Koran Curious - A Guide for Infidels and Believers (14 page)
Read Koran Curious - A Guide for Infidels and Believers Online
Authors: C.J. Werleman
[6:19] Say, “Whose testimony is the greatest?” Say, “GOD’s. He is the witness between me and you that this Quran has been inspired to me, to preach it to you and whomever it reaches. Indeed, you bear witness that there are other gods beside GOD.” Say, “I do not testify as you do; there is only one god, and I disown your idolatry.”
[6:20] Those to whom we have given the scripture recognize this as they recognize their own children. The ones who lose their souls are those who do not believe.
Muhammad describes what Hell will be like for those who continue to reject him.
[6:26] They repel others from this (Quran), as they themselves stay away from it, and thus, they only destroy themselves without perceiving.
[6:27] If only you could see them when they face the hellfire! They would say then, “Woe to us. Oh, we wish we could go back, and never reject our Lord’s revelations, and join the believers.”
Muhammad’s mission is the main theme of these verses. Why he is here. What he hopes to achieve, and the limitations of his powers.
[6:34] Messengers before you have been rejected, and they steadfastly persevered in the face of rejection. They were persecuted until our victory came to them. Such is GOD’s system that will never change. The history of My messengers thus sets the precedents for you.
[6:42] We have sent (messengers) to communities before you, and we put them to the test through adversity and hardship, that they may implore.
[6:48] We do not send the messengers except as deliverers of good news, as well as warners. Those who believe and reform have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
[6:50] Say, “I do not say to you that I possess the treasures of GOD. Nor do I know the future. Nor do I say to you that I am an angel. I simply follow what is revealed to me.” Say, “Is the blind the same as the seer? Do you not reflect?”
[6:57] Say, “I have solid proof from my Lord, and you have rejected it. I do not control the retribution you challenge me to bring. Judgment belongs with GOD alone. He narrates the truth, and He is the best judge.”
In the preceding verses, Muhammad has articulated his role. In the following verses, he compares himself to Abraham, as means of appealing to Arabs, who believed they were descendents of.
[6:74] Recall that Abraham said to his father Azar, “How could you worship statues as gods? I see that you and your people have gone far astray.”
[6:79] “I have devoted myself absolutely to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth; I will never be an idol worshiper.”
[6:84] And we granted him Isaac and Jacob, and we guided both of them. Similarly, we guided Noah before that, and from his descendants (we guided) David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. We thus reward the righteous.
[6:89] Those were the ones to whom we have given the scripture, wisdom, and prophethood. If these people disbelieve, we will substitute others in their place, and the new people will not be disbelievers.
[6:90] These are the ones guided by GOD; you shall be guided in their footsteps. Say, “I do not ask you for any wage. This is but a message for all the people.”
Further verses relating to Muhammad’s claim of prophethood, and the validity of the Koran.
[6:91] They never valued GOD as He should be valued. Thus, they said, “GOD does not reveal anything to any human being.” Say, “Who then revealed the scripture that Moses brought, with light and guidance for the people?” You put it down on paper to proclaim it, while concealing a lot of it. You were taught what you never knew - you and your parents. Say, “GOD (is the One who revealed it),” then leave them in their heedlessness, playing.
[6:92] This too is a blessed scripture that we have revealed, confirming the previous scriptures, that you may warn the most important community and all those around it. Those who believe in the Hereafter will believe in this (scripture), and will observe the Contact Prayers (Salat).
[6:154] And we gave Moses the scripture, complete with the best commandments, and detailing everything, and a beacon and mercy, that they may believe in meeting their Lord.
[6:155] This too is a blessed scripture that we have revealed; you shall follow it and lead a righteous life, that you may attain mercy.
[6:156] Now you can no longer say, “The scripture was sent down to two groups before us, and we were unaware of their teachings.”
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Recited in Mecca, this sura includes two hundred and six verses. “The Heights” translates as Al-A’raf in Arabic. What, who, or where is A’raf? Well, it’s somewhat like the Christian theology’s purgatory. It’s a place between Heaven and Hell, a mythical fortress or prison that forms as a waiting place on Judgment Day. It is from A’raf the good guys are sent to the gardens of Paradise, and the infidel and sinners are sent to the fires of Hell.
Primarily, this sura is an address to the nay saying Meccans who continued to reject him and his religion. He warns the Meccans that should they continue to disprove of Islam, and in doing so, rejecting God, then wrath would surely fall upon them. Muhammad also warns the Jews it’s high time they accept him as the equal of Moses. He foretells that Islam’s growth in Arabia will become a source of conflict for them and they now have a final opportunity to accept his prophethood, or face later consequences. Moreover, he again reminds the Jews that they’ve strayed from Moses’ message and laws, and if they don’t get in step, then the “fiery abode” awaits.
Other important matters addressed within include sins such as heresy, cheating, and homosexuality.
The opening verses are an invitation from Muhammad to all believers and nonbelievers to either accept him and his message or face the consequences in the afterlife.
[7:3] You shall all follow what is revealed to you from your Lord; do not follow any idols besides Him. Rarely do you take heed.
[7:4] Many a community we annihilated; they incurred our retribution while they were asleep, or wide-awake.
Using the downfall of Adam as an analogy, Muhammad warns his followers that the dark force, Satan, waits with tempting vices on every street corner.
[7:11] We created you, then we shaped you, then we said to the angels, “Fall prostrate before Adam.” They fell prostrate, except Iblees (Satan); he was not with the prostrators
[7:22] He thus duped them with lies. As soon as they tasted the tree, their bodies became visible to them, and they tried to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise. Their Lord called upon them: “Did I not enjoin you from that tree, and warn you that the devil is your most ardent enemy?”
Muhammad conveys that there are two choices one can make, either follow the temptations of Satan, or adhere to God’s instructions contained within the Koran, and the reward/punishment model that ensues.
[7:29] Say, “My Lord advocates justice, and to stand devoted to Him alone at every place of worship. You shall devote your worship absolutely to Him alone. Just as He initiated you, you will ultimately go back to Him.”
[7:30] Some He guided, while others are committed to straying. They have taken the devils as their masters, instead of GOD, yet they believe that they are guided.
[7:40] Surely, those who reject our revelations and are too arrogant to uphold them, the gates of the sky will never open for them, nor will they enter Paradise until the camel passes through the needle’s eye. We thus requite the guilty.
[7:41] They have incurred Hell as an abode; they will have barriers above them. We thus requite the transgressors.
Muhammad reminds all that the Koran is God’s guidance, and because God is the giver of life, his laws should be strictly obeyed.
[7:53] Are they waiting until all (prophecies) are fulfilled? The day such fulfillment comes to pass, those who disregarded it in the past will say, “The messengers of our Lord have brought the truth. Are there any intercessors to intercede on our behalf? Would you send us back, so that we change our behavior, and do better works than what we did?” They have lost their souls, and their own innovations have caused their doom.
[7:54] Your Lord is the one GOD, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then assumed all authority. The night overtakes the day, as it pursues it persistently, and the sun, the moon, and the stars are committed to serve by His command. Absolutely, He controls all creation and all commands. Most Exalted is GOD, Lord of the universe.
Muhammad articulates the greatness of God and warns the Meccans for their false worship of idol gods, using the fallen biblical cities as examples. He also specifies further laws for his Muslims.
[7:75] The arrogant leaders among his people said to the common people who believed, “How do you know that Saaleh is sent by his Lord?” They said, “The message he brought has made us believers.”
[7:76] The arrogant ones said, “We disbelieve in what you believe in.”
[7:77] Subsequently, they slaughtered the camel, rebelled against their Lord’s command, and said, “O Saaleh, bring the doom you threaten us with, if you are really a messenger.”
[7:78] Consequently, the quake annihilated them, leaving them dead in their homes.
[7:80] Lot said to his people, “You commit such an abomination; no one in the world has done it before!
[7:81] “You practice sex with the men, instead of the women. Indeed, you are a transgressing people.”
[7:82] His people responded by saying, “Evict them from your town. They are people who wish to be pure.”
[7:83] Consequently, we saved him and his family, but not his wife; she was with the doomed.
[7:84] We showered them with a certain shower; note the consequences for the guilty.
Muhammad tells the Muslims the story of Moses and how God punished the Egyptians for failing to heed his message.
[7:103] After (those messengers,) we sent Moses with our signs to Pharaoh and his people, but they transgressed. Note the consequences for the wicked.
[7:104] Moses said, “O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of the universe.
[7:105] “It is incumbent upon me that I do not say about GOD except the truth. I come to you with a sign from your Lord; let the Children of Israel go.”
[7:106] He said, “If you have a sign, then produce it, if you are truthful.”
[7:107] He threw down his staff, and it turned into a tremendous serpent.
[7:127] The leaders among Pharaoh’s people said, “Will you allow Moses and his people to corrupt the earth, and forsake you and your gods?” He said, “We will kill their sons, and spare their daughters. We are much more powerful than they are.”
[7:128] Moses said to his people, “Seek GOD’s help, and steadfastly persevere. The earth belongs to GOD, and He grants it to whomever He chooses from among His servants. The ultimate victory belongs to the righteous.”
[7:129] They said, “We were persecuted before you came to us, and after you came to us.” He said, “Your Lord will annihilate your enemy and establish you on earth, then He will see how you behave.”
[7:130] We then afflicted Pharaoh’s people with drought, and shortage of crops, that they may take heed.
[7:132] They said, “No matter what kind of sign you show us, to dupe us with your magic, we will not believe.”
