Atheists in Quran (45) their arrogance: diagnosis and treatment

This article declare three important issues about the Atheists; they are 1) How they becomes arrogant? 2) How they express their arrogance? 3) The treatment of their arrogance

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How they become arrogant?

Man habitually forgets the fact that he is a weak small creature and that whatever strength he may have does not originate from within himself, but from Allah, the source of all strength and power.

Forgetting his bond with Allah, man begins to swell and take on prides.

Arrogance, thus, begins to establish itself within the heart of human being.

On the other hand, man has an essential evident enemy, the Satan.

Satan’s job = to make man astray

Satan’s target = to lead man to hell

Satan, who doomed himself because of his arrogance, works on man to increase his arrogance knowing that through it he can bring man to deterioration.

How the Atheists express their arrogance?

The Atheist disputes Allah’s revelations even when they are clear, addressing human nature with the sort of argument that appeals to it.

The Atheist also claims to himself and others that he is only raising questions because he is not yet convinced.

However, Allah who knows the inner feelings and secret thoughts of all His creatures makes clear that all this is the result of man’s arrogance.

Such arrogance prompts man to argue and dispute Allah’s revelations over which there can be no dispute.

Such arrogance also drives man to aspire to what is beyond his status and what his nature cannot attain.

Yet he has no solid basis for such argument for it is rooted deeply in nothing but his own arrogance:

“As for those who dispute Allah’s revelations, with no authority granted to them, there is nothing in their hearts but a quest for a greatness they will never attain.” (Verse 56)

If only man would understand the truth about himself and the universe, recognizing his role and not trying to exceed it, appreciating

that he is one of countless creatures each doing their role by Allah’s will and according to His design which He alone knows, he would certainly feel relaxed, humble, living in peace with himself and with the world around him.

If man did this, he would easily and readily submit himself to Allah. He would also do this without any hesitation.

“Seek, then, refuge with Allah, for He is the One who hears all and sees all.” (Verse 56)

Seeking refuge with Allah against arrogance is indicative of how grisly it is.

The believers seek Allah’s refuge in order to escape what is ghastly, horrible and evil. Arrogance combines all these. Moreover, it is hard for the arrogant person and for those around him. It causes harm to the heart in which it stirs and to other people’s hearts.

Arrogance is an evil we should seek refuge with Allah from it.

Allah hears all and sees all.

Arrogance is manifested by visible action and/or audible words.

Therefore, it is left to Allah to decide upon it as He pleases.

Man is then told of his true position in this great universe: how small he is in comparison to some of Allah’s creatures, the great magnitude of which is readily visible and better appreciated on careful examination:

“The creation of the heavens and the earth is indeed greater than the creation of man; yet most people do not understand.” (Verse 57)

The heavens and the earth are there for man to see and to measure himself in relation to them. When he knows the reality of the proportions of distance, dimension, size and power, he reduces his pride, feels his smallness and almost disappears. He can only hold his own when he remembers the superior element Allah has granted him, and for which Allah has honored him.

A quick glance at the universe is sufficient to appreciate all this. The earth on which we live is merely a small satellite of the sun: its mass compared to the mass of the sun is no more than three to a million, while its size is one-millionth of the size of the sun. Yet the sun is only one of around billion suns our galaxy includes.

Man now knows that there are around billion such galaxies dispersed in the great expanse of the universe.

Still, what we have discovered of the universe is merely a small part; it is so great that we become dazed when we even try to imagine it. The distance between the sun and us is about 93 million miles. The sun is the head of the family of our planet earth, and most probably, the sun is the mother of the earth.

Therefore, the earth remains close to its mother, standing merely 93 million miles away from it!

The diameter of our galaxy = one hundred billion light years, with one light year measuring 5.8 billion miles, because light travels at the speed of 186,000 miles per second.

The closest galaxy to our own is around 750,000 light years away.

We may say again that these distances and dimensions are the best man’s little knowledge has determined.

Scientists acknowledge that all their discoveries cover only a small part of this great universe.

Allah says:

“The creation of the heavens and the earth is indeed greater than the creation of man; yet most people do not understand” (Verse 57) When we speak of Allah’s power and ability, the concepts of greater or smaller, harder or easier do not apply. He creates everything by a single word, ‘Be!’ The reference here is to how things appear in themselves and how people see and measure them. How does man compare to this great expanse of the universe?

How high can his arrogance take him in Allah’s great creation?

“The blind and the seeing are not equal; nor can those who believe and do good works and those who do evil be deemed equal.” (Verse 58)

The one who is able to see learns and understands, recognizing his station. He does not give himself prides, nor does he allow conceit to distort his judgment.

By contrast, a blind person cannot recognize his position in relation to his surroundings. Therefore, he misjudges his position and what is around him.

The same applies to those believers who do good works and those who do evil. The first group see things for what they are and form accurate ideas, while the other group misjudges all due to their blind ignorance. They harm themselves and others, and above all, they assign to themselves an erroneous position in relation to their environment.

They are blind, for true blindness is that of the mind:

“How seldom you reflect.” (Verse 58)

Had we reflected, we would have known. The whole thing is clear, needing only some reflection before it becomes very apparent.

If only we would remember the hereafter, be certain of its coming, reflect on our position then and recall how we will then stand

“The Last Hour is sure to come: of this there is no doubt. Yet most people will not believe.” (Verse 59)

Because they do not believe, they argue and give themselves prides; they do not submit to the truth and do not limit themselves to their rightful position.

The treatment of their arrogance

Addressing our worship to Allah, praying and appealing to Him, are all means to cure hearts of arrogance, which is the evil that leads people to dispute His revelations and signs without any clear evidence.

Allah opens the door for us to address and pray to Him. He tells us that He has committed Himself to respond to those who pray to Him, warning those who are too proud that they will suffer total humiliation:

“Your Lord says: Call on Me, and I shall answer you. Those who are too proud to worship Me shall enter hell humiliated.” (Verse 60)

Supplication and prayer must observe certain manners.

  • Hearts must be totally dedicated to Allah,
  • Be sure that He will answer our prayer.
  • We must not suggest a particular form, time, or circumstance for answering it. To make such a suggestion is improper when appealing to Allah. We should be clear in our minds that it is a blessing that we address our prayers to Allah, and that His response is another blessing.

Those who are too proud to pray to Allah and appeal to Him deserve their just reward, which leads them to enter hell in total humiliation.

Such is the fitting end of the arrogance that fills some hearts in this small planet and short life, forgetting the greatness of Allah’s creation, let alone His own greatness. It is suitable requital for forgetting the Last Hour, which will inevitably come.

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The verses 40:56-60 in different translations:

QARIB:

56- (As for) those who dispute the verses of Allah without authority having been given to them, there is nothing in their chests but pride; that, they shall never attain. therefore seek refuge in Allah, surely, he is the hearer, the seer.

57-Indeed, the creation of heavens and earth is greater than the creation of mankind, yet most people do not know.

58-The blind and the seeing are not equal, nor are those who believe and do good works, and the wrongdoer yet you seldom reflect.

59-There is no doubt that the hour is coming, yet most people do not believe.

60-Your Lord has said: ‘call on me and i will answer you. those who are too proud to worship me shall enter gehenna utterly abject. ‘

SHAKIR:

56-Surely (as for) those who dispute about the communications of Allah without any authority that has come to them, there is naught in their breasts but (a desire) to become great which they shall never attain to; therefore seek refuge in Allah, surely he is the hearing, the seeing

57-Certainly, the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the creation of the men, but most people do not know

58-And the blind and the seeing are not alike, nor those who believe and do good and the evil-doer; little is it that you are mindful

59-Most surely, the hour is coming, there is no doubt therein, but most people do not believe

60-And your Lord says: call upon me, i will answer you; surely those who are too proud for my service shall soon enter hell abased

PICKTHAL:

56-Lo! Those who wrangle concerning the revelations of Allah without a warrant having come unto them, there is naught else in their breasts save pride which they will never attain. So take thou refuge in Allah. lo! he, only he, is the hearer, the seer.

57-Assuredly, the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the creation of mankind; but most of mankind know not.

58-And the blind man and the seer are not equal, neither are those who believe and do good works (equal with) the evil-doer. little do ye reflect!

59-Lo! The hour is surely coming, there is no doubt thereof; yet most of mankind believe not.

60-And your Lord hath said: pray unto me and i will hear your prayer. lo! those who scorn my service, they will enter hell, disgraced.

YUSUFALI:

56-Those who dispute about the signs of Allah without any authority bestowed on them,- there is nothing in their breasts but (the quest of) greatness, which they shall never attain to: seek refuge, then, in Allah: it is he who hears and sees (all things).

57-Assuredly, the creation of the heavens and the earth is a greater (matter) than the creation of men: yet most men understand not.

58-Not equal are the blind and those who (clearly) see: nor are (equal) those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and those who do evil. little do ye learn by admonition!

59-The hour will certainly come: therein is no doubt: yet most men believe not.

60-And your Lord says: “call on me; i will answer your (prayer): but those who are too arrogant to serve me will surely find themselves in hell – in humiliation!”

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 (31) Allah forbids open and hidden adultery

Allah Commands: eat and drink but do not be excessive

Allah does not love those who are excessive and prodigal

Allah does not love those who are excessive

The Arabs used to forbid foods and clothes during the days of pilgrimage

The Arab Disbelievers were forbidding what Allah has not forbidden

Allah forbids open and Secret adultery

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Many people do not know Allah. This series is an attempt to help them in order to know and acknowledge their Creator.

Verses 7:31-33 of the Noble Quran talk about:

1) Allah does not love those who are excessive and prodigal,

2) Allah Commands: eat and drink do not be excessive; He does not love those who are excessive,

3) The Arabs used to forbid themselves meat and fat during the days of pilgrimage,

4) The Arab Disbelievers were forbidding what Allah has not forbidden and

5) Allah forbids open and Secret adultery

 

The meaning of verse 7:31

O Children of Adam! Don your adornment, that which covers your nakedness, at every place of worship, at prayer and upon circumambulation of the Holy House in Mecca, and eat and drink, what you want, but do not be excessive; He truly does not love those who are excessive.

In other words, eat and drink, but do not be prodigal, do not declare unlawful wholesome foods. 

Lo! Allah does not love the prodigals, those who transgress by leaving the lawful and going after the unlawful even in eating and drinking..

This verse puts a golden principle about relationship between the health and food; one can speculate that over-eating is not only a health problem but also it is from Satan who made the Arabs before Islam worshiped Allah while they were NAKED!  See article 33.

 

The meaning of verse 7:32

Say O Muhammad to the disbelievers: ‘Who has forbidden the wearing of clothes during the days of pilgrimage, in the Sacred Precinct and upon circumambulation of the Holy House in Mecca? Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has brought forth for His servants, in the way of garments, and the good things, the delicious foods, and the good things of Allah’ sustenance and providing?’ For in the pre-Islamic days they used to forbid themselves meat and fat during the days of pilgrimage, and entered the Sacred Precinct completely naked: the men during the day and the women during the night. Allah made these practices unlawful.

Say: ‘These, on the Day of Resurrection, shall be exclusively for those who believed during the life of this world and the disbelievers will never have anything of that. Thus, in the Quran, We detail the signs, We explain them in such detail, for a people who know’, who reflect, for they are the ones to profit from these [signs].

In other words, all the good things, on the Day of Resurrection, will be only for those who believed during the life of the world in Muhammad and the Quran, while both believer and sinner will enjoy them during the life of this world. Allah elucidates the Quran by explaining the lawful and the unlawful for people who have knowledge, for people who believe it is from Allah.

 

The meaning of verse 7:33

Say) to them, O Muhammad: My Lord forbids only indecencies, grave sins, such as fornication, such of them as are apparent and such as are hidden, that is, the overt ones and the secret ones, and sin, the act of disobedience, and wrongful insolence, against people, namely, oppression, and that you associate with Allah that for which He never revealed any warrant, any definitive proof for such association, and that you say concerning Allah that which you do not know’, in the way of forbidding what He has not forbidden and other things.

In other words, Allah forbids only indecencies, adultery, (such of them as are apparent) open adultery (and such as are within) taking secret lovers, (and sin) intoxicants as the poet said: I sipped sin until my mind erred, Thus indeed does sin take away minds. I openly drank urns of sin, And between us benefiting, you see your goddess; (and wrongful oppression) unlawful overbearingness, (and that you associate with Allah that for which no warrant) no Scripture or proof (hath been revealed, and that ye tell concerning Allah that which ye know not) of forbidding crops and cattle, good things and raiment.

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Verses 7:31-33in different English translations of the meanings of Arabic Quran:

QARIB:

31) Children of Adam, take your adornment at every place of prayer. eat and drink, and do not waste. he does not love the wasteful.

32) Say: ‘who has forbidden the adornment that Allah has brought for his worshipers and the good provision? ‘Say: ‘they are in this life for those who believe, and purely theirs on the day of resurrection. ‘ as such we distinguish the verses to people who know.

33) Say: ‘my lord has forbidden all indecent acts whether apparent or disguised and sin, and unjust insolence, and that you associate with Allah that for which he has never sent down an authority, or to say about Allah what you do not know. ‘

 

SHAKIR:

31) O children of Adam! attend to your embellishments at every time of prayer, and eat and drink and be not extravagant; surely he does not love the extravagant

32) Say: who has prohibited the embellishment of Allah which he has brought forth for his servants and the good provisions? say: these are for the believers in the life of this world, purely (theirs) on the resurrection day; thus do we make the communications clear for a people who know

33) Say: my lord has only prohibited indecencies, those of them that are apparent as well as those that are concealed, and sin and rebellion without justice, and that you associate with Allah that for which he has not sent down any authority, and that you say against Allah what you do not know

 

PICKTHAL:

31) O children of Adam! look to your adornment at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not prodigal. lo! he loveth not the prodigals.

32) Say: who hath forbidden the adornment of Allah which he hath brought forth for his bondmen, and the good things of his providing? say: such, on the day of resurrection, will be only for those who believed during the life of the world. thus do we detail our revelations for people who have knowledge.

33) Say: my lord forbiddeth only indecencies, such of them as are apparent and such as are within, and sin and wrongful oppression, and that ye associate with Allah that for which no warrant hath been revealed, and that ye tell concerning Allah that which ye know not.

 

YUSUFALI:

31) O children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: but waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters.

32) Say: who hath forbidden the beautiful (gifts) of Allah, which he hath produced for his servants, and the things, clean and pure, (which he hath provided) for sustenance? say: they are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) purely for them on the day of judgment. thus do we explain the signs in detail for those who understand.

33) Say: the things that my lord hath indeed forbidden are: shameful deeds, whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah, for which he hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge.

Chapter 6 of the Quran (53) Abraham’s Religion – C

Abraham said to his people: How should I fear what you worship as gods when they can neither profit nor harm? How should I fear your idols when they can neither help nor hurt? How should I fear the sun when it is one of the creatures of the Almighty Creator? How come that you do not fear Allah, you Almighty Creator when He has power over all things?

 

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In the previous articles, Abraham directly and indirectly told his people that it is unreasonable to worship the idols, the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, and the Planets. He said to them that these things they used to worship as god(s) are but irrational.

Abraham said to them that they should worship the originator of the heavens and the earth.

 

Abraham’s people disputed with him and argued with him about his belief.

Abraham’s people threatened him that their gods would strike him with evil if he criticized them; they said that their gods would strike Abraham with diseases, poverty, infertility etc.

Abraham said: I have no fear of what you associate with Him, in the way of false gods, that they might strike me with some evil, since they have no power to do anything.

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In Ayah 6:81, Abraham continued:

How should I fear what you worship as gods when they can neither profit nor harm.

How should I fear your idols when they can neither help nor hurt?

How should I fear the sun when it is one of the creatures of the Almighty Creator?

How should I fear the moon when it is one of the creatures of the Almighty Creator?

 

How come that you do not fear that you have associated with Allah, in worship, that for which He has not revealed to you any warrant?

How come that you do not fear that you worship instead of Allah gods that you do not have any proof that they have created you?

How come that you do not fear Allah, you Almighty Creator when He has power over all things?

 

Abraham conyinued saying:

Now, which of the two parties has more right to security and to feel safe, those who worship Allah or those who worship your gods? Answer if you have any wisdom and knowledge

 

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The verse 6:81 in different translations

 

QARIB:

And how should I fear what you have associated when you yourselves are not afraid that you have associated with Allah that which he did not send down for it upon you an authority. Which of the two parties is more deserving of safety, if you know?

 

SHAKIR:

And how should I fear what you have set up (with him), while you do not fear that you have set up with Allah that for which he has not sent down to you any authority; which then of the two parties is surer of security, if you know?

 

PICKTHAL:

How should I fear that which ye set up beside him, when ye fear not to set up beside Allah that for which he hath revealed unto you no warrant? Which of the two factions hath more right to safety? (answer me that) if ye have knowledge.

 

YUSUFALI:

“How should I fear (the beings) ye associate with Allah, when ye fear not to give partners to Allah without any warrant having been given to you? Which of (us) two parties hath more right to security? (tell me) if ye know.