Muhammad’s speech in the Quran. Part 8
In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful
Each person relies on some truth established for self. He may not adhere to it too much, but without it no one can exist.
The Quran purports a single, universal truth for all people.
Say, “O mankind! The truth has come to you from your Lord! So whoever is guided is only guided for himself, and whoever goes astray only goes astray for himself. And I am not over you a trustee!” (10:108)
Truth is a vector of actions that is designed to achieve a positive result. An incorrectly chosen vector-path cannot lead to the desired.
Say, “Shall I inform you of the greatest losers as to [their] deeds, those whose effort is lost in worldly life, while they think that they are doing well in work?” (18:103-104)
A sceptical attitude toward the proposed truth led to the wish to convince such people of the threats of God.
Say, “Whoever is in error – let the Gracious extend for him a term” …(19:75)
Say, “Each [of us] is waiting; so wait. For you will know who are the companions of the straight path and who is guided!” (20:135)
Say, “For you is the appointment of a day that you cannot postpone by a hour, nor will you precede [it]!” (34:30)
For those who realized the error of their worldviews, who understood the sinfulness of their deeds, a comforting message was given.
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of God! Indeed, God forgives all trespasses. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful!” (39:53)
This was also true for the ardent opponents of Muhammad, those who rejected the sent signs of the Prescription.
Say to those who closed themselves if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them. But if they return – then the precedent law has been continuing. (8:38)
Denial of the signs does not lead to “repressions” by the Lord, but leaves a person in his state and opinion, as well as gives time for thinking. But, unfortunately, basically all the arguments for those denying the signs are useless. Therefore, believers have nothing left to do but to leave such people alone and wait.
Say, “Observe what is in the heavens and earth.” But of no avail will be signs or warners to a people who do not believe, so do they wait except for like the days of those who passed on before them?
Say, “Then wait; indeed, I am with you among those who wait!” (10:101-102)
And say to those who do not believe, “Work according to your position; indeed, we are working. And wait, indeed, we are waiting!” (11:121-122)
At the end it is necessary to convey a warning about the Day of Debt, when awareness of the truth of revelation will not help in anything.
Say, “On that day, the belief of those who had closed themselves will not benefit them, nor will they be reprieved.” (32:29)
The meaning of the denial lies in the disbelief in the information provided and in accusation of lying. Such behaviour is not new in course of the history, to which Muhammad paid attention by the command of the Creator.
Say, “Travel through the land; then observe how was the end of the deniers!” (6:11)
The accusation of lying is a serious offence, the only result of which is unhappiness.
Say, “Indeed, those who invent lie about God will not succeed.” (10:69)
However, in such case as well, believers have nothing to do but to leave those peple alone and wait.
Say, “Wait, for indeed I am, with you, among the waiters.” (52:31)
And waiting is not in favour of the accusers of lying. The decision on the Day of Debt will be tough.
Say, “Indeed, the former and the later peoples are to be gathered together for the appointment of a known day.” Then indeed you, o those astray [who are] deniers, will be eating from the tree that makes you swallow. And filling with it your bellies and drinking on top of it from scalding water and will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels. (56:49-55)
At the heart of the resistance to the messenger is pantheistic thinking and own representation of the universe.
And they have attributed to God equals to mislead from His way.
Say, “Enjoy yourselves, for indeed, your destination is the fire!” (14:30)
Muhammad warned his fellow tribesmen about the perniciousness and disastrousness of such a worldview, again with the help of history lessons.
Say, “Travel through the land and observe how was the end of the criminals!” (27:69)
Say, “Travel through the land and observe how was the end of those before! Most of them were associators of others with God! (30:42)
But if they turn away, then say, “I have warned you of a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt [that struck] ‘Aad and Thamud! (41:13)
Non-serious attitude to warnings was expressed in the requirement to show the results of threats visually. The answer was as follows:
Say, “Perhaps it is close behind you – some of that for which you are impatient!” (27:72)
Certainty of the arguments presented, for the messenger himself was built on the belief that the signs of God will inevitably appear before absolutely all people.
And say, “Praise to God! He will show you His signs, and you will recognize them. And your Lord is not unaware of what you do!” (27:93)
The starting point for persuasion was the fact of the imminent death. After all, this is the watershed in the mind, which influences the comprehension of everything around and the future.
Say, “The maintainer of death will take you who has been entrusted with you. Then to your Lord you will be returned!” (32:11)
They say, “This is not but obvious magic! When we have died and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected? And our forefathers [as well]?”
Say, “Yes, and you will be saved!” (37:14-18)
Otherwise it cannot be, because the denial of the signs in itself has no basis, and in an extreme situation such people, without hesitation, turn to their Creator.
And when harm touches man, he calls upon his Lord, turning to Him! Then when He bestows on him a favor from Himself, he forgets Him whom he called upon before, and he attributes to God equals to mislead from His way.
Say, “Enjoy your closed nature for a little; indeed, you are of the companions of the fire!” (39:8)
Such behaviour is judged worthy only for fire, the fault of which is a person himself. But the most deplorable thing is that by his example he also knocks down his family, who, having mistaken the truth, goes with him to hell.
Say, “Indeed, the losers are the ones who will lose themselves and their families on the day of standing before God. Unquestionably, that is the manifest loss!” (39:15)
Associating others with the Almighty leads to non-observance of prescriptions and disbelief in the future life.
And woe to those who associate others with God – Those who do not give purifying expenditure, and in the hereafter they closed themselves! (41:6-7)
But there are people whose faith does not deny God and His once-sent Prescription, those are the Jews.
Many Jews did not accept the Quran as divine Prescription, while asserting themselves as the nation close to God.
Say, “O Jews! If you claim that you are close to God, excluding the people, then wish for death, if you should be truthful!”
But they will not wish for it, ever, because of what their hands have put forth. And God is Knowing of the obscurantists!
Say, “Indeed, the death from which you flee – indeed, it will meet you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the hidden and the apparent, and He will inform you about what you used to do!” (62:6-8)
The warnings concerned not only Muhammad’s opponents, but also were addressed to his followers.
Say, “If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, trade wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than God and His messenger and struggle on His way, then wait until God executes His command. And God does not guide the apostates!” (9:24)
Warnings mainly concerned behaviour during military conflicts, because in extreme situations faith passes a test of strength.
Say to those who remained behind of the Arabs, “You will be called to [face] a nation of great military might; you may fight them, or they will submit. So if you obey, God will give you a good reward; but if you turn away as you turned away before, He will punish you with a painful punishment!” (48:16)
Such situations reveal the true “interior” of people who have declaratively accepted the faith – hypocrisy. Hypocrisy, due to its cowardice and viciousness, manifests itself vividly during military operations.
Say, “Never will fleeing benefit you if you should flee from death or killing; and then [if you did], you would not be given enjoyment except for a little!”
Say, “Who is it that can protect you from God if He intends for you an evil or intends for you a mercy?” And they will not find for themselves besides God any patron or any helper! (33:67-68)
As you can see, warnings concern all people, regardless of their faith or disbelief.