Some who follow a religious tradition struggle to grasp what genuine faith requires. For example, the worst of hell is reserved for those who reject God and oppress people. In contrast, since there are 7 heavens, the best of heaven is reserved for those who are most beneficial to humanity.
Also, there are degrees of virtue and ranks in heaven, and like in Dante’s inferno, evil and hell also has its ranks.
Why is this knowledge important? Some people are cruel and harm others deliberately as they believe themselves to be superior. The same people attend Synagogue, Church and Mosque, etc. thinking their behaviour is okay.
Let’s explain: Faith is holistic and requires belief and action. Without belief, action is empty and without action, belief is abstract.
Since every verse in the Torah, Bible and Qur’an was revealed in a specific context, its actual meaning can only be understood when understanding the context.
For example, the Qur’an says, “surely, those who believed in God, and those who are Jews and Christians and Sabians, whomsoever believes in God and in the Last Day and does good deeds, all such people will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no reason for them to fear, nor shall they grieve”.
This Qur’an verse explains that other faiths besides Muslims will enter heaven.
Muslims may despise the oppression of Palestinians or American imperialism in the Muslim world, but Muslims cannot despise righteous Jews and Christians. These people are protected by Qur’anic verse.
In contrast, in other faiths, the “sanctimonious” believe only their kind will receive salvation. This is why hate comes easy to some people.
Why is this information vital? Humans have discriminated against others for millennia, thinking it is okay. Those who feel racial or ethnic superiority must know that according to the Torah, Bible and Qur’an, God dislikes those with feelings of superiority. If feelings of superiority stem from your faith, then your understanding or your faith is defective.
Nobody, because of lineage, race or ethnicity is exempted from being a good human. Nobody will be held liable for another’s sin. It is illogical and an excuse for criminals, otherwise what is the point of law and divine judgement?
The bottom line is simple – faith without good action, reason and logic, has no genuine value.
When you are a racist, an oppressor or a regular criminal, a priest cannot absolve your crimes because nobody has been delegated divine authority since the final messenger.
God’s grace is not cheap, it requires asking forgiveness from those knowingly harmed and paying compensation for historic crimes.
* Cllr Yagyah Adams, Cape Muslim Congress.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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