So since good deeds cancel out bad deeds, does that mean less worldly punishment
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Salam
Good deeds cancel out bad ones...
To my knowledge (if I remember correctly), both believers & disbelievers can also get punished on earth for their sins. I don't mean capital punishment, I mean DIVINE PUNISHMENT i.e. you get a disease, you lose money, you get depressed etc., punishment from God not from humans (although God can also punish a person through humans but I'm referring to divine INEVITABLE punishment here). So would that mean, the more we make up for our sins by doing good deeds, the less we get punished?
'For them is good news in this life, and in the Hereafter. There is no alteration to the words of God. That is the supreme triumph.' 1064
I remember reading (if I'm not mistaken) that God placed Jonah inside the whale because he disobeyed/ got angry and then he prayed and was saved from the worldly tragedy...Okay found the following verse...btw feel like a bit of a hypocrite since I've had anger issues in the past lol so I guess this is advice for me before anyone else...
'And the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.' 2187
'So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.' 2188
'And had he not been of those who exalt Allah,' 37143
'He would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected.' 37144
So what do you think? Share any knowledge on the topic that could add to the discussion (if you want to)...
On a side note, for anyone saying go read the Qur'an, you don't know that much etc. ...we are SUPPOSED TO DISCUSS the Qur'an with other believers according to my understanding and this is the only way for me to ever get into contact with other Qur'an only followers. How would you know where I am in my knowledge? I may know less about one topic than you but more about other topics...there are a lot of controversial subjects/ issues too where we may understand things differently (you may think I'm wrong about something but I may also think the same about something you may have discussed), nobody is perfect or all-knowing except God)...please do not discourage me or anyone else from discussing since discussion helps everyone learn more one way or another. We are supposed to contemplate God's words...
Peacee
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There are many sufferings in this world which are undeserved. We all know that.
That is one problem I see with this clssifying of punishments. What is an underserved suffering and what is a punishment? How do we distinguish one from another. On the other hand, we see people, evil people that live and die undisturbed and profiting from their misdeeds, at least from a "normal" point of view.
Of course, since everything must balance out, nothing will be left unrequitted, neither underserved sufferings nor undeserved enjoyments.
So my take is that all mentions of punishments inthe Qur'an are meant, like the whole of Qur'an for those who are willing to take warning. So the warning is there, either we repent and clean our board either we will be punished in due course so that we do clean our board willingly or unwillingly. If we are too coward or to lazy to improve from our own will, God will make us improve.
What I feel we should be in guard against is that anything unwelcome tht happens to us is a punishment. Some times it may be some times it is definitely not, but just a trial.
Salaam
Punishment is nto for th enjoyment of God, bu for our improvement. Adn in fact we do know, at the time it happens or later, where with unhappy events we are being taught a lesson and when not, it is simply a trial tht God wants in our life.Salaam
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Peace Sarah.
An interesting topic, this is my view;
Basically we are either with GOD (GOD conscious) or we go it alone-without GOD.
If we are not with GOD , then it is a lottery of events happening to us according to our own decisions . We are not under GOD s protection if our main decision is not to be with GOD.
13;31
Even if a Quran caused mountains to move, or the earth to tear asunder, or the dead to speak (they will not believe). God controls all things. Is it not time for the believers to give up and realize that if God willed, He could have guided all the people? The disbelievers will continue to suffer disasters, as a consequence of their own works/decisions, or have disasters strike close to them, until God's promise is fulfilled. God will never change the predetermined destiny.If we are with GOD, then GOD has promised our protection, if we have problems it is to do with us, if good comes our way it is from GOD.
We may not commit big sins like murder...
However lust, lying, back-biting ,jealousy, being nosy, spying on people, spreading rumours?etc can be small things or big things?
Now ?intentions? are what matters in those things.
All sins are harmful. If we are true believers we recognise a sin. We build a defence mechanism called? Remembering GOD? 24/7!!!
That will be our weapon. Once we realise who GOD is, we will automatically feel His presence everywhere.
We will know His attributes .i.e His greatness, omnipotence, omnipresence, He is there with us where ever we are?etc.The second we feel temptation, a bell should ring inside us, a warning that our Lord is there watching us. How can we proceed knowing this?
If the urge is too strong and we make the first few steps towards the temptation, seek refuge in the Lord He is still there ready to help.
If we still cannot resist and we make more steps towards the temptation? And so on ,then we commit the sin!!!
Well, there is a lot of repentance to be done in this case. Make sure we mean it.
Implore The Lord and sincerely promise we will do better from now on?
He will try us harder this time, We will need a lot of willpower from now on?etc.
This is where disasters can strike. They can be a blessing in disguise if we repent.
Just make sure we do not keep coming back to your sin, otherwise we may then reach a situation where there is no return.
In simple term, if temptation of any sort tickles our fancy, remember our Lord. If remembering our Lord becomes our habit, the Lord is always there to save and protect us. .
GOD bless you/
Peace.