Islam's Reformers .pdf

Because they think only of worldly ease and happiness, theyregard good deeds superior to îmân. In the book Kavm-i Cedîd(Modern People), which was published in the time of the Partyof Union, real Muslims, having îmân and good deeds are called“Kavm-i Atîk” (Ancient People). It derides Muslims and says,“They say that a man who has îmân will be rescued in the nextworld, no matter how much evil he commits, and the personwithout îmân will get no good in the next world, even if he doesevery kind of goodness in the world.” However, Allâhu ta’âlâdeclares, “Disbelievers’ good deeds [and inventions useful tomen] in this world are like a mirage seen distant in thedesert. A thirsty man supposes it to be water from thedistance. But when he gets near it, he cannot find what heexpects. On the Day of Judgement, he will find Allâhu ta’âlâand give his account to Him, who makes the good deedsdone by disbelievers in this world look like a mirage, thatis, who annihilates them” (sûrat an-Nûr, 19); “The gooddeeds of those who disbelieve in Allâhu ta’âlâ are likeashes blown about by the wind on a stormy day. In the nextworld, they get no use from those deeds” (sûrat Ibrâhîm,18); “On the Day of Judgement, We will turn their gooddeeds into thin dust flying towards those for whom they dothem, since they do not do for us,” (sûrat al-Furqân, 23) and“Shall we declare those whose labours prove most vain?They suppose they do good actions in the world. However,they are people who strive in vain. They have not believedthe âyats of their Rabb and that they would enter Hispresence in the Judgement. We annihilate their favours. Wedo not neutralize their evils with their favours.” (sûrat al-Kahf, 103-4) These âyats show that the Ahl as-Sunna belief isright.Although the âyats stating the worthlessness of the favoursdone by disbelievers in this world show that they will be givenno reward, they will cause the punishment to be alleviatedaccording to some Islamic scholars. For the âyat, (Theirpunishment will not be alleviated,” (sûrat al-Baqara, 86; sûratâl ’Imrân, 88) these scholars said, “It will not be alleviated inrespect of time; they will be tortured eternally.” These scholarsbased their view upon the âyats, “On the Day of Judgement,we will put forward the balance of justice. No one willsuffer. He who does goodness as small as a mustard seed- 59 -