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Peace be upon you brothers and sisters. In today’s video, I wanted to look at the Qur’anic evidence for the claim made by the Muslims that Bakkah is the old name of Makkah. While, I consider these issues to be irrelevant due to the fact that the location of these ancient sites have been lost, a number of Qur’an only followers consider the so-called Hajj in Makkah currently to be a rite ordained by God in the Qur’an. They believe that God commanded the believers to go to Makkah and participate in these idol worshipping rituals under the guise of Hajj.

Let me be clear: the Hajj as practiced by the Muslims in its current form is nothing more than idol worship. I cover this issue in depth in Chapter 11 of my book “Will You Not Reason?” but I will just give you some key points as to the similarities of the current day Hajj and similar practices in both Hinduism and Buddhism.

The defining feature of the Hajj is the circling of the Kaaba idol counter-clockwise seven times. The Qur’an does not mention the circling of any object seven times. However, this practice is found in Hinduism and is termed “saat-phere”. Circambulation around a sacred object is also a common practice in pagan religions and is termed as Parikrama or Pradakshina. Here is a quick summary of both of these terms in Wikipedia:

The saat phere is one of the most important features of the Hindu Wedding, involving seven rounds around a sacred fire lit for the purpose amidst the Vedic mantras. The bride and groom circumambulate a consecrated fire seven times, reciting specific vows with each circuit (Sanskrit: parikrama). Vows made in the presence of the sacred fire (Sanskrit: agni) are considered unbreakable, with Agnideva held as both witnessing and blessing the couple’s union. Every phera taken holds a specific meaning. And in according to vedas [parikrama] is from origin of hindu dharma, according to vedas it is lords ritual of acceptances of soul.
Parikrama or Pradakshina is clockwise circumambulation of sacred entities, and the path along which this is performed, as practiced in the Indic religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. In Buddhism, it refers only to the path along which this is performed. Typically, in Indic-religions the parikrama is done after completion of traditional worship (puja) and after paying homage to the deity. Parikrama must be done with dhyāna (spiritual contemplation and meditation).

Revering a cuboid stone structure in Mecca or kissing a stone encased in one of its sides – which Muslims call the Hajar-al-aswad – is idol worship, pure and simple. The Qur’an contains a stark warning for those who revere stones – a common motif across all pagan religions.

O you who heed warning: protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which are angels stern and severe; they do not oppose God in what He has commanded them but do what they are commanded.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (66:6)

Coming back to the claim made by Muslims that the first house established by Prophet Abraham in Bakkah is the same site in Makkah, we have a big problem as the Qur’an makes it clear that the first house of God was established by Abraham in Bakkah. This implies, that there were other houses established after it. There is no place in the Qur’an where it says that Bakkah was the old name of the current idol center Makkah as Muslims keep on insisting.

Brother Gerrans makes an interesting observation regarding the claim of Muslims that Abraham was the one who started their Hajj practices i.e. they insinuate that Abraham led people into worshipping a stone structure. If we look at the Qur’anic narrative of Abraham it is clear that he abhorred the worship of statues and all things carved. He is the one who destroyed the idols of his own community. Does this sound like a man who would then leave his idol-worshipping community and build a stone idol in the middle of the desert to prostrate to? The Qur’an is quite clear that he setup the first house of worship at Bakkah but to attribute to him the idolatrous rituals being practiced in Makkah today is crossing the line.

(The first house set up for mankind was that at Bakka, blessed and a guidance for all mankind:

In it are clear proofs of the station of Abraham; and whoso enters it is safe. And God’s claim upon mankind is a pilgrimage to the house, for whoso is able to find a path to it; and whoso denies: God is free from need of all mankind.)

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (3:96-97)

While Muslims claim that this first house established by Abraham in Bakkah is the cube stone idol (the Kaaba) in Makkah, there are a number of glaring problems with this assumption. The facts on the ground are that no one – unless you are of the few elect Saudis – is allowed entry into the Kaaba. Yet, the Qur’an explicitly states that “whoso entered it was safe”(the Arabic is in the past tense).

Furthermore, the Muslims’ claim that a set of footprints which they allege belong to Abraham (the Maqam Ibrahim) are what that Qur’an means by the the station of Abraham. However, the word maqam as used in the Qur’an can only mean standing, rank or station and nowhere does the Qur’an use it to mean footprints. The presence of footprints near a sacred site is not unique to the Kaaba, Buddhist shrines feature Buddha’s footprints as a common motif. This is yet another feature that the Kaaba site shares with other pagan sites. Please read Chapter 11 of my book for a further discussion on this subject.

Perhaps un-surprisingly, the Qur’an uses the work Makkah only once in connection with the masjid-al-Haram (the Holy Mosque):

 It is He who restrained their hands from you, and your hands from them, in the hollow of Mecca, after that He made you victors over them. God sees the things you do.

They are the ones who disbelieved, and barred you from the Holy Mosque and the offering, detained so as not to reach its place of sacrifice. If it had not been for certain men believers and certain women believers whom you knew not, lest you should trample them, and there befall you guilt unwittingly on their account (that God may admit into His mercy whom He will), had they been separated clearly, then We would have chastised the unbelievers among them with a painful chastisement.

The Koran Interpreted (48:24-25)

Using this one instance of the word makkah which can also mean “destruction” and fits the context better Muslims have shoehorned their idol worshipping center into the Qur’an. My position is that whether we take Makkah to be the name of a city or translate it as “destruction”, what is happening on the ground in Makkah is pure idol worship. So as believers, would we want to go near such a place?

Finally,, what is clear from the Qur’an is that Bakkah was the first site established by Abraham for the purposes of inviting men to God. The prophets and messengers were not leading idol worshipping rituals. And wherever the final messenger of God – Muhammad – was, it is also clear that he would have never condoned or led idolatrous rituals and revered a cube stone idol in Mecca.

And We raised up in every community a messenger: “Serve God and avoid idols.” And among them was he whom God guided; and among them was he upon whom misguidance was binding. So travel in the earth and see how was the final outcome of the deniers.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (16:36)

In today’s video, I will be looking at two key beliefs held by the Jews. The first is that the Messiah is coming and the second that the children of Israel will be gathered together. Jews point to the creation of the Israeli state as proof that the second prophecy has been fulfilled; but the fact of the matter is that this prophecy was fulfilled long ago when the last prophet, Muhammad, came as a messenger to all of mankind.

Leaving aside the question of whether those who call themselves Jews are really the true descendants of the children of Israel, those who unjustly occupy Palestinian land claim that Israel has a right to exist because God had promised the children of Israel this land, but is that really so? What does God’s final revelation to mankind, the Qur’an, have to say about this?

The Jewish prophecy about the coming of the Messiah

In Jewish eschatology, the term came to refer to a future Jewish king from the Davidic line, who will be “anointed” with holy anointing oil, to be king of God’s kingdom, and rule the Jewish people during the Messianic Age. In Judaism, the Messiah is not considered to be God or a pre-existent divine Son of God. He is considered to be a great political leader that has descended from King David, hence why he is referred to as Messiah ben David, ‘Messiah, son of David’. In Judaism, the messiah is considered to be a great, charismatic leader that is well oriented with the laws that are followed in Judaism.

Though originally a fringe idea, somewhat controversially, belief in the eventual coming of a future messiah is a fundamental part of Judaism, and is one of Maimonides’ 13 Principles of Faith. Maimonides describes the identity of the Messiah in the following terms:
And if a king shall arise from among the House of David, studying Torah and occupied with commandments like his father David, according to the written and oral Torah, and he will impel all of Israel to follow it and to strengthen breaches in its observance, and will fight God’s wars, this one is to be treated as if he were the anointed one. If he succeeded and built the Holy Temple in its proper place and gathered the dispersed ones of Israel together, this is indeed the anointed one for certain, and he will mend the entire world to worship the Lord together, as it is stated: “For then I shall turn for the nations a clear tongue, so that they will all proclaim the Name of the Lord, and to worship Him with a united resolve (Zephaniah 3:9).”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah

The word Messiah as used in the Qur’an simply means “the anointed one”. In times old and new, kings were anointed with oil as part of their coronation rituals. The Messiah, or anointed one, according to the Qur’an, was none other than prophet Jesus. The same Jesus, son of Mary, whom the children of Israel denied and persecuted. I am here not talking about the false claim by the Christians that Jesus, a son of God, was the Messiah. I am saying that the Qur’an makes it explicitly clear the Jesus, a man and a prophet, who was born of a virgin birth was the Messiah. And he was sent to the children of Israel as a messenger. His miraculous birth and his performance of subsequent miracles were a sign to the the children of Israel. However, like most messengers sent to a people, he was rejected, mocked and persecuted.

When the angels said: “O Mary: God gives thee glad tidings of a word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary; esteemed in the World and the Hereafter, and among those brought near.

“He will speak to men in the cradle, and in maturity, and is among the righteous.”

She said: “My Lord: how will I have a son when no mortal has touched me?” He said: “Thus is God; he creates what He wills; when He decrees a matter, He but says to it: ‘Be thou,’ and it is.

“And He will teach him the Writ and wisdom, and the Torah, and the Gospel.”

“And confirming what is before me of the Torah, and making lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. I have come to you with a proof from your Lord, so be in prudent fear of God, and obey me.

“God is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him. This is a straight path.”

But when Jesus perceived their denial, he said: “Who are my helpers for God?” The disciples said: “We are the helpers of God; we believe in God; and bear thou witness that we are submitting.”

“Our Lord: we believe in what Thou hast sent down, and we follow the Messenger, so write Thou us down with the witnesses.”

And they schemed, and God schemed; and God is the best of schemers.

When God said: “O Jesus: I will take thee and raise thee to Me, and purify thee of those who ignore warning, and place those who follow thee above those who ignore warning until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that wherein you differed.

(The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation 3:45-55)

So, as far as the Qur’an is concerned, the Messiah of the children of Israel has already come and gone and that is the end of the matter.

The children of Israel will be gathered together

Now, we look at another other interesting claim made by the Jews that the establishment of the state of Israel is a fulfillment of God’s promise to the children of Israel that He will bring them all together. First a little backstory; the Qur’an tells us that God had decreed that the children of Israel would rise in prominence in two times and fall two times. Setting sketchy history aside, it is alluded in the Qur’an that after the fulfillment of God’s second promise, the temple would be completed destroyed – eradicated. This implies that after this moment, the children of Israel would cease to a united people. Thus after the second destruction of the temple, the twelves tribes of the children of Israel were no more. However, God left the option open for His Mercy: “…It may be that your Lord will have mercy on you;” (17:8) We shall now look at the relevant passage in the Qur’an carefully and stop off and make observations as we go.

And We gave Moses the Writ, and made it a guide for the children of Israel: “Take not instead of Me as disposer of affairs

“Progeny of those We bore with Noah; he was a grateful servant.”

And We decreed for the children of Israel in the Writ: “You will work corruption in the land twice, and wax high to a great height.”

Then when the promise came of the first of the two, We raised up against you servants of Ours of severe might who conducted a search within the homes; and it was a promise fulfilled.

Then We returned to you a turn over them, and supplied you with wealth and sons, and made you greater in influence.

If you do good, you do good to your souls; and if you do evil, it is to them. Then when the promise of the latter came[…], that they should disgrace your faces, and enter the place of worship as they entered it the first time, and destroy all that they overcame with destruction.

It may be that your Lord will have mercy on you; but if you return, We will return; and We have made Gehenna a prison-bed for the false claimers of guidance.

(The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation 17:2-17:8)

It is clear that during the fulfillment of God’s second promise, the place of worship of the children of Israel (their temple) Arabic: masjid was desecrated (as was done the first time) but was also completely destroyed. Thus, at this point a unified people ceased to exist. However, God remained open to granting them mercy which as we shall see was the point of the latter promise that was made to the children of Israel: that even though they will no longer be a unified tribal people, they will be brought together after having intermixed and intermarried with other peoples. i.e the believers among them will come together as a homogeneous group as part of the residual Mercy of God in His second promise to them. We read in the latter part of chapter 17.

And We gave Moses nine clear proofs, so ask thou the children of Israel. When he came to them, and Pharaoh said to him: “I consider thee, O Moses, one taken by sorcery,”

He said: “Thou hast known that there sends these down only the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth as a means of insight; and I consider thee, O Pharaoh, destroyed.”

And he wished to turn them out of the land; and We drowned him and those with him all together.

And We said, after him, to the children of Israel: “Dwell in the land; and when there comes the promise of the Hereafter (or latter), We will bring you in a mixed multitude.”

And with the truth have We sent it down, and with the truth has it come down — and We sent thee only as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner —

And as a recitation We divided, that thou recite it to men in stages; and We have sent it down as a successive revelation.

Say thou: “Believe in it, or believe not”; those given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, they fall on their faces in submission,

And they say: “Glory be to our Lord! The promise of our Lord is fulfilled!”

And they fall on their faces weeping; and it increases them in humility.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (17:101-109)

s we have already seen, the the second promise of God made to the children of Israel (their rise and fall a second time) was fulfilled but God had allowed a provision for His mercy. This mercy of God, was that He sent down the prophet Muhammad, and through him the lost tribes of the children of Israel – who had now intermixed and intermarried with the people around them – came back together under the leadership of Muhammad to reclaim their land.

And We said, after him, to the children of Israel: “Dwell in the land; and when there comes the promise of the Hereafter, We will bring you in a mixed multitude.”

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (17:104)

The word lafifan which Brother Gerrans here translates as “mixed multitude” means wrapped up; mixed crowd (Steingass) or rabble (Hava). The underlying sense in this context is that the believers among the children of Israel would be brought together as different races. To repeat: the children of Israel ceased to exist as a separate people after the destruction of their temple. However, they were given a chance to come back into the fold of God’s mercy by accepting prophet Muhammad as God’s final messenger and believing in the final scripture (the Qur’an) of God.

Conclusion

In summary, it is clear from the Qur’an that both of the prophecies (which the occupiers of Palestine use to justify their continued tyrannical occupation of the land of the native peoples): the coming of the Messiah and the bringing together of the descendants of the children of Israel have been fulfilled as per God’s final revelation to mankind. It would be prudent for the Jews living today who falsely believe that they are the chosen people and that the Messiah is coming take heed at what the Qur’an says instead of believing their misguided and foolish rabbis. The way to God’s mercy is still open to them, as it was open to their forbears, but all hope is lost when the Day of Judgment arrives.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past month, you might have heard of the disaster that befell the Titan submarine which was taking a bunch of elites to see the Titanic wreckage. But perhaps you may have not heard of an even greater disaster which happened 4 days before this submarine disaster in which close to 600 refugees drowned when their overcrowded fishing boat capsized near Greece’s coast. So the question is that why did the drowning of these refugees get so little media coverage whereas the Titan sub disaster is still in the news? It is because the friends of the occupants of the sub own the media and they want to make sure every one on Earth remembers and feels sorry for their friends. Yet, as we shall see this disaster is a lesson for unbelieving elites that they may take heed: that like their drowned pals they too have no place of refuge from God.

But before we continue, I wanted to take a look at the profile of the occupants of the sub to show you that these men were truly of the elites. It is not within a common man’s means to pay a $250,000 ticket to go explore the Titanic wreckage 12,500 feet underwater.

We first start with Shahzada Dawood – my fellow country man – who was the vice-chairman of the Engro Corporation – a conglomerate headquartered in Karachi, Pakistan. From his Wikipedia page it seems he had fingers in a lot of pies through his philanthropic endeavors:

From 1996 to 2023, Dawood had been a trustee of the family-foundation, The Dawood Foundation (TDF), which focused on education. TDF had been coordinating the Hussain Dawood Pledge, a private donation to fight COVID-19 in Pakistan. He had been focused in efforts to provide mental health support to people hit by COVID-19 in Pakistan.

Dawood was also a trustee of The Engro Foundation, a member of the Global Advisory Board for Prince’s Trust International, a charity founded by Charles III, and a board member of the SETI Institute.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahzada_Dawood

His son aged 19 was also on-board. Moving on to the next occupant of the sub: Hamish Harding. This explorer seemed to have an insatiable appetite for thrill-seeking and apparently a lot of money to burn.

In the 1990s, Harding worked in the information technology industry. He served as the managing director of Logica India until he founded the private investment company Action Group in 1999. In 2002, he founded Action Aviation.

Harding worked with an Antarctic VIP tourism company, White Desert, using a Gulfstream G550 to introduce the first regular business jet service to the Antarctic. Harding also visited the South Pole several times; he accompanied Buzz Aldrin in 2016 when he became the oldest person to reach the South Pole (age 86) and his son when he became the youngest (12).

Between 9 and 11 July 2019, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, Harding, along with Terry Virts, led a team of aviators that took the Guinness World Record for a circumnavigation of the Earth via the North and South Poles in a Gulfstream G650ER in 46 hours and 40 minutes. The One More Orbit mission launched and landed at the Shuttle Landing Facility (Space Florida) at NASA Kennedy Space Center in the United States.

On 5 March 2021, Harding and Victor Vescovo dived to the deepest point of the Mariana Trench, the Challenger Deep, at a depth of approximately 11,000 m (36,000 feet), in a two-person submarine, setting the Guinness World Records for greatest distance covered at full ocean depth and greatest time spent at full ocean depth. His 13-year-old son accompanied the mission on the surface support ship DSSV Pressure Drop.

Harding flew to space as part of the suborbital Blue Origin NS-21 mission, on 4 June 2022, on the fifth manned spaceflight of the New Shepard rocket. After travelling to space, he advocated for space tourists (paid recreational spaceflight passengers) to be called astronauts. He also advocated for the United Arab Emirates to expand its space program.

In September 2022, Harding’s aviation company Action Aviation supplied a customised Boeing 747-400 aircraft to transport eight wild cheetahs from Namibia to India to launch the reintroduction of the cheetah to India project of the Indian Government and the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia (CCF). Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952. This conservation project was designated a “flagged expedition” by the Explorers Club with club members Harding and Laurie Marker, founder of the CCF, carrying the flag on the flight to India.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamish_Harding

Finally, we have Paul-Henri Nargeolet (aged 77 years) who seems to have been the poorest of the lot spending most of his life in service to the French Navy and retiring at the rank of frigate captain. Nevertheless, he did have enough money to fork over a quarter million dollars to pay for a seat on the OceanGate Titan sub.

If this still does not convince you that these men were the elites then consider the fact that the search-and-rescue operation for this sub has already cost the American tax-payer $1.2 million. The elites have no problem spending the peasants’ money to help their own kind but when it comes to the us common folks, apparently, they have no money left. Case in point: there are no cost estimates of a search-and-rescue operation of the Greek refugee boat disaster. The only ship to help was a private vessel: Alberto Baillères superyatch “The Mayan Queen” which rescued all of the 100 or so survivors. The Greek coast guard only activated a search and rescue operation when the boat was already sinking despite keeping the fishing boat under surveillance for more than 24 hours before it capsized. Read the article here. The question of what caused the boat to capsize also remains unanswered. Interviews of the survivors states that it was the Greek coast guard that capsized the boat by attaching a tow-line to it and pulling too aggressively. You can read the article on CNN here.

Now, that we have established that the occupants of the doomed submersible were truly the elites, let’s look at the Qur’an and see why this disaster should serve as a lesson for their friends on dry land.

And you cannot escape in the earth; and you have, besides God, neither ally nor helper.

And among His proofs are the ships in the sea like banners;

If He wills, He calms the wind, and they remain motionless on its back — in that are proofs for everyone patient and grateful —

Or He wrecks them for what they have earned — but He pardons much —

And that those who dispute concerning Our proofs might know they have no place of refuge.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (42:31-35)

Whether we be on land or sea, we are continuously at the mercy of God and besides Him there is no ally or helper. It is by God’s grace that ships and submarines travel in the sea and if He wills He can still them. And if He wills, He can destroy them for what they have earned. The occupants of the submarine found out the hard way that they had no protection from God. It remains to be seen whether their friends on dry land take heed and also realize – before it is too late – that they too have no place of refuge from God, the One, the Omnipotent.

In this article, we look at the criteria for success according to God. In today’s society, the acquisition of wealth and seducing as many women as possible are considered the benchmarks of success. Not too long ago, the acquisition of wealth and sons were considered the criteria for success. However, we find in Chapter 23 of the Qur’an a complete and utter refutation of this notion.

Successful are the believers:

Those who in their duty are humble,

And those who from vain speech turn away,

And those who act upon the purity.

And those who preserve their chastity

Save with their wives or what their right hands possess, then are they not blameworthy;

— But whoso seeks beyond that: it is they who are the transgressors —

And those who attend to their trusts and their covenant,

And those who preserve their duties:

It is they who are the heirs,

Those who inherit Paradise; therein will they abide eternally.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (23:1-11)

Thus, it is not material wealth or power that are the criteria for success but belief in God, the Last Day and the doing of good works. This idea is repeated in another place in the Qur’an.

And it is not your wealth or your children that bring you near to Us in proximity, only whoso believes and works righteousness: those have the double reward for what they did, and they will be in the high chambers, secure.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (34:37)

Doing righteous deeds increases a man in prudent fear and brings him closer to God; not the acquiring of wealth, prestige or power – which more often that not serve to lead him farther away from God.

O mankind: We have created you from a male and a female, and have made you nations and tribes that you might know one another. The most noble of you in the sight of God is he of you most in prudent fear; God is knowing and aware.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (49:13)

Coming back to Chapter 23 of the Qur’an, we see that those who are ignorant think that because they are increasing in wealth, children, fame and prosperity i.e. elites of today, they are somehow favored by God. However, they do not perceive the true reality of their situation.

“O you Messengers: eat of the good things, and work righteousness; I know what you do.”

And this, your community, is one community, and I am your Lord; so be in prudent fear of Me.

But they divided their command among them into writings, each party exulting at what it has,

So leave thou them in their flood of ignorance for a time.

Think they that in the wealth and sons wherewith We supply them

We hasten for them good things? The truth is, they perceive not.

(Those who are from fear of their Lord in dread,

And those who believe in the proofs of their Lord,

And those who ascribe not a partnership to their Lord,

And those who give what they give with their hearts in dread that they are returning to their Lord:

Those compete in good deeds, and they are forerunners therein.

And We burden not any soul save to its capacity; and with Us is a writ which speaks the truth, and they will not be wronged.)

The truth is, their hearts are in a flood of ignorance about this. And they have works besides that which they are doing.

When We have seized their opulent ones with punishment, then will they cry out.

“Cry not out this day! You will not be helped by Us!

“My proofs were recited to you, and you turned back therefrom on your heels,

“Waxing proud thereat, talking to no purpose into the night.”

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (23:51-67)

We now come to the crux of the matter: Those who perceive not think that because they are supplied wealth and sons, they are being favored and good things are being hastened unto them. However, the fact of the matter is that these things are bad for them because – more often than not – they lead to arrogance and denial of God’s bounty and generosity. It is God that expands and restricts the provision of His servants.

Furthermore, God in His infinite wisdom, grants them respite i.e. he does not seize them for their wrongdoings right away because he wishes them to increase in their sins.

And let not those who ignore warning think that We but grant them respite good for their souls; We but grant them respite that they might increase in sin; and they have a humiliating punishment.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (3:178)

The truth is that those fear their Lord and believe in His proofs, and do not ascribe partners to Him and give in charity, they are those who compete in good deeds and are the real attainers of success in the life to come.

Qārūn was of the people of Moses, but he oppressed them. And We had given him of treasures that whereof the keys weighed down a company of men endowed with strength. When his people said to him: “Exult thou not — God loves not the exultant —

“But seek thou, in what God has given thee, the abode of the Hereafter; and forget thou not thy portion in the World; and do thou good, as God has done good to thee; and seek thou not corruption in the land; God loves not the workers of corruption,”

He said: “I have been given it only because of knowledge I have,” — knew he not that God had destroyed before him generations stronger than him in power, and greater in accumulation? — “and the lawbreakers will not be questioned about their transgressions!”

So went he forth to his people in his finery. Those who sought the life of this world said: “Would that we had the like of what has been given to Qārūn! He is one of great fortune!”

But those given knowledge said: “Woe to you! The reward of God is better for him who believes and works righteousness”; and none is granted it save the patient.

(Then We caused the earth to swallow him and his abode. And there was for him no band to help him besides God; and he was not of those who help themselves.

And morning found those who had desired his place the day before, saying: “Oh, how God expands and straitens the provision for whom He wills of His servants! Had God not been gracious to us, He would have caused it to swallow us. And oh, how the false claimers of guidance do not succeed!”)

That is the abode of the Hereafter We make for those who seek neither exaltedness nor corruption in the land. And the final outcome is for those of prudent fear.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (28:76-83)

So let us strive and become of those who are successful according to God and not be of the ignorant who strive for success in this life by acquiring wealth, power and prestige.

In this article I will be looking at what the Qur’an (God’s final revelation to mankind) has to do say about usury or interest. The Arabic word ribaa means An excess, and an addition: an addition over and above the principal sum [that is lent or expended] (see Lane’s Lexicon: http://lexicon.quranic-research.net/data/10_r/026_rbw.html).

According to the Qur’an, any money charged by a lender in addition to the principal sum lent is ribaa, which is forbidden.

O you who heed warning: consume not usury, doubled and redoubled; and be in prudent fear of God, that you might be successful.
And be in prudent fear of the Fire prepared for the false claimers of guidance.
And obey God and the Messenger, that you might obtain mercy.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (3:130-132)

The modern excuse that interest or usury is intrinsic to business is also rejected the Qur’an. God has allowed commercial transactions but He has forbidden usury.

Those who consume usury will not stand save as stands he whom the satan buffets with his touch; for it is that they say: “Commerce is but the same as usury,” when God has made commerce lawful and forbidden usury! And he to whom came the admonition from his Lord, and desisted: he has what is past, and his case is with God. But whoso returns: those are the companions of the Fire; therein they abide eternally.
God eliminates usury, and increases charity; and God loves not every ingrate and sinner.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (2:275-276)

God commands in no uncertain terms that the believers give up the practice of usury. They are threatened with war if they do not comply, highlighting the grave nature of this sin.

O you who heed warning: be in prudent fear of God; and give up what remains of usury, if you be believers.

And if you do not, then be informed of war from God and His messenger. But if you repent, then to you are your principal sums; doing no wrong, you will not be wronged.

And if he be one in hardship, then deferment until ease; but that you forgive by way of charity is better for you, if you would know.

And be in prudent fear of a day wherein you will be returned to God; then every soul will be paid in full what it earned; and they will not be wronged.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (2:278-281)

Have they not considered that God expands provision for whom He wills, and He straitens? In that are proofs for people who believe.

So give thou the relative his due, and the needy, and the wayfarer. That is best for those who desire the face of God; and it is they who are the successful.

And what you give of usury that it might increase in the wealth of men, there is no increase with God; but what you give of purity, desiring the face of God: it is they who receive recompense manifold.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (30:37-39)

While I understand that these verses are directed towards those who take usury from men i.e. the banks/credit card companies in today’s world; it would serve us well to not enter into any loan arrangement which entails interest. It is precisely because men have accepted this exploitative system of usury that it has gained popularity in today’s world. Wherever there is a demand, rest assured, there will be a supply.

Furthermore, it makes financial sense to not get into debt and especially a debt which entails interest as it is very difficult to get out of this hole once you fall into it. On the other hand, it is evident from these verses that giving in charity in good and bad times will result in God giving us from His bounty. So my advice to the believers – to those who have fallen into it – is to get out of it as early and possible and be consistent in giving charity to the poor. This is best course of action for a man who believes in the Last Day and expects God’s help in this life and the next.

Feminism is defined as the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. What might surprise you to know is that the Qur’an — God’s final revelation to mankind — rejects this idea of the equality of the sexes outright. The Qur’an is clear that the “male is not like the female” and that “men are responsible for women”. For those of us who hold fast to the Qur’an and believe it to be from God, it is imperative that we reject the insane and insidious ideology of feminism, proclaim the truth from God and mend our ways before the command of God i.e the Day of Judgment comes.

Before I proceed, I wanted to give credit to Brother Gerrans and Alan Watt for many of the ideas in this talk. All the following translations are from The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation which you can read for free here.

When the wife of ʿImrān said: “My Lord: I have vowed to Thee what is in my womb in consecration, so accept Thou from me; Thou art the Hearing, the Knowing.”
Then when she had given birth to her, she said: “My Lord: I have given birth to a female,” — and God knew best to what she was to give birth; and the male is not like the female — “And I have named her Mary; and I seek refuge in Thee for her and her descendants from the accursed satan.”

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (3:35-36)

The ruling elites of today have successfully destroyed the nuclear family unit — after their forbears had already destroyed the tribal and extended family units — by means of feminism. This did not happen overnight and today’s degenerate society is a direct consequence of the careful planning done by the elites over many centuries. The end goal was always to destroy the pillars (of family, tribe, religion) of a society which insulated an individual from the tyranny of the state. The elites know that once these structures crumble, man will be at the complete mercy of the state. And we can see that is precisely what has happened in the West: a disbeliever today has no recourse for protection or provision unless he follows the dictates and policies of the state. I say disbeliever because a believer in God understands that all protection and provision is from God alone and he is therefore immune to such threats given by the state.

Traditionally, societies, accepted and encouraged the differentiation between the role of a man and a woman, a husband and his wife, a father and a mother. But now, we are being told that the ancients were fools who only wanted to oppress women. Not so, these roles were natural and God-given and are meant for the welfare and protection of both men and women.

As we shall see, the Qur’an has a lot to talk about the rightful roles of men and women. Bur first, let us establish clearly the God assigned relationships between a man and his wife.

Men are responsible for women by what God has favoured one of them over another, and by what they spend of their wealth; and the righteous women are humbly obedient, keeping unseen what God keeps. And those from whom you fear contempt: admonish them; and leave them in beds apart; and strike them. But if they obey you, then seek not a path against them; God is exalted and great.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (4:34)

Men are responsible for women because God has favored them with physical and intellectual superiority over them. And they are responsible for their upkeep by what they spend of their wealth. It is the man’s duty to provide for his family and he is to be the sole bread-winner. In turn, it is the role of the righteous woman is to be obedient to her husband and to safeguard her chastity.

This is a far-cry from the degenerate society of today which encourages women to go out and make a living and to oppose their husbands in what is right and fitting. Those who spearheaded the feminist movement i.e. the elites knew very well that by allowing and encouraging women to go out and earn money, they would undermine the authority of their husbands in the house, betray their trust and ultimately destroy the family unit. This destruction of the family, the long cherished goal of the state, would then allow it to fully exert its control over every man, woman and child; which has already happened in the West.

Believing women in the Qur’an

The Qur’an highlights the baseline characteristics of a believing woman. She is to obey her believing husband in what is fitting, among other things:

O Prophet: when the believing women come to thee, swearing fealty to thee: — that they will not ascribe a partnership with God to anything; and they will not steal; and they will not commit unlawful sexual intercourse; and they will not kill their children; and they will not produce a calumny they have invented between their hands and their feet; and they will not disobey thee in what is fitting; — then accept thou their fealty, and ask thou God to forgive them; God is forgiving and merciful.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (60:12)

God also contrasts two disbelieving women — the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot — both of which betrayed their righteous husbands and consequently will enter the Fire —with the believing women — the wife of Pharaoh and Mary, the mother of Jesus.

God has struck a similitude for those who ignore warning: — the wife of Noah, and the wife of Lot: they were under two of Our righteous servants, but they betrayed them; and they availed them nothing against God, and it was said: “Enter, you twain, the Fire with those who enter.”

And God has struck a similitude for those who heed warning: — the wife of Pharaoh, when she said: “My Lord: build Thou for me a house with Thee in the Garden, and deliver Thou me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and deliver Thou me from the wrongdoing people.”

— And Mary, daughter of ʿImrān, who guarded her chastity, and We breathed into it of Our Spirit, and she confirmed the words of her Lord, and His Writs, and was of the humbly obedient.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (66:10-12)

Modesty: A defining characteristic of the believing women

The Qur’an presents in no uncertain terms the importance of modesty. While the feminist movement considers the shedding of clothes as an act of liberation for the oppressed woman; in reality, immodesty and immorality only makes women prime targets for evil men. God’s directives to maintain modesty both in character and dress are meant to protect women; not to oppress them.

Say thou to the believing men that they lower some of their sight, and preserve their chastity; that is purer for them. God is aware of what they do.

And say thou to the believing women, that they lower some of their sight, and preserve their chastity, and that they show not their adornment save that apparent of it, and that they draw their coverings over their bosoms and not reveal their adornment save to their husbands, or their fathers, or the fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or the sons of their brothers, or the sons of their sisters, or their women, or what their right hands possess, or male attendants who have not the resourcefulness of men, or the children not yet aware of a woman’s private parts. And let them not strike their feet to make known what they hide of their adornment. And turn to God altogether, O believers, that you might be successful.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (24:30-31)

O Prophet: say thou to thy wives, and thy daughters, and the women of the believers, that they draw down over them some of their garments. That will tend to them being recognised and not hindered; and God is forgiving and merciful.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (33:59)

The wives of the Prophet: A role-model for the believing women

The following directives to the wives of the prophet should serve as a sufficient guide for the believing women in our day and age.

O wives of the Prophet: whoso among you commits manifest sexual immorality, for her the punishment is doubled; and that is easy for God.

And whoso among you is humbly obedient to God and His messenger, and works righteousness, We will give her her reward twice over; and We have prepared for her a noble provision.

O wives of the Prophet: you are not like any among women. If you are in prudent fear, then be not soft in speech lest he in whose heart is disease should desire; but speak a fitting word,

And stay within your houses; and display not yourselves with the display of the former time of ignorance; and uphold the duty and render the purity, and obey God and His messenger. God but intends to remove abomination from you — people of the house — and to purify you completely.

And remember what is recited within your houses of the proofs of God and of wisdom; God is subtle and aware.

The submitting men, and the submitting women, and the believing men, and the believing women, and the humbly obedient men, and the humbly obedient women, and the truthful men, and the truthful women, and the patient men, and the patient women, and the humble men, and the humble women, and the men who give charity, and the women who give charity, and the men who fast, and the women who fast, and the men who preserve their chastity, and the women who preserve, and the men who remember God much, and the women who remember — God has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (33:30-35)

While I recognize that the degenerate society of today is too far gone in the spheres of immorality, degeneracy and stupidity that, unless God wills, we are unable to change the course; nevertheless I must urge you — the believing men and women — to pay heed to God’s commands and make a meaningful change in your behavior, mindset and appearance. We are only responsible for ourselves. Ultimately, the command belongs to God; He does what He desires.

The command of God is coming, so seek not to hasten it. Glory be to Him! And exalted is He above that to which they ascribe a partnership!

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (16:1)

Hello,

My name is Said Mirza and I am a believer in God and in the fact that He has revealed a scripture – the Qur’an – to the messenger and prophet Muhammad. This Qur’an is protected, preserved, clear, fully detailed and is sufficient guidance for those who fear God alone. I have written three books which I invite you to look at if are searching for the truth and your purpose in life.

The first book, Will You Not Reason, brings forward God’s arguments for His Oneness and His complete mastery over everything. God promises that all men will be raised to answer for their deeds on the Day of Judgment – and God does not fail in His promise. This book investigates the shaky connection of the false religion of Islam with the Qur’an and how its creators hijacked key terms in the Qur’an to graft this religion onto the Qur’an; a religion which diverts men from sincerely engaging with the Qur’an and implementing God’s plain commandments therein. Speaking plainly, I look the usage of the word Islam in the Qur’an to show you that this term simply means submission to God and is not the name of a religion; most of the teachings of which are not found in the Qur’an. I also look at the true faith in the Qur’an, which is to believe in God and the Last Day and the core teachings of the Qur’an which are to strive to attain purity by doing good works. Finally, I look at the many plain warnings of God about the coming Day of Judgment and instructions on how to avoid Hell.

The second book, Tyranny 2.0, details the Satanic tyranny – disguised as a democracy – in which we are living in today. The scale and sophistication of the current tyranny is unmatched by any tyrannies of old. By using propaganda, the tyrants of today have deceived the masses into thinking that they are free when in reality they are complete and utter slaves. By using technology, they are exploiting and oppressing men, reducing them to assembly line workers. In this book, I bring forward Qur’anic verses exposing this scientific tyranny and draw the parallels between this tyranny and the tyranny of Pharaoh – detailed in the Qur’an – who used similar means of religion, sorcery and finance to subjugate his population. I highlight the use of science, propaganda and the current monetary system as the three instruments by which Tyranny 2.0 is waging a war against mankind. This is a spiritual war, and our souls are the prize. The only way to defend ourselves against this tyranny is to hold fast to the Qur’an and seek help from God, our only Ally and Protector.

The third book, Cosmology of the Qur’an, details the Qur’anic and true perspective of the sky and the earth. Despite the false claims of science that we live on a spinning ball revolving around the sun, the Qur’an makes it abundantly clear that the earth is a fixed structure and that it is the sun and the moon which are moving across the sky. Furthermore, there are seven skies – material structures – that are stacked on top of each other and the earth is anchored by mountains. No man can pass beyond the bounds of the sky and the earth.

I hope you will study these books with an open mind and finally gain a complete and unshakeable faith in the One True God and that He has sent down the Qur’an to warn mankind of the coming Day of Judgment. Then and only then, can you understand and work to fulfill your purpose in life: utter devotion to God and complete service to His will.

This article is based on the work of Sam Gerrans which you can read for free at https://reader.quranite.com

First things first: What does the Qur’an mean by an unbeliever?

The Qur’an uses two phrases, al-ladhina-kafaru and al-kafirun for the unbelievers – the damned. Sadly, Muslims have not understood the critical difference between these two enemies of God and the believers. In this article we will focus on the second group, the al-kafirun as they are the most dangerous of the two groups of unbelievers.

What does God mean by al-ladhina-kafaru?

Firstly, the group called al-ladhina-kafaru are those who ignore warning i.e. they do not care whether a Day of Judgment is coming or not, they are happy and busy in this temporary life. In modern parlance, we call these people atheists and their motto is “Live your life”. Their condition and the reason for their condition are both highlighted in the Qur’an as:

Those who ignore warning, it is the same to them whether thou hast warned them or thou hast not warned them; they do not believe:

God has sealed their hearts, and over their hearing and over their sight is a covering; and they have a great punishment.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (2:6-7)

So, it is a straight-forward matter to identify these people and be cautious of them since it is never a good strategy to associate with the damned.

What does God mean by the al-kafirun?

Moving on to the second group, the al-kafirun, we can come up with a Qur’anic definition of them as: the false claimers of guidance i.e. those who claim to be on the right path when, in reality, they are the workers of corruption. The identification of the al-kafirun is not as easy since this group of people talk, walk and dress as men of faith when in reality they are an enemy to God and the believers. Thus we would expect them to be hiding within believing communities and faking their true intentions. God tells us of their characteristics:

And of men are some who say: “We believe in God and the Last Day,” but they are not believers.

They would deceive God and those who heed warning, but they deceive only themselves; and they perceive not.

In their hearts is disease, so God has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they have lied.

And when it is said to them: “Work not corruption in the land,” they say: “We are but those who do right.”

In truth, it is they who are the workers of corruption; but they perceive not.

And when it is said to them: “Believe as mankind has believed,” they say: “Shall we believe as the foolish have believed?” In truth, it is they who are the foolish; but they know not.

And when they meet those who heed warning, they say: “We believe.” But when they are alone with their satans, they say: “We are with you; we were only mocking!”

God mocks them, and increases them in wandering blindly in their inordinacy.

Those are they who bought error at the price of guidance, so their transaction profited not; and they were not guided.

Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire: — when it had illuminated what was round about him, God took away their light and left them in darkness; they do not see.

Deaf, dumb, blind; so they will not return.

Or like a thundercloud from the sky wherein is darkness, and thunder, and lightning: they put their fingers in their ears against the thunderbolts in fear of death; but God encompasses the al-kafirun.

The lightning nigh snatches away their sight; whenever it gives them light, they walk therein; and when it darkens over them, they stand still. And had God willed, He would have taken away their hearing and their sight; God is over all things powerful.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (2:8-20)

So, these al-kafirun hide their true aim: working corruption in the land. However, they are unable to hide their true faces from God and the believers. The believers see through their deceptions and actively warn them to not commit corruption in the land. But, they reply in the usual double-speak that, on the contrary, they are doing right! They also have contempt for the faith of the generality of mankind i.e. to believe in God and the Last Day and to do good works. This simple faith, which they consider to be foolish, is difficult for them to accept since – according to them – they are beyond such naive concepts of good and evil. i.e. they do not have any morality. As the famous freemason saying goes: Do what thou wilt. Now, I want you to cast your eyes around you and look for these al-kafirun, those who dress in the garb of religion and call themselves believers but are actively destroying mankind by waging holy wars, misguiding men and supporting the tyranny of today. These are our enemies.

Satan: A model for the al-kafirun

An interesting thing that cropped up in my study of the Qur’an was that God called Iblees (a being made of fire) an al-kafirun.

And when We said to the angels: “Submit to Adam,” then they submitted. Not so Iblīs; he refused, and had waxed proud, and was of the al-kafirun.

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (2:34)

This creature Iblees who is known as Satan was not always the accursed being of today. We know, from the Qur’an, that he once enjoyed the privileged position of being in the exalted assembly of God. But, he was arrogant and proud, and this brought about his downfall. Even though he hid his arrogance, God knew that he was of al-kafirun and exposed his true nature to Adam.

Arrogance and Pride

In the episode which we shall discuss, we will notice the two characteristics of Satan which led to his expulsion from the heavenly assembly. These two characteristics, which are all too obvious in the al-kafirun of today, are arrogance and pride; his arrogance to obey the command of God and his pride in his constitution of a higher substance. Since, he was made from fire and Adam from clay. Thus, it is not that the al-kafirun do not believe in a God, as is commonly understood. They do believe in a God and know that He has sent down guidance, but due to their pride, they simply refuse to obey God’s commands like their model Satan. It is simply impossible to claim otherwise. How could Satan disbelieve in the existence of God when he was right in the presence of God and God was commanding him to submit to Adam? It does not make any sense. Therefore, the al-kafirun believe in the existence of God, but actively refuse to submit to the guidance that He has sent down. This is due to their arrogance (thinking that they know better) and because of their pride (refusing to accept that God chose to communicate with mankind through common men). Let us look at the episode of Satan’s downfall in more detail.

And when thy Lord said to the angels: “I am placing in the earth a successor,” they said: “Wilt Thou place therein one who will do harm therein, and shed blood, while we give glory with Thy praise and hallow Thee?” He said: “I know what you know not.”

And He taught Adam the names, all of them; then He presented them to the angels and said: “Inform Me of the names of these, if you be truthful.”

They said: “Glory be to Thee! We have no knowledge save what Thou hast taught us; Thou art the Knowing, the Wise.”

He said: “O Adam: inform thou them of their names.” And when he had informed them of their names, He said: “Said I not to you that I know the unseen of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal, and what you have concealed.”

And when We said to the angels: “Submit to Adam,” then they submitted. Not so Iblīs; he refused, and had waxed proud, and was of the false claimers of guidance.

And We said: “O Adam: dwell thou and thy wife in the garden, and eat thereof freely wheresoever you will; but approach not this tree lest you be of the wrongdoers.”

But the satan caused them to fall therefrom, and turned them out of what they were in; and We said: “Get you all down, an enemy to one another; and for you in the earth are a dwelling-place and provision for a time.”

Then received Adam words from his Lord, and He turned towards him; He is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.

We said: “Get you down from it all together. And if there comes to you guidance from Me, whoso follows My guidance: no fear will be upon them, nor will they grieve.

“But those who ignore warning and deny Our proofs: those are the companions of the Fire; therein they abide eternally.”

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (2:30-39)

God, by naming Adam as a successor, was implying that the dominion of the earth was being transferred from angels to man. Hence the reason for their protest. They questioned God as to why create a being which will spill blood and cause corruption when they glorified God and were pure. However, they did not know that their was an al-kafirun in their midst, Iblees. This is why God replied to them: “I know what you know not.” i.e. things were not what they seemed: He knew there was a creature in their midst who was working corruption and was arrogant and proud.

And when We said to the angels: “Submit to Adam,” then they submitted. Not so Iblīs; he refused, and had waxed proud, and was of the al-kafirun

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (2:34)

God in His infinite Wisdom and Knowledge brought out the true nature of Iblees in front of Adam when He commanded the angels to submit to Adam. Iblees being proud and arrogant refused to submit himself because he was of the al-kafirun. Similarly, the al-kafirun among men refuse to submit to God’s command and are arrogant and proud. But, all their wealth and glory will avail them nothing and they will enter the fire like the first of the unbelievers, Satan.

We said: “Get you down from it all together. And if there comes to you guidance from Me, whoso follows My guidance: no fear will be upon them, nor will they grieve.

“But those who ignore warning and deny Our proofs: those are the companions of the Fire; therein they abide eternally.”

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (2:38-39)

And they will emerge before God all together; and the weak will say to those who had waxed proud: “We were your followers; can you avail us something against the punishment of God?” They will say: “Had God guided us, we would have guided you; it is the same for us whether we be distressed or patient: we have no place of refuge.”

And the satan will say when the matter is concluded: “God promised you the promise of truth; and I promised you, but I betrayed you. And I had not over you any authority except to call you — and you responded to me; so blame not me, but blame yourselves. I cannot aid you, and you cannot aid me. I deny your ascribing to me a partnership before; the wrongdoers: for them is a painful punishment.”

The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation (14:21-22)

alif lām rā Those are the proofs of the Wise Writ.

(10:1)

This chapter revolves around the fact that the words of God are binding. Once God pronounces a thing then it is and none can alter His words i.e. none can change what is to happen. The chapter starts out with addressing those who claim that Muhammad is an “obvious sorcerer” i.e. he is deceiving people. We shall see a similar allegation against Moses by Pharaoh and his council during his time and what happened to them. The fact of the matter is that people were and are blind to the proofs of God since His word has come to effect upon them.

Was it a wonder to men that We revealed to a man among them: “Warn thou men, and bear thou glad tidings to those who heed warning, that they have a precedence of honour in the sight of their Lord”? The false claimers of guidance say: “This is an obvious sorcerer.”

(10:2)

Your Lord is God, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then established Himself upon the Throne, directing the matter. There is no intercessor save after His leave; that is God, your Lord, so serve Him. Will you then not take heed! Unto Him is your return all together — the promise of God in truth. He begins creation, then He repeats it that He might reward those who heed warning and do righteous deeds with equity. And those who ignore warning will have a drink of scalding water and a painful punishment for what they denied.

(10:3-4)

God cites the proofs of His power to give credence to His word; the Promise that He will raise the dead on the Day of Judgment and reward each man for what he strove for in this life. Incidentally, the age old question as to what our purpose in life is answered in clear terms: to believe in God and to do righteous deeds.

He it is that made the sun an illumination, and the moon a light; and He determined for it phases, that you might know the number of years and the reckoning. God created that not save in truth; He sets out and details the proofs for people who know. In the alternation of night and day, and what God has created in the heavens and the earth, are proofs for people who are in prudent fear.

(10:5-6)

Further proofs of God’s power are in the two pairs: the sun and the moon. Throughout the Qur’an, God brings our attention to the pairs He created in all of His creation. The alternation of day and night – a pair – is a special proof for those who fear their encounter with their Lord on the Day of Judgment i.e. time is running out.

Those who look not for the meeting with Us, and are pleased with the life of this world and are at rest therein, and those who are heedless of Our proofs, Those: their shelter is Hell for what they earned.
Those who heed warning and do righteous deeds: their Lord will guide them by their faith; there will flow beneath them rivers in the Gardens of Bliss. Their supplication therein will be: “Glory be to Thee, O God!” and their greeting therein will be: “Peace!” And the end of their supplication will be: “Praise belongs to God, the Lord of All Creation!”

(10:7-10)

It does not matter what a man claims; if he is content with this life and heedless of God’s proofs in the Qur’an and all around him, then his shelter is the fire. Conversely, those who believe and do righteous deeds, their Lord will increase them in faith and guide them to the Gardens of Eternity.

And were God to hasten for men the ill as they would hasten the good, their term would have been concluded for them. But We leave those who look not for the meeting with Us, wandering blindly in their inordinacy. And when affliction touches man, he calls to Us on his side, or sitting, or standing; but when We remove from him his affliction, he passes by as though he had not called to Us about an affliction which touched him; thus is made fair to the committers of excess what they do.

(10:11-12)

God could have already have seized the unbelievers for their transgressions. But He has given them time to enjoy because of a word that has gone forth from Him.

But the satan caused them to fall therefrom, and turned them out of what they were in; and We said: “Get you all down, an enemy to one another; and for you in the earth are a dwelling-place and provision for a time.”

(2:36)

Man calls to God at the time of distress fervently and when God removes his distress, he forgets God’s mercy upon him. He continues on his way not only by not being grateful to God, but by attributing partners to Him. In the case of the current generation, by attributing luck or one’s own craftiness.

And We destroyed the generations before you when they did wrong, and their messengers came to them with clear signs, but they were not to believe — thus reward We the lawbreaking people. Then We appointed you successors in the earth after them, that We might see how you will do.

(10:13-14)

Two question arise: Why did the generations before did not believe when their messengers came to them with clear signs? And what wrong did they commit that warranted their complete destruction? The answer follows.

And when Our proofs are recited to them as clear signs, those who look not for the meeting with Us say: “Bring thou a Qur’an other than this; or change thou it.” Say thou: “It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I follow only what is revealed to me. I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous day.” Say thou: “Had God willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you; for I had tarried among you a lifetime before it.” Will you then not use reason! Then who is more unjust than he who invents a lie about God, or denies His proofs? The lawbreakers are not successful.

(10:15-17)

The wrong that the generations before were doing was that they were denying His proofs. Similarly, the current generation is denying the proofs of God: in the case of the Christians and Jews, they are calling Muhammad a deceiver (that he invented the Qur’an) and in the case of the Muslims, they are circumventing the Qur’an by means of introducing a separate literature called the hadith in order to explain it. Thus, these “lawbreakers” will never believe even though the clear signs in the Qur’an have come to them. And the earlier generations were also doing wrong by inventing lies about God. And what were these lies they were inventing? The answer follows.

And they serve, besides God, what neither harms them nor benefits them; and they say: “These are our intercessors with God.” Say thou: “Would you inform God of what He knows not in the heavens or in the earth?” Glory be to Him! And exalted is He above that to which they ascribe a partnership!

(10:18)

The earlier generations were inventing lies that their intercessors would help them. Similarly, the current generation invents the lie that Jesus or Muhammad will help them. However, God has already made known to them that “there is no intercessor save after His leave”. So do they still dare to inform God; the One who knows all?

And mankind was only one community, then they differed; and were it not for a word that preceded from thy Lord, it would have been concluded between them concerning that wherein they differ.

(10:19)

Mankind all believed in the One True God after the flood of Noah. However, they differed and were it not for God’s word (His proclamation), He would have already seized them for their transgressions.

It was said: “O Noah: get thee down in peace from Us, and blessings upon thee and upon nations out of those with thee. And nations will We give enjoyment — then a painful punishment from Us will touch them.”

(11:48)

And when We let men taste mercy after affliction has touched them, then have they a scheme concerning Our proofs. Say thou: “God is swifter in scheme!” Our messengers write down what you scheme. He it is that lets you travel in the earth and the sea; when you have boarded ships and sailed by them with a good breeze and exulted thereat–– A tempest wind came upon them, and the waves came on them from every side, and they thought they were encompassed therein; they called to God, sincere to Him in doctrine: “If Thou deliver us from this, we will be among the grateful!” Then when He delivers them, they rebel in the earth without cause.) O mankind: your sectarian zealotry is but against yourselves, — the enjoyment of the life of this world — then to Us is your return and We will inform you of what you did.

(10:21-23)

Man denied God’s favor as we saw earlier when God cured him from sickness and he did not thank God, nor did he take heed. Similarly, when he is caught in a storm in the sea he calls to God alone forsaking his invented intercessors, but when God delivers him, he rebels on the earth. Keep in the mind this theme of drowning as three related examples will be narrated.

The likeness of the life of this world is but like water We send down from the sky, and the plants of the earth mingle with it, whereof men and cattle eat: when the earth has taken her decoration, and is made fair, and its people think they have power over it, Our command comes by night or by day, and We make it reaped as if it had not flourished the day before — thus do We set out and detail the proofs for people who reflect. And God calls to the Abode of Peace, and guides whom He wills to a straight path.

(10:24-25)

We feel secure about our life when in reality is only one word of God and everything will perish. The life of this world is full of dangers whereas God calls us to the Abode of Peace or Security in the Hereafter.

For those who do good is the best and more; and there will cover their faces neither dust nor disgrace. Those are the companions of the Garden; therein they abide eternally.
And for those who earn evil deeds is a reward for evil by the like thereof; and disgrace will cover them — they will not have against God any defender — as if their faces were covered with pieces of darkening night. Those are the companions of the Fire; therein they abide eternally.

(10:26-27)

And the day We gather them all together, then will We say to those who ascribe a partnership: “Your places — you and your partners!” Then We will separate them, and their partners will say: “It was not us you served.
“Sufficient is God as witness between us and you; we were, of your service, unaware.”
Thereupon will every soul prove what it did before; and they will be returned to God, their protector, the Truth; and strayed from them will be what they invented.

(10:28-30)

On the Day of Judgment, God will command those who claimed that their intercessors would help them to put their claim to the test. Then, they will realize that what they had invented has deceived them. But they already knew that it was a falsehood since they forsook their intercessors when they were struck by a storm on the sea.

Say thou: “Who provides for you from the heaven and the earth?” If He who owns the hearing and the sight, and He who brings forth the living from the dead and brings forth the dead from the living, and He who directs the matter — then will they say: “God” — then say thou: “Will you then not be in prudent fear!” For that is God, your Lord, the Truth; then what is there after the truth but error? How then are you diverted? Thus did the word of thy Lord become binding upon those who are perfidious, that they do not believe.

(10:31-33)

Say thou: “Is there among your partners one that begins creation then repeats it?” Say thou: “God begins creation then repeats it; how then are you deluded?” Say thou: “Is there among your partners one that guides to the truth?” Say thou: “God guides to the truth; is then He who guides to the truth worthier to be followed, or he who guides not save he be guided? Then what ails you? How judge you?” And most of them follow only assumption; assumption avails nothing against the truth. God knows what they do.

(10:34-36)

Muslims claim to follow Muhammad by following the hadith. Even if we ignore the fact that the hadith was written down centuries after Muhammad’s death by questionable people, God makes it very clear that it is the Qur’an (God’s word) that we are to follow. This is the best course of action.

And this Qur’an is not such as could be invented by other than God; but it is a confirmation of what is before it, and an exposition of the Writ about which there is no doubt, from the Lord of All Creation.
If they say: “He invented it,” say thou: “Bring a sūrah the like thereof; and call whom you can besides God, if you be truthful.”

(10:37-38)

If they claim that Muhammad invented the Qur’an i.e. he is a deceiver/sorcerer, then they are told to bring a chapter like it and to call their witnesses attesting that is from God, but God has already attested that He sent it down with His knowledge. His testimony is the greatest.

But God bears witness to what He has sent down to thee: He sent it down with His knowledge; and the angels bear witness, but sufficient is God as witness.

(4:166)

The truth is, they have denied what they compassed not in knowledge, and whose interpretation has not yet come to them. Thus denied those before them. Then see thou how was the final outcome of the wrongdoers.

(10:39)

Like the destroyed generation earlier, who were wrongdoers, you deny the Qur’an without doing your due diligence. You have already been told about the the final end of those who did likewise, hopefully you might take heed.

And among them is he who believes in it; and among them is he who believes not in it. And thy Lord best knows the workers of corruption.

(10:40)

And if they deny thee, then say thou: “To me be my work, and to you be your work; you are quit of what I do, and I am quit of what you do.”

(10:41)

And among them are some who listen to thee — canst thou make the deaf to hear, though they do not reason? And among them is he who looks at thee — canst thou guide the blind when they do not see?
God wrongs not men in anything; but men wrong their souls.

(10:42-44)

Those who do not use their God given faculties wrong their own souls. God has given you hearing, sight and intelligence. But you do not listen, you only hear. You do not see, you only look. You do not use reason, you only follow your inclinations.

And the day He gathers them will be as if they had tarried only an hour of the day: they will recognise one another; those will have lost who denied the meeting with God and were not guided.

(10:45)

And whether We show thee some of what We promise them, or We take thee: to Us is their return; then is God witness over what they do. And for every community is a messenger; then when their messenger comes, it will be concluded between them with equity, and they will not be wronged.

(10:46-47)

The messenger of our generation, Muhammad, has already come and gone. We are living in the end of times.

And they say: “When is this promise, if you be truthful?” Say thou: “I have power to do myself neither harm nor benefit save that God should will.” For every community is a term; when their term comes, then they will not defer an hour, nor will they advance. Say thou: “Have you considered: if His punishment come to you by night or by day, what is there of it the lawbreakers will seek to hasten?” Then is it, when it has befallen, you will believe in it? Now? When you had sought to hasten it? Then will it be said to those who did wrong: “Taste the punishment of eternity!” Are you to be rewarded save for what you earned?

(10:48-52)

Will you believe when the Day of Judgment arrives? What will be the point then? God has given you time to repent and reform. This addresses the infatuation within all religions for the signs of the Day of Judgment.

And they ask thee to inform them: “Is it true?” Say thou: “Yea, by my Lord, it is true; and you cannot escape.” And were there for each soul that did wrong all that is in the earth, it would seek to ransom itself thereby; and they cannot express the remorse when they see the punishment, and it is concluded between them with equity; and they will not be wronged.

(10:53-54)

In truth, to God belongs what is in the heavens and the earth. In truth, the promise of God is true; but most of them know not. He gives life and He gives death; and to Him will you be returned.

(10:55-56)

The word of God will take effect, the Judgment will befall. We shall see the finality of God’s word in the story of Pharaoh later in the chapter.

O mankind: there has come to you an admonition from your Lord, and healing for what is in the breasts, and guidance, and a mercy for the believers.

(10:57)

Say thou: “At the bounty of God, and at His mercy: —” At that let them exult; it is better than what they amass. Say thou: “Have you seen what God has sent down for you of provision, and you have made thereof lawful and unlawful?” Say thou: “Did God give you leave, or is it about God that you invent?”And what will those who invent lies about God think on the Day of Resurrection? God is bountiful to mankind, but most of them are not grateful.

(10:58-60)

The earlier generations invented lies about God and you have seen what has happened to them. Will you declare what is allowed and forbidden, restricting men from accessing the bounty of God? All religions/cults have made-up rules about what is allowed and forbidden. Certainly, the consumption of meat is being moved towards the forbidden realm by the environmentalists.

And thou art not in any matter, and thou recitest not from it any recital, and you do no deed save that We are over you witnesses when you are engaged therein; and there does not escape thy Lord the weight of an atom in the earth or in the heaven. Whether less than that, or greater, it is in a clear writ.

(10:61)

In truth, the allies of God: no fear will be upon them, nor will they grieve. Those who heed warning and are in prudent fear: For them are glad tidings in the life of this world and in the Hereafter: — there is no changing the words of God — that is the Great Achievement.

(10:62-64)

Those who heed warning i.e. repent and reform and fear God and the Last Day are allies of God, they have no fear in this life or the Hereafter. They have good news in this life and the Hereafter, that is the word of God which is binding.

And let not their speech grieve thee; power and glory belong to God altogether; He is the Hearing, the Knowing. In truth, to God belongs whoso is in the heavens and whoso is in the earth; and they follow — those who call to partners other than God — they follow only assumption; and they are only guessing.

(10:65-66)

He it is that made for you the night wherein to rest, and the day, sight-giving; in that are proofs for people who hear.

(10:67)

They say: “God has taken a son.” Glory be to Him! He is the Free from Need; to Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth! You have no authority for this; do you ascribe to God what you know not? Say thou: “Those who invent lies about God will not succeed.” An enjoyment in the World, then to Us is their return; then will We let them taste the severe punishment because of what they denied.

(10:68-70)

And recite thou to them the report of Noah, when he said to his people: “O my people: if my presence and my reminding you of the proofs of God be grievous to you, then in God have I placed my trust; so resolve upon your plan and your partners; then let not your plan be unclear to you; then move decisively against me, and grant me no respite. “And if you turn away, then have I asked of you no reward; my reward is only upon God; and I have been commanded to be among those submitting.” Then they denied him; so We delivered him, and those with him in the ship, and made them successors, and We drowned those who denied Our proofs. Then see thou how was the final outcome of those who had been warned!

(10:71-73)

As I remarked earlier that the theme of drowning is important. In all three examples that are in this chapter, the characters were cast into the sea. In the case of the people of Noah, they denied the messenger Noah and God drowned them. In the case of Pharaoh, he was about to drown and then believed in God, but God did not save him. We shall see later why God did not save him. In the case of Jonah, he was cast into the sea and the the whale swallowed him up where he asked forgiveness of God and God delivered him.

Then raised We up, after him, messengers to their people, and they came to them with clear signs; but they were not to believe in what they had denied before; thus do We seal the hearts of the transgressors.

(10:74)

Once a people deny God’s initial proofs, then his word becomes binding upon them i.e. God seals their hearts. We shall see an example of that in the drowning of Pharaoh.

Then raised We up, after them, Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh and his eminent ones with Our proofs, but they had waxed proud; and they were a people of lawbreakers. And when the truth came to them from Us, they said: “This is obvious sorcery.” Moses said: “Do you say of the truth when it has come to you: ‘Is this sorcery?’ But the sorcerers will not be successful.” They said: “Hast thou come to us to turn us away from that upon which we found our fathers, and that there be for you majesty in the land? And we do not believe you.”

(10:75-78)

Pharaoh and his Council were lawbreakers because they rejected the clear signs with which Moses came to them.

And Pharaoh said: “Bring to me every learned sorcerer.” And when the sorcerers came, Moses said to them: “Cast what you will cast!” And when they had cast, Moses said: “What you have brought is sorcery; God will make it vain; God makes not right the work of the workers of corruption. “And God establishes the truth by His words, though the lawbreakers be averse.”

(10:79-82)

And there believed not Moses save a progeny of his people, for fear of Pharaoh and their eminent ones, that they would subject them to means of denial; and Pharaoh was exalted in the land, and he was of the committers of excess.

(10:83)

And Moses said: “O my people: if you believe in God, then place your trust in Him, if you are submitting.” And they said: “In God have we placed our trust.” — “Our Lord: make Thou not us a means of denial for the wrongdoing people, “And deliver Thou us by Thy mercy from the people of the false claimers of guidance.”

(10:84-86)

And We instructed Moses and his brother: “Settle your people in Egypt in houses, and make your houses a destination; and uphold the duty; and bear thou glad tidings to the believers.” And Moses said: “Our Lord: Thou hast given Pharaoh and his eminent ones adornment and wealth in the life of this world, our Lord, that they might lead astray from Thy path. Our Lord: destroy Thou their wealth, and harden Thou their hearts, so that they believe not until they see the painful punishment.” He said: “Your supplication has been answered; so take a straight path, and follow not the path of those who know not.”

(10:87-89)

God answered the prayer of the children of Israel and Moses. He saved them from the wrongdoing people and He destroyed Pharaoh’s and his Council’s wealth, and sealed their hearts so they did not believe until they saw the punishment. God’s word is binding.

And We brought the children of Israel across the sea; and Pharaoh followed them with his forces in sectarian zealotry and enmity. When the drowning had overtaken him, he said: “I believe there is no god save He in whom the children of Israel believe; and I am of those submitting.” “Now? And thou opposedst before, and wast of the workers of corruption? “So this day will We save thee in thy body, that thou be a proof to those after thee.” But most among men are heedless of Our proofs.

(10:90-92)

As Moses had asked for, Pharoah did not believe until he was about to drown where he then believed in God and submitted to Him. But the word of God is binding , God did not save him. He only saved his body.

And We settled the children of Israel in a goodly settlement, and provided them with good things; and they differed not until knowledge came to them. Thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein they differed.

(10:93)

And if thou art in doubt about what We have sent down to thee, then ask thou those who read the Writ before thee. The truth from thy Lord has come to thee, so be thou not of those who doubt.

(10:94)

And be thou not of those who deny the proofs of God, for thou wouldst be among the losers. Those upon whom the word of thy Lord has become binding, they will not believe. And though every proof come to them until they see the painful punishment[…].

(10:95-97)

Upon those who deny God’s proofs initially, His word becomes binding. No matter what signs come to them after that and “even if the dead were to speak to them”, they will not believe.

Oh, that a city had but believed and profited by its faith save the people of Jonah! When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in the life of this world, and gave them enjoyment for a time.

(10:98)

And had thy Lord willed, whoso is in the earth would have believed — all of them all together. Wouldst thou then compel mankind until they believe? And it is for a soul to believe only by the leave of God; and He appoints abomination for those who do not reason. Say thou: “Look at what is in the heavens and the earth!” But the proofs and the warnings avail not a people who do not believe.

(10:99-101)

It is God’s will who believes and who disbelieves. And upon whom God’s word becomes binding, they will not believe even though every proof comes to them. All the manifest proofs in the heavens and in the earth are of no use to a people who do not believe.

Do they await save the like of the days of those who passed away before them? Say thou: “Then wait — I am with you waiting.” Then will We save Our messengers, and those who heed warning; thus is it binding upon Us: We save the believers.

(10:102-103)

As God has done before, He will do again; He will deliver the believers and destroy the unbelievers. His word is binding.

Say thou: “O mankind: if you are in doubt about my doctrine: I serve not those whom you serve besides God; but I serve God, who will take you; and I am commanded to be of the believers; “And: ‘Set thou thy face towards the doctrine, inclining to truth; and be thou not of the idolaters; “‘And call thou not, besides God, to what neither profits thee nor harms thee; for if thou dost, then art thou of the wrongdoers.’” And if God should touch thee with affliction, then is there none to remove it save He; and if He should desire good for thee, then is there none to repel His bounty: He causes it to fall upon whom He wills of His servants; and He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

(10:104-107)

This is the core of the doctrine of the religion revealed by God; to not associate anything with Him and to believe in Him and the last Day. We are to trust in God alone and call to Him alone. He alone has power to cause us benefit and harm.

Say thou: “O mankind: the truth has come to you from your Lord; and whoso is guided, he is but guided for his soul; and whoso strays, he but strays against it; and I am not a guardian over you.” And follow thou what is revealed to thee; and be thou patient until God judges; and He is the best of judges.

(10:108-109)

So be patient for the word of God to come into effect, His promise is near. On that Day, God, the Supreme Judge, will decide the whole of the matter and He is the best of judges.

All translations are from The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation by Sam Gerrans.