30))) (Al-Fajr). The believer close to Allah, his destiny after death: ((Freshness and fragrant flowers and a Garden of Bliss)). While Allah said about the disbeliever: ((If you could see when the disbelievers are shown the angels striking their faces and their backs, [saying], "Taste the punishment of the burning." (50) That is for what your hands have put forth, and Allah is not unjust to [His] servants." (51))) (Al-Anfal). The believer's good soul ascends, and the gates of heaven are opened for it, and the angels welcome it, as in the authentic hadith. While the disbeliever, Allah said about him: ((Indeed, those who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them - the gates of heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until the camel passes through the eye of a needle.")) No permission is given for his soul to ascend to heaven. Then Allah says: "Write his book in a prison in the lowest earth" (as in the authentic hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad)... a prison derived from imprisonment, as Ibn Kathir said. So the disbeliever's soul is cast out, then the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, recited: ((And whoever associates others with Allah, it is as though he had fallen from the sky, and the birds snatch him, or the wind throws him into a far-off place.")) (Al-Hajj). The believer's book of deeds is written in 'Aliyyin with Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, and the disbeliever's book of deeds is written in a prison in the lowest earth. So the difference between the believer and the disbeliever is like the difference between the two places. Even though the disbeliever in this world may put the believer in a basement underground while he lives in a luxurious villa overlooking a high place. The disbeliever in this world may step on the believer's head with his foot. But the falsehood of this world is cut off, and the truths begin in the journey after death. So the believer is in highness, and the disbeliever is in lowness. Are they equal? They are not equal. Brothers, some people make light of serious words in a moment of anger, or perhaps in jest! These words contain belittling of the greatness of Allah or the sanctities of the religion. We review the difference to remember that a word like this may cause one of us to fall from 'Aliyyin to a far-off place, and we seek refuge with Allah. We will continue the comparison in the upcoming episodes, by the permission of Allah. And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.