Atheists in Quran (35) they are hasty

The Atheists try to hasten the punishment against which the Prophet Muhammad warns them. Sarcastically, they say, ‘When will this promise of resurrection and chastisement be fulfilled, if you are truthful O Muhammad?

The Quran says that 1) Man is a creature of haste; he is so hasty in his affairs and 2) Verily, messengers before you O Muhammad were derided but those who mocked them were encircled by the chastisement, which they used to deride; likewise, it shall befall those who have derided you.

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The Arabs at the time of the Prophet Muhammad were one of two:

The unbelievers deny the existence of One God and they used to worship many idols as gods

The Atheists who deny the existence of any god

Both groups deny the Resuscitation, the Day of Judgment and the Afterlife

They deny the very existence of Allah, the Most Merciful, who has created the universe and set the rules that operate in it and sustain its existence.

Herein, a likely dispute is expected.

Allah’s Messenger Muhammad speaks out against their deities, showing such inanimate idols to be useless.

On the other hand, The Atheists and unbelievers rudely deny Allah and they hurl abuse and mockery at Allah’s Messenger, saying that it is unacceptable that he should criticize their idol worship. They find nothing wrong with the arrogance that leads them to

Deny Allah’s existence,

Deny Allah’s Messenger and

Reject Allah’s revelation, the Quran.

The sarcasm of their attitude exposes to the full the far- reaching corruption that affects their nature and impairs their judgment.

Whenever they see you O Muhammad, they take you in derision and pick you out for mockery

What is more stupid of them?

They try to hasten the punishment against which the Prophet warns them.

They say, ‘When will this promise of resurrection and chastisement be fulfilled, if you are truthful O Muhammad?

Man is a creature of haste; he is so hasty in his affairs

Haste is present in man’s very nature and constitution.

He always stretches his eyes to what lies ahead, beyond the present moment, aiming to grasp it with his own hand. He wants to achieve, the moment it flashes in his mind, all that seems desirable. He wants to see all that is promised to him, even though it may be to his damage. Such is man’s nature, unless he establishes a firm relationship with Allah, which gives him strength and reassurance. He will then trust to Allah’s wisdom, leaving His will to run its course without hastening events. For faith combines trust with patience and reassurance.

Those unbelievers hastened Allah’s punishment, wondering when the promise of punishment in the hereafter, as well as in this life, would be fulfilled.

The Quran paints here for them a scene of the suffering in the hereafter, while also warning them against a similar punishment to that which befell earlier communities, which rejected the faith

If the unbelievers only knew what shall happen to them:

They would change their attitude completely.

They would stop their mockery and hastening of what is bound to come.

Let them, then, see what is bound to come.

There, the fire surrounds them on all sides.

Nay, but it, the Resurrection, shall come upon them suddenly, dumbfounding them, confusing them, and they shall not be able to ward it off, nor shall they be granted any respite, [nor shall they] be given any [extra] time to make a repentance or offer an excuse.

We envisage their agitated movements, described implicitly in the verse, to protect their faces and their backs against the fire, but their attempt is useless. It is as if the fire engulfs them on all sides. They can neither keep it away from themselves, nor retreat to seek protection. Nor is even a short respite from it possible.

That the punishment comes suddenly is only the response for their hastening it.

Sarcastically, they used to say time after time:

“When is this promise to be fulfilled, if what you say be true?”

The answer is that it comes suddenly, perplexing their minds and paralyzing their will. Thus, they are unable to think or act. This applies to the punishment in the hereafter.

Moreover, verily messengers before you were derided but those who mocked them were encircled by the chastisement, which they used to deride; likewise, it shall befall those who have derided you.

As for this world’s punishment, it certainly befell communities before them, which ridiculed Allah’s messengers. Just as those communities were unable to ward off a punishment that wiped them out altogether, so these unbelievers are unable to avert their defeat and captivity. They are thus warned not to deride Allah’s Messenger, to avoid the punishment that befalls those who ridicule prophets. Such fate and punishment is bound to come, because it is part of Allah’s law, which will inevitably, take effect, just as the destruction of earlier communities, guilty of the same offence, proves.

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The verses 21:36-41in different translations:

QARIB:

36-When the unbelievers see you, they take you only for mockery, saying: ‘is this he who talks about your gods? ‘While they are unbelievers in the remembrance of the merciful.

37-The human was created of haste. Indeed, I will show you my signs; so do not ask me to hasten them.

38-They say: ‘if you are truthful, when will this promise come? ‘

39-If the unbelievers only knew when they will be unable to shield either their faces or their backs from the fire; when they will not be helped!

40-It will overtake them suddenly, dumbfounding them. they shall be unable to ward it off, and they shall not be respited.

41-Before you, other messengers were mocked, but the mockers were encompassed by the very thing they mocked.

SHAKIR:

36-And when those who disbelieve see you, they do not take you but for one to be scoffed at: is this he who speaks of your gods? and they are deniers at the mention of the beneficent Allah

37-Man is created of haste; now will i show to you my signs, therefore do not ask me to hasten (them) on

38-And they say: when will this threat come to pass if you are truthful?

39-Had those who disbelieve but known (of the time) when they shall not be able to ward off the fire from their faces nor from their backs, nor shall they be helped

40-Nay, it shall come on them all of a sudden and cause them to become confounded, so they shall not have the power to avert it, nor shall they be respited

41-And certainly messengers before you were scoffed at, then there befell those of them who scoffed that at which they had scoffed

PICKTHAL:

36-And when those who disbelieve behold thee, they but choose thee out for mockery, (saying): is this he who maketh mention of your gods? and they would deny all mention of the beneficent.

37-Man is made of haste. I shall show you my portents, but ask me not to hasten.

38-And they say: when will this promise (be fulfilled), if ye are truthful?

39-If those who disbelieved but knew the time when they will not be able to drive off the fire from their faces and from their backs, and they will not be helped!

40-Nay, but it will come upon them unawares so that it will stupefy them, and they will be unable to repel it, neither will they be reprieved.

41-Messengers before thee, indeed, were mocked, but that whereat they mocked surrounded those who scoffed at them.

YUSUFALI:

36-When the unbelievers see thee, they treat thee not except with ridicule. “is this,” (they say), “the one who talks of your gods?” and they blaspheme at the mention of (Allah) most gracious!

37-Man is a creature of haste: soon (enough) will i show you my signs; then ye will not ask me to hasten them!

38-They say: “when will this promise come to pass, if ye are telling the truth?”

39-If only the unbelievers knew (the time) when they will not be able to ward off the fire from their faces, nor yet from their backs, and (when) no help can reach them!

40-Nay, it may come to them all of a sudden and confound them: no power will they have then to avert it, nor will they (then) get respite.

41-Mocked were (many) messenger before thee; but their scoffers were hemmed in by the thing that they mocked.

Atheists in Quran (16) they mocked Muhammad

The Quran talked about the Atheists’ mockery they hurled at the Prophet Muhammad. The Quran says, “If they knew of the time when they shall not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces, nor from their backs and none shall protect them from it at the Resurrection”.

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Do Not Overlook this Warning

The verses 21:38-41 describe how the Atheists deal with Muhammad

The verses talk about

• The way the unbelievers received Allah’s Messenger and the revelations he was given.
• The mockery they hurled at him and
• Their persistent disbelief.

The verses follow this by pointing out that, by nature, man is hasty.

One manifestation of this haste is the unbelievers’ attempts to hasten Allah’s punishment.

Hence, it warns them against such haste and makes it clear to them that they must refrain from mocking the Prophet Muhammad if they wish to avoid the consequences of such unwarranted behavior. That is the persistent suffering of the unbelievers in the hereafter.

The verses talk about the accuracy of the reckoning in the hereafter and the suitability of the reward given on the Day of Judgment.

Thus, the reckoning and the reward are linked to the rules operating in the universe, human nature and human life.

What is more, they try to hasten the punishment against which the Prophet warns them.

For, by nature, man is hasty:

“Man is a creature of haste.”

Haste is present in man’s very nature and constitution.

Man always stretches his eyes to what lies ahead, beyond the present moment, aiming to grasp it with his own hand.

Man wants to achieve, the moment it flashes in his mind, all that seems desirable. He wants to see all that is promised to him, even though it may be to his detriment.

Such is man’s nature, unless he establishes a firm relationship with Allah, which gives him strength and reassurance. He will then trust to Allah’s wisdom, leaving His will to run its course without hastening events. For faith combines trust with patience and reassurance.

Those Atheists hastened Allah’s punishment, wondering when the promise of punishment in the hereafter, as well as in this life, would be fulfilled.

The Quran describes here for them a scene of the suffering in the hereafter, while also warning them against a similar punishment to that which befell earlier communities that rejected the faith “If only the unbelievers knew [that there will come]

• A time when they will not be able to shield their faces and their backs from the fire;
• A time when they will find no support.

Indeed, it will come upon them all of a sudden, and will stupefy them.

They will be unable to avert it, nor will they be allowed any respite.

Other messengers were derided before your time; but those who scoffed at them were [in the end] overwhelmed by the very thing that they derided.”

(Verses 39-41)

If the Atheists only knew what will happen to them, they would change their attitude completely.

They would stop their mockery and hastening of what is bound to come.

Let them, then, see what is bound to come. Therein, the fire surrounds them on all sides.

Imagine their frantic movements, described implicitly in the verse, to protect their faces and their backs against the fire, but their attempt is futile. It is as if the fire engulfs them on all sides. They can neither keep it away from themselves, nor retreat to seek protection. Nor is even a short respite from it possible.

That the punishment comes suddenly is only the response for their hastening it.

They used to say time after time:

“When is this promise to be fulfilled, if what you say be true?” (Verse 38)

The answer is that it comes suddenly, perplexing their minds andparalyzing their will. Thus, they are unable to think or act, let alone enjoy a period ofgrace to mend their ways.

This applies to the punishment in the hereafter. As for this world’s punishment, it certainly befell communities before them, which ridiculed Allah’s messengers. Just like those communities were unable to ward off a punishment that wiped them out altogether, so these Atheists are unable to avert their defeat and captivity. They are thus warned not to deride Allah’s Messenger, so as to avoid the punishment that befalls those who ridicule prophets. Such fate and punishment is bound to come, because it is part of Allah’s law which will inevitably take effect, just as the destruction of earlier communities, guilty of the same offence, proves.

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The verses 21:38-41 in different translations:

QARIB:

38-They say: ‘if you are truthful, when will this promise come? ‘

39-If the unbelievers only knew when they will be unable to shield either their faces or their backs from the fire; when they will not be helped!

40-It will overtake them suddenly, dumbfounding them. they shall be unable to ward it off, and they shall not be respited.

41-Before you, other messengers were mocked, but the mockers were encompassed by the very thing they mocked.

SHAKIR:

38-And they say: when will this threat come to pass if you are truthful?

39-Had those who disbelieve but known (of the time) when they shall not be able to ward off the fire from their faces nor from their backs, nor shall they be helped

40-Nay, it shall come on them all of a sudden and cause them to become confounded, so they shall not have the power to avert it, nor shall they be respited

41-And certainly messengers before you were scoffed at, then there befell those of them who scoffed that at which they had scoffed

PICKTHAL:

38-And they say: when will this promise (be fulfilled), if ye are truthful?

39-If those who disbelieved but knew the time when they will not be able to drive off the fire from their faces and from their backs, and they will not be helped!

40-Nay, but it will come upon them unawares so that it will stupefy them, and they will be unable to repel it, neither will they be reprieved.

41-Messengers before thee, indeed, were mocked, but that whereat they mocked surrounded those who scoffed at them.

YUSUFALI:

38-They say: “when will this promise come to pass, if ye are telling the truth?”

39-If only the unbelievers knew (the time) when they will not be able to ward off the fire from their faces, nor yet from their backs, and (when) no help can reach them!

40-Nay, it may come to them all of a sudden and confound them: no power will they have then to avert it, nor will they (then) get respite.

41-Mocked were (many) messenger before thee; but their scoffers were hemmed in by the thing that they mocked.

Allah asks you (34) who did they go astray? Allah?

Had the Angels misled the Disbelievers?

What happened with Muhammad has happened with all Messengers before him

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In the Noble Quran, Allah is asking mankind some important questions.

It seems compulsory for the serious one who is looking for the truth to have a look at those questions and if possible to answer them.

Allah’ questions are many.  In this series, these questions are chosen randomly.

Verses 25:17-20 of the Noble Quran give the question of this article:

On the Day of Judgment, Allah will assemble those who worship besides Allah other than Him, such as men, Angels, jinn, idols etc.  He will say to the angels as an example of those who were worshipped: Was it you who misled these servants from my obedience and commanded them to worship you or did they themselves wander from the way and worshipped you out of their own whims?  Then, the Angels will reply!

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The meanings of verses 25:17-20 of the Noble Quran:

Verse 25:17 says:

And on the Day of Judgment when He will assemble them i.e. those who worship besides Allah other than Him, such as men, Angels, jinn, idols etc.; and it is said: He will say to the angels as an example of those who were worshipped: Was it you who misled these my slaves from My obedience and commanded them to worship you (or did they themselves wander from the way and worshipped you out of their own whims?  In other words, are you causing them to fall into error by commanding them to worship you, or did they go astray from the way, the path of truth, by themselves?

Verse 25:18 says:

The angels will reply: Exalted be You above what does not befit You! It was not, it would [not] have been right, for us to take any guardians besides You, that is, other than You.

Glory be to You! We were not permitted to worship any lords besides You, so how could we have command them to worship us?; but You gave them and their fathers, before them, ease [of living. You gave them a reprieve in their state of disbelief till they forgot the warning, until they shunned professing Your divine Oneness and refrained from worshipping you and became lost folk, doomed for destruction and whose hearts became evil.

Verse 25:19 says:

Thus they will deny you, that is, the ones who were worshipped denied those who worshipped [them], in what you allege, namely, that they are gods, and they will neither be able to.

In other words, neither they nor you will be able to, circumvent, ward off the chastisement from you, nor help, nor protect you from it. And whoever of you does evil, [whoever] ascribes partners to God, We shall make him taste an awful, a severe, chastisement, in the Hereafter.  It is also said that this means: whoever of you O disbelievers, remains firm in his disbelief, Allah shall make him taste great torment in the Fire.

Verse 25:20 says:

And Allah did not send before you O Muhammad any messengers but that they ate food and walked in the marketplaces, and so you are like them in this respect, and truly what was said to them is being said to you. And We have made some of you a trial for others:, a test, trying the rich with the poor, the healthy with the sick, the honorable with the vulgar, in each case the latter would say, ‘Why can I not be like the other person?’ Will you be steadfast? And endure what you hear from those with whom you are tried?   In other words, ‘Be steadfast!’ And your Lord is ever Watchful, of those who remain steadfast and those who become miserable.   It is also said that this means: will you be steadfast, O Companions of the Prophet in the face of their harm until I grant you the reward of the steadfast, and your Lord sees who believes among you and who does not?

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Verses 25:17- 20 in different translations:

QARIB:

17) on the day when he gathers them with all that they worship, other than Allah, he will say: ‘was it you who misled my worshipers, or did they themselves go astray? ‘

18) They will answer: ‘exaltations to you. we should not have taken others for a guardian, but you gave them and their fathers enjoyment until they forgot your remembrance and they were a destroyed nation. ‘

19) So they belie what you say, and you can neither turn it aside, nor find any help. those of you who have done evil, we let them taste a great punishment.

20) We did not send messengers before you but that they ate food and walked about in the markets, we have appointed some of you to be a trial for others. will you endure? your lord is the seer.

 

SHAKIR:

17) And on the day when he shall gather them, and whatever they served besides Allah, he shall say: was it you who led astray these my servants, or did they themselves go astray from the path?

18) They shall say: glory be to thee; it was not beseeming for us that we should take any guardians besides thee, but thou didst make them and their fathers to enjoy until they forsook the reminder, and they were a people in perdition,

19) So they shall indeed give you the lie in what you say, then you shall not be able to ward off or help, and whoever among you is unjust, we will make him taste a great chastisement

20) And we have not sent before you any messengers but they most surely ate food and went about in the markets; and we have made some of you a trial for others; will you bear patiently? and your lord is ever seeing

 

PICKTHAL:

17) And on the day when he will assemble them and that which they worship instead of Allah and will say: was it ye who misled these my slaves or did they (themselves) wander from the way?

18) They will say: be thou glorified! it was not for us to choose any protecting friends beside thee; but thou didst give them and their fathers ease till they forgot the warning and became lost folk.

19) Thus they will give you the lie regarding what ye say, then ye can neither avert (the doom) nor obtain help. and whoso among you doeth wrong, we shall make him taste great torment.

20) We never sent before thee any messengers but lo! they verily ate food and walked in the markets. and we have appointed some of you a test for others: will ye be steadfast? and thy lord is ever seer.

 

YUSUFALI:

17) The day he will gather them together as well as those whom they worship besides Allah, he will ask: “was it ye who let these my servants astray, or did they stray from the path themselves?”

18) They will say: “glory to thee! not meet was it for us that we should take for protectors others besides thee: but thou didst bestow, on them and their fathers, good things (in life), until they forgot the message: for they were a people (worthless and) lost.”

19) (Allah will say): “now have they proved you liars in what ye say: so ye cannot avert (your penalty) nor (get) help.” and whoever among you does wrong, him shall we cause to taste of a grievous penalty.

20) And the messengers whom we sent before thee were all (men) who ate food and walked through the streets: we have made some of you as a trial for others: will ye have patience? for Allah is one who sees (all things).