because You are the only One

if we cannot determine our physical appearance, neither can we determine our destiny. it is only Allah Who determines the birth of a man, his community, his family and the experience he will have throughout his life. it is again Allah Who inspires in us wisdom and good sense.

even our faith in Allah does not depend on our own characteristics. again it is Allah, the One and Only, Who grants us faith. He is the One Who guides, teaches and trains. as Musa (Moses) said in reply to a question put by Pharaoh: "Our Lord is He that gave to each thing its form and nature and further, gave guidance." [QS Ta Ha 50]

those who go to hell are the people who fully deserve it, because they have rebelled against Allah Who created them and in feeling the wrath of Allah, they receive their just deserts. as for those who are admitted to paradise, Allah grants them His blessings and forgives their sins.

the believers must understand how wonderful it is to have been chosen by Allah, and must be grateful and praise Allah with all their hearts for what He has given them in His munificence. they should appreciate that they have been chosen from among millions of people and that they are the few blessed servants of Allah to be selected and set apart from a community whose members face perdition. the entire conduct of the believers should reflect the honour of this great privilege. Allah describes those who face perdition thus:

"By (the Token of) Time. Verily man is in loss. Except those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and recommend one another to truth, and recommend one another to patience."
[QS al-'Asr 1-3]

is there a higher honour than that of being rescued and exalted above all others by the Lord of the Universe?