Atheists in Quran (46) Historical Miracle

The first human beings worshiped Satan were the Waldenses, Vallenses or Vaudois; these are names for a Christian movement, which started in Lyon, France and spread soon to the Cottian Alps in the late 1170s. However, the Quran is the first book on the Earth that mention the fact that man one day will worship Satan. Is this Historical miracle is one of the many miracles of the Quran or what?

———————————

The verses 36:59-64 dwells on the scene of reckoning faced by the Atheists and unbelievers with all that it involves of criticism and blame. The verses say:

“But stand aside today, you guilty ones!

Children of Adam!

  • Did I not enjoin on you that you should not worship Satan, as he is your open foe?
  • And that You should worship Me alone? This is the straight path.
  • He (Satan) had already led astray a great many of you.
  • Could you not, then, use your reason?

This, then, is the hell that Our messengers were repeatedly warned you against:

Endure it today for your persistent rejection [of the truth].”

In these verses, we see that Scorn and Derision mark the dealing they receive.

At first, Allah commands them to stand aside, away from the believers.

Allah will say to them

  • Stand apart, O you sinners, guilty, unbelievers
  • Separate yourselves from the believers

Then, Allah addressed them as ‘Children of Adam,’ which is an address implying reproach.

“Children of Adam! Did I not enjoin on you that you should not worship Satan, as he is your open foe?”

Did I not charge you and command you, O children of Adam, by the tongues of My repeated messengers, and in the Scripture brought by the Messengers

  • That you should not worship Satan,
  • That you should not obey Satan
  • That Satan is a manifest enemy to you, one whose enmity is quite evident,

It was Satan who caused the expulsion of their father, Adam, from heaven. He has declared his permanent enmity to Adam and his children, yet they continue to worship him.

On the other hand, Children of Adam were enjoined to do something that was certain to set them on a straight path, leading to Allah’s pleasure and a happy end in the Afterlife:

“You should worship Me alone. This is the straight path.”

They are reminded that this enemy led astray many generations.

For verily Satan has led astray from a great multitude of people before you and from among you

Did you not know what Satan did to them, and hence avoid following their path?

Did you not use to comprehend his enmity and his misguidance?

Did you not use to comprehend the chastisements that befell them in the life of this world?

Moreover, Allah will say to them in the Hereafter:

This is Hell, which Allah’ messengers have promised you!

Burn therein today [as chastisement] for that which you used to reject!’

Burn therein today because of your denial of the Scriptures and the messengers.

Hence, the pretentious question for them:

“Could you not, then, use your reason?”

At the end of this very hard and humiliating position, the dreaded sentence continues, given in connotations of reproach and derision:

“This, then, is the hell that you were repeatedly warned against: endure it today for your persistent rejection of the truth.”

———————–

We know that Allah revealed the Quran unto the Prophet Muhammad via the great Angel Gabriel more than 1400 years ago.

At the time of the Prophet Muhammad, Humankind has never ever heard about worshipping of Satan.

As far as I know, the first human beings worshiped Satan were the Waldenses, Vallenses or Vaudois. Those are names for a Christian movement, which started in Lyon, France and spread soon to the Cottian Alps in the late 1170s.

In 1179, they gained the attention of the Church and were accused of worshipping Satan.

Hence, the Quran is the first book on the Earth that mention the fact that man one day will worship Satan.

Is this Historical miracle is one of the many miracles of the Quran or what?

———————————

The verses 36:59-64vin different translations:

QARIB:

59-(And he will say): ‘distance yourselves, o sinners, this day.

60-Children of Adam, did I not make a covenant with you, that you should not worship Satan he is surely a clear enemy to you

61-And that you worship me? Surely, that is the straight path.

62-Yet he has led many a host of you astray, did you not understand?

63-This, then is gehenna (hell), that which you were promised.

64-Roast well therein this day for you were unbelievers. ‘

SHAKIR:

59-And get aside today, o guilty ones!

60-did I not charge you, o children of Adam! That you should not serve the Shaitan? Surely, he is your open enemy,

61-And that you should serve me; this is the right way

62-And certainly he led astray numerous people from among you. What! Could you not then understand?

63-This is the hell with which you were threatened

64-Enter into it this day because you disbelieved

PICKTHAL:

59-But avaunt ye, o ye guilty, this day!

60-Did i not charge you, o ye sons of Adam, that ye worship not the devil – lo! He is your open foe! –

61-But that ye worship me? That was the right path.

62-Yet he hath led astray of you a great multitude. Had ye then no sense?

63-This is hell which ye were promised (if ye followed him).

64-Burn therein this day for that ye disbelieved.

YUSUFALI:

59-“And o ye in sin! Get ye apart this day!

60-“Did I not enjoin on you, o ye children of Adam, that ye should not worship Satan; for that he was to you an enemy avowed?-

61-“And that ye should worship me, (for that) this was the straight way?

62-“But he did lead astray a great multitude of you. Did ye not, then, understand?

63-“This is the hell of which ye were (repeatedly) warned!

64-“Embrace ye the (fire) this day, for that ye (persistently) rejected (truth).”

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.

———————————

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.

———————————

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 (20) their limited scope

The life of this world is alluring to those who reject faith, and they scoff at those who believe (because of their abject poverty for example).

However, those who believe shall be above them on the Day of Resurrection; and Allah sustains whomever He will without reckoning.

———————————————–

Allah bestows His abundance without measures on whom He will.

Allah’s favors in this world seem unequal, and sometimes those get them who seem to deserve them least.

The verse 2:212 contrasts believers and Atheists, and the difference in their outlook.

This life, with its ephemeral interests and enjoyments, is all that the unbelievers know and aspire to. They are unable to see beyond the here-and now.

They know of no greater values or aspirations other than those of life on this earth.

Consequently, their scope is limited and they are underprivileged of the higher understanding and greater reward experienced by believers.

A believer seeks more from life than mere material or sensual enjoyment.

Believers look beyond their selfish egotistic needs and desires.

From the point of view of a person who only thinks of this life’s concerns and worldly affairs, that might seem strange or even ludicrous.

Hence, it may induce scorn and derision from unbelievers.

However, what justification could there be for such a reaction?

The unbelievers’ opinion is erroneous and utterly false. It is the view of unbelief and ignorance.

The true measure is that of Allah.

Allah said:

“Those who fear Allah shall be above them in rank on the Day of Resurrection”.

Believers should uphold their faith and disregard the mockery and scorn of the unbelievers.

Believers have Allah’s word that they shall occupy a higher position than the unbelievers shall on the Day of Resurrection,

That shall be the final Judgment.

What Allah has in store for believers is far better and far more favorable.

Allah will reward the believers in abundance as He wish and as He will here either in this life or in the Afterlife.

 “Allah grants sustenance to whom He wills beyond all reckoning.”

Allah is the gracious giver who gives directly, generously and with no restriction.

Allah’s bounty in unlimited to the just as well as the unjust in the life of this world.

In His wisdom, He may give to whomsoever He pleases.

However, the account is not taken in the life of this world, but will be taken in the end of man’s journey, when the balance will be redressed at the Day of Judgment.

In His infinite wisdom, He may give to those who do not believe much of the comforts and allurements of this world.

What He grants them is not based on any merit they may have. He also gives to the believers whatever He chooses to grant them both in this life and in the life to come. He is the sole benefactor and His choice is right, wise and most durable.

The two types of human being — believers who take their guidance and advice from Allah, and others for whom this life is the be-all and end-all, can be found in every age and every generation.

———————————————–

The verse 2:212 in different translations:

QARIB:

For those who disbelieve, the worldly life is decked with all manner of decorations. They scoff at those who believe, but the cautious shall be above them on the day of resurrection. Allah gives without count to whom he will.

SHAKIR:

The life of this world is made to seem fair to those who disbelieve, and they mock those who believe, and those who guard (against evil) shall be above them on the day of resurrection; and Allah gives means of subsistence to whom he pleases without measure

PICKTHAL:

Beautified is the life of the world for those who disbelieve; they make a jest of the believers. But those who keep their duty to Allah will be above them on the day of resurrection. Allah giveth without stint to whom he will.

YUSUFALI:

The life of this world is alluring to those who reject faith, and they scoff at those who believe. But the righteous will be above them on the day of resurrection; for Allah bestows his abundance without measure on whom he will.