 
# Love in the Torah

# Adnan Oktar (Harun Yahya)

# To the Reader

• A special chapter is assigned to the collapse of the theory of evolution because this theory constitutes the basis of all anti-spiritual philosophies. Since Darwinism rejects the fact of creation—and therefore, God's existence—over the last 150 years it has caused many people to abandon their faith or fall into doubt. It is therefore an imperative service, a very important duty to show everyone that this theory is a deception. Since some readers may find the opportunity to read only one of our books, we think it appropriate to devote a chapter to summarize this subject.

• All the author's books explain faith-related issues in light of Qur'anic verses, and invite readers to learn God's words and to live by them. All the subjects concerning God's verses are explained so as to leave no doubt or room for questions in the reader's mind. the books' sincere, plain, and fluent style ensures that everyone of every age and from every social group can easily understand them. Thanks to their effective, lucid narrative, they can be read at one sitting. Even those who rigorously reject spirituality are influenced by the facts these books document and cannot refute the truthfulness of their contents.

• This and all the other books by the author can be read individually, or discussed in a group. Readers eager to profit from the books will find discussion very useful, letting them relate their reflections and experiences to one another.

• In addition, it will be a great service to Islam to contribute to the publication and reading of these books, written solely for the pleasure of God. the author's books are all extremely convincing. for this reason, to communicate true religion to others, one of the most effective methods is encouraging them to read these books.

• We hope the reader will look through the reviews of his other books at the back of this book. His rich source material on faith-related issues is very useful, and a pleasure to read.

• In these books, unlike some other books, you will not find the author's personal views, explanations based on dubious sources, styles that are unobservant of the respect and reverence due to sacred subjects, nor hopeless, pessimistic arguments that create doubts in the mind and deviations in the heart.

# About the Author

Now writing under the pen-name of HARUN YAHYA, Adnan Oktar was born in Ankara in 1956. Having completed his primary and secondary education in Ankara, he studied fine arts at Istanbul's Mimar Sinan University and philosophy at Istanbul University. Since the 1980s, he has published many books on political, scientific, and faith-related issues. Harun Yahya is well-known as the author of important works disclosing the imposture of evolutionists, their invalid claims, and the dark liaisons between Darwinism and such bloody ideologies as fascism and communism.

Harun Yahya's works, translated into 73 different languages, constitute a collection of more than 65,000 pages with 45,000 illustrations.

His pen-name is a composite of the names Harun (Aaron) and Yahya (John), in memory of the two esteemed prophets who fought against their peoples' lack of faith. the Prophet's seal on his books' covers is symbolic and is linked to their contents. It represents the Qur'an (the Final Scripture) and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), last of the prophets. Under the guidance of the Qur'an and the Sunnah (teachings of the Prophet [pbuh]), the author makes it his purpose to disprove each fundamental tenet of irreligious ideologies and to have the "last word," to completely silence the objections raised against religion. He uses the seal of the last Prophet (pbuh), who attained ultimate wisdom and moral perfection, as a sign of this intention to offer the last word.

All of Harun Yahya's works share the same goals: to convey the Qur'an's message, encourage readers to consider basic faith-related issues such as God's existence and unity and the Hereafter; and to expose irreligious systems' shaky foundations and misguided ideologies.

Harun Yahya enjoys a wide readership in many countries, from India to America, England to Indonesia, Poland to Bosnia, Spain to Brazil, Malaysia to Italy, France to Bulgaria and Russia. Some of his books are available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Urdu, Arabic, Albanian, Chinese, Swahili, Hausa, Dhivehi, Russian, Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian, Polish, Malay, Uygur Turkish, Indonesian, Bengali, Danish and Swedish.

Greatly appreciated all around the world, these works have been instrumental in many people recovering faith in God and gaining deeper insights into their faith. His books' wisdom and sincerity, together with a distinctive style that's easy to understand, directly affect anyone who reads them. Those who seriously consider these books can no longer advocate atheism or any other misguided ideology or materialistic philosophy, since these books are characterized by rapid effectiveness, definite results, and irrefutability. Even if a reader continues to advocate for these beliefs, it will be only a sentimental insistence, since these books refute such ideologies from their very foundations. All contemporary movements of denial are now ideologically defeated, thanks to the books written by Harun Yahya.

This is no doubt a result of the Qur'an's wisdom and lucidity. the author modestly intends to serve as a means in humanity's search for God's right path. No material gain is sought in the publication of these works.

Those who encourage others to read these books, to open their minds and hearts and guide them to become more devoted servants of God, render an invaluable service.

Meanwhile, it would only be a waste of time and energy to propagate other books that create confusion in people's minds, lead them into ideological confusion, and that clearly fail in removing the doubts in people's hearts, as has been verified from previous experience. It is impossible for books devised to emphasize the author's literary power rather than the noble goal of saving people from loss of faith, to have such a great effect. Those who doubt this can readily see that the sole aim of Harun Yahya's books is to overcome disbelief and to disseminate the Qur'an's moral values. the success and impact of this service become manifested in the readers' conviction.

One point should be kept in mind: the main reason for the continuing cruelty, conflict, and other ordeals endured by the vast majority of people is the ideological prevalence of disbelief. These ordeals can be ended only with the ideological defeat of disbelief and by conveying the wonders of creation and Qur'anic morality so that people can live by it. Considering the state of the world today, leading into a downward spiral of violence, corruption and conflict, clearly this service must be provided speedily and effectively, or it may be too late.

In this effort to provide such service, the books of Harun Yahya assume a leading role. by the will of God, these books will be a means through which people in the twenty-first century will attain the peace, justice, and happiness promised in the Qur'an.

All translations from the Qur'an are from the Noble Qur'an: a New Rendering of its Meaning in English by Hajj Abdalhaqq and Aisha Bewley, published by Bookwork, Norwich, UK. 1420 CE/1999 AH.

First Edition: February, 2018

Published by:

Global Publishing

Kayışdağı Mah. Değirmen sokak No: 3 Ataşehir - İstanbul / Turkey

Tel: (+90 216) 660 00 59

Printed by:

Orient Basım Yayın San. Tic. A.Ş. İkitelli OSB Mah. Giyim Sanatkarlar 5A-6A Blok No: 315 Başakşehir - İstanbul / Turkey

Tel: (+90 212) 549 65 85

www.harunyahya.com en.harunyahya.tv

en.a9.com.tr

# Contents

Introduction

God Loves Those Who Believe and He Shows Mercy to Them

Believers Love God

Believers Are Deeply Connected to God and Are Close to Him

Believers Remember God With Joy and Exalt Him

Believers Follow the Commandments of God With Love and Enjoyment

Believers Feel the Joy of Loving God and Having Faith

Believers Love Each Other and Are the Protectors of One Another

God Is the Protector of Those Who Trust Him

God Purifies His Beloved Servants

Those Who Do Good Will Earn the Love of God

Those Who Are Attached to God With a Profound Love Are Loyal and Devout

God Helps the Believers

God Leads His Beloved Servants to Success

God Gives Happiness to Those Who Seek His Consent

The Lives of Those Who Believe Are Filled With Blessings of Faith, Love and Good Morals

God Loves Those Who Fear Him

God Loves Those Who Are Honest

God Loves Those Who Are Generous

God Loves Those Who Have Mercy

God Loves Those Who Are Right and Just

Believers Are Thankful to God Who Has Eternal Love

Believers Pray for the Love of God

The Commandments of God Reside in the Hearts of Believers and They Think Deeply About Them

Believers Do Not Falter or Despair in the Face of Anything Due to Their Love for God

Believers Overcome Their Anger Throughout Their Lives and Never Abandon the Path of Love

Lovelessness Brings Conflict While Love Is Forgiving

Those Who Call for Peace Live in Love

Those Who Love God Will Inherit the Earth

Conclusion

Appendix: the Deception of Evolution

#  Introduction

A small child does not know of racial segregation, hatred or anger; classifying people based on their religion, culture or nation, or the rationale behind persecuting other people because every child is born with a disposition for love. Hatred is an affliction acquired later, a trap of the devil. Satan uses the weak spots in one's self to teach him to hate, more or less, at every stage of his life. the innocent child who initially knows only to love and to sacrifice can become loveless through a sense of hatred being taught to him over time. Eventually, he becomes soulless, and may become someone who has lost the joy of life. What a pity it is that the world is largely under the control of loveless people right now.

There is a reason for this: This life is a field of trial, the place of intellectual struggle for good and evil. That is why God has sent prophets throughout history, and there have always been dajjals (deceivers) constantly trying to spread evil in opposition to this. the End Times that we are living in right now is a special period. It is the time in which the last savior of the world, Hazrat Mahdi (as) (King Messiah - Moshiach), will appear. This period is when the dajjal intensifies his insidious efforts in the fight to supposedly defeat the supporters of Mahdi. in order to accomplish this, the dajjal seeks to strike people from their most important lifeblood, to alienate them from love.

The dajjal set out to make people loveless, soulless and hateful, and he fulfilled his promise to everyone but sincere believers. but now the final say belongs to Hazrat Mahdi (as).

The dajjal and his system will surely be defeated. the End Times is when all the schemes of the dajjal will be thwarted and the dajjal movement will be completely destroyed. the terrible loveless system that the dajjal has been the means for will cease, and the atmosphere of love and affection that God wills and is pleased with will spread to the whole world. Our Almighty Lord wants to achieve this through Hazrat Mahdi (as). That is why all people of love who are on the side of Hazrat Mahdi (as) must make greater efforts than ever to pave the way for this.

The essence of love has been introduced to us by the Holy Books. in the Qur'an, the Torah and the Gospel, we constantly see that the universe is created on the basis of love. Love is the divine light of God. It is the greatest need of the heart, body and the soul. Love is a key to see the beauties created by God. It is a way to understand and appreciate God. the secret of the trial in the life of this world can be understood through comprehending love. the way to defeat the system of the dajjal is only possible through the alliance of the people of love.

For this reason, it is necessary to pay attention to our Lord's calling for love in the Holy Books. Our Almighty Lord states that He has sent down the Qur'an "as a confirmation of what was there before it". One of the verses emphasizing this fact is the following:

He (God) has sent down the Book to you with truth, confirming what was there before it. and He sent down the Torah and the Gospel. (Qur'an, 3:3)

Love is praised and encouraged in the Qur'an as well as in the preserved parts of the Torah and the Gospel, which are the previous Books that the Qur'an confirms.

In this book, you will have the opportunity to benefit from various passages from the unaltered parts of the Torah that are in compliance with the Qur'an. as it is known, some parts of the Torah have reached the present day unaltered and contain sections quite similar to the Qur'an due to it also being God's Word. Therefore, these sections are the words of our Almighty Lord, as can be understood from the wisdom and richness they contain.

Good people who are guided by their conscience must think about the meaning of these words and must always ally themselves with the good people to experience love and to uphold it. the dajjal's ploy must be foiled, and as the dajjal fuels further hatred, people of good conscience must come to the forefront as the supporters of love. They should comprehend the beauty of loving God, and by destroying the false belief systems intellectually; they should strive for creating communities that have profound love of God. It should not be forgotten that even a small number of people who have true love for God are able to change the world. Undoubtedly all power belongs to Almighty God alone.

What is in the heavens and in the earth belongs to God. God encompasses all things. (Qur'an, 4:126)

ADNAN OKTAR: in the Qur'an, God does not say that the Gospel and the Torah are completely invalid. the Qur'an acts as a judge in the matters of the Torah and the Gospel. the sections of the Torah and the Gospel that are in accordance with the Qur'an are valid. the Torah described the Mahdi in great detail thousands of years ago. Muslims should also read the Gospel and the Torah and have knowledge about them. the sections of the Torah and the Gospel that are in compliance with the Qur'an are valid. (Excerpt from Mr. Adnan Oktar's Live Conversation on A9 TV dated February 12th, 2017)

The unaltered commandments of the Torah and the Gospel are valid and there are references to the Torah and the Gospel in many verses of the Qur'an. (Excerpt from Mr. Adnan Oktar's Live Conversation on A9 TV dated February 17th, 2017)

# God Loves Those Who Believe and He Shows Mercy to Them

_But_ showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments. (Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 5:10)

..." _The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger,_ abounding in love... Maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin ...'' (Exodus, 34:6-7)

The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: "He is good; His love endures forever..." (2 Chronicles, 5:13)

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations, 3:22-23)

With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: "He is good; His love toward Israel endures forever."(Eza 3:11)

Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love. (Lamentations, 3:32)

Surely, Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield. (Psalm, 5:12)

... Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. (Psalm, 6:4)

The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness.'' (Jeremiah 31:3)

But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. I will sing the Lord's praise, for He has been good to me. (Psalm, 13:5-6)

Praise be to the Lord, for He showed me the wonders of His love _when I was in a city under siege..._ Love the Lord, all His faithful people! the Lord preserves those who are true to Him... (Psalm, 31:21-23)

... the earth is full of His unfailing love.. (Psalm, 33:5)

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies. _Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, Your justice like the great deep._ You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is Your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; You give them drink from Your river of delights. for with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. (Psalm, 36:5-9)

For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. (Psalm, 57:10-11)

Praise be to God, Who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me! (Psalm, 66:20)

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to You... for great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead. (Psalm, 86:5, 13)

But You, Lord, are a compassionate _and gracious God..._ abounding in love and faithfulness. (Psalm, 86:15)

Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. for great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord. (Psalm, 117:1-2)

When I said, "My foot is slipping," Your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. (Psalm, 94:18)

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love... for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him... as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him... but from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children's children with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts. (Psalm, 103:8, 11, 13, 17-18)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever... Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and _His wonderful deeds for mankind... Let the one who is wise heed these things and_ ponder the loving deeds of the Lord. (Psalm, 107:1, 21, 43)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. (Psalm, 118:29)

Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption. (Psalm, 130:7)

... with Your right hand You save me. the Lord will vindicate me; Your love, Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.. (Psalm, 138:7-8)

Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate... abounding in love... (Joel, 2:13)

I love those who love Me and those who seek Me find Me... (Proverbs, 8:17)

Remember, Lord, Your great mercy and love, for _they are from of old..._ All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of His covenant. (Psalm, 25:6, 10)

Praise be to the Lord, for He showed me the wonders of His love when I was in a city under siege. (Psalm, 31:21)

I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. for what You have done I will always praise You in the presence of Your faithful people. and I will hope in Your name, for Your name is good. (Psalm, 52:8-9)

I cry out to God Most High, to God, Who vindicates me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those Who hotly pursue me—God sends forth His love and His faithfulness. (Psalm, 57:2-3)

I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; _with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations._ I will declare that Your love stands firm forever... (Psalm, 89:1-2)

Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Psalm, 90:14)

... Give thanks to Him and praise His name. for the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm, 100:4-5)

I will sing of Your love and justice; to You, Lord, I will sing praise. (Psalm, 101:1)

When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, "He is good; His love endures forever." (2 Chronicles, 7:3)

The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the Lord's musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the Lord and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, "His love endures forever." Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing. (2 Chronicles, 7:6)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Let Israel say: "His love endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever." Let those who fear the Lord say: "His love endures forever."... You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, and I will exalt You. (Psalm, 118:1-4, 28)

... for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. (Joel, 2:13)

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him. (Lamentations, 3:25)

ADNAN OKTAR: "Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous." How? Joyfully. Why? Singing joyfully because of faith. Who is loved? Because God is loved. "It is fitting for the upright to praise Him." If you are upright then praise the Lord, say that He is All-Powerful and Almighty, recite His name. Saying, "SubhanAllah, subhanAllah, subhanAllah subhanAllah. AllahuAkbar, AllahuAkbar, Almighty Lord, Allahu Akbar." This is a response to the bigots; "Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to Him on the ten-stringed lyre." With musical instruments, we see that the Alevis have figured this out, may God be pleased with them. "How can you be sated, how can you be sated, how could you let go your loved one?" This is amazing. "Make music to Him on the ten-stringed lyre." This is a great effort by our Alevi brothers. They have not abolished this five-thousand year old commandment. They are praising our Lord with musical instruments, this is really beautiful. They are praising the Prophet (pbuh). "Make music to Him." to Whom? to God. " Sing to Him a new song." Do not always say the same words, sing with "a new song". Just as people keep on thinking of new songs for their loved ones, and there are always new songs being composed, here these words teach us to sing new songs to our Lord. One will end, the other will get started. Who is going to make these songs? God will compose them. "Play skillfully, and shout for joy." This means musical instruments should play with the best performance, the zither should sound joyfully. Along with what? You will shout for joy. This teaches that you should be full of love. Do you understand? for example, the Prophet David (pbuh) starts dancing with love, the love of God. They wanted to criticize the Prophet David (pbuh) but he never takes any notice of these. How does he dance? With the love of God, he plays skillfully. Masha'Allah, he dances right at the front, insha'Allah. (30 October 2014, A9 TV)

# Believers Love God

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy, 6:5)

_For I command you today to_ love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then... God will bless you... (Deuteronomy, 30:16)

_Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God,_ keeping His covenant of love to... those who love Him and keep His commandments. (Deuteronomy, 7:9)

So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today -to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul- then I will send rain on your land in its season... (Deuteronomy, 11:13-14)

... "Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, Who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments..." (Nehemiah, 1:5)

... so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. (Deuteronomy, 30:6)

And that you may love the Lord your God... (Deuteronomy, 30:20)

... the Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy, 13:3)

Love the Lord, all His faithful people! the Lord preserves those who are true to Him... (Psalm, 31:23)

How lovely is Your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord... (Psalm, 84: 1-2)

... What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? (Deuteronomy, 10:12-13)

Love the Lord your God and keep His requirements, His decrees, His laws and His commands always. (Deuteronomy, 11:1)

If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow -to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him and to hold fast to Him. (Deuteronomy, 11:22)

If the Lord your God... gives you the whole land He promised them, because you carefully follow all these laws I command you today -to love the Lord your God and to walk always in obedience to Him.... (Deuteronomy, 19:8-9)

And that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. for the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deuteronomy, 30:20)

But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to keep His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Joshua, 22:5)

So be very careful to love the Lord your God. (Joshua 23:11)

"Now then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel." (Joshua 24:23)

I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing." (Psalm, 16:2)

For I have always been mindful of Your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on Your faithfulness... Lord, I love the house where You live, the place where Your glory dwells. (Psalm, 26:3,8)

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?... Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God... by day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life... Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. (Psalm, 42:1-2, 5, 8, 11)

Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You. on my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night. Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to You; Your right hand upholds me.. (Psalm, 63:3-8)

I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live. (Psalm, 116: 1-2)

But I, by Your great love, can come into Your house; in reverence I bow down toward Your holy temple. (Psalm, 5:7)

... When I said, "My foot is slipping," Your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy... but the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. (Psalm, 94:18, 19, 22)

... Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God...(Joel, 2:23)

I rejoice in following Your statutes _as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways._ I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your word. (Psalm, 119:14-16)

# Believers Are Deeply Connected to God and Are Close to Him

_Fear the Lord your God and serve Him._ Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name. (Deuteronomy 10:20)

Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love ... for it is time to seek the Lord...(Hosea, 10:12)

Return...to the Lord your God... Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him: "Forgive all our sin and receive us graciously..." (Hosea, 14:1-2)

_So you, by the help of your God, return,_ hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God. (Hosea, 12:6)

The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. (Psalm, 145:18)

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. (Psalm, 62:5)

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in You... (Psalm, 25:1)

And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by His decrees and obey His commands, as at this time. (1 King, 8:61)

I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me find Me. (Proverbs, 8:17)

It is the Lord your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him. (Deuteronomy 13:4)

And that you may love the Lord your God... for the Lord is your life... (Deuteronomy, 30:20)

But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now. (Joshua, 23:8)

Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. (Deuteronomy 10:16)

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. (Isaiah, 55:6)

I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Praise be to You, Lord; teach me Your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth. (Psalm, 119:10-13)

Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate... abounding in love... (Joel, 2:13)

# Believers Remember God With Joy and Exalt Him

_Then I will go to the altar of God, to_ God, my joy and my delight. I will praise You with the lyre, O God, my God. (Psalm, 43:4)

_Clap your hands, all you nations;_ shout to God with cries of joy. for the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. (Psalm, 47:1-2)

As for me, I will sing about Your strength; I will praise Your loyal love in the morning. for _You are my refuge and my place of shelter when I face trouble. You are my source of strength!_ I will sing praises to you! for God is my refuge, the God Who loves me. (Psalm, 59:16-17)

Shout for joy to the Lord, _all the earth._ Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He Who made us, and we are His; we are His people... Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. for the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm, 100:1-5)

Let His faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. (Psalm, 149:5)

My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit. (Isaiah, 65:14)

He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom He loved. God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. for God is the King of all the earth; sing to Him a psalm of praise... the kings of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted. (Psalm, 47:4-9)

I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that Your love stands firm forever, that You have established Your faithfulness in heaven itself... the heavens praise Your wonders, Lord, Your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones... Who is like You, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and Your faithfulness surrounds You... Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; love and faithfulness go before You. (Psalm, 89:1-2,5,8,14)

# Believers Follow the Commandments of God With Love and Enjoyment

_And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with_ freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem. (Ezra, 1:4)

But be very careful to keep the commandment... to love the Lord your God, _to walk in obedience to Him, to_ keep His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Joshua, 22:5)

I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways. I delight in Your decrees; _I will not neglect Your word. Be good to Your servant while I live, that I may obey Your word._ Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law. (Psalm, 119:14-18)

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm, 1:1-2)

_Trouble and distress have come upon me, but_ Your commands are my delight. Your statutes are forever right; give me understanding that I may live. (Psalm, 119:143-144)

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. the _statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. the_ precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. the _commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. the ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous._ They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. (Psalm, 19:7-10)

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. (Psalm, 111:2)

Though rulers sit together and slander me, Your servant will meditate on Your decrees. Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. (Psalm, 119:23-24)

For I delight in Your commands because I love them. I reach out for Your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on Your decrees. (Psalm, 119:47-48)

May Your unfailing love be my comfort... Let Your compassion come to me that I may live, for Your law is my delight. (Psalm, 119:76-77)

If Your law had not been my delight, _I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have preserved my life. Save me, for I am Yours; I have sought out Your precepts. the wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder Your statutes._ Oh, how I love Your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on Your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey Your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey Your word. I have not departed from Your laws, for You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from Your precepts. (Psalm, 119:92-104)

Because I love Your commands more than gold, more than pure gold and because I consider all Your precepts right... (Psalm, 119:127-128)

Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. the unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commands. You are righteous, Lord, and Your laws are right. the statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore Your words. Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and Your servant loves them. (Psalm, 119:129-131,137-140)

# Believers Feel the Joy of Loving God and Having Faith

_But I, by Your great love, can come into Your house; in reverence I bow down toward Your holy temple... but_ let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. _Spread Your protection over them, that_ those who love Your name may rejoice in You. (Psalm, 5:7,11)

I will give thanks to You, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing the praises of Your Name, O Most High. (Psalm, 9:1-2)

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; _my body also will rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will You let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life;_ You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. (Psalm, 16:8-11)

_Then I will go to the altar of God, to_ God, my joy and my delight. I will praise You with the lyre, O God, my God. (Psalm, 43:4)

_Clap your hands, all you nations;_ shout to God with cries of joy. for the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. (Psalm, 47:1-2)

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek You; I thirst for You, my whole being longs for You, in a dry and parched land where there is no water... (Psalm, 63:1)

Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You. on my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to You; Your right hand upholds me. (Psalm, 63:3-8)

How lovely is Your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young - a place near Your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are ever praising You. (Psalm, 84:1-4)

Then Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in Your deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides You; there is no Rock like our God." (1. Samuel, 2:1-2)

# Believers Love Each Other and Are the Protectors of One Another

_This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Administer true justice;_ show mercy and compassion to one another." (Zechariah, 7:9)

"So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." and he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis, 50:21)

The Lord said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him. (Exodus, 4:27)

_As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he hurried to meet him._ He embraced him and kissed him _and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. Then Laban said to him,_ "You are my own flesh and blood." (Genesis, 29:13-14)

_But_ Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him... _Esau said, "I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself." "No, please!" said Jacob._ "If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. for to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need." and because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it. (Genesis, 33:4,9-11)

If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him...(Leviticus, 25:35)

Do the same if you find your brother's donkey or his cloak or anything he loses. Do not ignore it. If you see your brother's donkey or his ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help him get it to its feet. (Deuteronomy, 22:3-4)

... You do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing... Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then _because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to..._ Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. (Deuteronomy, 15:9-11)

Each helps the other and says to his brother, "Be strong!" (Isaiah, 41:6)

Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear... (Isaiah, 58:7-8)

"Take home great wealth, a lot of cattle, silver, gold, bronze, iron, and a lot of clothing. Divide up the goods captured from your enemies with your brothers." (Joshua, 22:8)

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. _This day is holy to our Lord..."_ Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. (Nehemiah, 8:10-12)

But all the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go." David replied, "No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. Who will listen to what you say? the share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike." David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this. (1. Samuel, 30:22-23, 25)

# God Is the Protector of Those Who Trust Him

_Then_ Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in Your deliverance. _There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides You;_ there is no Rock like our God." (1. Samuel, 2:1-2)

I love you, Lord, my strength. the Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in Whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, Who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies... He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me _because He delighted in me. the_ Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has rewarded me. for I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God. (Psalm, 18:1-3,19-21)

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! (Psalm, 32:10-11)

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken... Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. _Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge._ Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge... _Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them..._ "Power belongs to You, God, and with You, Lord, is unfailing love, and, "You reward everyone according to what they have done." (Psalm, 62:1-12)

_Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You. on my bed I remember You; I think of you through the watches of the night._ Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to You; Your right hand upholds me. (Psalm, 63:3-8)

Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Psalm, 90:1-2)

_Many are the woes of the wicked, but_ the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! (Psalm, 32:10-11)

For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. _the Lord loves righteousness and justice; the_ earth is full of His unfailing love. by _the word of the Lord the heavens were made... He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; He puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere Him. for_ He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. the _Lord foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. but the plans of the Lord stand firm forever..._ Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord... the Lord... sees all mankind... He watches all who live on earth. He Who forms the hearts of all, Who considers everything they do. _No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. a horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. but_ the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to _deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine._ We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. in Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy Name. May Your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in You. (Psalm, 33:4-22)

My shield is God Most High, Who saves the upright in heart. (Psalm, 7:10)

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm, 4:8)

# God Purifies His Beloved Servants

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm, 51:2)

... Wash the evil from your heart and be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts? (Jeremiah, 4:14)

So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes." (Genesis, 35:2)

They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them... (Ezekiel, 37:23)

_Many_ will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. (Daniel, 12:10)

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek Him... (Psalm, 24:4-6)

... Because of the uncleanness and rebellion... whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. (Leviticus, 16:16)

... and make them ceremonially clean. (Numbers, 8:6)

For You, O God, tested us; You refined us like silver. (Psalm, 66:10)

The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold, but the one Who purifies hearts... is the Lord. (Proverbs, 17:3)

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. (Ezekiel, 36:25)

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: on the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. (Ezekiel, 36:33)

Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. (Daniel, 11:35)

... a fountain will be opened... to cleanse them from sin and impurity. (Zechariah, 13:1)

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son He delights in. (Proverbs, 3:11-12)

# Those Who Do Good Will Earn the Love of God

_Do not those who plot evil go astray? but_ those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness. (Proverbs, 14:22)

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say He is. (Amos, 5:14)

He who seeks good finds goodwill, but _evil comes to him who searches for it. the_ fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. (Proverbs, 11:27, 30)

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm, 34:14)

Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. (Psalm, 37:27)

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. (Proverbs, 3:7-8)

_Hate evil,_ love good... (Amos, 5:15)

_Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers..._ Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it. Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers. (Psalms, 141:4-5)

_He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and_ He will reward him for what he has done. (Proverbs, 19:17)

Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done. (Isaiah, 3:10-11)

A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself...(Proverbs, 11:17)

# Those Who Are Attached to God With a Profound Love Are Loyal and Devout

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs, 3:3-4)

They would not be like their forefathers—a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to Him. (Psalm, 78:8)

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah, 6:8)

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy faithfulness. (Psalm, 37:3)

Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from Heaven. (Psalm, 85:10-11)

... for they were faithful in consecrating themselves. (2 Chronicles, 31:18)

For He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones. (Proverbs, 2:8)

All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant. (Psalms, 25:10)

He will guard the feet of His faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. (1 Samuel, 2:9)

Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. (Isaiah, 11:5)

Love the Lord, all His faithful people! the Lord preserves those who are true to Him... (Psalm, 31:23)

For the Lord loves justice and will not abandon His faithful ones. They are kept safe forever... (Psalm, 37:28)

... He promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly. (Psalm, 85:8)

Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. (Psalm, 97:10)

_May your priests be clothed with righteousness;_ may Your saints sing for joy... I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will ever sing for joy. (Psalm, 132:9, 16)

All Your works praise You, Lord; Your faithful people extol You. (Psalm, 145:10)

Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His faithful people. Let His faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. (Psalm, 149:1-2,5)

And if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, 'As surely as the Lord lives'...(Jeremiah, 4:2)

See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright—but the righteous will live by his faith. (Habakkuk, 2:4)

To the faithful you show yourself faithful... (Psalm, 18:25)

My eyes will be on the faithful in the land... (Psalm, 101:6)

# God Helps the Believers

_Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth._ Save us and help us with Your right hand, that those You love may be delivered. (Psalm, 108:5-6)

Let those who love the Lord _hate evil, for_ He guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. (Psalm, 97:10)

But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath He swore to your ancestors that He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Deuteronomy, 7:8)

Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You. Sing the praises of the Lord... proclaim among the nations what He has done. (Psalm, 9:10-11)

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will You let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. (Psalm, 16:8-11)

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in You... Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm, 25:1-4, 5)

Love the Lord, _all His faithful people! the_ Lord preserves those who are true to Him... (Psalm, 31:23)

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and _do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture._ Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. (Psalm, 37:1-7)

The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in time of trouble. the Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him. (Psalm, 37:39-40)

_I will cry to God Most High, to God Who accomplishes all things for me._ He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth. (Psalm, 57:2-3)

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to You; You, God, are my fortress, my God on Whom I can rely. (Psalm, 59:16-17)

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to You.... for great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead. (Psalm, 86:5, 13)

Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. (Psalm, 73:23-24)

"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name.'' (Psalm, 91:14)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. His love endures forever... He remembered us in our low estate; His love endures forever; and freed us from our enemies; His love endures forever. (Psalm, 136:1,23-24)

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; He brought me into a spacious place. the Lord is with me; _I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? the_ Lord is with me; He is my helper... _It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans... I was pushed back and about to fall, but_ the Lord helped me. the _Lord is my strength and my defense;_ He has become my salvation. _Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous... I will proclaim what the Lord has done... This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter._ I will give You thanks, for You answered me; You have become my salvation... the _Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. the Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord... the_ Lord is God, and He has made His light shine on us... (Psalm, 118:5-27)

He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails." (1 Samuel, 2:9)

# God Leads His Beloved Servants to Success

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life. You stretch out Your hand against the anger of my foes. (Psalm, 138:7)

The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!... I will praise You, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of Your Name. He gives His king great victories; He shows unfailing love to His anointed, to David and to His descendants forever. (Psalm, 18:46-50)

My faithful love will be with him, and through My name his horn will be exalted. (Psalm, 89:24)

But You are a shield around me, O Lord; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head. (Psalm, 3:3)

Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to Your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to You and righteous and upright in heart..." (1 Kings, 3:6)

Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. (Proverbs, 16:20)

It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You loved them. (Psalm, 44:3)

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; _meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it._ Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua, 1:8)

# God Gives Happiness to Those Who Seek His Consent

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. (Jeremiah, 17:7)

Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart. (Psalm, 119:2)

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. (Psalm, 128:1)

Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. (Psalm, 119:1)

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. (Psalm, 40:4)

Blessed are those whose strength is in You... (Psalm, 84:5)

... Blessed is the man... whose spirit is no deceit. (Psalm, 32:2)

O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You. (Psalm, 84:12)

... Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. (Psalm, 112:1)

Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. (Psalm, 106:3)

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding. (Proverbs, 3:13)

Blessed is the man whom God corrects... (Job, 5:17)

... [Wisdom] is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. (Proverbs, 3:18)

Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—they do no wrong but follow His ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all Your commands. I will praise You with an upright heart as I learn Your righteous laws. I will obey Your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. How can a young person stay on the path of purity? by living according to Your word. (Psalm, 119: 1-4, 6-9)

Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. (Proverbs, 16:20)

... the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. (Psalm, 34:8)

How happy Your officials, who continually stand before You and hear Your wisdom! (1 Kings, 10:8; 2 Chronicles, 9:7)

... Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. (Psalm, 2:12)

Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. (Psalm, 41:1)

... Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. (Psalm, 144:15)

... Blessed are those who keep My ways. (Proverbs, 8:32)

Maintain justice and do what is right... Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast... (Isaiah, 56:1-2)

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. (Proverbs, 3:1-2)

Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. (Proverbs, 21:21)

# The Lives of Those Who Believe Are Filled With Blessings of Faith, Love and Good Morals

_My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for_ they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. (Proverbs, 3:1-2)

Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. (Proverbs, 21:21)

If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea. (Isaiah, 48:18)

... May they always say, "The Lord be exalted, Who delights in the well-being of His servant." (Psalm, 35:27)

Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things. (Proverbs, 13:21)

Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right... that I may enjoy the prosperity of Your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of Your nation... (Psalm, 106:3,5)

Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity... (Psalm, 25:12-13)

See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice... Justice will dwell in the desert and righteousness live in the fertile field. the fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. (Isaiah, 32:1, 16-17)

# God Loves Those Who Fear Him

The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. (Psalm, 147:11)

You who fear Him, _trust in the Lord - He is their help and shield..._ He will bless those who fear the Lord \- small and great alike. (Psalm, 115:11, 13)

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear Him... (Psalm, 103:17)

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. _You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours..._ Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord. (Psalm, 128:1-4)

The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble. (Proverbs, 19:23)

He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress... the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life ... (Proverbs, 14:26-27)

Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear Me and _keep all My commands always,_ so that it might go well with them and their children forever! (Deuteronomy, 5:29)

The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him... (Psalm, 145:18-19)

... the midwives, however, feared God... and because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own. (Exodus, 1:17, 21)

_The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love... for as_ high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him... the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him... (Psalm, 103:8, 11-13)

... What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, _to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for_ your own good? (Deuteronomy, 10:12-13)

... but the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love. (Psalm, 33:18)

_Come, my children, listen to me;_ I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm, 34:11-14)

You who fear him, trust in the Lord - He is their help and shield... He will bless those who fear the Lord - small and great alike. (Psalm, 115:11, 13)

# God Loves Those Who Are Honest

_Solomon answered,_ "You have shown great kindness to Your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to You and righteous and upright in heart..." (1 Kings, 3:6)

The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but He delights in those whose ways are blameless. (Proverbs,11:20)

For the Lord is righteous, He loves justice; the upright will see His face. (Psalm, 11:7)

Because of my integrity You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever. (Psalm, 41:12)

The Lord loves righteousness and justice... (Psalm, 33:5)

... but the Lord upholds the righteous. the blameless spend their days under the Lord's care, and their inheritance will endure forever. (Psalm, 37:17-18)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. (Psalm, 84:11)

The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in time of trouble. the Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him. (Psalm, 37:33, 39-40)

The man of integrity walks securely, _but he who takes crooked paths will be found out._ the way of the Lord is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil... (Proverbs, 10:9, 29)

For the Lord loves justice and will not abandon His faithful ones. They are kept safe forever... (Psalm, 37:28)

For the devious are detestable to the Lord, but He is a friend to the upright. the Lord's curse is on the household of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous; He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble. the wise will inherit honor, but He holds up fools to dishonor. (Proverbs, 3:32- 35)

The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy. (Proverbs, 12:22)

_The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the_ prayer of the upright pleases Him. _the Lord detests the way of the wicked, but H_ e loves those who pursue righteousness. (Proverbs, 15:8-9)

_The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but_ He delights in those whose ways are blameless. (Proverbs, 11:20)

# God Loves Those Who Are Generous

The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. _Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended._ One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the King for a friend. (Proverbs, 22:9-11)

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. (Psalm, 112:5)

... Blessed is he who is kind to the needy. (Proverbs, 14:21)

One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. a generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Proverbs, 11:24-25)

The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously. (Psalm, 37:21)

... Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded... (Deuteronomy, 15:7-8)

A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper. (Proverbs, 28:25)

They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. (Psalm, 37:26)

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken... (Psalm, 112:5-6)

The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. (Proverbs, 22:9)

... Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother... Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to... Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. (Deuteronomy, 15:7, 10-11)

He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. (Proverbs, 28:27)

A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops. (Proverbs, 28:3)

If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. (Proverbs, 21:13)

The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. (Proverbs, 22:9)

# God Loves Those Who Have Mercy

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. _in doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and_ the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs, 25:21-22)

Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord. (Leviticus, 19:14)

Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord. (Leviticus, 19:32)

He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy. (Proverbs, 14:21)

He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. (Proverbs, 14:31)

_If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you,_ _do not be hardhearted or_ _tightfisted toward your poor brother._ (Deuteronomy, 15:7)

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. (Psalm, 82:3-4)

This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. _Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. in_ your hearts do not think evil of each other." (Zechariah, 7:9-10)

[A virtuous wife] opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. (Proverbs, 31:20)

If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless—but from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my birth I guided the widow—if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a garment, and his heart did not bless me for warming him with the fleece from my sheep, if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in court, then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint. for I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things. (Job, 31:16-23)

Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. (Psalm, 41:1)

Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. (Isaiah, 58:7-8)

... and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. the Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. (Isaiah, 58:10-11)

Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge... When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. (Deuteronomy, 24:17-21)

... You shall give it to... the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Then say to the Lord your God: "I have given it to... the alien, the fatherless and the widow, according to all You commanded. I have not turned aside from Your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. (Deuteronomy, 26:12-13)

Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. (Isaiah, 1:17)

Cursed is the man who leads the blind astray on the road... Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow. Then all the people shall say, "Amen." (Deuteronomy, 27:18-19)

You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. (Ezekiel, 34:4)

If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place... then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. (Jeremiah, 7:5-7)

Woe to those who make unjust laws... _to deprive the poor of their rights and_ withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. (Isaiah, 10:1-2)

He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captive. (Psalm, 106:46)

And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man... (Genesis, 43:14)

Do not rule over them with rigor, but fear your God. (Leviticus, 25:43)

# God Loves Those Who Are Right and Just

_For I_ , the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. in My faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them. (Isaiah, 61:8)

The Lord loves righteousness and justice, the earth is full of His unfailing love. (Psalm, 33:5)

"... but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, Who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord. (Jeremiah, 9:24)

He has showed you, O man, what is good. and what does the Lord require of you? to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah, 6:8)

If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure. (Proverbs, 29:14)

For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just... (Genesis, 18:19)

Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. (Psalm, 106:3)

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. (Psalm, 112:5-6)

He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. (Proverbs, 2:8-9)

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. (Proverbs, 21:3)

These are the things you are to do: "Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this," declares the Lord. (Zechariah, 8:16-17)

See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice... _Justice will dwell in the desert and righteousness live in the fertile field. the_ fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. (Isaiah, 32:1, 16-17)

Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one in whom I delight; I will put My Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. in faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. in his law the islands will put their hope. (Isaiah, 42:1-5)

Go up and down the streets... look around and consider... If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. (Jeremiah, 5:1)

So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, _so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be"..._ They held the king in awe, because they saw that he _[Solomon]_ had wisdom from God to administer justice. (1 Kings, 3:11-12, 28)

# Believers Are Thankful to God Who Has Eternal Love

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. (Psalm, 106:1)

... Give thanks to Him and praise His name. for the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm, 100:4-5)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe (Psalm, 107:1-2)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. (Psalm, 118:29)

The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: "He is good; His love endures forever." (2 Chronicles, 5:13)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Let Israel say: "His love endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever." Let those who fear the Lord say: "His love endures forever."... You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, and I will exalt You. (Psalm, 118:1-4, 28)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good... (Psalm, 136:1)

... "Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; His love endures forever." 'For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,' says the Lord. (Jeremiah, 33:11)

# Believers Pray for the Love of God

Show me the wonders of Your great love, You who save by Your right hand those who take refuge in You from their foes. (Psalm, 17:7)

Send forth Your gracious love to those who know You, and Your righteousness to those who are upright in heart. (Psalm, 36:10)

Do not withhold Your mercy from me, Lord; may Your love and faithfulness always protect me. (Psalm, 40:11)

May Your unfailing love come to me, Lord... (Psalm, 119:41)

May Your unfailing love be my comfort... Let Your compassion come to me that I may live... (Psalm, 119:76-77)

But I pray to You, Lord, in the time of Your favor; in Your great love, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation. (Psalm, 69:13)

_Show us Your unfailing love,_ Lord, and grant us Your salvation. (Psalm, 85:7)

Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life. (Psalm, 143:8)

# The Commandments of God Reside in the Hearts of Believers and They Think Deeply About Them

The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip. (Psalm, 37:31)

I desire to do your will, my God; Your law is within my heart. (Psalm, 40:8)

On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night. (Psalm, 63:6)

But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. (Psalm, 1:2)

I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago. I will consider all Your works and meditate on all Your mighty deeds. (Psalm, 77:11-12)

_Though rulers sit together and slander me,_ Your servant will meditate on Your decrees. Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. (Psalm, 119:23-24)

Oh, how I love Your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on Your statutes. (Psalm, 119:97-99)

_I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in Your word._ My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on Your promises. (Psalm, 119:147-148)

I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw. (Proverbs, 24:32)

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways. I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your word. (Psalm, 119:13-16)

# Believers Do Not Falter or Despair in the Face of Anything Due to Their Love for God

For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken. (Psalm, 21:7)

Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble. I wait for Your salvation, Lord, and I follow Your commands. I obey Your statutes, for I love them greatly. (Psalm, 119:165-167)

If Your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have preserved my life. (Psalm, 119:92-93)

When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken." (Psalm, 30:6)

_The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. the_ righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land. (Proverbs, 10:29-30)

Surely You have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of Your presence. for the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken. (Psalm, 21:6-7)

_Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is holy to the Lord your God._ Do not mourn or weep." (Nehemiah, 8:9)

_Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord._ Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." _the Levites calmed all the people, saying,_ "Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve." Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. (Nehemiah, 8:10-12)

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. (Proverbs, 15:13)

...In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength...(Isaiah, 30:15)

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah, 8:10)

Do not fret because of those who are evil _... Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;_ do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. (Psalm, 37:1,7-8)

Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. (Proverbs, 24:19-20)

... and so the innocent escape trouble. (Proverbs, 12:13)

# Believers Overcome Their Anger Throughout Their Lives and Never Abandon the Path of Love

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. (Ecclesiastes, 7:9)

Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. (Proverbs, 14:29)

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs, 3:3-4)

A quick-tempered person does foolish things... (Proverbs, 14:17)

_If a ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your post;_ calmness can lay great offenses to rest. (Ecclesiastes, 10:4)

A gift given in secret soothes anger... (Proverbs, 21:14)

Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger. If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace. (Proverbs, 29:8-9)

...Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. for those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. (Psalm, 37:8-9)

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. (Proverbs, 22:24-25)

Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming... (Proverbs, 27:4)

Do not fret because of those who are evil... (Psalm, 37:1)

# Lovelessness Brings Conflict While Love Is Forgiving

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. (Proverbs, 10:12)

Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided. (Proverbs, 16:6)

Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. (Proverbs, 17:9)

A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense. (Proverbs, 19:11)

Do not say, "I'll do to them as they have done to me; I'll pay them back for what they did." (Proverbs, 24:19)

Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided. (Proverbs, 16:6)

'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone... but love your neighbor as yourself... (Leviticus, 19:18)

# Those Who Call for Peace Live in Love

_Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but_ those who promote peace have joy. (Proverbs, 12:20)

How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! (Psalm, 133:1)

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm, 34:14)

And the kingdom... was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side. (2 Chronicles, 20:30)

Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace. (Psalm, 37:37)

All the lands are at rest and at peace; they break into singing. (Isaiah, 14:7)

# Those Who Love God Will Inherit the Earth

... but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. but the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. the _wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming. the wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. but their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken._ Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken. (Psalm, 37:9-17)

Those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those He curses will be destroyed. (Psalm, 37:22)

For the Lord loves justice and will not abandon His faithful ones. _They are kept safe forever but the children of the wicked will be destroyed. the_ righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it permanently. (Psalm, 37:28-29)

Hope in the Lord and keep His way. He will exalt you to inherit the land. (Psalm, 37:34)

But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. (Psalm, 37:11)

... _do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. for those who are evil will be destroyed, but_ those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. (Psalm, 37:7-9)

## Mr. Adnan Oktar Says

God created the world only as a place of trial. Love and friendship are the most important topics that God attaches importance to. God wants love to prevail.

The fact that there are too many loveless people is a typical aspect of the End Times; being surprised at this means not understanding the End Times. the inclination to lovelessness will persist until 2019's. Now, the dajjal's toxic effect is poisoning a majority of the people. They will only appreciate love after 2019.

It is not surprising that people have a spiritual sicknesses in the End Times. Believers are responsible for treating those diseases and this can only accomplished by means of love and perseverance.

Being loveless shortens one's lifespan since lovelessness destroys the body. the cells are impaired due to lovelessness.

There is a lack of quality in love all over the world. Religious communities and groups are against one another; even cities are in opposition to each other. Such an inclination is not compliant with Islam.

We are created for love; hatefulness and being quarrelsome are hideous. We, as believers in God, have to assign our souls to make other souls happy.

First of all, we will become friends with our own soul, educate it and make our soul our friend. We will love our soul, and our soul will love us.

Secondly, we will make other souls love us; we will explain to our soul that hatred and jealousy will not bring anything other than trouble.

Hostility only harms us, and jealousy only leads to jealousy; however, forgiveness and love will let us win friends.

The soul of every person seeks a friend and a loved one. What is a loving person like? They are forgiving, compassionate, wise, merciful, stable and modest.

One loves the other through faith, if the other party makes any indication that he or she has no fear of God, the power of love is impaired.

When morality is degraded, love ceases or it diminishes, but with good morality love flows like a powerful river.

# Conclusion

The Torah's words of wisdom are completely in line with the verses of the Qur'an as well as the expressions in the Gospel that glorify love. What Almighty God clearly asks is for people to love Him, love each other and love His beautiful creations, for love is the foundation upon which God created and established this vast universe.

The fact that the majority of people have a tendency to fan the flames of hatred should never pose an obstacle to the believers on the path that leads to the triumph of love. Love is a great beauty that God wills; it is the purpose of life. Therefore, God always lends a helping hand to those who uphold love above all else. So long as such a person has a genuine love of God and shares it with others, he remains a positive influence over the masses. the beautiful sensation of love he feels helps mend his soul and safeguards him against any distress or unease that might befall him. His soul is content with love. the energy and vivacity emanating from his loving soul invigorates his face and every single cell in his body, while banishing the feelings of darkness, fear and dismay that plague his spirit. for the person who has firmly established in his heart the love of God, it is always possible to live a peaceful, happy life and tackle any problem through the vigorous mind that comes his way.

One should never let spiteful people draw them into their downward spiral of hatred, as love is not an arduous emotion; God created the soul and body of man to be in tune with love. Always thinking favorably of God, being able to realize that incidents unfolding in one's life are each a part of the trial of the life of this world and having complete faith in God's love and protection will lead to a life of ease. Then, and only then, will he better understand that it is actually hatred which is arduous and realize what a torment it is to live in a state of mind that is not only spiritually but physically painful. It should also be remembered that God grants a wonderful life, both in this world and in the Hereafter, to those who uphold and spread love, for this is what those people pray for by asking their Lord for love. God surely answers the prayers.

We are obliged to firmly establish in our souls the love of God but this alone is not enough: It is also a crucial form of worship to be able to call others to this beauty. People need to be educated so that the terror, destruction, tyranny and war brought about by hatred will cease. If false beliefs are eliminated and replaced by the correct ones, then the calamities bred by false beliefs will likewise be eradicated. People should be told about the fact that their existence in this world is not an aimless one, and that they did not come into being by coincidence. They should be made aware that everyone is created by God for a purpose. Thus, people should bear in mind that they are fully responsible for their lives, their experiences, their thoughts and deeds and break free of the notion that a "human life is as insignificant as that of an insect's", an idea which has been propagated by certain circles. They should know that they are not finite but infinite beings, and that they will not simply perish when they die, as this world is not the one and only stop in the journey of their existence. They should recognize the fact that mankind will flourish not in belligerence, tyranny or hostility, but only in love, compassion and altruism. Every ideology that glosses over war is a colossal deceit. Only through adhering to the purpose of its creation - that is, love - can mankind enjoy a happy life. If people wish to thrive, flourish and find happiness, they should uphold love above all else and genuinely implement this beautiful moral value that God glorifies in the Qur'an, the Torah and the Gospel throughout their lives.

Almighty God informs us about this fact in a verse of the Qur'an as follows:

As for those who have faith and do right actions, the All-Merciful (God) will bestow His love on them. (Qur'an, 19:96)

ADNAN OKTAR: There are beautiful commandments of God in the Gospel, and the Qur'an reveals that the Gospel is "containing guidance and light." That is the same as the Torah. (1 Peter, 2:15-17: for it is God's will that by doing good, you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people... Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God...) (21 March 2017, A9 TV)

There are references to the Torah and the Gospel in the Qur'an, but some Muslims do not want to acknowledge this. However, if they were to read the Gospel and the Torah, they would have a wider horizon. (29 December 2016, A9 TV)

# Appendix: The Deception of Evolution

The theory of evolution, in other words Darwinism, was put forward with the aim of denying the fact of creation, but is in truth nothing but a failed, unscientific nonsense. the theory of evolution has its origins in pagan superstitions dating back to the time of ancient Egypt and Sumeria. Like these superstitions, the theory of evolution explains the origin of the universe and life through coincidences, and it has nothing to do with science. This theory, which claims that life emerged through coincidences from inanimate matter, was invalidated by the scientific evidence demonstrating the miraculous order in the universe and in living things, as well as by the discovery of about 700 million fossils revealing that evolution never happened. Furthermore, the theory of evolution is incapable of explaining the formation of even a single protein, the main building block of life. Science has proven that it is impossible for a protein to come into existence through coincidences. in this way, the fact that God created the universe and the living things in it has been confirmed by science as well. the worldwide propaganda carried out today to keep the theory of evolution alive is based solely on the distortion of scientific facts, biased interpretation, and lies and falsehoods disguised as science.

Yet this propaganda cannot conceal the truth. the fact that the theory of evolution is the greatest deception in the history of science has been expressed more and more in the scientific world over the last 20 to 30 years. Research carried out after the 1980s in particular revealed that the claims of Darwinism are totally unfounded and this fact has been stated by a large number of scientists. Many scientists from such different fields as biology, biochemistry, paleontology, genetics, zoology and archeology recognize the invalidity of Darwinism and explain the origin of life through the fact of creation.

We have examined the collapse of the theory of evolution and the proofs of creation in great scientific detail in many of our works, and are continuing to do so. Given the enormous importance of this subject, it will be of great benefit to summarize it here.

## Challenges That Devastate Darwin

As a pagan doctrine going back as far as ancient Egypt and Sumeria, the theory of evolution came to the fore most extensively once more in the nineteenth century. the most important development that made it the top topic of the world of science was the publication of Charles Darwin's the Origin of Species in 1859. in this book, Darwin in his own way opposes the fact that God created different living species on Earth separately, for he erroneously claimed that all living beings had an imaginary common ancestor and had diversified over time through small changes.

Darwin's theory was not based on any concrete scientific finding; as he also accepted, it was just an "assumption". Moreover, as Darwin confessed in the long chapter of his book titled, "Difficulties on Theory," the theory failed in the face of many critical questions.

Darwin invested all his hopes in new scientific discoveries, which he expected would solve these difficulties. He indicated this expectation again and again in his book. However, contrary to his expectations, scientific findings expanded the dimensions of these difficulties and refuted the basic assumptions of the theory one by one.

The defeat of Darwinism in the face of science can be reviewed under three basic headings:

1) the theory cannot explain how life originated on Earth.

2) There is no scientific finding that indicates the "evolutionary mechanisms" proposed by the theory have any evolutionary power at all.

3) the fossil record proves the exact opposite of what the theory suggests.

In this section, we will examine these three basic points in general outlines:

## The First Insurmountable Step: the Origin of Life

The theory of evolution posits that all living species evolved from a single living cell that emerged haphazardly on Earth 3.8 billion years ago, supposedly having appeared as a result of coincidences. How a cell comprising a wide range of organelles such as vacuoles, mitochondria, lysosomes and Golgi apparatus could come into existence in a puddle of mud, how a single cell could generate millions of complex living species and, if such an evolution really occurred, why traces of it cannot be observed in the fossil record are some of the questions that the theory cannot answer. However, first and foremost, we need focus on the first step of the supposed evolutionary process. How did the aforementioned "first cell" originate?

Since the theory of evolution ignorantly denies creation, it maintains that the "first cell" originated as a product of blind coincidence within the laws of nature, without any plan or arrangement. According to the theory, inanimate matter must have haphazardly produced a living cell out of nowhere. Such a claim, however, is inconsistent with the most unassailable rules of biology.

## "Life Comes From Life"

In his book, Darwin never referred to the origin of life. That is because the primitive understanding of science in his time rested on the assumption that living beings had a very simple structure. Since medieval times, spontaneous generation, which asserts that non-living materials came together to form living organisms, had been widely accepted. in that period, it was commonly believed that insects came into being from food leftovers, and mice from wheat. Interesting experiments were conducted to prove this theory. Some wheat was placed on a dirty piece of cloth, and it was believed that mice would originate from it after a while.

Similarly, maggots developing in rotting meat were assumed to be evidence of life originating from inanimate materials. However, it was later understood that worms did not appear on meat spontaneously, but were carried there by flies in the form of larvae, invisible to the naked eye. at the time Darwin wrote the _Origin of Species_ , the belief that bacteria could come into existence from non-living matter was widely accepted in the world of science.

However, five years after the publication of Darwin's book, Louis Pasteur announced his results, after long studies and experiments, which disproved spontaneous generation, a cornerstone of Darwin's theory. in his triumphal lecture at the Sorbonne in 1864, Pasteur said: "Never will the doctrine of spontaneous generation recover from the mortal blow struck by this simple experiment." (Sidney Fox, Klaus Dose, _Molecular Evolution and the Origin of Life,_ W. H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco, 1972, p. 4.)

For a long time, advocates of the theory of evolution resisted Pasteur's findings. However, as the development of science unraveled the complex structure of the cell of a living being, the idea that life could come into being coincidentally faced an even greater impasse.

## Futile Efforts in the Twentieth Century

The first evolutionist who took up the subject of the origin of life in the twentieth century was the renowned Russian biologist Alexander Oparin. With various theses he advanced in the 1930s, he tried to prove that a living cell could originate by chance. These studies, however, were doomed to failure, and Oparin had to make the following confession:

Unfortunately, however, the problem of the origin of the cell is perhaps the most obscure point in the whole study of the evolution of organisms. (Alexander I. Oparin, Origin of Life, Dover Publications, New York, 1936, 1953 and 2003 (reprint), p. 196)

Evolutionist followers of Oparin tried to carry out experiments to solve this problem. the best-known experiment was carried out by the American chemist Stanley Miller in 1953. Combining those gases he alleged to have existed in the primordial Earth's atmosphere in an experimental set-up, and adding energy to the mixture, Miller synthesized several organic molecules (amino acids) present in the structure of proteins.

Barely a few years had passed before it was revealed that this experiment, which was then presented as an important step in the name of evolution, was invalid, for the atmosphere used in the experiment was very different from the real Earth conditions. ("New Evidence on Evolution of Early Atmosphere and Life," _Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society_ , vol. 63, November 1982, 1328-1330)

After a long silence, Miller, himself confessed that the atmosphere medium he used was unrealistic. (Stanley Miller, _Molecular Evolution of Life: Current Status of the Prebiotic Synthesis of Small Molecules,_ 1986, p. 7)

All the evolutionists' efforts throughout the twentieth century to explain the origin of life ended in failure. the geochemist Jeffrey Bada, from the San Diego Scripps Institute, accepted this fact in an article published in _Earth_ magazine in 1998:

Today as we leave the twentieth century, we still face the biggest unsolved problem that we had when we entered the twentieth century: How did life originate on Earth? (Jeffrey Bada, Earth, February 1998, p. 40)

## The Complex Structure of Life: Not Even a Single Protein Can Come Into Existence by Chance

The primary reason why evolutionists ended up at such a great impasse regarding the origin of life is that even those living organisms Darwinists deemed to be the simplest have outstandingly complex features. the cell of a living thing is more complex than all our man-made technological products. Today, even in the most developed laboratories of the world, not even a single protein of a cell, let alone a living cell itself, can be produced by bringing non-living materials together.

The conditions required for the formation of a cell are too great in quantity to be explained away by mere coincidence. However, there is no need to explain the situation with too many details. Evolutionists are at a dead-end even before reaching the stage of the cell. That is because the probability of just a single protein, an essential building block of the cell, coming into being by chance is mathematically "0".

The main reason for this is the need for other proteins to be present if one protein is to form, and this completely eradicates the possibility of chance formation. This fact by itself is sufficient to eliminate the evolutionist claim of chance right from the outset. to summarize,

1. Proteins cannot be synthesized without enzymes, and enzymes are all proteins.

2. Around 60 proteins assuming the task of an enzyme need to be present for a single protein to be synthesized. Therefore, proteins are essential for proteins to exist.

3. DNA manufactures the protein-synthesizing enzymes. Proteins cannot be synthesized without DNA. DNA is therefore also needed for proteins to form.

4. All the organelles in the cell have important tasks in protein synthesis. in other words, for proteins to form, a complete and fully functioning cell needs to exist with all its organelles.

Evolutionist science writer Brian Switek admitted that the origin of life remains to be unaccountable by evolutionists as follows:

How life began is one of nature's enduring mysteries. (Brian Switek, "Debate bubbles over the origin of life", Nature, February 13, 2012)

Harvard chemist George Whitesides made the following confession in his acceptance speech of the Priestley Medal, the highest award of the American Chemical Society:

The Origin of Life. This problem is one of the big ones in science. ... Most chemists believe, as do I, that life emerged spontaneously from mixtures of molecules in the prebiotic Earth. How? I have no idea. (George M. Whitesides, "Revolutions in Chemistry: Priestley Medalist George M. Whitesides' Address", Chemical and Engineering News, 85: 12-17, March 26, 2007)

The DNA molecule, located in the nucleus of a cell and which stores genetic information, is a magnificent databank. If the information coded in DNA were transcribed on paper, it would make a giant library consisting of an estimated 900 volumes of 500 pages each.

A very interesting insurmountable predicament emerges at this point for the evolutionists: DNA can replicate itself only with the help of some specialized proteins (enzymes). However, the synthesis of these enzymes can be realized only by the information coded in DNA. as they both depend on each other, they must exist at the same time for replication. This razes the scenario where life originated by itself to the ground. Prof. Leslie Orgel, an evolutionist of repute from the University of San Diego, California, confesses this fact in the September 1994 issue of the Scientific American magazine:

It is extremely improbable that proteins and nucleic acids, both of which are structurally complex, arose spontaneously in the same place at the same time. Yet it also seems impossible to have one without the other. and so, at first glance, one might have to conclude that life could never, in fact, have originated by chemical means. (Leslie E. Orgel, "The Origin of Life on Earth," Scientific American, vol. 271, October 1994, p. 78.)

No doubt, if it is impossible for life to have originated spontaneously through blind coincidence, then it must be accepted that life was created. This fact explicitly invalidates the theory of evolution, whose main purpose is to deny creation.

## Imaginary Mechanisms of Evolution

The second important point that negates Darwin's theory is that both concepts put forward by the theory as "evolutionary mechanisms" were understood to have, in reality, no evolutionary power.

Darwin based his evolution allegation entirely on the mechanism of "natural selection". the importance he placed on this mechanism was evident in the name of his book: _the Origin of Species, by Means of Natural Selection..._

Natural selection holds that those living things that are stronger and more suited to the natural conditions of their habitats will survive in the struggle for life. for example, in a deer herd under the threat of attack by wild animals, those that can run faster will survive. Therefore, the deer herd will be comprised of faster and stronger individuals. However, unquestionably, this mechanism will not cause deer to evolve and transform themselves into another living species, for instance, horses.

Therefore, the mechanism of natural selection has no evolutionary power. Darwin was also aware of this fact and had to state this in his book the _Origin of Species:_

Natural selection can do nothing until favourable individual differences or variations occur. (Charles Darwin, the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, the Modern Library, New York, p. 127)

## Lamarck's Fallacy

So, how could these "favorable variations" occur? Darwin tried to answer this question from the standpoint of the primitive understanding of science at that time. According to the French biologist Chevalier de Lamarck (1744-1829), who lived before Darwin, living creatures passed on the traits they acquired during their lifetime to the next generation. He asserted that these traits, which accumulated from one generation to another, caused new species to be formed. for instance, he claimed that giraffes evolved from antelopes; as they struggled to eat the leaves of high trees, their necks were extended from generation to generation.

Darwin also gave similar examples. in his book the _Origin of Species_ , for instance, he said that some bears going into water to find food transformed themselves into whales over time. (Charles Darwin, the _Origin of Species: a Facsimile of the First Edition,_ Harvard University Press, 1964, p. 184.)

However, the laws of inheritance discovered by Gregor Mendel (1822-84) and verified by the science of genetics, which flourished in the twentieth century, utterly demolished the legend that acquired traits were passed on to subsequent generations. Thus, natural selection was left 'alone' and consequently rendered completely ineffective as an evolutionary mechanism.

## Neo-Darwinism and Mutations

In order to find a solution, Darwinists advanced the "Modern Synthetic Theory," or as it is more commonly known, Neo-Darwinism, at the end of the 1930s. Neo-Darwinism added mutations, which are distortions formed in the genes of living beings due to such external factors as radiation or replication errors, as the "cause of favorable variations" in addition to natural selection.

Today, the model that Darwinists espouse, despite their own awareness of its scientific invalidity, is Neo-Darwinism. the theory maintains that millions of living species were formed through a process whereby numerous complex organs of these organisms (e.g., ears, eyes, lungs, and wings) underwent "mutations", that is, genetic disorders. Yet, there is an outright scientific fact that totally undermines this theory: Mutations do not cause living beings to develop; on the contrary, they are always harmful. the horrific images that appeared after the nuclear explosions in Chernobyl, Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the exact results brought about by mutations. the organisms with proper structures either died or were severely damaged by mutations.

The reason for this is very simple: DNA has a very complex structure, and random effects can only harm it. the American geneticist B. G. Ranganathan explains this as follows:

First, genuine mutations are very rare in nature. Secondly, most mutations are harmful since they are random, rather than orderly changes in the structure of genes; any random change in a highly ordered system will be for the worse, not for the better. for example, if an earthquake were to shake a highly ordered structure such as a building, there would be a random change in the framework of the building which, in all probability, would not be an improvement. (B. G. Ranganathan, Origins?, Pennsylvania: the Banner of Truth Trust, 1988, p. 7.)

According to the claims of Darwinists, mutations must produce proportionate and coherent changes all over the body. for example, as per the claims of Darwinists, if an ear is formed on the right side as a result of chance mutations just as they claim, chance mutations should also form a second ear on the left side that shares the same symmetry and properties, and hears just as well. the hammer, anvil and stirrup must each come into existence in the same perfect and equal state. Random mutations must form heart valves on both sides in the same way; the valves and auricles produced by random mutations must be formed simultaneously and equally compatible with one another; they must be flawless, in their proper places. Huge discrepancies would appear if this symmetry and order could not be maintained in every organ of the body. Bizarre structures with its one ear upside down, one unusual tooth, one eye on the forehead while the other on the nose, would appear. but living organisms do not possess such imbalances. According to the claims of the Darwinists, everything formed by mutations must be symmetrical and compatible. However, all mutations are harmful. in the past, it was assumed that 99% of the mutations were harmful while the remaining 1% was neutral. Yet new researches revealed that those 1% of mutations that take place in those regions of the DNA that do not code proteins and were thus assumed to be harmless, are in fact harmful in the long run. That is why scientists named these mutations as 'silent mutations'. It is impossible for mutations that are absolutely harmful to form rational, compatible, symmetrical organs at the same time.

Mutations can be likened to shooting at an intact structure with a machine gun. Shooting at an intact object will completely ruin its structure. One of the bullets proving ineffective, or curing a pre-existing infection in the body by cauterizing it, does not change the result. the organism would already be ruined by the remaining 99 bullets that hit it.

Lynn Margulis, a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, has made the following confession regarding the evident harmful effects of mutations:

New mutations don't create new species; they create offspring that are impaired. (Lynn Margulis, quoted in Darry Madden, UMass Scientist to Lead Debate on Evolutionary Theory, Brattleboro (Vt.) Reformer, February 3, 2006)

Also in an interview in 2011, Margulis emphasized the fact that "there is no evidence" indicating that mutations modify organisms and thus give rise to new species:

[N]eo-Darwinists say that new species emerge when mutations occur and modify an organism. I was taught over and over again that the accumulation of random mutations led to evolutionary change-led to new species. I believed it until I looked for evidence. (Lynn Margulis quoted in "Lynn Margulis: Q + A," Discover Magazine, April 2011, p. 68)

As Margulis stated, there is not a single evidence showing that random mutations lead to evolutionary changes, which in turn lead to the emergence of new species.

Indeed, no beneficial mutation – one that would advance the genetic code – has ever been observed. All mutations have proved to be harmful. It is now understood that mutation, which is presented as an "evolutionary mechanism", is actually a genetic occurrence that harms living things, and leaves them disabled. (The most common effect of mutation on human beings is cancer.) of course, a destructive mechanism cannot be an "evolutionary mechanism". Natural selection, on the other hand, "can do nothing by itself", as Darwin also accepted. This fact shows us that there is no "evolutionary mechanism" in nature. Since there is no evolutionary mechanism, no such imaginary process called "evolution" can take place.

## The Fossil Record: No Sign of Intermediate Forms

The fossil records constitute the clearest evidence showing us that the scenario suggested by the theory of evolution did not take place.

According to the unscientific supposition behind this theory, every living species has sprung from a predecessor. a previously existing species (evolutionists have yet to offer an explanation on how this species came into existence) turned into something else over time and all species have come into being in this way. in other words, this imaginary transformation took millions of years and proceeded gradually.

If this were the case, innumerable intermediary species should have existed and lived within this long transformation period.

For instance, some half-fish/half-reptiles would have lived in the past, which had acquired some reptilian traits in addition to the fish traits they already had. or there should have existed some reptile-birds, which acquired some bird traits in addition to the reptilian traits they already had. Since these would be in a transitional phase, they should be disabled, defective, crippled beings. Evolutionists refer to these imaginary creatures, which they believe to have lived in the past, as "transitional forms".

If such animals ever really existed, there would be millions and even billions of them in number and variety. More importantly, the remains of these strange creatures should be present in the fossil record. in the _Origin of Species_ , Darwin explained:

If my theory be true, numberless intermediate varieties, linking most closely all of the species of the same group together must assuredly have existed... Consequently, evidence of their former existence could be found only amongst fossil remains... (Charles Darwin, the Origin of Species, New York: D. Appleton and Company. p. 161)

However, Darwin, having written these lines, was also well aware of the fact that no fossils of these intermediate forms had yet been found. He regarded this as a major difficulty for his theory. That is why, in one chapter of his book titled "Difficulties on Theory," he wrote:

Firstly, why, if species have descended from other species by insensibly fine gradations, do we not everywhere see innumerable transitional forms? Why is not all nature in confusion instead of the species being, as we see them, well defined?.... But, as by this theory innumerable transitional forms must have existed, why do we not find them embedded in countless numbers in the crust of the earth?... (Charles Darwin, the Origin of Species, New York: D. Appleton and Company. p.154, 155)

Why then is not every geological formation and every stratum full of such intermediate links? (Charles Darwin, the Origin of Species, New York: D. Appleton and Company. p. 246)

## Darwin's Shattered Hopes

However, although evolutionists have been making strenuous efforts to find fossils since the middle of the nineteenth century all over the world, no transitional forms have yet been uncovered. All the fossils, contrary to the evolutionists' expectations, show that life appeared on Earth all of a sudden and fully-formed.

Renowned British paleontologist, Derek V. Ager, admits this fact, even though he is an evolutionist:

The point emerges that if we examine the fossil record in detail, whether at the level of orders or of species, we find – over and over again – not gradual evolution, but the sudden explosion of one group at the expense of another. (Derek V. Ager, "The Nature of the Fossil Record," Proceedings of the British Geological Association, vol. 87, 1976, p. 133.)

This means that in the fossil record, all living species suddenly emerge as fully formed, without any intermediate forms in between. This is just the opposite of Darwin's assumptions. Furthermore, this is very strong evidence that all living things are created. the only explanation of a living species emerging instantaneously and completely in every detail without any evolutionary ancestor is that it was created. This fact is admitted also by the widely-known evolutionist biologist Douglas Futuyma:

Creation and evolution, between them, exhaust the possible explanations for the origin of living things. Organisms either appeared on the earth fully developed or they did not. If they did not, they must have developed from pre-existing species by some process of modification. If they did appear in a fully developed state, they must indeed have been created by some omnipotent intelligence. (Douglas J. Futuyma, Science on Trial, Pantheon Books, New York, 1983, p. 197)

Today, there are 700 million unearthed fossils. All these fossils reveal that living beings emerged fully developed and in a perfect state on the Earth. It is as if the fossils are saying "We did not evolve through evolutionary processes." That means, contrary to Darwin's supposition, "the origin of species" cannot be explained by evolution, but is explained by creation.

## The Tale of Human Evolution

The subject most often brought up by advocates of the theory of evolution is the subject of the origin of man. the Darwinist claim holds that man evolved from so-called ape-like creatures. During this alleged evolutionary process, which is supposed to have started four to five million years ago, some "transitional forms" between man and his imaginary ancestors are supposed to have existed. According to this completely imaginary scenario, four basic "categories" are listed:

1. Australopithecus

2. Homo habilis

3. Homo erectus

4. Homo sapiens

Evolutionists call man's so-called first ape-like ancestors Australopithecus, which means "Southern ape". These living beings are actually nothing but an ape species that has become extinct. Extensive research done on various Australopithecus specimens by two world famous anatomists from England and the USA, namely, Lord Solly Zuckerman and Prof. Charles Oxnard, shows that these apes belonged to an ordinary ape species that became extinct and bore no resemblance to humans (Solly Zuckerman, Beyond the Ivory Tower, Toplinger Publications, New York, 1970, 75-14; Charles E. Oxnard, "The Place of Australopithecines in Human Evolution: Grounds for Doubt", Nature, vol. 258, 389).

Evolutionists classify the next stage of human evolution as "homo", that is, "man." According to their claim, the living beings in the Homo series are more developed than Australopithecus. Evolutionists devise an imaginary evolution scheme by arranging different fossils of these creatures in a particular order. This scheme is imaginary because it has never been proven that there is any evolutionary relationship between these different classes.

By outlining the chain's links as _Australopithecus > Homo habilis > Homo erectus > Homo sapiens_, evolutionists imply that each of these species is another's ancestor. However, recent findings of paleoanthropologists have revealed that _Australopithecus, Homo habilis_ , and _Homo erectus_ all lived at different parts of the world at the same time (Alan Walker, Science, vol. 207, 7 March 1980, p. 1103; A. J. Kelso, _Physical Anthropology,_ 1st ed., J. B. Lipincott Co., New York, 1970, p. 221; M. D. Leakey, Olduvai Gorge, vol. 3, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1971, p. 272).

Moreover, a certain segment of humans classified as Homo erectus have lived up until very modern times. _Homo erectus and Homo sapiens co-existed in the same region and era._ (Jeffrey Kluger, "Not So Extinct After All," Time, 24 June 2001)

This situation indicates the invalidity of the claim that they are ancestors of one another. the late Stephen Jay Gould explained this deadlock of the theory of evolution, although he was himself one of the leading advocates of evolution in the twentieth century:

What has become of our ladder if there are three coexisting lineages of hominids (A. africanus, the robust australopithecines, and H. habilis), none clearly derived from another? Moreover, none of the three display any evolutionary trends during their tenure on earth. (S. J. Gould, Natural History, vol. 85, 1976, p. 30)

Put briefly, the scenario of human evolution, which is "upheld" with the help of various drawings of some "half ape, half human" creatures appearing in the media and textbooks, that is, frankly, propaganda, is nothing but a tale with no scientific foundation.

Lord Solly Zuckerman, one of the most famous and respected scientists in the U.K., who carried out research on this subject for years and studied Australopithecus fossils for 15 years, finally concluded, despite being an evolutionist himself, that there is, in fact, no such family tree branching out from ape-like creatures to man.

Zuckerman also made an interesting "spectrum of science" ranging from those he considered scientific to those he considered unscientific. According to Zuckerman's spectrum, the most "scientific" – that is, depending on concrete data – fields of science are chemistry and physics. After them come the biological sciences and then the social sciences. at the far end of the spectrum, which is the part considered to be most "unscientific", are "extra-sensory perception" – concepts such as telepathy and a sixth sense – and finally "human evolution". Zuckerman explains his reasoning:

We then move right off the register of objective truth into those fields of presumed biological science, like extrasensory perception or the interpretation of man's fossil history, where to the faithful [evolutionist] anything is possible – and where the ardent believer [in evolution] is sometimes able to believe several contradictory things at the same time. (Solly Zuckerman, Beyond the Ivory Tower, New York: Toplinger Publications, 1970, p. 19)

The tale of human evolution boils down to nothing but the prejudiced interpretations of some unearthed fossils by certain people who blindly adhere to their theory.

## Why a Muslim Cannot Be an Advocate of Evolution

Based on the knowledge of the 1940s and 1950s, some Muslims imagine that evolution is a theory supported by science, and try to reconcile it with Islam employing a strange logic which suggests that 'Muslims knew about evolution long before Darwin.' This logic is a product of serious lack of knowledge. Science has proven the invalidity of evolution. the fact science reveals is the fact of creation.

The fact that Muslims believe in, and the Qur'an clearly states, is that God created everything. Therefore, it is impossible for a Muslim to advocate the theory of evolution, which is a pagan superstition dating back to the time of the ancient Egyptians and Sumerians, explaining everything with coincidences.

God surely could have created the living organisms through evolution if He had wished so. However, the Qur'an does not contain any such information or any verse supporting the gradual formation of life forms as claimed by evolutionists. Had such a manner of creation existed, we would have seen it in the verses of the Qur'an with its elaborate explanations. but on the contrary, God informs us in the Qur'an that life and the universe is created miraculously with God's commandment, 'Be'.

He is the Originator of the heavens and earth. When He decides on something, He just says to it, 'Be!' and it is." (Surat al-Baqara, 117)

The fact God heralds in the Qur'an is that mankind was created out of nothing, in the finest form:

We created man in the finest mold. (Surat at-Tin, 4)

He created the heavens and the earth with truth and formed you, giving you the best of forms. and He is your final destination. (Surat at-Taghabun, 3)

## The Prophet Adam (Pbuh) and All Mankind Existed in the Spiritual Realm Before the Universe Was Created

In the Qur'an, God informs us He created mankind in the spiritual realm even before the creation of the Universe and called everyone to testify:

When your Lord took out all their descendants from the loins of the children of Adam and made them testify against themselves 'Am I not your Lord?' they said, 'We testify that indeed You are!' Lest you say on the Day of Rising, 'We knew nothing of this.' (Surat al-A'raf, 172)

As it is seen, God informs us in the verse that mankind was brought into being before the universe, that they were created flawlessly and were fully developed, and that they testified and promised that God is their Lord. According to the information imparted by the verse, fully developed, talking, hearing, promising, testifying human beings existed with all their organs and all their physical characteristics even before the universe was created.

The original Arabic verse is as below:

"Ve iz ehaze rabbuka min benî âdama min zuhûrihim zurriyyatahum wa asyhadahum alâ anfusihim, a lastu birabbikum, qâlû balâ, syahidna, an taqûlû yaumal qiyâmati innâ kunnâ an hâzâ gâfilîn (gâfilîna)."

ve iz ehaze: and when (He) took out

(iz: you know, remember, then, at that time, ... when... because, as, hence)

rabbuka: your Lord

min benî âdama: from the children of Adam

min zuhûri-him: from their loins

zurriyyatahum: their descendant, their lines, their lineage

wa asyhadahum: and made them testify

alâ anfusi-him: against themselves

a lastu: am I not?

bi rabbikum: your Lord

qâlû: they said

bala: yes

syahidna: we testify

an taqûlû: lest, so that you say not

yaumal qiyâmati: the Day of Rising

innâ: certainly we, genuinely we

kunnâ: we are, ... we were

'an hâza: of this

gâfilîn(a): unaware, knew nothing

The Arabic word _"zurriyyat"_ (descendant) used in the verse, is used 18 more times in the Qur'an. the meaning of this word in all the verses it is used in is 'mankind' or 'human generation' as all the Islamic scholars unanimously agree. in this verse, there is a reference to the descendants of Adam - the line of the Prophet Adam (pbuh)- meaning all human beings that have lived and will live on Earth. That is because, had that been a promise taken only from the person of the Prophet Adam (pbuh), the verse would have read 'When your Lord made Adam testify." as the verse states 'When your Lord took out all their descendants from the loins of the children of Adam', there is a reference to all the descendants of the Prophet Adam (pbuh), meaning all mankind.

The Arabic word ' _iz'_ (meaning; remember that time, when) refers to the time when this address was made to the descendants of the Prophet Adam (pbuh), meaning to all mankind. the word 'iz' is a preposition used while talking about an incident that took place in the past. It means 'remember this incident that took place in the past'. What is meant here is the testimony, the promise all humankind gave in the past, even before the universe was created.

In another verse of the Qur'an, it is stated that people will die twice and will be given life twice:

They will say, 'Our Lord, twice You caused us to die and twice You gave us life. We admit our wrong actions. Is there no way out?' (Surah Ghafir, 11)

The first death and life mentioned in this verse is the way people–in a sense- die after they gave this promise in the spiritual realm, and then are given life by God using their parents as instruments and are sent to this world. the second death is the physical death that we know of in this world. After that, people will be given life for the second time in the Hereafter.

When this is the case, the 'gradual formation of mankind' claims of those who assert that creation through evolution is mentioned in the Qur'an become utterly invalid. Humans did not come into existence in a gradual manner. the whole of mankind, the Prophet Adam (pbuh), and all the other prophets existed in the spiritual realm even before the whole universe was created. the claim that the Prophet Adam (pbuh) and the rest of mankind turned into modern man through a set of evolutionary processes does not hold any truth.

The Prophet Adam (pbuh), just like the rest of humanity, existed in the spiritual realm even before the universe was created, and then was created in Heaven, later to be sent to the Earth:

Your Lord said to the angels, 'I am going to create a human being out of clay. When I have formed him and breathed My Soul into him, fall down in prostration to him!' (Surah Sâd, 71-72)

But satan made them slip up by means of it, expelling them from where they were. We said, 'Go down from here as enemies to each other! You will have residence on the earth and enjoyment for a time.' (Surat al-Baqara, 36)

In another verse of the Qur'an, God informs us about the promise given by all mankind in the spiritual realm as follows:

Remember God's blessing to you and the covenant He made with you when you said, 'We hear and we obey.' Have fear of God. God knows what the heart contains. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 7)

Those who gave their promises to God in the spiritual realm were not part human and part other creatures, with incomplete forms and undeveloped limbs. They were complete and conscious humans. This is a clear proof that creation through evolution does not exist in the Qur'an.

## Those Muslims Who Advocate Evolution Are Unable to Explain the Creation of Angels and the Jinn

When those who claim that mankind developed through an evolutionary process are asked about how angels and the jinn were created, their answer will be 'God created them out of nothing'. It is quite astonishing that these individuals, who are aware of and acknowledge the fact that angels and the jinn are creations of God, fail to realize that God created mankind in the same manner. It is highly surprising that they fail to see that Almighty Lord, Who created angels with His command 'Be', created mankind in the same manner. Likewise, God creates angels in human form, instantaneously. the angels who visited the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) had the appearance of fully developed and flawless human beings and were created instantaneously.

God informs in the Qur'an that the jinn, unlike mankind, were created from fire:

He created man from dry earth like baked clay; and He created the jinn from a fusion of fire. (Surat ar-Rahman, 14-15)

As God reveals in the Qur'an, the creation of angels is also quite different from the creation of mankind. in the following verse, God informs us about the creation of angels:

Praise be to God, the Bringer into Being of the heavens and earth, He Who made the angels messengers, with wings – two, three or four. He adds to creation in any way He wills. God has power over all things. (Surah Fatir, 1)

As clearly understood from the statement in the verse, angels also have a very distinct appearance, very different from that of humans. Additionally, God informs us in the Qur'an that both angels and the jinn were created before mankind. It is very easy for God to create. Our Lord is the One Who creates out of nothing and without cause. Just as He created the jinn and angels out of nothing and in distinct forms, so did He create mankind as a separate creature out of nothing, without any need for evolutionary processes. the same is also true for other life forms such as animals and plants. Here is the explicit truth explained in the Qur'an: God created all beings instantaneously and out of nothing without subjecting them to evolution; in other words, without turning them into other species.

## Muslims Who Advocate Evolution Cannot Offer Any Explanation for the Miracles Mentioned in the Qur'an

God informs us in the Qur'an that when the Prophet Moses (pbuh) threw his staff to the ground, by God's will, it turned into a living snake.

As we are informed in the verses, when the Prophet Moses (pbuh) throws his staff to the ground, an inanimate tree branch turns into a living snake, and when he takes it in his hand, it reverts back to an inanimate tree branch, and when he throws it once more to the ground, it again comes to life. in other words, an inanimate matter comes to life and then becomes lifeless, and then comes to life again. With this miracle, God shows us the constant creation. God commands in the verses:

He threw it down and suddenly it was a slithering snake. He said, 'Take hold of it and have no fear. We will return it to its original form.' (Surah Ta Ha, 20-21)

'Throw down what is in your right hand. It will swallow up their handiwork. Their handiwork is just a magician's trick. Magicians do not prosper wherever they go.' (Surah Ta Ha, 69)

'Throw down your staff.' Then when he saw it slithering like a snake he turned and fled and did not turn back again. 'Have no fear, Moses. in My Presence the Messengers have no fear.' (Surat an-Naml, 10)

When the Prophet Moses (pbuh) threw his staff to the ground, as a blessing of God, an inanimate piece of wood turned into a very much alive creature that slithered and swallowed the conjurations of the others; in other words, a creature with a functional digestive system. This transformation took place instantaneously. Thus, God showed people an example of how living organisms are created out of nothing. an inanimate matter came to life by God simply willing it, in other words, with His command 'Be'. This miracle that God granted to the Prophet Moses (pbuh) shattered the superstitious evolutionary beliefs of the Egyptians of the time with a single blow, and even those who were against the Prophet Moses (pbuh) realized the truth at that very moment, renouncing their superstitious beliefs and believing in God.

Furthermore, God informs us in the Qur'an about how the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) made a clay object in the shape of a bird and breathed into it, and how the bird came to life by God's Will:

Remember when God said, "Jesus, son of Mary, remember My blessing to you and to your mother when I reinforced you with the Purest Spirit so that you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were fully grown; and when I taught you the Book and Wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you created a bird-shape out of clay by My permission, and then breathed into it and it became a bird by My permission..." (Surat al-Ma'ida, 110)

A bird came to life without being bound to any cause, by God's leave and miracle. a living bird emerging from inanimate matter is one example of Almighty God's peerless, causeless and sublime creation. Through this miracle bestowed upon him by God, the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) revealed the illogicality and invalidity of evolutionist thinking also. It is impossible for those who try to arbitrarily reconcile Islam with evolution to offer an explanation of these miracles of our Lord.

Just as God did not create the jinn, angels, the women of Heaven (houris), the male servants of Heaven (gillmans), the children of Heaven, palaces and gardens of Heaven, hell and its guardians through evolution, so did He not create mankind through evolution. God created every detail in Heaven; the high palaces, ornaments, gardens, birds, foods and infinite blessings instantly and out of nothing without any evolutionary process. the mansions in the Heaven, rivers of milk, thrones and jewels of Heaven were all created by God's command "Be". No cause is needed such as foremen, tailors or craftsmen for those to appear. Just as the fruits of Heaven such as date palms and figs or the jewels of heaven such as pearls and mother-of-pearls were not created by means of evolution in Heaven, they are not created by means of evolution in this world either. Creation is not through evolution, neither in this world, nor in Heaven. (For further information, refer to: _Why Darwinism Is Incompatible with the Qur'an,_ Harun Yahya (Adnan Oktar).)

## Darwinian Formula!

Besides all the technical evidence we have dealt with so far, let us now examine what kind of an irrational belief the evolutionists have with an example so simple as to be understood even by children:

The theory of evolution claims that life is formed by chance. According to this irrational claim, lifeless and unconscious atoms came together to form the cell and then they supposedly formed other living things, including man. Let us think about that. When we bring together the elements that are the building blocks of life such as carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium, only a heap is formed. No matter what treatment it undergoes, this atomic heap cannot form even a single living being. If you like, let us formulate an "experiment" on this subject and let us examine what evolutionists really claim about the "Darwinian formula":

Let evolutionists put plenty of the materials present in the composition of living things, such as phosphorus, nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, iron, and magnesium, into big barrels. Moreover, let them add in these barrels any material that does not even exist under normal conditions, but that they think is necessary. Let them add in this mixture as many amino acids and as many proteins - not a single one of which can by any means be formed by chance - as they like. Let them expose these mixtures to as much heat and moisture as they like. Let them stir these with whatever technologically developed device they like. Let them put the foremost scientists beside these barrels. Let these experts wait in turn beside these barrels for billions or even trillions of years. Let them be free to use anything they believe to be necessary for a living being's formation.

No matter what they do, they cannot produce from these barrels a living being. They cannot produce giraffes, lions, bees, canaries, horses, dolphins, roses, orchids, lilies, carnations, bananas, oranges, apples, dates, tomatoes, melons, watermelons, figs, olives, grapes, peaches, peafowls, pheasants, multicolored butterflies, or any of the other millions of other living beings such as these. Indeed, they could not obtain even a single cell of any living being.

Briefly, unconscious atoms cannot form a cell by coming together. They cannot make a new decision and divide this cell into two, then make other decisions and create the professors who invented the electron microscope and then examine their own cell structure under that microscope. Life only comes with God's superior creation. the theory of evolution, which claims the opposite, is a total fallacy, completely contrary to reason. Thinking even a little bit on about the claims of evolutionists discloses this reality, just as in the above example.

## Technology in the Eye and the Ear

Another subject that remains unanswered by the theory of evolution is the excellent quality of perception in the eye and the ear.

Before passing on to the subject of the eye, let us briefly answer the question of how we see. Light rays coming from an object fall upside down on the retina in the eye. Here, these light rays are transmitted into electrical signals by cells and reach a tiny spot at the back of the brain, the "center of vision". These electrical signals are then perceived in this center as an image. Given this brief technical explanation, let us do some thinking.

The brain is insulated from light. That means that it is completely dark inside the brain, and that no light reaches the place where it is located. Thus, the "center of vision" is never touched by light and may even be the darkest place you have ever known. However, you observe a luminous, bright world in this pitch-black darkness.

The image formed in the eye is so sharp and so distinct that even the technology of the twenty-first century has not been able to attain that clarity and sharpness. for instance, look at the book you are reading, your hands with which you are holding it, then lift your head and look around you. Have you ever seen such a sharp and distinct image as you now see, with any other device? Even the most developed television screen produced by the greatest television manufacturer in the world cannot provide such a sharp image for you. for more than 100 years, thousands of engineers have been trying to achieve this sharpness. Factories, huge premises have been established, much research has been done, plans and designs have been made for this purpose. Again, look at a TV screen and the book you hold in your hands. You will see that there is a big difference in sharpness and distinction. Moreover, the TV screen shows you a two-dimensional image, whereas with your eyes, you watch from a three-dimensional perspective which adds depth.

For many years, tens of thousands of engineers have tried to make a three-dimensional TV and achieve the vision quality of the eye. Yes, they have made a three-dimensional television system, but it is not possible to watch it without putting on special 3-D glasses; moreover, it is only artificially three-dimensional. the background is more blurred, the foreground appears like a paper setting. Never has it been possible to produce as sharp and distinct vision as that of the eye. in both the camera and the television, there is a comparative loss of image quality.

Evolutionists claim that the mechanism producing this sharp and distinct image has been formed by haphazard events. Now, if somebody told you that the television in your room was formed as a result of coincidences, that all of its atoms just happened to come together and make up this device that produces an image, what would you think? How can unconscious atoms do what thousands of people cannot?

If a device producing a more primitive image than the eye could not have been formed by chance, then it is very evident that the eye and the image seen by the eye could not have been formed by chance. the same is valid for the ear as well. the outer ear picks up the available sounds by the auricle and directs them to the middle ear, the middle ear transmits the sound vibrations by intensifying them, and the inner ear sends these vibrations to the brain by translating them into electrical signals. Just as with the eye, the act of hearing is finalized in the center of hearing in the brain.

The situation of the eye is also true for the ear. That is, the brain is insulated from sound just as it is from light. It does not let any sound in. Therefore, no matter how noisy the outside is, the inside of the brain is completely silent. Nevertheless, the sharpest sounds are perceived in the brain. in your completely silent brain, you listen to symphonies, and hear all the noises in a crowded place. However, if the sound level in your brain were measured by a precise device at that moment, complete silence would be found to prevail there.

As is the case with sharp imagery, decades of effort have been spent in trying to generate and reproduce sound that is faithful to the original. Sound recorders, high-fidelity systems, many electronic devices and music systems sensing sound are all the results of such efforts. Despite all this technology and the thousands of engineers and experts who have been working on this endeavor, no sound has yet been obtained that has the same sharpness and clarity as the sound perceived by the ear.

Think of the highest-quality, highest-fidelity systems produced by the largest company in the music industry. Even with these devices, when sound is recorded, some of it is lost; or notice how when you turn on a hi-fi you always hear a slight interference or static even before the music starts. However, the sounds that are the products of the human body's technology are extremely sharp and clear. a human ear never perceives a sound accompanied by a hissing sound or with static as does a music set; rather, it perceives sound exactly as it is, sharp and clear. This is the way it has been since the creation of man. So far, no man-made video or audio recording apparatus has been as sensitive and successful in perceiving sensory data as are the eye and the ear. However, as far as seeing and hearing are concerned, a far greater truth lies beyond all this.

## To Whom Does This Consciousness That Sees and Hears Within the Brain Belong?

Who watches an alluring world inside the brain, listens to symphonies and the twittering of birds, and smells the rose?

The stimulations coming from a person's eyes, ears, and nose travel to the brain as electro-chemical nerve impulses. in biology, physiology, and biochemistry books, you can find many details about how this image forms in the brain. However, you will never come across an answer to the most important question: Who perceives these electro-chemical nerve impulses as images, sounds, odors, and sensory events in the brain? There is a consciousness in the brain that perceives all this without feeling any need for an eye, an ear, and a nose. to whom does this consciousness belong? of course, it does not belong to the nerves, the fat layer, or neurons comprising the brain. This is why Darwinist-materialists, who believe that everything is composed of matter, cannot answer this question.

For this consciousness is the spirit, the soul created by God, which needs neither the eye to watch the images nor the ear to hear the sounds. Furthermore, it does not need the brain to think.

Everyone who reads this explicit and scientific answer should reflect on Almighty God, and fear and seek refuge in Him, for He fits this entire universe into a pitch-dark place of a few cubic centimeters in a three-dimensional, colored, shadowy, and luminous form.

## A Materialist Superstition

The information we have presented so far shows us that the theory of evolution is incompatible with scientific findings. the theory's claim regarding the origin of life is inconsistent with science, the evolutionary mechanisms it proposes have no evolutionary power, and fossils demonstrate that intermediate forms the theory necessitates have never existed. So, these certainly require that the theory of evolution be pushed aside as a disproven theory. This is how many ideas, such as the geocentric model of the universe, have been taken out of the realm of science throughout history.

However, the theory of evolution is persistently kept on the agenda of science. Some people even try to represent criticisms directed against it as an "attack on science" and to suppress adversatives. Why?

Because this theory is an indispensable dogmatic belief in some circles. These circles are blindly devoted to a materialist philosophy and adopt Darwinism because it is the only materialist explanation that can be put forward to explain the workings of nature.

Interestingly enough, they also confess this fact from time to time. a well-known geneticist and an outspoken evolutionist, Richard C. Lewontin from Harvard University, confesses that he is "first and foremost a materialist and then a scientist":

It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world, but, on the contrary, that we are forced by our a priori adherence to material causes to create an apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material explanations, no matter how counter-intuitive, no matter how mystifying to the uninitiated. Moreover, that materialism is absolute, so we cannot allow a Divine [intervention]... (Richard Lewontin, "The Demon-Haunted World," the New York Review of Books, January 9, 1997, p. 28)

These are explicit statements demonstrating that **Darwinism is a dogma** kept alive just for the sake of adherence to materialism. This dogma maintains that there is no being except for matter. Therefore, it argues that inanimate, unconscious matter brought life into being. It claims that millions of different living species (e.g., birds, fish, giraffes, tigers, insects, trees, flowers, whales, and human beings) originated as a result of interactions between matter, such as pouring rain, lightning flashes, and so on, or out of inanimate matter. This is a precept contrary to both reason and science. Yet Darwinists continue to ignorantly defend it just so as not to acknowledge, in their own eyes, the evident existence of God.

Anyone who does not look at the origin of living beings with a materialist prejudice sees this evident truth: **All living beings are works of a Creator,** Who is All-Powerful, All-Wise, and All-Knowing. **This Creator is God,** Who created the whole universe from non-existence, in the most perfect form, and fashioned all living beings.

## The Theory of Evolution: the Most Potent Spell in the World

It should be openly stated first and foremost that anyone free of prejudice and the influence of any particular ideology, who uses only his or her reason and logic, will clearly understand that belief in the theory of evolution, which brings to mind the superstitions of societies with no knowledge of true science, is quite impossible to embrace.

As explained above, those who believe in the theory of evolution think that a few atoms and molecules thrown into a huge vat could produce thinking, reasoning professors and university students; such scientists as Einstein and Hubble; such artists as Frank Sinatra and Charlton Heston; antelopes, lemon trees, and carnations. Moreover, as the scientists and professors who believe in this nonsense are educated people, it is quite justifiable to speak of this theory as "the most potent spell in history". Never before has any other belief or idea so taken away peoples' powers of reason, refused to allow them to think intelligently and logically, and hidden the truth from them as if they had been blindfolded. This necessitates an even worse and unbelievable blindness than the totems worshipped in some parts of Africa, the people of Saba worshipping the Sun, the tribe of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) worshipping idols they had made with their own hands, or some among the people of the Prophet Moses (pbuh) worshipping the Golden Calf.

In fact, God has pointed to this lack of reason in the Qur'an. in many verses, He reveals that some peoples' minds will be closed and that they will be powerless to see the truth. Some of these verses are as follows:

As for those who do not believe, it makes no difference to them whether you warn them or do not warn them, they will not believe. God has sealed up their hearts and hearing and over their eyes is a blindfold. They will have a terrible punishment. (Surat al-Baqara, 6-7)

... They have hearts with which they do not understand. They have eyes with which they do not see. They have ears with which they do not hear. Such people are like cattle. No, they are even further astray! They are the unaware. (Surat al-A'raf, 179)

God informs us in the Surat al-Hijr that these people are under a spell that they do not believe even if they see miracles:

Even if We opened up to them a door into heaven, and they spent the day ascending through it, they would only say: "Our eyesight is befuddled! or rather we have been put under a spell!" (Surat al-Hijr, 14-15)

Words cannot express just how astonishing it is that this spell should hold such a wide community in thrall, keeping people from the truth, and remaining unbroken for 150 years. It is understandable that one or a few people might believe in impossible, illogical scenarios and claims full of stupidity and illogicality. However, "spell" is the only possible word to use when people from all over the world believe that unconscious and lifeless atoms suddenly decided to come together and form a universe that functions with a flawless system of organization, discipline, reason, and consciousness; a planet named Earth with all its features so perfectly suited to life; and living things full of countless complex systems.

In fact, in the Qur'an God relates the incident of the Prophet Moses (pbuh) and Pharaoh to show that some people who support atheistic philosophies actually influence others by use of spells. When Pharaoh was told about the true religion, he told the Prophet Moses (pbuh) to meet with his own magicians. When the Prophet Moses (pbuh) did so, he told them to demonstrate their abilities first. the verses continue:

He said: "You throw." and when they threw, they cast a spell on the people's eyes and caused them to feel great fear of them. They produced an extremely powerful magic. (Surat al-A'raf, 116)

As we have seen, Pharaoh's magicians were able to deceive everyone, apart from the Prophet Moses (pbuh) and those who believed in him. However, his evidence broke the spell, or "swallowed up what they had forged," as revealed in the verse:

We revealed to Moses: "Throw down your staff." and it immediately swallowed up what they had forged. So the Truth took place and what they did was shown to be false. (Surat al-A'raf, 117-118)

The Prophet Moses' throwing his staff of inanimate wood and then that staff coming to life and instantly overthrowing the deceptions of the Pharaoh and his followers is like breaking the spell of evolution. When people realized that a spell had been cast upon them and that what they saw was just an illusion, Pharaoh's magicians lost all credibility. in the present day too, unless those who, under the influence of a similar spell believe in these ridiculous claims of evolution under their scientific disguise and spend their lives defending them, abandon their superstitious beliefs, they also will be humiliated when the full truth emerges and the spell is broken. in fact, world-renowned British writer and philosopher Malcolm Muggeridge, who was an atheist advocating the theory of evolution for some sixty years, but who subsequently realized the truth, reveals the position in which the theory of evolution would find itself in the near future in these terms:

I myself am convinced that the theory of evolution, especially the extent to which it's been applied, will be one of the great jokes in the history books in the future. Posterity will marvel that so very flimsy and dubious an hypothesis could be accepted with the incredible credulity that it has. (Malcolm Muggeridge, the End of Christendom, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980, p. 43)

That future is not far off: on the contrary, people will soon see that "coincidences" are not a deity, and will look back on the **theory of evolution as the worst deceit and the most terrible spell in the world**. That spell is now rapidly beginning to be lifted from people all over the world. Many people who see its true face are wondering with amazement how they could ever have been taken in by it.

They said, 'Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.' (Qur'an, 2:32)

# Picture Subtitles

s.100

Louis Pasteur

s.101

Alexander Oparin

s.102

As accepted also by the latest evolutionist theorists, the origin of life is still a great stumbling block for the theory of evolution.

s.104

The DNA in the nucleus of the living cell is a databank consisting of various sequences of four different nucleotide bases. the codes of all physical characteristics belonging to that living being are stored in that molecule. When human DNA is transcribed on paper it is assumed that it would make a library as large as 900 volumes of encyclopedias. Such an extraordinary amount of data completely renders the claims about coincidental formation invalid.

s.108

There is no single fossil showing that species developed gradually. an examination of the layers of the Earth's crust and the fossil record reveals that life came into being on Earth suddenly.

FALSE

s.109

antenna

eyes

mouth

legs

Evolutionists have been trying to form an example of beneficial mutation by subjecting flies to mutations since the beginning of the last century. All they attained as a result of decades of studies are crippled, diseased and defective flies.

On the left: Head of a normal fruit fly

On the right: a mutated fruit fly

s.112

Ant-Like Stone Beetle

Period: Cretaceous

Age: 100 million years

Location: Myanmar

Catshark

Period: Cretaceous

Age: 95 million years

Location: Lebanon

s.113

Sumac Leaf

Period: Eocene

Age: 45 million years

Location: USA

Frog

Period: Eocene

Age: 40 million years

Location: China

s.114

Evolutionists generally interpret fossils in the light of their ideological expectations, for which reason the conclusions they arrive at are for the most part unreliable.

s.117

FALSE

There are no fossil remains that support the tale of human evolution. on the contrary, the fossil record shows that there is an insurmountable barrier between apes and men. in the face of this truth, evolutionists fixed their hopes on certain drawings and models. They randomly place masks on the fossil remains and fabricate imaginary half-ape, half-human faces.

s.120

Random mutations which evolutionists claim to develop living things should have led to such bizarre transitional beings with three brains, four eyes, webbed hands, and much more freakish creatures.

Evolutionary theory claims that living creatures transform into different species by means of mutations. Modern science, however, has clearly revealed that this is a big deception.

First of all, if living organisms had really transformed into entirely different creatures, there should have been numerous intermediate stages during their transformation process. the geological record should be filled with transitional fossils (i.e., fossils of creatures still in the process of evolving). However, of the roughly 700 million fossils unearthed so far, all belong to fully complete forms, which we are familiar with today. If evolution had really taken place, the Earth should have been filled with billions of fossils of those transitional forms. Moreover, millions of these creatures should have been deformed or unusually abnormal, due to mutations.

According to evolutionist claims, every bodily organ came into being as the results of random mutations: While developing its functions, an abnormal organ underwent repeated mutations, each changing the existing abnormal structure into a different abnormal one. This claim demands that the Earth contain millions of such forms, each displaying different abnormalities in each separate phase. Yet there is not a single example of any.

s.121

There should have been many fossils of two-, three-, four- or five-headed human beings, or with dozens of compound eyes as are found in insects, or with multiple limbs two or three meters long, or any other such bizarre variations. Likewise, there should have been innumerable specimens of freakish animals and plants. All marine animals should have left behind a long series of bizarre intermediate forms. However, not one of them has yet been found. the millions of fossils all belong to normal creatures. This fact is itself an obvious dramatization of the collapse of the theory of evolution. Defending this theory in the hopes of someday finding one such "intermediate" fossil—even though each and every specimen unearthed in the last 150 years definitely refutes any hint of having evolved—is not reasonable. After the passage of 150 years, there is no fossil bed yet to be excavated. Billions of dollars have been spent on research. Yet fossils of the intermediate forms that Darwin predicted have still not been discovered. There is not one single intermediate life form that Darwinists can offer as suggestive of evolution. on the other hand, millions of "living fossils" offer conclusive evidence for the Fact of Creation.

s.130

The angels and the jinn are created instantaneously without evolution. Creation in the hereafter will be in need of no evolution. Why should man be created in the world through evolution? There is neither scientific proof nor a verse in the Qur'an on the alleged evolution of man. There is no evolution in the Qur'an. God informs us that He created man in the most beautiful form with His commandment "Be!" (A9 TV, January 21st, 2017)

s.131

Darwinism is not a branch of science that is to be respected or not objected to. It is a pagan religion from the time of the ancient Sumerians that takes coincidence as its idol. Paleontology, physics, chemistry and biology are all branches of science, yet evolution is an unfounded fallacy. (A9 TV, January 20th, 2017)

Adnan Oktar

s.133

Can life emerge if all the conditions stipulated by evolutionists are met? of course not! in order to show why not, let us carry out the following experiment: Place all the enzymes, hormones and proteins—everything that evolutionists regard as essential for life to form—into a barrel such as that pictured above. Then mix all these substances, using all possible physical and chemical techniques. but whatever you do, no matter how long you wait, not a single living cell will emerge from that barrel.

s.135

The brain is soundproof as much as it is lightproof. Therefore, no matter how loud the sound we may hear, inside our brains it is completely silent. However, within this silence resides a consciousness that interprets the electrical signals as a favorite song, the voice of a friend or the ring of the phone. This consciousness is our soul.

s.136

Signals from an object affect the brain by turning into electrical signals. When we say we see something, we are actually experiencing the effect of electrical signals in our brain. the brain is closed off to light. the interior of the brain is pitch black, and no light can enter where the brain is. the area known as the visual cortex is pitch black, somewhere that light can never reach, darker perhaps than anywhere you have ever seen. but you watch a brightly colored world in that pitch dark.

s.142

Today, the beliefs of Darwinists are as incomprehensible as the weird and unreasonable beliefs of those who worshiped alligators in the past. Darwinists ignorantly regard coincidences and inanimate, unconscious atoms as if they have creative powers. Moreover, they adhere to this superstitious belief as one would adhere to a religion.

# Back Cover

In this book, you will find the means to benefit from various passages of the Torah that have remained unchanged and are in compliance with the Qur'an. as is known, some parts of the Torah have persisted without being altered up until today and bear many similarities with the Qur'an due to their being God's revelation. for this reason, those passages you'll read are God's words comprising of great wisdom and a wealth of insight. People of good conscience should refer to the meanings of these words and always be in alliance with good people for experiencing and consistently upholding love. in this way, the plots of the dajjal - antichrist will be overturned and despite its incitement of hatred, the devotees of love will come to the fore. This is how noble people of good conscience will appreciate the beauty of loving God, eradicate false belief systems with intellect and cultivate communities that have a profound love for God. Even though the number of people who truly love God may be in the minority, they will be sufficient to change the world. Without any doubt, all power belongs to our Lord.

About the Author: Adnan Oktar, who writes under the pen-name Harun Yahya, was born in Ankara in 1956. Since the 1980s, the author has published many books on faith-related, scientific and political issues. He is well-known as the author of important works disclosing the imposture of evolutionists, their invalid claims, and the dark liaisons between Darwinism and such bloody ideologies as fascism and communism.

All of the author's works share one single goal: to convey the Qur'an's message, encourage readers to consider basic faith-related issues such as God's existence and unity and the Hereafter; and to expose irreligious systems' feeble foundations and perverted ideologies. His more than 300 works, translated into 73 different languages, enjoy a wide readership across the world.

By the will of God, the books of Harun Yahya will be a means through which people in the twenty-first century will attain the peace, justice, and happiness promised in the Qur'an. the seal on the cover of the books is the Prophet's (pbuh) seal. It represents the Qur'an (the final scripture) and the Prophet Muhammad (the last of the prophets). the author uses this seal as a symbol of taking the Qur'an and the peaceful and loving morality of the Prophet (pbuh) as his guide.

