Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | The Sunday Guardian | 14th October 2012 | Page 12
God Almighty created billions and billions of things, some living and some non-living. Out of all this, man is the only creature who was created with a sense of pleasure. This uniquely human sense is what makes life agreeable and enjoyable for him. Without this sense of pleasure, he would go through life like a stone or a robot. Moreover, everyone feels that he can fulfil all his desires in this life. But everywhere in this world there are limitations and disadvantages. So human beings, whether rich or poor, are unlikely to find fulfilment.
But here God Almighty has given man another unique blessing. He has created a paradise, a perfect world with ideal situations. Then God Almighty has ordained that all those who are deserving of it should live in this perfect world for all eternity. A Quranic verse reads: "We are your companions in this life and in the hereafter. Therein you shall have all that your soul's desire, and therein you shall have all that you ask for" (41:31).
God Almighty decided that those men and women who passed the divine test would be selected for settlement in this eternal paradise. The criterion for deserving candidates for this paradise is basically one, and that is, that they should not have misused the freedom given to them by God Almighty.
There are some do's and don'ts about the uses of freedom, and these are clearly mentioned in the Quran: it is only those who measure up to these criteria who will be selected for entry into paradise in the post-death period of life.
Everyone has been given freedom and the crucial test is whether he misuses his freedom or he uses it properly. Those who fail to pass the test will be thrown into the universal litterbin, while those who pass the test will be admitted into paradise.