The Two Roads - Heaven and Hell

This is in corroboration with the \yah:
‘You (O Muslims) are the best of nations sent out for mankind.’
¬l `Imr\n
Muslims are the best of nations if they fulfil their mission of enjoining
mankind in performing good deeds and preventing them from evil.
This is something in addition to belief alone.
Time, one of the most valuable gifts of All\h I, has also been
mentioned in the poem for the reason that without it nothing would be
possible. The very essence of existence depends upon this. It is a great
shame to see that this very thing, this great gift is more often than not
the most wasted, and the most abused.
Amongst the questions a person will have to face on the day of
reckoning will be how his time was spent in this world. If it was utilised
properly in trying to gain All\h’s pleasure, a more than satisfactory
answer will be given.
Striving in the path of All\h I to Isl\m he would call,
Calling all to hold the Sunnah, as it will never let them fall.
“Striving in the path of All\h.” is a translation of Jih\d f|sab|lill\h. A
question arises as to what the word Jih\d means. A common
misconception is that the word denotes ‘Muslim holy war against nonbelievers’
(Oxford Concise), which is the usually rendered,
stereotypical and incomplete interpretation.
The word Jih\d is derived from the infinitive Juhd, which means to
make a determined effort. This word, Jih\d; unlike the word Qit\l
which means to fight, to engage in battle, is inclusive of many different
actions of which to engage in battle is undeniably one, but not the only
53