Sending a Warner Manifests His Name "All Merciful"

Out of His endless mercy and compassion, Allah has sent messengers to warn humanity and teach them about the Afterlife and life's real meaning and purpose. His messengers struggled throughout their lives to direct human beings to the straight path by rescuing them, with Allah's permission, from a life of ignorance. For example, Noah (pbuh) made a great effort to tell his people about Allah's existence and eternal power, and to lead them away from their mistaken views and beliefs. Undeterred by their rebellion and rejection, he did his best to carry out Allah's commands:

He [Noah] said: "My Lord, I have called my people night and day, but my calling has only made them more evasive. Indeed, every time I called them to Your forgiveness, they put their fingers in their ears, wrapped themselves up in their clothes, and were overweeningly arrogant. Then I called them openly. Then I addressed them publicly and addressed them privately." (Surah Nuh, 5-9)

These messengers' sincere efforts are a great blessing for believers and a manifestation of our Lord's great love for His servants. As a mercy from Allah, messengers struggle against unbelief and, without any expectation of reward, try to show believers the way to the straight path:

Allah showed great kindness to the believers when He sent a Messenger to them from among themselves to recite His Signs to them, purify them, and teach them the Book and Wisdom, even though before that they were clearly misguided.
(Surah Al 'Imran, 164)

Allah showed great kindness to the believers when He sent a Messenger to them from among themselves to recite His Signs to them, purify them, and teach them the Book and Wisdom, even though before that they were clearly misguided. (Surah Al 'Imran, 164)

For this We sent a Messenger to you from among yourselves to recite Our Signs to you, purify you teach you the Book and Wisdom, and teach you things you did not know before. (Surat al-Baqara, 151)

[Noah asked his people:] "Or are you astonished that a reminder should come to you from your Lord by way of a man from among you, to warn you and make you guard against evil so that, hopefully, you will gain mercy?" (Surat al-A'raf, 63)

… by a command from Our presence. We are constantly sending out [mercy and peace] as a mercy from your Lord. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. (Surat ad-Dukhan, 5-6)

We have only sent you [O Muhammad] as a mercy to all the worlds. (Surat al-Anbiya, 107)

Allah's blessed messengers are the most trustworthy, honest, good-tempered, moral, intelligent, circumspect, perceptive, courageous, and patient people in the world. They evoke trust in everyone, are sincere and zealous, and their creation is a great act of His generosity. Messengers are also exemplary in their moral lives. They are a boon to their societies, for they invite people to follow His way, to obey the Qur'an, avoid evil deeds, and embrace goodness and honesty. They remind people of life's transitory nature and that real life is in the eternal world to come. The Qur'an tells us that a messenger is sent to every society:

We have sent you with the truth, bringing good news and giving warning. There is no community to which a warner has not come. (Surah Fatir, 24)

Nor were you on the side of the mount when We called. Yet it is a mercy from your Lord, so that you can warn a people to whom no warner came before, so that, hopefully, they will pay heed.  (Surat al-Qasas, 46)

Or do they ask: "He has invented it?" No indeed! It is the truth from your Lord to warn a people to whom, before you, no warner had come, so that, hopefully, they will be guided. (Surat as-Sajda, 3)

We sent a Messenger among every people saying: "Worship Allah and keep clear of all false deities." Among them were some whom Allah guided, but others received the misguidance they deserved. Travel throughout the land and see the unbelievers' final fate. (Surat an-Nahl, 36)

O People of the Book. Our Messenger has come to you, making things clear to you, after a period with no Messengers, lest you should say: "No one came to us bringing good news or a warning." Someone has come to you bringing good news and a warning. Allah has power over all things. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 19)

Say, 'If you love Allah follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive your wrong actions. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'
(Surah Al'Imran, 31)

Say, 'Obey Allah and the Messenger.' Then if they turn away, Allah does not love the unbelievers.
(Surah Al'Imran, 32)

Messengers were a great blessing to the societies to which they were sent, for they taught people things they did not know and showed them how to live a life of contentment, security, peace, and justice. As a consolation, the Qur'an tells us that throughout history only a very few people have ever approached the messengers out of appreciation of their being a great mercy for them"Those are the Signs of the Book. And what has been sent down to you from your Lord is the Truth. But most people have no faith" (Surat ar-Ra'd, 1). Those who denied Allah could never believe; others believed what the messengers said but never implemented their teachings or lived by the Qur'an's morality. Such situations never deterred the messengers, however, because their sole desire was to see their people believe, know the blessing of this life and the Hereafter, and live the best and happiest life possible: "Then We will rescue Our Messengers and those who believe as well. It is incumbent upon Us to rescue the believers" (Surah Yunus, 103) . The messengers receive no reward if the people around then believe and are happy in both worlds. But because of their sincere fear and respect for Allah and their superior morality, they spend their lives eagerly fulfilling these two commands as best as they can.

They endure great hardships and face many trials, and yet remain undaunted by anything. With Allah's help and support, they are paradigms of courage and, by His will, are always victorious.

Allah has written: "I will be victorious, I and My Messengers." Allah is Most Strong, Almighty. (Surat al-Mujadala, 21)

As for those who make Allah their friend, and His Messenger and those who believe: It is the party of Allah that is victorious! (Surat al-Ma'ida, 56)

We sent a Messenger among every people saying: 'Worship Allah and keep clear of all false deities.' Among them were some whom Allah guided but others received the misguidance they deserved... (Surat an-Nahl, 36)

Allah, Who has endless mercy for His servants, calls every human being to the straight path through His messengers, gives every person enough time to heed advice, explains the truth in various ways, and rewards everyone as they deserve. The Qur'an says that a society that has not received a messenger will not be destroyed, as that would violate His justice:

We did not destroy any city without it having a set time.  (Surat al-Hijr, 4)

That was because their Lord would never have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were unaware. (Surat al-An'am, 131)

Your Lord would never destroy any cities without first sending to their chief a Messenger to recite Our Signs to them. We would never destroy any cities unless their inhabitants were wrongdoers. (Surat al-Qasas, 59)

How can you not believe, when Allah's Signs are recited to you and the Messenger is there among you? Whoever holds fast to Allah has been guided to a straight path. (Surah Al'Imran, 101)

Everything is Recorded in Destiny

The fact that one's life happens according to his or her destiny, which is determined by Allah, is a grace and a wonderful manifestation of His names All Merciful, Most Merciful. Believers who know this display eagerness, joy, and patience in the face of hardships, for they understand that Allah has created everything for a good purpose and according to His will:

The keys of the Unseen are in His possession. No one knows them but Him. He knows everything in the land and sea. No leaf falls without His knowing it. There is no seed in the darkness of the soil, and nothing moist or dry, that is not in a Clear Book. (Surat al-An'am, 59)

Given that human beings are bound by time, they can only interpret events by looking at individual moments. Unable to know the future, they may not always see the long-term reason, good, and purpose of a particular event. But Allah, Who created time and therefore is not bound by it, looks from outside of time at the lives of all beings. Thus, destiny is Allah's knowledge of every present, past and future event as a single moment. In other words, the events of the future are unkown only for us. For this reason, the test's beginning and end are clear. The past, present, and future are all one in His sight, for time, a human construct, does not apply to Him. But we learn of these events only after we have experienced them.  (For detailed information see Harun Yahya, Timelessness and the Reality of Fate [New Delhi: Goodword Books, 2001])

Those who believe in destiny are patient in all situations and experience the comfort of knowing that everything happens according to His will: "No misfortune occurs except by Allah's permission. Whoever believes in Allah – He will guide his [or her] heart. Allah has knowledge of all things" (Surat at-Taghabun, 11). Unbelievers, who have no understanding of destiny, endure great anxiety, stress, and discontent – totally unlike believers, who are content as a mercy from Allah, secure in the knowledge that they are surrounded by His endless mercy, and that everything happens for a reason.

Believers may encounter anxiety and hardship, such as the loss of their possessions or physical strength, illness, injury, or death. But they accept these as tests, as wonderful manifestations of His name All Merciful and Most Merciful. They realize that their moral character in such situations has great value in His sight. This pleasure, which belongs only to believers, enables them to face any difficulty without the accompanying feelings of sorrow, stress, pain, panic, or fear that are common among unbelievers. Allah will turn the apparent evil into good for them, bring them through the test, and reward them both in this world and the next for their patience and endurance "Allah will not give the unbelievers any way against the believers" (Surat an-Nisa, 141). Those who trust and rely on Allah no longer experience any fear or sadness:

Those who say "Our Lord is Allah" and then go straight will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (Surat al-Ahqaf, 13)

Not so! All who submit themselves completely to Allah and are good-doers will find their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (Surat al-Baqara, 112)

Yes, the friends of Allah will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. Those who believe and have done their duty, there is good news for them in the life of this world and in the Hereafter. There is no changing the words of Allah. That is the great victory! (Surah Yunus, 62-64)

Allah also says that those who believe and submit to Him have taken hold of the Firmest Handhold, one that will never break off:

Those who submit themselves completely to Allah and do good have grasped the Firmest Handhold. The end result of all affairs is with Allah. (Surah Luqman, 22)

There is no compulsion where religion is concerned. Right guidance has become clearly distinct from error. Anyone who rejects false deities and believes in Allah has grasped the Firmest Handhold, which will never give way. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Surat al-Baqara, 256)

The eager, joyful, and strong character that believers display in the face of difficulties and anxiety comes from their belief in Allah, destiny, and the Hereafter, as well as from their submission to Him. The messengers and sincere believers are great examples of such submission and strength. Among these people are the sorcerers in Pharaoh's court who accepted Moses' (pbuh) death and later were threatened by Pharaoh with death.

Pharaoh tried to drive these believers off the straight path by threatening them with torture and death. He thought that his army and show of strength would demoralize them, but they told him that they only feared and respected Allah, to Whom they turned in times of adversity. Thus, they refused to abandon the trust and submission to Allah that their faith gave them:

Pharaoh said: "Do you believe in him before I have authorized you [to do so]? He is your chief, the one who taught you magic. I will cut off your hands and feet alternately and have you crucified on palm trunks. Then you will know for certain which of us has the harsher and longer lasting punishment."

They said: "We will never prefer you to the Clear Signs that have come to us, nor to Him Who brought us into being. Decide on any judgment you like. Your jurisdiction only covers the life of this world. (Surah Ta Ha, 71-72)

We have believed in our Lord so that He may forgive us for our mistakes and for the magic that you forced us to perform. Allah is better and longer lasting." (Surah Ta Ha, 73)

Everything has been Created for a Good Purpose

Say, 'O Allah, Master of the Kingdom! You give sovereignty to whoever You will and take sovereignty from whoever You will. You exalt whoever You will and abase whoever You will.
All good is in Your hands.
You have power over all things.
(Surah Al 'Imran, 26)

Everyone suffddddrs hardship and anxiety. Most people who live apart from the Qur'an's moral teachings go through difficult times feeling discontented, sad, and anxious. They think they can pass through this earthly life without being tested, and do not believe in Allah or in the destiny that He created for them. Therefore, they regard whatever happens to them as having no meaning and suffer even deeper pain. Allah states in the Qur'an that He will test Muslims and distinguish between those who are good and those who are not:

Or did you imagine that you were going to enter the Garden without Allah knowing those among you who had struggled and knowing the steadfast? (Surah Al 'Imran, 142)

Allah will only leave the believers in the position you now are in so that He can sift out the rotten from the good. Allah has not given you access to the Unseen. But Allah chooses those of His Messengers whom He wills. So believe in Allah and His Messengers. If you believe and guard against evil, you will have an immense reward. (Surah Al 'Imran, 179)

In this regard, the Qur'an gives us the example of something that happened during our Prophet's (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) lifetime:

What assailed you on the day the two armies met was by Allah's permission, so that He would know the believers, and so that He would know the hypocrites.
(Surah Al 'Imran, 166-167)

Believers know that everything happens according to destiny and treat every event as an opportunity to show their faithfulness, attachment, and submission to Allah. As a result, He turns what appear to be evil or difficult events to the advantage of His sincere believers, for He wants them to follow the straight path and attain the endless rewards of Paradise. Thus, times of difficulty are very valuable times of which believers must take advantage.

Unbelievers do their best to avoid making mistakes, for such people are mocked by their own people, or may be denied an important opportunity. However, the Qur'anic morality teaches something quite different:

Believers know that Allah creates everything for a good purpose and that everything is a grace from the All Merciful and Most Merciful; that believers do not judge others on the basis of their mistakes; that believers feel a sense of compassion and mercy, for they understand that whatever occurs is destined.

Therefore, they will feel regret and do their best to reform themselves by repenting and then abandoning that particular sin completely. When they make a mistake, the sorrow that they feel also turns out to be for their good, for it contains the determination not to continue making this mistake. It is very important that believers show trust and submission in such times and that they act with the knowledge that everything happens in a way designed to bring them closer to Allah.

According to 216th verse of Surat al-Baqara, Allah can turn things that appear bad into good for human beings, and that people may like what is bad for them. One example of this is miserly rich people who do not believe. It is a great mistake for unbelievers to think that miserliness is something clever and that not using their wealth in His path will somehow benefit them. In fact, the Qur'an reveals that such wealth will be worse for its possessors and bring them great pain in the Afterlife:

Those who are miserly with the bounty that Allah has given them should not suppose that that is better for them. No indeed, it is worse for them! What they were miserly with will be hung around their necks on the Day of Rising. (Surah Al 'Imran, 180)

Or did you imagine that you were going to enter the Garden without Allah knowing those among you who had struggled and knowing the steadfast?
(Surah Al 'Imran, 142)

Believers have a totally different understanding of wealth and possessions. First of all, it is not so important to have possessions, because believers devote themselves to earning His good pleasure by using what they have in His path, instead of amassing possessions for themselves, as the unbelievers do. Believers never pursue worldly gain, but always direct themselves toward whatever will earn them eternal life and an exalted status in Allah's sight. Allah announces these good tidings to them in the Qur'an:

Allah has bought from the believers their selves and their wealth in return for the Garden. They fight in His Way, kill and are killed. It is a promise binding on Him in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his [or her] contract than Allah? Rejoice, then, in the bargain you have made. That is the great victory. (Surat at-Tawba, 111)

All prophets, messengers, and sincere believers who were aware of this truth acted with the knowledge that their possessions actually belonged to Allah, and so used them to earn His good pleasure. For example, the Qur'an says that believers who possess a moral character and mercy will give "…; those who honor their contracts when they make them, and are steadfast in poverty and illness and in battle" (Surat al-Baqara, 177). And, unlike some people, believers spend of their wealth not for show, but "spend their wealth, desiring the pleasure of Allah and strengthen their souls" (Surat al-Baqara, 265). Therefore, if they lose some of their possessions, they consider it a test from Allah and remain patient and optimistic:

Say: "O Allah! Master of the Kingdom! You give sovereignty to whoever You will and take sovereignty from whoever You will. You exalt whoever You will, and abase whoever You will. All good is in Your hands. You have power over all things." (Surah Al 'Imran, 26)

But as for those who believe and do right actions, We will not let the wage of those who do good go to waste.
(Surat al-Kahf, 30)

The Qur'an tells us of the reward that Allah, in His generosity toward His servants, will give to those believers who spend their money and use their possessions in His Way: "Anything you expend will be replaced by Him" (Surah Saba', 39). It also reveals the reward that awaits those believers for whom earning Allah's good pleasure is more important than anything else, who are aware of this life's transitory nature, and hope only for the wonderful things of the Hereafter:

The metaphor of those who spend their wealth in His Way is that of a grain that produces seven ears; in every ear there are a hundred grains. Allah gives such a multiplied increase to whoever He wills. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. (Surat al-Baqara, 261)

If you make a generous loan to Allah, He will multiply it for you and forgive you. Allah is All-Thankful, Most Forbearing. (Surat at-Taghabun, 17)

Say: "My Lord expands or restricts the provision of any of His servants He wills. But anything you expend will be replaced by Him. He is the Best of Providers." (Surah Saba, 39)

The Qur'an says that Muslims who give their possessions will have their reward multiplied by His endless generosity. And believers know very well that possessions are of no benefit in this world for those who reject Allah; on the contrary, they will lead to misery, for He states:

Do not let their wealth and children impress you. Allah merely wants to punish them by them during their life in this world, and for them to die while they are unbelievers. (Surat at-Tawba, 55)

The Creation of Weakness and Illness is from Allah's Endless Mercy

And Ayyub when he called out to his Lord, 'Great harm has afflicted me and
You are the Most Merciful of the merciful,'
(Surat al-Anbiya, 83)

Those who do not follow the Qur'an's morality interpret every anxiety, hardship, or illness as a disaster that upsets their orderly lives and destroys their dreams. This is because their plans for the future, which they expect to realize, deny such possibilities, even though such things happen every day. There is no place in their plans for a sudden illness or an accident. Many, even though they have a healthy body, think that they cannot confront these kinds of misfortune that happen to thousands of people every day. As a result, when confronted with such events, they become rebellious and begin to question Allah's destiny for them.

Seeing the cause of illness only in terms of germs and viruses, or traffic accidents as the result of bad driving, they remain unaware of the fact that Allah creates, and therefore controls and has knowledge of, every cause. If a person becomes very ill because of a virus, this illness is included in Allah's knowledge. If a person is hit by a car and is left paralyzed, this is also subject to the fate that Allah has created. People are free to do whatever they want, but they cannot change their destiny, for it surrounds them on all sides. Those who submit to Allah's eternal power and trust in His endless wisdom and mercy view each illness, accident, and disaster as a temporary test that will end in good.

What is important in such instances is that the believers show their good moral character while submitting to their destiny with great patience, morality, and desire to draw even closer to Allah. Illness and accidents are periods when believers can show their patience and good moral character and they are important opportunities for them to draw close to Allah. In His endless mercy, the Lord has created illness, anxiety and hardship as tests and He desires by these means that everything will turn out for the good of His faithful servants. In the Qur'an, Allah has determined the period of illness and told us about the importance of showing patience in the face of hardship.

Rather, those with true devoutness are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, and the Prophets; and who, despite their love for it, give away their wealth to their relatives, orphans and the very poor, travelers and beggars, free slaves, and who perform prayer and give alms; those who honor their contracts when they make them, and are steadfast in poverty, illness, and battle. These are the people who are true. They are the people who guard against evil. (Surat al-Baqara, 177)

As the period of illness has already been determined, we need to realize that we must endure that particular test in a way that pleases Allah, for He has created both the test and the cure. We must not falter in the face of seeing no good in the situation; rather, we must submit to Him in complete sincerity and wait to see what happens, sure in our knowledge that He will reward us with endless beauty in the Hereafter. Most importantly, when we are passing through any given test, we must bear in mind that it is happening for a reason, which may or may not be known, that somehow will benefit us. Therefore, it must be kept in mind that all illnesses that happen to people happen for a reason. If Allah willed, no one would ever be ill or feel pain. But even if a person encounters these difficulties, he must realize that experiencing them is good for him because they enable him to understand the transitory nature of this world and the eternal power of Allah. In addition, such tests help us understand this world's transitory nature and Allah's eternal power.

In times of illness, a healthy person's body falls victim to invisible germs and viruses and may experience weakness and pain in various areas. Perhaps they may even become bedridden. Their inability to overcome a microscopic virus reminds them of their inherent weakness and complete need for Allah. Perhaps they may remember this truth when they regain their health and strength or recover their lost possessions, for those who do not suffer often give it no thought. As a result, they may acquire a greater appreciation of the Creator's endless mercy, compassion, and power.

One of the things we do not think about in our daily life is how much of a blessing health is. An individual who has not had a long term illness is not used to feeling pain or discomfort. But when he becomes ill, he realizes that being healthy is a great gift from Allah. Some people, when they are stricken with a health-threatening illness or lose a limb, think of it as something bad for them. They do not consider that Allah may have sent it to them so that they would turn toward Him and begin thinking about the real meaning of life and the reality of the Afterlife. Perhaps they will realize how senseless their attachment to the world really is and how they could die at any moment. This new awareness, gained through an unexpected illness, may lead them toward salvation and engender within them a desire to start trying to earn Allah's good pleasure. When considered from this point of view, we can better understand that illness is a source of good for believers, a great gift from Allah to humanity.

When people believe that death is approaching, they begin to consider what such an event means. They may pray sincerely to Allah for good health, even if they have never prayed before. This may draw them closer to Allah and, if it causes a real change in their worldview, will have been a great boon for them by causing them to begin a new life. And, if this person continues to pray with the same sincerity and reacts with gratitude when the illness is past, his illness will have been a great blessing for him and the means by which he will lead a blameless life. Illness, therefore, is a great mercy and a gift given by Allah, designed to lead people toward seeing the possibility of good in everything, to make them think on a much deeper level than they are used to, and to take resort in Allah in every situation. In the Qur'an, Allah tells us that there are people who resort to Him in times of such difficulty. In Surah Yunus, it is revealed as follows:

When harm touches a person, he [or she] calls on Us, lying on his [or her] side, sitting down, or standing up. Then when We remove the harm, he [or she] carries on as if he [or she] had never called on Us when the harm first touched him [or her]. In that way, We make what they have done appear good to the profligate. (Surah Yunus, 12)

We learn from this verse that it is not enough for people to pray in times of hardship. Just as they pray when they understand their own weakness in relation to Allah, they must also pray and take refuge in Him when they receive a blessing from Him. Perhaps this illness and anxiety may be the means by which they finally understand their weakness, repent, and begin a new life of complete submission to Him. In this case, our All-Merciful Lord's mercy will use this test as the door to the Afterlife's eternal blessings. In the Qur'an, Allah gives the example of the afflictions of Job (pbuh). Job (pbuh) was a patient believer who always turned to Allah, and as a manifestation of His mercy, Allah was pleased to show him the way, help him and grant him blessings.

We learn from this verse that it is not enough for people to pray in times of hardship. Just as they pray when they understand their own weakness in relation to Allah, they must also pray and take refuge in Him when they receive a blessing from Him. Perhaps this illness and anxiety may be the means by which they finally understand their weakness, repent, and begin a new life of complete submission to Him. In this case, our All-Merciful Lord's mercy will use this test as the door to the Afterlife's eternal blessings. In the Qur'an, Allah gives the example of the afflictions of Job (pbuh). Job (pbuh) was a patient believer who always turned to Allah, and as a manifestation of His mercy, Allah was pleased to show him the way, help him and grant him blessings. (Surah Sad, 41-44)

The Easiness of Islam is a Blessing From Allah

So set your face firmly toward the Religion, as a pure natural believer, Allah's natural pattern on which He made humanity …
(Surat ar-Rum, 30)

Believers constantly live their lives according to what the All-Merciful and Most Merciful has revealed in the Qur'an. No matter where they are, they display a moral character that pleases Allah and avoid any behavior that displeases Him. In His mercy, Allah gave Islam to humanity, a religion that is easy to follow and results in a good and contented way of life. From the Qur'an, we can see that Islam's requirements are extremely easy, because "Allah desires ease for you; He does not desire difficulty for you" (Surat al-Baqara, 185)

Due to His compassion and mercy, all true religions contain rules that are very easy to obey. The various attempts made throughout history to deviate from the essence of religion and to prevent people from living according to it have added several enforced practices and myths to it. When such distortions become firmly established and self-generating traditions, people, either with or without their knowledge, become far removed from the religious morality. One of the most dangerous of these distorted beliefs is that it is hard to live according to the religious morality. However, both Allah and our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) state that it is very easy for believers to follow this morality.

As with everything else that exists, Allah has created human beings from nothing. With full knowledge of them, as well as being closer to them than their jugular veins, He created religion in such a way that it fully corresponds with each person's inherent human nature:

So set your face firmly toward the Religion, as a pure natural believer, Allah's natural pattern on which He made humanity. There is no changing Allah's creation. That is the true Religion – but most people do not know it. (Surat ar-Rum, 30)

The Qur'an is a clear teaching that anyone, regardless of age and culture, can understand. The oft-heard assertion that this is not true is based mainly on people's ignorance of Islam's essence. Today, many people are unaware of the truths revealed in the Qur'an, the existence of the Afterlife, the pangs of Hell, the incomparable blessings of Paradise, and of what He has revealed concerning various matters. However, the Qur'an was sent down so that people could read it, know its wisdom, and learn the purpose of life:

It's revealed in the Qur'an that: "And [I have been ordered] to recite the Qur’an." (Surat an-Naml, 92)

A Muslim's greatest responsibility is to read the Qur'an and live according to It. The Qur'an is clear, and everyone who reads It can understand It. But only those whom Allah guides to the straight path can apply Its morality to their lives. Allah promises to guide everyone who turns to Him in complete sincerity. Those who assert that the Qur'an is hard to understand seek to prevent others from reading it, turning toward Allah, and living according to its moral teachings. However, Allah says in many verses that the Qur'an is clear and understandable:

We have sent down Clear Signs to you, and no one rejects them except the deviators. (Surat al-Baqara, 99)

O humanity! A clear proof has come to you from your Lord. We have sent down a Clear Light to you. (Surat an-Nisa, 174)

Allah has been pleased to choose the religion of Islam for humanity; moreover, the rules and practice of the Qur'an are very simple. In its verses, Allah says of the Qur'an:

We did not send down the Qur'an to you to make you miserable, but only as a reminder for those who fear [and respect Allah].(Surah Ta Ha, 2-3)

As mentioned earlier, the Qur'an's morality corresponds exactly with human nature, for both were created by Allah. Allah has created human beings from nothing and He knows very well what they need, what worship they have the strength to perform and how they will be healthy, contented and happy. For this reason, Allah says in the Qur'an that no one will be given a responsibility that is beyond his strength to fulfill:

Allah does not impose on any self something more than it can stand. For it is what it has earned; against it, what it has brought upon itself. "Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord, do not place on us a load like the one You placed on those before us. Our Lord, do not place on us a load we have not the strength to bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our Master, so help us against the unbelievers." (Surat al-Baqara, 286)

In His endless mercy and compassion, Allah has detailed in the Qur'an the kind of life that will ensure our happiness and contentment. For example, as part of their creation, human beings are naturally loving, respectful, and compassionate and wish to receive the same treatment from others. They avoid cruelty, immorality and evil and do not want to be subjected to them. Such feelings exist in one's soul by Allah's will. Allah created people upon this disposition. Consequently, a life in compliance with the Islamic morality is the most pleasing life that a human being will derive pleasure from. Allah states this in the Qur'an as follows:

But as for him [or her] who believes and acts rightly, he [or she] will receive the best of rewards, and We will issue a command, making things easy for him [or her]. (Surat al-Kahf, 88)

We have made the Qur'an easy to remember. But is there any one there who will remember it?  (Surat al-Qamar, 17)

He has selected you and not placed any constraint upon you in the religion – the religion of your forefather Abraham.(Surat al-Hajj, 78)

One of the most important features of the hadiths of our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), who made the Qur'an his guide, is that they are very easy to follow. Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), who made the Qur'an his guide gave this advice to his people:"Make things easy for the people, and do not make it difficult for them. Make them calm (with glad tidings), and do not repulse (them)" (Sahih Bukhari).

... turning toward Him. Fear [and respect] Him and perform prayer. Do not be among the idolaters.
(Surat ar-Rum, 31)

It is important for every Muslim to show that religion, in its essence, is easy in order to kindle the people's hearts with the Qur'an and Islamic morality, teach them the Qur'an and our Prophet's (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) Sunnah as the only guides for their lives. Many people are unaware of this truth and think that their lives will be more comfortable if they disregard the Qur'an's morality out of concern that it will restrict their enjoyment of life's pleasures. However, such great errors and deceptions obscure the fact that such morality is easy to follow, for Allah, Who created humanity, is fully aware of what system of morality is best for His creation. Actually, what is difficult is to live in a society composed of individuals who do not know the boundaries that Allah has set.

Various types of stress pervade societies that do not follow the Qur'an's morality: continual chaos, confusion, discontent, fear, unhappiness, and stress. Those who do not fear and respect Allah know no limits and thus are prone to lives characterized by immorality. They lead a degenerate life. They do not give of themselves to others, offer no material or spiritual support, and make a display of love and respect without knowing what they really mean. For this reason, apart from the kind of life Allah has revealed, people can never be happy.

For example, the frequent examples we encounter today of drug use and trafficking, prostitution, bribery, and fraud is related to the absence of the religion's morality and the spiritual values that go with it. Those who live such lives consider themselves free and have the luxury of behaving as they wish. However, such freedom will result in their material and spiritual ruin.

When people do not live by the moral teachings of the Qur'an, an environment appears in which people can never find contentment. This is just the kind of environment resembling Hell, as is desired by satan.

Think of a person who has led a dissolute and miserable life whose health has deteriorated through prostitution, drugs, and alcohol, and who looks much older than his biological age. What can be the advantage of leading such a life? Indeed, leading a life without limits, disregarding the Qur'anic morality in the belief that there is only oblivion at the end always brings physical and spiritual ruin, for Allah reveals in the Qur'an that: "hearts find peace in the remembrance of Allah"(Surat ar-Ra'd, 28). It is Allah Who gives people contentment; otherwise they can never find comfort.

Besides as a result, those who ignore the Qur'an's morality in this life will feel deep sorrow and experience great pain and hardship in the Afterlife. Those who have no belief, act contrary to their conscience, and freely transgress the limits that He has set, will suffer in both worlds. Allah reveals in one of the verses:

Those are Allah's limits [that He has placed upon humanity], and anyone who oversteps them has wronged himself [or herself]. (Surat at-Talaq, 1)

Those who sincerely submit to Allah, fear and respect Him, and observe the Qur'an's morality will enjoy success in both worlds. Above all, they experience the spiritual enjoyment and clear conscience that come from obeying Him, for Allah gives glad tidings to those who do His will and keep within the boundaries:

Those who repent, those who worship, those who praise, those who fast, those who bow, those who prostrate, those who command the right, those who forbid the wrong, and those who preserve the limits of Allah: give good news to the believers.(Surat at-Tawba, 112)

Some people who cannot understand the essence of religion can easily become fanatical by prohibiting what Allah has not prohibited, and thereby assume that they are superior to others. Allah has warned believers about this danger:

Say: "O People of the Book. Do not go to extremes in your religion, asserting other than the truth, and do not follow the whims and desires of people who were misguided previously and have misguided many others, and are far from the right way." (Surat al-Ma'ida, 77)

Allah gives the example of some Christians who deviated from Jesus' (pbuh) teachings:

Then We sent Our Messengers following in their footsteps and sent Jesus son of Mary after them, giving him the Gospel. We put compassion and mercy in the hearts of his followers. They invented monasticism – We did not prescribe it for them – purely out of desire to gain Allah's pleasure. But even so, they did not observe it as it should have been observed. To those of them who believed We gave their reward, but many of them are deviators. (Surat al-Hadid, 27)

As mentioned in the verse above, the people who made the laws did not observe them properly. However, what a person must do is to obey the commands that Allah has made in the Qur'an and to avoid what He has forbidden. They sought to make religion difficult for others, even though Allah has made it easy. Such people should realize that they will have to account for this in the Afterlife. As in everything else, our Prophet's (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) life and practice is our best example.

In one hadith, he reminds believers not to abandon or transgress the limitations that Allah has set and states that it is easy to live a life of religious morality:

"Religion is simple. No one can be severe against religion, for he [or she] will be defeated. (That is to say, one should conform to religion's ease. Whoever tries to be firm will be helpless). Straighten your line of conduct, be close to the boundary/end"  (Rumuz al-Ahadith, 1:98)

People should regard religion as our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) mentioned in the hadith above. In His mercy, Allah has made Himself clear and understandable, and yet it is a big mistake that some people try to make His easy decrees appear difficult and incomprehensible. This ease is a proof of Allah's limitless love, compassion, and generosity.