PERFECT COMFORT AND ETERNAL PROSPERITY

      Quran's style is to put various and opposite matters and groups of people, in a scale of comparison. In the foregoing verses, we read the fate of the disbelievers, haughty, and oppressors; and here is the destiny of those who have faith and good deeds:

      ``Those who believed and did righteous deeds, are the companions of Paradise.''

      Here in this sentence, there is a parenthetical phrase, set between the subject and predicate, that reminds us of one of the important favours of God, saying:

      ``We never charge a person more than he can bear or do.'' This verse like all the others, declares the means of salvation to be FAITH, and GOOD DEEDS. This is of course contrary and out of phase, with the Christian doctrine of ATONEMENT, that deliverance from the bondage and consequences of sin is through Christ's atonement.

(ATONEMENT

      The orthodox Christians hold the doctrine that Jesus Christ reconciled man to God, by his sacrificial death on the cross, and that Christ made atonement for Christians' sins.

      As to how this was accomplished; ideas are different; some say that: ``Christ's death was a ransom paid to Satan.'' Some other like St. Anselm believe that: ``It was a penalty paid to God for the satisfaction of Divine Justice.'' Some other state that: ``The penalty for sin is death, and since Christ's sinless life did not deserve, it is substituted for the penalty we deserve; and that Christ's righteous life is substituted for our sinful life. (ROME. 5: 19)

 (Translator's Note)