A.L.R. Alif?Laam-Ra. (Allah, Lateef the Unfathomable, Raaziq the Provider, states that), These are the verses of a Book that is full of wisdom.

Is it too much of a wonder for people that We reveal Our message to a man among them? 'You shall warn mankind, and give good news to those who attain belief that they have a sure footing with their Lord.' Those who are bent upon denying the truth, say, 'This man is an obvious wizard.' (He is gifted with spellbinding eloquence).

But, your Lord (Who sent this Book) is God Who created the heavens and earth in six stages, and is established on the Throne of His Almightiness of Supreme Control. He, the Director of all directions, Issuer of all decrees, runs the Universe according to His laws. No intercessor can stand in His Court but as a witness of law. Such is God, your Lord. You shall serve Him. Will you not use your intellect and reasoning? [Six Stages or Eras: 2:255, 7:54, 10:3, 11:7, 16:111, 25:59, 50:38, 57:4, 41:10]

To Him is your return, of all of you. God's promise is the unwavering truth. He created the first creation, and He will create it again, so that He may reward with justice those who attain belief and do works that help the society. And those who reject the truth, for them will be a burning drink of despair and a painful doom because of their persistent refusal to acknowledge the truth. [A consequence of their own doings. 33:24, 34:3-4, 45:22, 53:31]

He is the One Who appointed the sun as a splendid glow, and the moon as a cool light. He appointed stages for the moon, in due measure. You make your calculations and calendars accordingly. God has created the Universe as the absolute reality and for a purpose. God explains His verses for those who wish to learn. [The Universe is neither a dream as the ancient Hindu philosopher Manu preached, nor a reflection of the world of ideas as Plato thought. 6:97, 17:12]

In the alternation of the day and the night, and in all that God has created in the heavens and earth, there are signs for people who are mindful of Divine laws. [Taqwa = Seeking to journey through life in security = To live upright = To be mindful of Divine laws = Being observant = Shielding oneself against moral disintegration. 2:41]

Those who do not look forward to meeting with Us, but exclusively desire the life of this world and feel contented herein, and those who are neglectful of Our messages, [Meeting with Us = Liqa-anaa. At other places 'Meeting with the Lord' is generally understood as meeting the Divine Law of Requital or Recompense. Some exponents apply 'Meeting with the Lord' to Resurrection alone. In my humble opinion, since God is a Personal, Compassionate God, and a vast majority of His humble servants harbor an intense desire to see Him, He would not deny this kindness to them. We know that God is far too Glorious to have a physical image (anthropomorphic form), but He is Able to do all things. In the World of Command (AMR), He designs laws as He wills. It is in the World of Creation (KHALQ) that He implements those laws, and then, never changes them. So, He is absolutely Capable of devising any law in His World of Command. I find myself in agreement with numerous Ahadith narrating that humans should be able to meet their Creator in the Next Life, not as a wishful thinking, but because they are in agreement with the Qur'an. I do not certainly mean God assuming a physical form for 'meeting' with His servants, but in some way that is beyond our understanding at this time. Let us ponder some verses as well that allude to a new creation of humans in forms unknown to us at this time, and entirely new laws becoming operative in the New Universe: ? 56:59 Is it you who create it or are We the Creator? ? 56:60 We have decreed death (designed the laws of death) among you. And there is nothing to prevent Us 56:61 From changing your forms and making you in a manner, and in an environment, that is (as yet) unknown to you. ? 11:106 Those who, by their deeds, brought misery on themselves will be in the fire, sighing and wailing will be their portion. ? 11:107 Therein to abide, as long as the (New) Universe endures; that is time beyond count, unless your Lord decrees otherwise. Your Lord is Doer of what He wills in the World of Command. ? The current Universe will be dismantled for a new Universe. 14:19, 14:48, 21:104, 25:22, 35:16, 36:81, 50:44, 69:16, 70:9) ? 'Meeting with the Lord' is mentioned in the Qur'an about a hundred times. Even the great Allama Mashriqi ventures into the area, although I humbly disagree with him. He thinks that with evolution, humans will lose their body and only the 'spirit' will remain. And this spirit will merge with the 'Spirit' of God. And that is the 'Meeting with the Lord'! (Ref: Tazkarah, Hadith-il- Qur'an). Now this concept exactly matches the Sufi parlance but it is totally unacceptable to a student of the Qur'an. Finally, 2:55 points out that only the disbelievers demand to see God in physical form, but that verse relates only to the life of this world]

Their home will be the Fire that they have earned.

Those who choose to believe and work to increase the human potential, their Lord will guide them because of their conviction in Truth. Beneath them will flow streams in Gardens of Bliss. [A'maal Saaleh = Actions that increase the individual and collective potential of a society = Helping people = Improving the environment = Fulfilling others' needs = Contributing to the society]

Their prayer therein will be, 'Glory be to You, O God!' Their greeting to one another will be, 'Peace!' The conclusion of their prayer will be, 'Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds!' [And so shall be the peaceful Ideal Society on earth. They will realize that the good of one is the good of another, and understand how Praiseworthy the Giver of such blissful guidance is