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Bismillahi ar-rahmani ar-rahim

We have already looked at how Iblis refused to obey Allah’s command out of pride and jealousy. We have also seen, how he succeeded in tempting the first people away from the Straight Path to follow his crooked way. As a result, our ancestors had to leave the presence of Allah and the garden, which was their home. They and Iblis became enemies to each other. (Al A’rāf 7:24,25) We are witnessing the truth of that enmity every single day. Greed, lust, hatred, pride, jealousy, cruelty, cowardice, indifference are all fruits of people still being led astray by the Enemy. Neither are we only neutral witnesses of the evil ruling around us. We often let some of the above-listed (and other) vices dictate our own actions. Al Basīr (The All-Seeing) knows it best. We also see the fruit of that enmity manifested in fear, sickness, pain, grief and death. Sheytan told a lie, when he tempted our mother Hawa, saying: You will certainly not die. Allah, on the other hand, spoke the truth, when he warned Adam and his wife from doing that, which He forbade: Do not even touch it. If you do, you will die.

So where, then, is the mercy of Al Rahīm (The Merciful)? Why do we call Him by that name every day? What is the guidance that he promised to Adam and his wife (Al Baqara 2:38)? The Qur’an says:

Al A’rāf 7:26

يَا بَنِي آدَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْآتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ ذَلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ

O ye Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness - that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition!

Allah provided the sinners with clothes instead of the leaves which they tried to use in vain to cover their shame (Al A’rāf 7:22). But then he said to them, that these are only a symbol of THE BEST covering of shame (in Arabicلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى= libāsu-l-taqwā = covering of righteousness)

What is this covering of righteousness? What is this provision, which Allah gave our despairing parents? What is this promise, given to sinners like you and me?

What does the Holy Qur’an tell us about this very important matter? The truth is: If you search the Scripture from the first ayah of surah Al Fātiha to the last ayah of surah An Nās, you will find that the only time the phrase libāsu-l-taqwā is used, is in the verse we have already looked at.

I can assure you, that Allah did not leave us, weak people made of clay, without an answer to this question. Before we look for it, though, lets ask ourselves a few questions:

Do I need Allah’s rahmat (mercy) to live?

Do I need Allah’s mercy to have a hope in the afterlife?

Do I deserve Allah’s mercy?

If I deserve something, is it still rahmat (mercy)?

Do I want to receive Allah’s mercy?

Why does Allah say in the Qur’an that libāsu-l-taqwā (covering of righteousness) is the best?

Do I want to receive Allah’s covering of righteousness?