What
The Qur'an Teaches: Driven in Throngs - Present
Fundamental Truths
Islamic Perspectives - Muslim JournalsArab News
& Information - By Adil Salahi
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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