the religious beliefs of islam explained
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wicked would be punished. That this is incorrect seems so obvious now, but the editors in question intruded those opinions throughout the books of the Torah, misleading people). So we must expect both Heaven and Hell – but we have no idea how long resurrected people will remain in these states. Some people think the final states will be for ever – but not everyone agrees. All Muslims do agree that it will be for as long as God wills22; all a sinful person can do is to hope for the mercy of the Compassionate One.
What do Muslims mean by dhikr, or ‘remembering’ Allah? Muslims strive to remain conscious of God all the time, morning and evening, day and night, through all the normal activities of life. At the same time, they do not wish to withdraw from normal life, except in certain circumstances. Muslims wish every action and thought to be permeated with the remembrance of Allah. Dhikr is the practice of bringing God to remembrance. Some Muslims practise remembrance in a ritual way, perhaps by chanting phrases, or adopting certain positions, or by setting aside specific time for prayer and contemplation. For example, everyone has heard of the whirling dance of certain Muslims called ‘dervishes’, a dance which is supposed to bring about trance-like states. Others opt for the rhythmic chanting of phrases, sometimes accompanied by
