Fake Fruits and Flowers
True religion is that which makes one realize that there is but one God and Creator of this universe who will gather all human beings after death to take them into account.
These days, people have started manufacturing plastic flowers and fruits. They look just like real flowers and fruits. However, if you smell a plastic flower, it has none of the fragrance of a natural flower. If you bite into a plastic fruit, it has none of the taste of natural fruit. In just the same way, absurd forms of religiosity have appeared these days. On its face, they appear grandiose, but if you examine them closely, they have none of the true essence of religion—fear of God and genuine concern for other human beings. In this age of plastic, perhaps religiosity has become plastic, too.
Many people may appear very pious but unwilling to accept their mistakes. They are not willing to sacrifice their egos for the sake of God. They may get together with others and sink their differences and complaints about their interests. However, in this world, no one will set aside his differences and complaints and join hands with others for the sake of God.
True religion is that which enables a person to attain the truth that there is but one God of this entire universe. This God is the Creator of all things. He will gather all human beings after their death and take account of them. And then, based on their deeds, He will put them into eternal Heaven or Hell. It is such a serious fact that if it seeps deeply into a man’s mind, his entire life is completely transformed. He becomes cautious about all things that lead people to the fires of Hell, and he becomes very eager about the things that make someone worthy of the gardens of Heaven. He begins to fear God above everything else. He begins to love God above all else. He subdues his existence to live in the glory of God.
This growing awareness of God and the Hereafter makes people more attentive and responsible for other creatures. If he thinks ill of others by chance, it will make him feel that he is hurling himself into the pit of Hell. Just the thought of indulging in high-handed behaviour with others brings the fear that his action will lead angels to drag him to Hell. If he deals unjustly with people, he feels he will be taken to task by God in the Hereafter. In his sight, every person appears not simply as a human but as a being with whom God, along with all His angels, is standing together.
