INTRODUCTION
Let us, for the sake of analogy, assume that you are travelling alone on a road which, after a certain point, bifurcates into two: One a hilly and difficult track; and the other a smooth and comfortable path sloping down to a plain. The first road is uneven, rugged and scattered with stones, thorns and pitfalls; it also involves a difficult uphill journey. But at the beginning of his road the authorities have put up a notice which states: “THIS ROAD IN SPITE OF ITS INITIAL RUGGEDNESS AND HARDSHIPS IS THE CORRECT ROUTE THAT WILL LEAD YOU TO THE BIG CITY AND TO THE DESIRED DESTINATION”.
The second road is well paved and adorned on both sides with trees bearing fruits and flowers; it also has many cafes, and places of entertainment on either side; the traveler on this road shall find all that is dear to his heart and pleasing to his eyes and ears. But the notice placed at the beginning of this road reads as follows: “THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND DISASTROUS ROUTE; IT LEADS TO AN ABYSS AND TO CERTAIN DEATH”.
Which of the two roads would you prefer?
Human nature is, no doubt, inclined to opt for whatever is easy and effortless; pleasurable without sufferings; it prefers to run riot and to free itself from all shackles. Allah has created this instinct in the human being.
And every human being, if left unto himself, will follow the second path.
But at this juncture the human mind intervenes and applies the brakes; it urges man to think and weigh between the two options: a short lived pleasure followed by unremitting pain; and a brief and transient suffering followed by eternal bliss and joy. He will ultimately prefer the first option.
This is the analogy of Paradise and Hell.
The path to Hell is laid out with all the wares of pleasure dear to the
human heart: it has beauty with all its seductive powers; sensuous
enjoyments; and wealth from every possible source since wealth is always sought after. Besides these, unrestrained freedom of action and renunciation of all forms of all control is also ensured in that path because human beings crave for such freedom and liberty and hate all forms of restraint.
INTRODUCTION
Let us, for the sake of analogy, assume that you are travelling alone on a road which, after a certain point, bifurcates into two: One a hilly and difficult track; and the other a smooth and comfortable path sloping down to a plain. The first road is uneven, rugged and scattered with stones, thorns and pitfalls; it also involves a difficult uphill journey. But at the beginning of this road the authorities have put up a notice which states: “THIS ROAD INSPITE OF ITS INITIAL RUGGEDNESS AND HARDSHIPS IS THE CORRECT ROUTE THAT WILL LEAD YOU TO THE BIG CITY AND TO THE DESIRED DESTINATION”. The second road is well paved and adorned on both sides with trees bearing fruits and flowers; it also has many cafes, and places of entertainment on either side; the traveler on this road shall find all that is dear to his heart and pleasing to his eyes and ears. But the notice placed at the beginning of this road reads as follows: “THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND DISASTROUS ROUTE; IT LEADS TO AN ABYSS AND TO CERTAIN DEATH”. Which of the two roads would you prefer? Human nature is, no doubt, inclined to opt for whatever is easy and effortless; pleasurable without sufferings; it prefers to run riot and to free itself from all shackles. Allah has created this instinct in the human being. And every human being, if left unto himself, will follow the second path. But at this juncture the human mind intervenes and applies the brakes; it urges man to think and weigh between the two options: a shortlived pleasure followed by unremitting pain; and a brief and transient suffering followed by eternalbliss and joy. He will ultimately prefer the first option. This is the analogy of Paradise and Hell. The path to Hell is laid out with all the wares of pleasure dear to the human heart: it has beauty with all its seductive powers; sensuous enjoyments; and wealth from every possible source since wealth is always sought after. Besides these, unrestrained freedom of action and renuncia- tion of all forms of all control is also ensured in that path because human beings crave for such freedom and liberty and hate all forms of restraint. READ MORE