The Qur'ān for Ultimate Success

That the Qur’ān is the Last Book of God, revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) for the guidance of man, for all times and climes, needs to be reiterated. It holds distinction, palpable and discernible, in the jungle of books, in umpteen ways.

When we think of a book, the idea of its author comes along with it. Then what about the author of the Book, the Qur’ān? The Book itself says in many of its Surahs that it is a Revealed Book. The noble souls believe it while others fail to realise the Truth. This was the case at the time of its revelation in the early 7th century C.E., and it continues to be so even in this Age of Enlightenment and Knowledge Explosion. Those who choose not to accept the Qur’ān as a Revealed Book say that it was composed by Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him). During the very course of its revelation spread over 23 years, the Qur’ān dealt with this objection with a solid argument based on reason and logic: compose even a single verse of the sublime stature of a Qur’ānic verse. This was the challenge the Qur’ān threw to the world over 14 centuries ago, and it is here even now but no human has come forward, and we believe in the heart of hearts none will be able to do so in the times to come, to meet this challenge of the Qur’ān.

Then what about its acceptance or rejection? After all, it depends upon individuals to accept or reject a fact as and when it comes to them. And the Qur’ān grants this right to man. But, at the same time, it tells him, in unambiguous words, the result of accepting the Truth it has brought as well as the consequences of rejecting it. Here comes the need of the Heaven and the Hell. Those who believe in the teachings of the Qur’ān and lead their life accordingly will be blessed with the bounties of the Paradise where they will live for ever, and those who fail in qualifying the criteria will be thrown into the Hell. This reward and punishment is nothing new and unthinkable. In our physical world too, we reward a person who works hard and discharges his duties with commitment and devotion, and terminate a person who fails in even discharging his basic duties. In this regard, the Qur’ān puts a question in an emphatic manner: how can a person who acts righteously be equal to a person who does evil? This question makes us sit up and think whether or not the way of life we are following deserves the Paradise. If yes, well and good; and if no, what changes we have to make in our life successful here and in the hereafter. It is this process of thinking wherein lies our Ultimate Success.