Atheists in Quran (15) they always forget

The Atheists are speaking proudly about what they enjoy in this life of pleasures and luxuries. They always forget the end suffered by one generation after another of the unbelievers of old and they remain heedless. In addition, they deny the Day of Judgment when they will realize who is worst in position and weaker in forces.

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The name of Surah (Chapter) 19 of the Quran is “Maryam”

“Maryam” is the Quranic name of the Pure Honored Virgin “Saint Mary”.

The Surah has given us accounts of some prophets, including

• Zachariah and the birth of John, his son,
• Saint Mary and the birth of Jesus, her son,
• Abraham and his split from his community and their false deities.

We have also heard about the generations that followed them, and whether they lived in accordance with the guidance Allah gave them or they fell into error.

The Surah comments on these accounts declaring that Lordship belongs solely to Allah, who alone deserves to be worshipped, without partners or son.

This was the essential fact that the earlier prophets brought throughout their histories.

Then the verses 19:73-75 discusses the issue of Atheists

The Quran paint an image of this world in which the unbelievers are shown behaving arrogantly towards the believers, stamping them as poor and weak, and swaggering about their own wealth and social values.

“When Allah’ revelations are recited to them in all their clarity, the unbelievers say to those who believe: ‘Which of the two sides has a better position and a superior community?”

The Atheists have their own social clubs demonstrating all the material values which the wealthy and powerful are keen to emphasize in their corrupt world.

By contrast, we see humble gatherings where there are no such material riches or adornments. Instead, there are only the values of faith, which unite people in these other groups.

The two parties are put side by side to fully demonstrate their contrast.

The first side stands out with its wide variety of temptations: wealth, beauty, power and influence. It uses all these to serve people’s interests, and provide them with all manner of pleasures.

The second side appears too humble by comparison, yet it looks with scorn at wealth and beauty and it ridicules power and influence. It calls on people to join its ranks, without offering them any personal gain, material interest or favors that ruler and governments can provide.

It simply offers them the faith, pure and simple, without adding to it any adornment.

It seeks strength through being on Allah’s side, nothing else.

In fact, it makes clear to humankind that accepting it will involve hardship, effort and scuffle.

Also clear is the fact that none will be rewarded for anything in this life.

The reward to be expected will be in the form of being close to Allah, enjoying His pleasure in the life to come.

The Atheists among the Arabs at the time of the Prophet Muhammad used to listen to Muhammad reciting the Quran, but then they would say to the believers who lacked all riches:

• Which of the two sides has a better position and a superior community? Which side: the Atheists who denied Muhammad’s message or the humble who responded to him?
• Had the message preached by Muhammad been any good, would his followers be those who had no power or influence in the Arabs’ society?
• Would they have met in a humble place (as they used to do)?
• Would his opponents be those who enjoyed all the luxuries and social prominence?

Such is worldly logic, advanced by those who have no aspiration to any truly high outlook.

The divine wisdom keeps faith free of all adornment and superficial attraction, offering no temptation.

Thus, only those who take it for its real value, without hope of immediate gain, will accept it.

By contrast, those who are after wealth, worldly interests, pleasures and the like will turn away from it.

Then the Verse 74 comments on the boasts of those arrogant Atheists, speaking proudly about what they enjoy in this life of pleasures and luxuries.

The comment draws their attention to how earlier peoples were destroyed, despite the great riches they enjoyed:

“How many a generation has Allah destroyed before their time, who were superior in material riches and in splendor.”

They benefited nothing by their entire splendor, nor were their material privileges of any avail to them when Allah brought His punishment upon them.

Human beings always forget!

The end suffered by one generation after another of the unbelievers of old should serve as a clear warning but people remain heedless. They continue to ignore the destiny awaiting them, should they follow in the footsteps of those who preceded them.

After all, those earlier unbelievers were of greater strength and enjoyed larger followings and more wealth.

The Verse then instructs the Prophet Muhammad to pray against them in the form of a joint appeal to Allah to add to the misery to be suffered by the side, which persisted in error. This is to continue until Allah fulfils His promise either in this life or in the life to come:

Say O Muhammad:

As for those who live in error, may the Most Merciful lengthen their span of life!’

However, when they see the fulfilment of that of which they have been forewarned, be it suffering or the Last Hour, they will realize who is worst in position and weaker in forces.

They claim that they follow better and superior guidance to that advocated by Muhammad and his followers, and their evidence is their wealth and luxuries.

Be that as it may! Muhammad will appeal to his Lord to give increase to each side: the one in error and the one following right guidance.

Then when what Muhammad promises happens, which is the triumph of the believers over those in error, or the final punishment they receive on the Day of Judgment, they will realize which of the two sides is worse in position, weaker in forces.

Then, the next verse (76) declares that on the Day of Judgment, the believers will rejoice and feel their superiority.

This is certainly better than all that in which human beings find pleasure and enjoyment in the life of this world.

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The verses 19:73-75 in different translations:

19:73-75

QARIB:

73-When our clear verses are recited to them the unbelievers say to the believers: ‘which of the two parties has a better position or company?

74-How many generations have we destroyed before them, who were far greater in riches and more boastful!

75-Say: ‘whosoever is in error, let the most merciful prolong his life span until they see that which they were threatened, be it a punishment, or the hour. then shall they know whose is the worst place and who is weaker in hosts. ‘

SHAKIR:

73-And when our clear communications are recited to them, those who disbelieve say to those who believe: which of the two parties is best in abiding and best in assembly?

74-And how many of the generations have we destroyed before them who were better in respect of goods and outward appearance!

75-Say: as for him who remains in error, the beneficent Allah will surely prolong his length of days, until they see what they were threatened with, either the punishment or the hour; then they shall know who is in more evil plight and weaker in forces

PICKTHAL:

73-And when our clear revelations are recited unto them, those who disbelieve say unto those who believe: which of the two parties (yours or ours) is better in position, and more imposing as an army?

74-How many a generation have we destroyed before them, who were more imposing in respect of gear and outward seeming!

75-Say: as for him who is in error, the beneficent will verily prolong his span of life until, when they behold that which they were promised, whether it be punishment (in the world), or the hour (of doom), they will know who is worse in position and who is weaker as YUSUFALI:

73-When our clear signs are rehearsed to them, the unbelievers say to those who believe, “which of the two sides is best in point of position? which makes the best show in council?”

74-But how many (countless) generations before them have we destroyed, who were even better in equipment and in glitter to the eye?

75-Say: “if any men go astray, (Allah) most gracious extends (the rope) to them, until, when they see the warning of Allah (being fulfilled) – either in punishment or in (the approach of) the hour, – they will at length realize who is worst in position, and (who) weakest in forces!

Angels in Islam (15) the Arabs worshiped female Angel gods

– The Angels are honored Allah’ servants who have no sex, they do not marry; they are not like us.

– Shall man have whatever he wishes for like worshipping the Angels?

– Shall man have the right to say that the Angels are Allah’s daughters and gives them feminine names although such man dishonors the girls?

– However, the Angels’ intercession in the Afterlife cannot avail in any way except after Allah gives them the permission for it.

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Throughout the history, man was confused about the nature of the Angels.

The scholars and the philosophers have four different belief concerning the nature of Angels and who they are:

1. The first party believes that they are the sons of God
2. The second party believes that they are the daughters of God
3. The third party believes that they are God
4. The fourth party believes that they are partners of God

The Quran denies and disproves all of the above belief.

In the article Angels in Islam (10) the Quran denies the Bible’s claim that the Angels are the sons of God who married the daughters of the People!(Genesis 6:2)

In the article Angels in Islam (11) the Quran says that neither Jesus nor the Angels who are close and favored, to Allah, would never disdain, scorn or reject haughtily, to be a slave of Allah.

In the article Angels in Islam (13) the Quran condemns the pre-Islamic belief of the daughters are to be for Allah, while the sons are to be for Arabs.

In the article Angels in Islam (14) the Quran declares that Satan was the source of the belief that the Angels are the daughters of Allah

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The Arabs before Islam believed that Allah is the Supreme Allah and the gate to Him is his daughters, the Angels. They had to worship His daughters to satisfy him; they gave the Angels feminine names as:

• al-Lat,
• al-Uzza,
• Manat, the third

According to the previous article, such belief and names are but Satanic invented stuffs.

The verses 53:19-31 say:

– Have you considered al-Lat and al-Uzza, and Manat, the third?

– Do these idols have the power over anything, such that you worship them besides Allah Who has the power over all that has been mentioned?’

– And because of their assertion also that the angels were Allah’s daughters, despite their aversion to daughters (they used to favor sons and dishonor girls) the Quran continues:

Are you to have males, and Allah females?

That, then, would indeed be an unfair division! Unjust division!

– These, the mentioned deities, are nothing but invented names which you and your fathers have named idols that you worship.

Allah has not revealed any warrant, any proof or evidence, for the worship of them.

– They follow nothing but conjecture, in their worship of them, and that which ignoble souls desire, of that which Satan adorned for them, that they may intercede for them before Allah, exalted be He, even though guidance has already come to them from their Lord, by the tongue of the Prophet Muhammad, with definitive proof; yet they do not desist from their ways.

– Or shall man, that is, shall every human being among them, have whatever he wishes for? Such as [their wish] that the idols intercede for them. No! It is not so.

– Yet to Allah belong the Afterlife and the former life, and so nothing comes to pass in them except what He, exalted, wills.

– And how many an angel, there is in the heavens, and how honored they are in Allah’s sight but, whose intercession cannot avail in any way except after Allah gives permission, to them for this intercession, for whomever He wills, of His servants, and, with whom, He is satisfied.

– Truly those who do not believe in the Afterlife give the angels the names of females, for they say: ‘They are Allah’s daughters’

– But they do not have any knowledge thereof, of this claim. They follow, in this respect, nothing but conjecture, which they have conjured up, and indeed conjecture can never substitute for the truth.

– So shun him who turns away from Our Remembrance that is, from the Quran, and desires nothing but the life of this world

Turn your face, O Muhammad from him who turns away from our remembrance, from our divine Oneness and Scripture and desires but that which is in the life of the world ignoring the Afterlife.

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The verses 53:19-31 (YUSUFALI translation):

19-20) have ye seen allat and al’uzza, and another, the third (goddess), manat?

21-22) What! For you the male sex, and for him (Allah), the female? Behold, such would be indeed a division most unfair!

23) These are nothing but names which ye have devised,- ye and your fathers,- for which Allah has sent down no authority (whatever). They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire!- even though there has already come to them guidance from their lord!

24-25) Nay, shall man have (just) anything he hankers after? But it is to Allah that the end and the beginning (of all things) belong

26) How many-so-ever be the angels in the heavens, their intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom he pleases and that he is acceptable to him.

27-28) those who believe not in the hereafter, name the angels with female names. But they have no knowledge therein. They follow nothing but conjecture; and conjecture avails nothing against truth.

29-30) therefore shun those who turn away from our message and desire nothing but the life of this world. That is as far as knowledge will reach them. Verily thy lord knoweth best those who stray from his path, and he knoweth best those who receive guidance.

31) Yea, to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: so that he rewards those who do evil, according to their deeds, and he rewards those who do good, with what is best.

This is Allah (37) An Example of Allah’s Compassion in the Hereafter

The Outcome of those whose Good Deeds and Evil Deeds are equal

The Eminent Marks of the Believers versus Disbelievers in the Hereafter

What is the Hope of the Men of the Heights who are not in Paradise or Hell?

What they Say when they Look at the Dwellers of the Fire in the Hereafter?

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Many people do not know Allah. This series is an attempt to help them to know Him.  Verses 7:46-48 of the Noble Quran talk about:

1) An Example of Allah’s Compassion in the Hereafter,

2) The Outcome of those whose good deeds and evil deeds are equal,

3) The Distinguished Marks of the Believers versus Disbelievers in the Hereafter,

4) What is the Hope of the Men of the Heights who are not in Paradise or Hell? And

5) What They Say when they look at the dwellers of the Fire in the Hereafter?

In the previous articles, the believers dwell in the Paradise forever and the disbelievers dwell in the Fire forever; but what about those whose good deeds and evil deeds are equal? Are they in Paradise or Fire?

The meaning of verse 7:46

And between them, that is, between the inhabitants of Paradise and those of the Fire, is a barrier, a huge wall of the Heights,

and on the Heights, which is, the wall of Paradise, are men, whose good deeds and evil deeds are equal ,i.e., whose good deeds are of the same amount as their evil deeds; it is also said these are men of knowledge and experts in law but who held doubts about provision.

Those men on the Heights, which is, the wall of Paradise, know each party, of the inhabitants of Paradise and those of the Fire, by their mark; glowing faces in the case of the believers and blackened ones in the case of the disbelievers, i.e., they know those who enter hell by their darkened faces and blue eyes and those who enter Paradise by their lightened faces: at once handsome and radiant; for they are able to see them, their position being high; and they call to the inhabitants of Paradise: ‘Peace be upon you!’. In other words, they call unto the dwellers of the Garden: Peace be unto you O people of Paradise! They do not enter it yet although they hope to enter.

Allah, exalted be He, says: They, that is, those men of the Heights, have not entered it, Paradise, although they aspire, to enter it. It has been said that Allah causes them to have this aspiration only because He desires to be generous to them. Allah will appear to them and says “Get up and enter Paradise, for I have forgiven you”.

This is an example of Allah’s Compassion in the Hereafter

The meaning of verse 7:47

And when their eyes, those of the men of the Heights, are turned towards, in the direction of, the inhabitants of the Fire, they shall say, ‘Our Lord, do not assign us, to the Fire, with the evildoing folk’.  In other words, when they look at the dwellers of the Fire, they say: Our Lord! Do not Place us with the wrong-doing folk; with the disbelievers in hell.

The meaning of verse 7:48

And those men on the Heights call unto men among the disbelievers, call to men, from among the inhabitants of the Fire, whom they know by their marks, by their darkened faces and blue eyes, saying: ‘Your masses, of property, or your multitude, and your haughtiness, that is, your disdaining of belief, have not availed you, as protection against the Fire. And they also say to them, pointing to those formerly oppressed Muslims.  In other words, O leaders! What did your multitude of wealth and servants and that in which you took your pride which made you scorn belief in Muhammad and the Quran (avail you?)

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Verses 7:46-48in different English translations of the meanings of Arabic Quran:

QARIB:

46) And between them is a veil, and on the ramparts there shall stand men who will know each by their marks. to the companions of paradise they shall call: ‘peace be upon you! ‘ yet they did not enter it on account of their eagerness.

47) And when they turn their eyes towards the companions of the fire, they will say: ‘lord, do not cast us among the harmdoers! ‘

48) And the companions of the ramparts call to men whose marks they recognize: ‘neither your amassing nor your pride have availed you.

SHAKIR:

46) And between the two there shall be a veil, and on the most elevated places there shall be men who know all by their marks, and they shall call out to the dwellers of the garden: peace be on you; they shall not have yet entered it, though they hope

47) And when their eyes shall be turned towards the inmates of the fire, they shall say: our lord! place us not with the unjust

48) And the dwellers of the most elevated places shall ca!l out to men whom they will recognize by their marks saying: of no avail were to you your amassings and your behaving haughtily:

PICKTHAL:

46) Between them is a veil. and on the heights are men who know them all by their marks. and they call unto the dwellers of the garden: peace be unto you! They enter it not although they hope (to enter).

47) And when their eyes are turned toward the dwellers of the fire, they say: our lord! Place us not with the wrong-doing folk.

48) And the dwellers on the heights call unto men whom they know by their marks, (saying): what did your multitude and that in which ye took your pride avail you?

YUSUFALI:

46) Between them shall be a veil, and on the heights will be men who would know every one by his marks: they will call out to the companions of the garden, “peace on you”: they will not have entered, but they will have an assurance (thereof).

47) When their eyes shall be turned towards the companions of the fire, they will say: “our lord! send us not to the company of the wrong-doers.”

48) The men on the heights will call to certain men whom they will know from their marks, saying: “of what profit to you were your hoards and your arrogant ways?