By Raya Shokatfard
In Part 5, we mentioned how Allah sets forth various examples of believers and disbelievers and how they think, say and behave; very interesting contrast for those who reflect.
He also made the call to Islam as the best speech and the qualities of the righteous caller as the best of characters.
After establishing Allah as the creator, designer and master of all that exists, Allah brings a very interesting and important point:
{And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate yourselves not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate yourselves to Allah Who created them, if you (really) worship Him.} (41:37)
The entire universe, its creation and supervision of its affairs points only to One Creator – Allah and His Lordship. Yet the foolish missed the first part and chose to worship His creation, rather than the Creator.
This exists even today.
A Personal Story
Many years back and in my time of ignorance, I was living in a New-Age resort in Hawaii. We used to get up by sunrise and supplicate to the sun to give us light and take away darkness. We raised our hands toward the sun and wiped ourselves with the so called light of the sun to bless our bodies.
Any time I see this verse now I shake with awe, regret and thanksgiving and wonder how could I be so ignorant and not really reflect? I was searching, but not blindly, thank God.
Once I found Islam, I noticed that there are no questions unanswered and no guesswork in Allah’s majestic wisdom. Only He is to be worshiped and not His creation. This topic could not be clearer in the Quran.
Now, it is brought to our attention that pride is man’s worse enemy. Allah says:
{But if they are too proud (to do so), then there are those who are with your Lord (angels) glorify Him night and day, and never are they tired.} (38)
Which creature has the ability to worship Allah night and day and never get tire?
None but the angels. They do not disobey Allah. We and the angels were created to worship Him. We have become self-sufficient and misuse our freewill, but the angels remain steadfast in their task.
{And among His Signs (in this), that you see the earth barren, but when We send down water (rain) to it, it is stirred to life and growth (of vegetation). Verily, He Who gives it life, surely is Able to give life to the dead (on the Day of Resurrection). Indeed! He is Able to do all things.} (39)
Those who ponder, reflect and have inner wisdom are able to see such great signs.
Humans miss many of the signs of Allah in nature. The above verse indicates not only the wisdom of the Creator but also an indication that Allah is the one who gives life and takes life, just as He does so with vegetation. Those who ponder, reflect and have inner wisdom are able to see such great signs.
{Verily, those who turn away from Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc. by attacking, distorting and denying them), are not hidden from Us. Is he who is cast into the Fire better or he who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do what you will. Verily! He is All-Seer of what you do (this is a severe threat to the disbelievers)} (40)
From the previous verses and the description of those who turn away from the signs of Allah, we now see that Allah clearly states His ever-supremacy in being able to see and hear all things and nothing is hidden from Him. Such people have ignored signs of Allah, the revelation of Quran and the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him). They are headed but toward only one direction – Hell.
{Verily, those who disbelieved in the Reminder (i.e. the Quran) when it came to them (shall receive the punishment). And verily, it is an honorable well-fortified respected Book (because it is Allah’s Speech, and He has protected it from corruption).} (41, see 15:9)
There is no scripture in which the Creator has promised to protect it from corruption and honored it as He has the Quran. Why?
It is because other books were compilation of humans’ accounts of various historical events and were not dictated by Allah to the writers. Although some of the writings were supposedly written by the previous messengers who received direct revelation from Allah, but the records were for most part lost or corrupted.
{Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allah SWT).} (42)
the messages all contain one central theme…
Such is the promise of Allah. He also said in another verse:
{Verily, We Ourselves have sent down this Exhortation, and most surely We will be its Guardian.} (15:9)
{Nothing is said to you (O Muhammad) except what was said to the Messengers before you.
Verily, your Lord is the Possessor of forgiveness, and (also) the Possessor of painful punishment.} (43)
An objective researcher, after examining ALL messages of previous messengers, finds that the messages all contain one central theme. “You shall have no other gods but one God.”
It is also their job to make this one unique God known to mankind as a being who possesses forgiveness for the believers as well as punishment for those who turn away from clear signs and choose the path of darkness.
These words are also addressed to those who accused Muhammad of being a sorcerer, magician or liar.
{And if We had sent this as a Quran in a foreign language (other than Arabic), they would have said: “Why are not its Verses explained in detail (in our language)? What! (A Book) not in Arabic and (the Messenger) an Arab?” Say: “It is for those who believe, a guide and a healing. And as for those who disbelieve, there is heaviness (deafness) in their ears, and it (the Quran) is blindness for them. They are those who are called from a place far away (so they neither listen nor understand).} (44)
Among scores of reasons to prove to the disbelievers the message of Islam, Allah sets forth another clarification about why the Quran is in Arabic and not in other languages. This is to activate their reasoning senses against their never ending accusation about Muhammad and the message he brought to them. Yet, Allah warns that the ears of disbelievers do not hear and their eyes cannot see the truth.
In other verses, they are referred to as “deaf, dumb and blind.”
Nowadays, this applies also to those whose hearts are full of enmity against Islam and will do all they can to interpret verses out of context in order to turn the people away. In other verses, they are referred to as “deaf, dumb and blind.”
{And indeed We gave Musa (Moses) the Scripture, but dispute arose therein. And had it not been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord, (the torment would have overtaken them) and the matter would have been settled between them. But truly, they are in grave doubt thereto (i.e. about the Quran).} (45)
The similarity of the prophets, their messages and the hardship their received from their own people cannot be understated. Both Muhammad, Musa as well as other prophets found their enemies on their own front door and by their own people.
{And those whom they used to invoke before (in this world) shall disappear from them, and they will perceive that they have no place of refuge (from Allah’s punishment).} (48)
How much more clear can Allah be with His stubborn creatures when He tells them again and again that all that they worship besides Him will avail naught on the day of Judgment.
They will find themselves alone with their records. No choice but to face all they did while on earth.
{Man (the disbeliever) does not get tired of asking good (things from Allah), but if an evil touches him, then he gives up all hope and is lost in despair.} (49)
Humans don’t give up hope in asking for good things. But when some evil touches them, they give up hope. Yet the believer depends on Allah in both cases and never finds himself independent of Allah’s mercy even when good touches him. He attributes all to Allah’s wisdom. But he is patient when bad touches him, and seek Allah’s help and protection and stays steadfast.
instead of attributing good to Allah, he attributes it to himself or his knowledge.
{And truly, if We give him a taste of mercy from Us, after some adversity (severe poverty or disease, etc.) has touched him, he is sure to say: “This is due to me (merit), I think not that the Hour will be established. But if I am brought back to my Lord, surely, there will be for me the best (wealth) with Him. Then, We verily, will show to the disbelievers what they have done and We shall make them taste a severe torment.} (50)
Again, another sign of pride of the disbeliever who, instead of attributing good to Allah, he attributes it to himself or his knowledge. He does so while in a state of denial of Judgment Day, or he would have attributed all to Allah. Pity that only in the final hour some realize their mistake when no help will avail them anything.
{And when We show favor to man, he withdraws and turns away; but when evil touches him, then he has recourse to long supplications.} (51)
This is another similar verse emphasizing the ungrateful nature of a disbeliever or weak in faith. He turns away when good touches him, as he sees himself free from any need for Allah. Yet he returns to long supplication when harm touches him.
This also applies to many believers who do not engage in regular supplication to Allah except in time of need. Such are not loved by Allah.
{Say: “Tell me, if it (the Quran) is from Allah, and you disbelieve in it, who is more astray than one who is in opposition far away (from Allah’s Right Path and His obedience).} (52)
If the polytheists pondered on the verses of the Quran, they would surely notice it is a Divine revelation from Allah. But even if they did believe it was from Allah, they would still turn away. They are merely misguided and on the wrong path.
{We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Quran) is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is a Witness over all things?} (53)
These signs are all mentioned in the Quran to an illiterate Prophet who had no knowledge of scientific facts
One may ask, why would the signs in the universe and in their own selves be a manifestation of the Quran being the truth?
The answer is simple.
These signs are all mentioned in the Quran to an illiterate Prophet who had no knowledge of scientific facts mentioned in the Quran. A simple ponder reveals the miraculous statements about some of the revelations are clear indication that it is from none but the Creator of the universe.
{Verily, they are in doubt concerning the Meeting with their Lord? (i.e. Resurrection after their death, and their return to their Lord). Verily! He it is Who is surrounding all things!} (54)
Finally, Allah points out once again the ignorance of the disbelievers. Had they known that Allah encompasses all things and His Words, promises and warnings in the Quran are all truth, perhaps they would have thought twice about their stubborn stance against Allah, His Prophet and His religion.
We ask Allah to raise us among those who believed, submitted to Him, and obeyed Him and His messenger with our hearts, minds and soul.
Ameen.
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Published on: Monday, 10 November 2014