What the Qur'an Teaches: Driven in Throngs
Adil Salahi | Arab News
God is the Creator of everything, and of all things He is the Guardian. His are the keys of the heavens and the earth. Those who deny God?s revelations will surely be the losers.? This is the truth that everything in the universe confirms. No one can ever claim to create anything. No rational being can claim that this universe came into existence without a creator, when everything in it testifies to elaborate planning and a clear purpose behind creation. Nothing in it, from the very small to the very large, is left to chance: ?Of all things He is the Guardian.? Into His control the heavens and the earth are placed. He conducts their affairs the way He chooses. They operate in accordance with the system He put in place for them. No will other than His interferes with anything. This is acknowledged by human nature, confirmed by practical fact and endorsed by reason and conscience.
?Those who deny God?s revelations will surely be the losers.? They have lost the understanding that makes their lives on earth consistent and harmonious with the life of the universe. They have lost the comfort of divine guidance, the beauty of faith, the reassurance of belief and the sweetness of certainty. On the Day of Judgment they will lose their own souls and their families. Hence, the term ?losers? applies to them in all its shades and connotations. In the light of this truth, testified to by the heavens, the earth and every creature in the universe, the Prophet is instructed in how to reply to the idolaters? offer of both parties joining together in the worship of their idols and God Almighty at the same time. It is as if the whole question is a bargain to be struck by compromise: ?Say: You ignorant people! Would you bid me worship anyone other than God?? This is the natural reaction to such a stupid offer that betrays nothing but ignorance.
This is followed with a clear warning against associating partners with God, beginning with the prophets and God?s messengers who would never entertain even the slightest thought of such association. This, however, serves to alert all others to the truth that in the question of who is to be worshipped, God stands alone without partners, while in the question of offering worship, all mankind, including the prophets and God?s messengers, are in the same position as God?s servants: ?It has been revealed to you, and to those before you, that if you ever associate partners with God, all your works shall certainly come to nothing, and you shall certainly be among the lost.?
This warning against associating partners with God concludes with an order to worship God alone. We are to show gratitude to Him for providing us with guidance to the path to certainty. We should also thank Him for all His countless favors which He bestows on us and which we all enjoy at every moment of our lives: ?You shall worship God alone, and be one of those who give thanks.?
?No true understanding of God have they.? Indeed, they have no clear or true understanding of Him when they associate with Him some of His creatures. Nor do they worship Him as He should be worshipped. They do not appreciate His oneness, greatness, majesty and power. Therefore, the surah reveals to us an aspect of God?s great power in the normal Qur?anic way of drawing images that place before our eyes a fundamental truth: ?On the Day of Resurrection, the whole earth will be a mere handful to Him, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand. Limitless is He in His glory, and sublimely exalted above anything which they associate as partner with Him.?
All that we read in the Qur?an or in Hadith of such images and scenes are given in order to present fundamental truths that we would otherwise not comprehend. In other words we need images we can visualize. Here we have an example of this method, portraying for us an aspect of God?s absolute power that cannot be limited to one form, placed within one area or confined within certain boundaries.
Adil Salahi | Arab News
God is the Creator of everything, and of all things He is the Guardian. His are the keys of the heavens and the earth. Those who deny God?s revelations will surely be the losers.? This is the truth that everything in the universe confirms. No one can ever claim to create anything. No rational being can claim that this universe came into existence without a creator, when everything in it testifies to elaborate planning and a clear purpose behind creation. Nothing in it, from the very small to the very large, is left to chance: ?Of all things He is the Guardian.? Into His control the heavens and the earth are placed. He conducts their affairs the way He chooses. They operate in accordance with the system He put in place for them. No will other than His interferes with anything. This is acknowledged by human nature, confirmed by practical fact and endorsed by reason and conscience.
?Those who deny God?s revelations will surely be the losers.? They have lost the understanding that makes their lives on earth consistent and harmonious with the life of the universe. They have lost the comfort of divine guidance, the beauty of faith, the reassurance of belief and the sweetness of certainty. On the Day of Judgment they will lose their own souls and their families. Hence, the term ?losers? applies to them in all its shades and connotations. In the light of this truth, testified to by the heavens, the earth and every creature in the universe, the Prophet is instructed in how to reply to the idolaters? offer of both parties joining together in the worship of their idols and God Almighty at the same time. It is as if the whole question is a bargain to be struck by compromise: ?Say: You ignorant people! Would you bid me worship anyone other than God?? This is the natural reaction to such a stupid offer that betrays nothing but ignorance.
This is followed with a clear warning against associating partners with God, beginning with the prophets and God?s messengers who would never entertain even the slightest thought of such association. This, however, serves to alert all others to the truth that in the question of who is to be worshipped, God stands alone without partners, while in the question of offering worship, all mankind, including the prophets and God?s messengers, are in the same position as God?s servants: ?It has been revealed to you, and to those before you, that if you ever associate partners with God, all your works shall certainly come to nothing, and you shall certainly be among the lost.?
This warning against associating partners with God concludes with an order to worship God alone. We are to show gratitude to Him for providing us with guidance to the path to certainty. We should also thank Him for all His countless favors which He bestows on us and which we all enjoy at every moment of our lives: ?You shall worship God alone, and be one of those who give thanks.?
?No true understanding of God have they.? Indeed, they have no clear or true understanding of Him when they associate with Him some of His creatures. Nor do they worship Him as He should be worshipped. They do not appreciate His oneness, greatness, majesty and power. Therefore, the surah reveals to us an aspect of God?s great power in the normal Qur?anic way of drawing images that place before our eyes a fundamental truth: ?On the Day of Resurrection, the whole earth will be a mere handful to Him, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand. Limitless is He in His glory, and sublimely exalted above anything which they associate as partner with Him.?
All that we read in the Qur?an or in Hadith of such images and scenes are given in order to present fundamental truths that we would otherwise not comprehend. In other words we need images we can visualize. Here we have an example of this method, portraying for us an aspect of God?s absolute power that cannot be limited to one form, placed within one area or confined within certain boundaries.
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