THE EFFECT OF PIETY IN BODY & SOUL

      At the beginning of the chapter (THE COW), QURÄN divides the people, in relation to Islam, into three groups:

      1) The VIRTUOUS who have accepted Islam completely and in all its aspects and respects.

      2) The UNBELIEVERS who are opposite to the first group.

      3) The HYPOCRITES with two faces, claiming to be a Muslim, when they encounter with Muslims and saying that they believe not when they meet the unbelievers!

      Their real attitude is BLASPHEMY and rejection of FAITH, and they are more dangerous to Islam than the unbelievers.

      In this verse (NO. 3) the first group are discussed and five qualifications are attributed to them:

 A- THE UNSEEN AND THE SENSUAL WORLD

      They believe in the UNSEEN. (world) - Seen and Unseen worlds are the two material and spiritual worlds that are VIS-A-VIS and opposite to each other. To believe in the - UNSEEN which is concealed of our senses, is the first step of separating the believers from the unbelievers; and it holds the followers of the Divine Religions, against those who reject faith in God, and in the INSPIRATION, and RESURRECTION.

      Therefore the first qualification mentioned here for the VIRTUOUS, is that they believe in the UNSEEN. (WORLD)

      Those who believe in the UNSEEN, do believe that the creator of this UNIVERSE has an infinite knowledge and power over all things. He is Eternal and Everlasting and controls all through His power and understanding.

      They believe the Death doesn't mean non-existence and annihilation. It rather is a window that opens to a more extensive world. though a materialist may believe that the life and the world is limited to what we can see and touch and feel, and the natural Laws and Rules are effective without any plan, aim, or programme. They believe that Death gives an end to everything, and reduces us to nothing!

      Are these two groups of man comparable to each other? Of course not. Because the first party can not avoid his good wishes, and doing good to other people, but the second group sees no reason for doing that. Therefore in the world of the BELIEVER, there is brotherhood and piety, there is help and mutual understandings, while in its opposite world there is colonization and exploitation, blood-shed and plunder and robbery. They have named their RETROGRESSIONS and moving backward as CIVILIZATION, and social development!

      The Arabic word GHAIB (translated to UNSEEN) is a very comprehensive word and in some traditions it has also been interpreted to mean the ABSENT EMAM AL-MAHDI (AS).

 B- COMMUNICATION WITH GOD

      Another distinguishing mark of the VIRTUOUS PERSON is that he performs the PRAYER which is an effective means of communication with God.

      The believers who have found and paved their way towards the METAPHISICAL WORLD are permanently kept in contact with the ORIGINATOR through their daily prayers. They only bow down to Allah and no one else. Such a man feels that he has moved up to an upper stage of life, and that he has obtained the rank and value to speak directly to his creator, and this motive serves to develop him the more and the better.

 C- CONNECTION WITH OTHER PEOPLE

      Another speciality of the VIRTUOUS PERSON is his relation and connection with other people, through bestowing in charity a part of that which God has given him.

      Here God does not say that: ``THEY BESTOW IN CHARITY A PART OF WHAT THEY OWN.'' He rather says: ``THEY BESTOW A PART OF WHATEVER ALLAH HAS GIVEN THEM;'' and that consists of MORALS KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM, SOCIAL POSITION and other physical and spiritual power and abilities too.