Did you then think that We had created you in vain and that...

Did you then think that We had created you in vain and that you shall not be returned to Us?" (23:115) In addition to these types of questions, there are as many as 976 inter­rogative statements, for example with what?, for what?, in what?, from what?, from whom?, for whom?, on whom?, and others such as then what?, then who?, like what?, and like who? etc. in the Noble Qur'an. C.

The language of peace, serenity and security Having seen the stern interrogative language of the Glorious Qur'an, let us now examine its soft language of security, peace and tranquillity: "But whoever believes, and works righteousness, he shall have a goodly reward, and easy will be his task as We order it by Our command." (18:88) "60 ‑ ...those who repent and believe, and work righteousness will enter the Garden and will not be wronged in the least.

61 ‑ Gardens of Eternity, those which (Allah) the Gracious, has promised to His obedients in the Unseen. His promise will certainly come to pass. 62 ‑ They will not there hear any vain discourse, but only salutations of peace (salam) and they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening.

[^1] 63 ‑ Such is the Garden which We give as an inheri­tance‑to those of Our obedients who guard against evil." (19:60‑63) According to Yusuf cAli, the distinguished translator of the Precious Qur'an, the Arabic word salam, translated as "Peace", has a much wider meaning. This word is derived from the Arabic root "S‑L‑M", and has various significant meanings such as: * A sense of security and permanence, which is unknown in this life, as in salam.

* Soundness; freedom from defects; perfection, as in the word salam. * Preservation, salvation, deliverance, as in the word sallama. * Salutation, accord and harmony with those around us. * Resignation in the sense that we are satisfied (and not discontented). * The ordinary meaning of peace for salam, i.e., freedom from any jarring element. * Total submission (to the will of Allah the Exalted), as in taslim. All these shades of meaning are implied in the word Islam.

If all the above can characterise the Heavens, then the ultimate destiny of Islam is the Heavens. D. The mystic elements The strength of the mystical contents of the Holy Qur'an, nourishing the inner aspects of our being, has been the aspiration for the ripening of sufism and mysticism over the centuries.