The reward for perseverance [25:75]

The verses we have been considering the last few days lay out the qualities of His special servants or the Ibad ur Rahman, some of which are the following:

They are those who:

Are humble in their demeanour [25:63]

Do not engage with the ignorant [25:63]

Worship at night [25:64]

Seek forgiveness continuously [25:65]

Avoid falsehood and vanity [25:72]

Attend to His communication [27:73]

Adopt balance in your spending [25:67]

Pray for family and future generations [25:74]

Verse 76 of Sura Furqan goes on to say:

It is they who shall be rewarded with the lofty abode for having been patient/constant, and they will be met therein with salutations and [greetings of] peace.

People such as this whose knowledge, speech, thought, power, and writing all function for guiding people to the path of the Truth are paragons and examples of the humane society. They are counted as examples for pious persons. They are like guiding lights and lamps in deserts and seas, which call those who are lost to them and save them from falling down and sinking.

In many narrations we read that this verse is about Imam Ali (as) and family of the Prophet (S) and Imams (as). Imam Sadiq (as) said:

“The purpose of this verse is us.” (Nūr uth-Thaqalayn, following the verse)

Without doubt, the beloveds of The Merciful are the most prominent examples of Ibad ur Rahman and of course this does not limit the concept of the verse nor does it negate the idea that that pious believers can be imams and leaders of others in various degrees, starting within their primary sphere of influence, which is the home.

Because these people are so elevated, their recompense is also elevation, in Heaven, where they will be received in a “lofty abode” with greetings, to an eternal life in peace.

While these verses serve as a checklist of what we can aspire to, we can also remind ourselves that the key is constantly and perseverance. While we may exhibit some of these qualities some of the time [during Ramadan for example], the Ibad ur Rahman are embodiments of these virtues on a constant basis and that is what we pray to aspire to inshallah.