Lofty Paradise

Reading the Quran is a fundamental part of faith. It is not just a book, but a living study guide—graciously given to help us return our souls to Allah in the purity they were created with. This act of reading and reflecting isn’t passive; it is an active, ongoing process that fine-tunes and strengthens our faith, because Allah created us to both progress and maintain.

Without study, how would a non-Muslim come to belief? Just as no one becomes skilled in a craft, a trade, or even love itself without learning and reflecting, faith too requires effort and understanding. Allah, in His infinite wisdom, knows that we are shaped by history and circumstance. He created us as descendants of Adam (peace be upon him), who himself witnessed Paradise. But when Adam and Hawwa’ (Eve) (peace be upon them) exercised free will and listened to Iblis instead of holding firmly to Allah’s command, Allah instructed them to “descend” to earth—a place designed to test our free will against His guidance.

In this life, Allah invites us to study for Paradise. Earth is both a test and a lesson: the Quran is our curriculum, and belief is the practice that keeps us aligned.

Surah Nuh (71) beautifully reminds us of this very purpose. Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) called his people persistently, encouraging them to study Allah’s signs and return to Him:

"(He said): 'O my people! Verily, I am a plain warner to you.'"

"'That you should worship Allah (Alone), fear (be dutiful to) Him, and obey me,'"

"'He (Allah) will forgive you of your sins and respite you to an appointed term…'"

(71:2–4, Muhsin Khan)
Nuh’s call shows that faith isn’t inherited by blood or culture alone; it’s nurtured through reflection and learning. Just as Nuh kept calling his people "night and day" (71:5), faith requires us to keep returning to the Quran—to think, question, and understand.

Allah also directs us to look beyond words to the signs around us:

8. "Then verily, I called to them openly (aloud);"
9. "Then verily, I proclaimed to them in public, and I have appealed to them in private,"
10. "I said (to them): 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord; Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving;"
11. "'He will send rain to you in abundance;"
12. "'And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.'"

"See you not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another,"
"And has made the moon a light therein, and made the sun a lamp?"
(71:15–16)

These verses show that studying the Quran means studying life itself—understanding our purpose in the world Allah created, a world that points back to Him in every detail.

Ultimately, like Adam (peace be upon him), we were sent to earth with a choice: to live by our own limited will, or to study Allah’s guidance and return our soul to Him purified. As Nuh (peace be upon him) prayed:

"My Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and him who enters my home as a believer, and all the believing men and women..."
(71:28)

By keeping the Quran close and living by its words, we learn how to navigate the challenges of free will while staying true to our divine purpose. Just as Adam’s story teaches, the journey back to Paradise isn’t just about origin or history—it is about continually seeking knowledge, reflecting, and applying what we learn so our souls stay nourished and it's efficacy is maintained.