What
The Qur’an Teaches: Truth Versus Falsehood
Islamic Perspectives - Muslim JournalsArab News
& Information - By Adil Salahi
In the name
of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful
Ha. Mim. The revelation of this book is from
God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, who forgives sins,
accepts repentance, is severe in retribution and
limitless in bounty. There is no deity other than Him.
To Him is the ultimate return. - (The Forgiving,
Ghafir; 40: 1-3)
This surah deals with the major issues of truth and
falsehood, faith and unfaith, the message and those
who reject it, as well as unjustifiable tyranny and
how God smites tyrants who seek to impose their will
on others. It also refers to the position of believers
who follow divine guidance and obey God’s
commandments. It mentions how the angels pray that
they may be forgiven their sins, and how God answers
their prayers. It also speaks about the reward
awaiting them in the life to come.
Such being its subject matter, the whole atmosphere of
the surah is one of a battle, the battle between truth
and falsehood, faith and tyranny. This is interspersed
with an air of grace and mercy whenever the believers
are mentioned.
The general atmosphere is generated through a
description of how earlier communities were destroyed
as a result of their opposition to divine faith, as
well as several images of the Day of Judgment. All in
all, these awesome images suit the somber air of the
surah.
Fittingly, the opening of the surah uses short phrases
that carry a distinctive beat: “Who forgives sins;
accepts repentance; is severe in retribution;
limitless in bounty; there is no deity other than Him;
to Him is the ultimate return.” These phrases sound
like hammers striking in unison, with harmony between
meaning and rhythm. Note also that words like “might”
and “power” are frequently used in the surah.
As a whole, the surah has a powerful effect on us,
portraying as it does scenes of the Day of Judgment
and images of the fate of earlier communities. At
times, it softens its rhythm so as to gently touch our
hearts, showing us images of the angels who carry
God’s throne, as well as those around it, praying to
God to bestow His grace on His devoted servants.
The same may be said regarding the verses that refer
to universal scenes or to the finer elements of the
human soul, as both provide evidence in support of the
truth of faith. In all such images there is evident
harmony and consistency, the whole ambience perfectly
fitting the surah’s subject matter.
The surah may be divided into four parts. The first
begins with two separate letters: “Ha. Mim. The
revelation of this book is from God, the Almighty, the
All-Knowing.” This is followed by the short phrases
with their distinctive beat, to which we referred
earlier.
The surah then states that the whole universe submits
to God and obeys Him. Only the unbelievers dispute
God’s revelations, thus they separate themselves from
the rest of the universe. Therefore, the Prophet
should pay no attention to them, no matter how
affluent and well pleased they appear to be. They will
inevitably face the same fate suffered by earlier
communities of unbelievers. God smote them with a
stern punishment. Nevertheless, more suffering awaits
them in the life to come. By contrast, the angels
carrying God’s throne, as well as those surrounding
it, declare their belief in their Lord, address their
worship to Him alone, and pray for the forgiveness of
the believers among the dwellers of the earth, as well
as for their success and prosperity.
At the same time, the surah gives an image of the
unbelievers when the entire universe, which believes
in God, calls out to them on the Day of Resurrection,
saying: “Indeed, greater than your present loathing of
yourselves is God’s loathing of you when you were
called to the faith and you rejected it.” (Verse 10)
In their position of humiliation, which contrasts with
their arrogance in this present life, they admit their
faults and acknowledge their Lord, but such
realization is now of no use to them. They are only
reminded of what they used to do when they associated
partners with God and arrogantly turned from His
guidance.
This image of the hereafter is followed by one
presenting people’s situation in this present life:
“He it is who shows you His signs and sends down
sustenance from the sky for you.” (Verse 13) They are
so reminded in order that they may turn to their Lord
and declare their belief in Him as the only God: “Pray
to God, then, sincere in your faith in Him alone,
however hateful this may be to the unbelievers.”
(Verse 14)
The surah then adds a strong warning of that fearful
day, and follows this with an image of how they stand
on that day: “The Day when they shall come forth, with
nothing about them concealed from God.” (Verse 16)
Those who are arrogant, tyrannical or disputant will
all disappear into insignificance: “With whom does
sovereignty rest today? With God, the One who holds
absolute sway over all that exists.” (Verse 16) The
surah goes on to give further images of that day when
judgment over all belongs to God alone. All those
worshipped instead or alongside Him are nowhere to be
seen.
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