Who are those whom Allah has prepared for them Paradise, with beauty and delights beyond imagination? What characteristics do these people have in common? What did they do, and what did they avoid doing to earn such a reward? Since the Holy Qur'an is our guide on how to conduct our lives in order to be successful both in this world and in the afterlife, we look to the holy book to find the answers to these questions. Among my favorite verses in the Glorious Qur'an are the verses that describe those people who will be the inhabitants of Paradise, who live in beautiful, luxurious palaces in Paradise. They are called the servants or the worshipers of Al-Rahman, the Most Merciful and Beneficent. They can be regular people, not just the prophets; meaning we too can attain this status. {And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace.} The first description of these believers is their humility; to be humble with all people: old or young, rich or poor. Regardless of your financial status, career, or place in society, arrogance must be avoided. There is no benefit in boasting and listing your credentials to every person you meet. And always say a kind, gentle word, even to those who criticize you or lash out at you. This requires strength of character. To stay peaceful and calm in the face of criticism is not easy, but it makes you one of the best worshipers of Al-Rahman. {And those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord prostrating and standing [in prayer].} Praying the voluntary late night prayer (Qiyam) is the distinctive mark of the pious believers. It is what makes the truly dedicated person stand out among the average people. To pray the five daily prayers on time, and to wake up at night to pray Qiyam while others are asleep is an exceptional quality. {And those who say, "Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell.} The servants of the Merciful never cease in asking Allah to distance them from all that is evil, and of course from the Hellfire. To know if you are on the right path, check your priorities. What are you preoccupied with? If your main worry is always about this world and you only ask Allah for a new car, an increase in salary, a bigger house, or a better job, then your heart is too inclined to this world. A true believer's heart is more concerned with the afterlife, to be granted Paradise and to be spared the punishment of Hellfire. {And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate.} When they spend money, these believers are neither extravagant nor miserly. {And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse.} A believer does not associate partners with Allah, not in words – we supplicate only to Allah, or in actions – all acts of worship are intended only for Allah. The first pillar in Islam is to bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah. To take an innocent life, to commit murder is one of the gravest sins, and its perpetrator will be punished by Allah, unless he/she sincerely repents. A sincere repentance has the following conditions: to deeply and honestly feel guilt and remorse, to beg Allah's forgiveness, to make a strong conviction to remain on the right path, and to not repeat that sin again. And even then, a murderer still receives corporal punishment. The servants of the Merciful do not engage in sexual relations outside marriage, first and foremost because Allah has prohibited it. As believers, we need not question the reasons behind this prohibition, but there are many reasons. Keeping only one sexual partner in marriage protects against sexually transmitted diseases. It ensures the rights of children, as children out of wedlock become victims. It is the father's sole responsibility to provide a home, nutrition, decent clothing, financial support, education, and much more. If the father is unknown, it becomes more difficult to guarantee the child's inalienable rights. {And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood, and when they pass near ill speech, they pass by with dignity.} Giving testimony is a great responsibility. If asked to testify, one must speak a testimony based on knowledge of the matter, clarity, truth, and trust. Some scholars of the Holy Qur'an said that among the most verses in the Holy Qur'an which warn and threaten the believing Muslims are warnings against concealing evidence or giving false testimony. Lying is one of the most evil characteristics. Worshipers of Al-Rahman do not engage in vain talk. If they hear people backbiting about someone else or talking aimlessly, they do not take part. Backbiting means mentioning something about a person in his absence that he would hate to hear; whether it is about his body, character, wealth, family, mannerism, or religious characteristics. If people in your presence are backbiting about someone, rather than adding flame to fire, advise them kindly to stop and if they don't, simply walk away. {And those who, when reminded of the verses of their Lord, do not fall upon them deaf and blind.} How do you assess your heart in regards to faith? Listen to the verses of the Holy Qur'an and see how it makes you feel. When the worshipers of Al-Rahman hear the verses of the Holy Qur'an or when they are reminded about the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him), they listen carefully and more importantly they act upon what they heard. They are eager to learn more about Islam and they love to hear the verses of the Holy Qur'an. {And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.} Family is more important than wealth, fame, and other external appearances of luxury. A good, loving family brings you peace. The true believer cares about his/her family, looks after them, and helps them tread the path of guidance and worship. {Those will be awarded the Chamber for what they patiently endured, and they will be received therein with greetings and [words of] peace.} The conclusion to these verses in Surah Al-Furqan describes the reward for those worshipers of Al-Rahman: a palace in Paradise that has beautifully adorned rooms and chambers. Ibn Kathir explained these chambers, he said, "These will be lofty rooms, one above another – story upon story, well constructed, strong, and decorated." According to the Hadith mentioned in Tirmidhi, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "In Paradise there are dwellings; the inside can be seen from the outside, and the outside can be seen from inside. Allah has prepared them for those who feed the hungry, speak softly and gently, fast continuously, and pray at night whilst the people are sleeping."
