Foreword
Human history has a beginning as well as an end. The end of human history will be followed by another world—a flawless one in the fullest sense.
Human history began with a man and a woman and following a continuous birth and death process, countless people have come to this world. For thousands of years, this chain has been established from generation to generation. In the first quarter of the 21st century, the number of human beings on the entire planet has exceeded seven billion. Those who have died before then did not perish but are still alive. They will be raised in the Hereafter.
Human history has a beginning as well as an end. The end of human history will be followed by another world—a flawless one in the fullest sense. This world will be inhabited by the selected people from all over human history. In a similar vein, the Quran tells us that, “My righteous servants shall inherit the earth.” (21:105)
We find the same message in previous divine books revealed to the prophets. In the Bible, we find these words, “Depart from evil, and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish. The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.” (Psalm, 37: 27-29)
This message has been preserved in the Quran. According to the creation plan, God created an ideal world which was perfect in all respects. He ordained that this ultimate world be inhabited by impeccable ideal human beings. To achieve this target of selecting deserving candidates for eternal Paradise, while rejecting the undeserving; God first settled man on Earth giving him complete freedom. The present world is, therefore, a selection ground for this grand project. Here, it is being observed as to who makes proper use of his freedom and who misuses it. At the end of human history, those individuals who have abused their freedom will be rejected, and those who may have exercised it judiciously will be selected and settled in eternal Paradise.
Historians view history as a whole, but the right way, according to the divine concept, is to look at history in terms of the individuals. Historians form their judgement about history in terms of the groups of human beings, whereas the right method, according to the divine concept, is to form their judgement in terms of the individuals. Human history should be interpreted taking it into account that in this temporary world, ideal individuals are being selected by God from every generation to inhabit the world of Paradise in the eternal world of the Hereafter.
Wahiduddin Khan
March 2021
New Delhi
