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Araf 70-72

70- THEY SAID: “DID YOU COME TO US IN ORDER THAT WE SHOULD WORSHIP ALLAH ONLY AND LEAVE WHAT OUR FATHERS USED TO WORSHIP?  THEN BRING US WHAT YOU PROMISED (OF PUNISHMENT) IF YOU ARE TRUTHFUL”. 

71- HE SAID: “IMPURITY AND WROTH FROM YOUR LORD HAVE FALLEN UPON YOU, ARE YOU ARGUING WITH ME CONCERNING NAMES YOU NAMED, WITH NO AUTHORITY FROM ALLAH, THEN WAIT, AND I WILL BE WAITING WITH YOU”.

72- WE SAVED HIM AS WELL AS THOSE WITH HIM THROUGH OUR MERCY, AND WE TOTALLY DESTROYED THOSE WHO DISBELIEVED IN OUR AYAHS, FOR THEY WERE NOT BELIEVERS.

Most of us do not like change; in fact most of us resist and reject change.  Particularly so if the change is in long held practices, traditions and believes which were handed down one generation after another.  Those born to Muslim parents are very blessed as they were not subjected to the test of believing or not, and choosing which religion to follow.  We often resist changing wrong habits, even though we know them to be wrong, and even though we might know that they are wrong from the angel of Religion.

Those who change their religion at our present day and age, often endure a great deal of ridicule, animosity and even hostility, from their society, family and friends.  Their family and social relationships often suffer.  This is trial those born into the faith are not subjected to.

The People of Aad challenged their prophet Hoad to bring them the punishment He said that it will happen to them if they do not believe.  In effect, they were asking for their own destruction.  This was despite the fact that they made the Idles they worshipped with their own hands, they still insisted that they were their true gods.

This is illogical because when we worship something, we believe it to have special power or powers over us, but when it is some idle we made, which might be a form of statue, a person, wealth, position, car or house etc. they are all things we will die and leave behind, to find that all the time, effort and emotions invested in them were in vain.

They challenged Hoad, but they in fact challenged Allah the Highest to punish them.  Such was their vanity and arrogance.  Then Allah the Highest delivered His punishment.

They had dry years and they hoped for some rain.  One day, they saw dark cloud coming their way, which pleased them as they thought it to be rain laden cloud, as Allah the Highest said in the Quran: “WHEN THEY SAW A CLOUD HEADING TOWARDS THEIR VALLEYS, THEY SAID: “THIS IS A CLOUD COMING TO RAIN US”, BUT IT IS THE PUNISHMENT YOU RUSHED, THEREIN IS A STORM CONTAINING PAINFUL PUNISHMENT * DESTROYING EVERY THING WITH ITS LORD’S COMMAND, AFTERWARDS ONLY THEIR HOMES WERE LEFT TO BE SEEN, THIS IS HOW WE RECOMPENSE THE EVIL PEOPLE”.  (S: 46 A: 24-25)

Allah the Highest told us also about the destruction of the people of Aad also: “AS FOR AAD, THEY WERE DESTROYED BY A VERY STRONG AND NOISY WIND * HE (ALLAH) SENT UPON THEM FOR SEVEN NIGHTS AND EIGHT DAYS RUNNING, WHERE YOU SEE PEOPLE DEAD LIKE THE EMPTY STEMS OF DEAD PALM TREES  * DO YOU SEE ANY OF THEM OR OFFSPRING LEFT”.  (S: 69 A: 6-8)

This is a lesson for us as Muslims.  No Muslim should ever ask that what Allah the Highest has in store for him to happen sooner.  Allah the Highest gives people time so that they may have a chance to repent, change, do good deeds, then they will have a chance for Allah’s Mercy.

Allah the Highest gives us many chances and plenty of time, even Eblis who was granted time when he asked to be reprieved, yet Eblis badly misused this time.  Allah the Highest said: “HE (IBLIS) SAID: “LET ME BE REPRIEVED UNTIL THE DAY THEY ARE TO BE RESURRECTED” * HE (ALLAH) SAID: “YOU ARE AMONG THE REPRIEVED” * HE (IBLIS) SAID: “BECAUSE YOU TEMPTED ME, I WILL SIT DOWN FOR THEM ON YOUR STRAIGHT PATH” * “THEN I WILL GET AT THEM FROM BEFORE THEM, FROM BEHIND THEM, FROM THEIR RIGHT AND FROM THEIR LEFT, AND YOU WILL NOT FIND MOST OF THEM TO BE THANKFUL”  (S:7  A:14-17)

We are all sinful, and the time we have in this life is a time of reprieve which we should use to make us closer to our creator.

Araf 65-69

65- AND TO AAD, WE SENT THEIR BROTHER HOAD, HE SAID: “MY PEOPLE, WORSHIP ALLAH, FOR YOU HAVE NO GOD OTHER THAN HIM, WOULDN’T YOU BE PIOUS AND PROTECT YOURSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE”.

66- THOSE IN POSITIONS OF POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE DISBELIEVERS OF THE OF HIS PEOPLE SAID: “WE SEE THAT YOU ARE FEEBLE MINDED AND WE BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE ONE OF THE LIARS”.

67- HE SAID: “MY PEOPLE, I AM NOT FEEBLE MINDED, I AM BUT A MESSENGER OF THE LORD OF ALL THE WORLDS”.

68- “DELIVERING MY LORD’S MESSAGES TO YOU, AND I AM AN HONEST ADVISER TO YOU”.

69- “ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT YOU HAVE WORDS FROM YOUR LORD, COMING DOWN ON ONE OF YOUR MEN TO WARN YOU, AND REMEMBER THAT HE MADE YOU SUCCEED THE PEOPLE OF NOAH AND CREATED YOU LARGER AND STRONGER, REMEMBER ALLAH’S BOUNTIES IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY SUCCEED”.

 Allah the Highest sent the people of Aad the prophet Hoad.  Allah the Highest called him their brother, meaning that he was one of them, not from a different nation.  His message was just the message of all the other prophets and messengers, to worship Allah the Highest and to worship none besides Him.

His people did with him what other nations did with their prophets and messengers whom they rejected and called liars.  They also considered them feeble minded to believe that there is only one God, and only one God to worship.  We remember that the disbeliever’s reaction to Mohamed prayer and peace upon him was the same.  In fact at present, the disbeliever’s response to the people calling to Allah’s way is also the same.

We also note that:

-         This rejection happened mostly by those in power and authority.  They rejected believes which were going to change the way they lived and diminish their power, authority and status in the society.

-         Those in positions of power and authority did not readily accept that an ordinary man was to be the man chosen by Allah the Highest to carry His words and message to people.

Allah’s messenger Hoad peace upon him reminded his people of Allah’s bounties upon them, of being in charge of the Earth after the destruction of the people of Noah – reminding them of how he destroyed the people of Noah also – that he gave them bigger and stronger bodies, among other things.  It is important that we remember Allah’s bounties upon us, for the following reasons:

-         We may then give thanks and show gratitude to Allah the Highest for His bounties.

-         Remember that the source of the bounties is Allah the Highest our God and Creator.

-         This admission is the way to believe.

We should also remember that the responsibilities of the messengers are fulfilled by delivering the message in the best possible way.  The response of the people to the message is not part of their responsibility but it is our responsibility, only we will be asked about that.

This also applies to the preachers who follow on the path of the messenger’s peace upon them.  The preachers should inform and tell people about Allah’s faith in the best way they can, but people’s response is not their responsibility.

Araf 63-64

63- ARE YOU SURPRISED TO HAVE WORDS FROM YOUR LORD COME DOWN TO ONE OF YOUR MEN, TO WARN YOU, IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY BE PIOUS, GUARD YOURSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE, SO THAT YOU MAY BE TREATED MERCIFULLY.

64- THEY REJECTED HIM, AND WE SAVED HIM AND THOSE WITH HIM IN THE SHIP, AND DROWNED THOSE WHO DENIED OUR AYAHS, FOR THEY WERE BLINDED PEOPLE.

The people Allah the Highest sent Noah to did not consider that him good enough, or special enough to receive Allah’s words and to be Allah’s messenger to them.  The same happened to other prophets and messengers, including Mohamed prayer and peace upon him.  Allah the Highest mentioned this in the Quran saying: “THEY SAID: “IF THIS QURAN WAS TO BE SENT DOWN TO A GREAT MAN FROM ONE OF THE TWO VILLAGES”.  (S: 43 A: 31)

The task for the messenger Allah the Highest choose is to deliver the message, warn people and show them on the way to piety.  This means that he should have characters and attributes, which put him in high esteem before Allah the Highest, and make him suitable to carry out this special and difficult task.  Allah the Highest measures the greatness of people with different scales from ours.  Allah the Highest said: “THE MOST HONOURABLE OF YOU BEFORE ALLAH IS THE MOST PIOUS”.

We should try to know people’s worth before Allah the Highest and treat them accordingly, and not according to their wealth and status in the society.  This is important for the following reasons:

-         We should listen to the pious people carefully and treat them with due regards and respect.

-         We should not have animosity with them for Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said that Allah the Highest said: “Whoever has animosity with one of my wali (close people) I will wage war against him”. 

Allah the Highest protects and saves His prophets and righteous slaves, even if after a while.  Support for them will certainly come, as long as they believe, are sincere in their faith, and maintain patience and perseverance when facing difficulties, which they will.

Power and authority on Earth does not last with anyone, or with any people.  Looking at the history of people and the history of nations shows this clearly.  We are all to be tested, some with afflictions and some with good fortunes; however our test is to see what we will do in the different situations.  Allah the Highest said: “AND WE AFFLICT YOU WITH GOOD THINGS AND BAD THINGS AS A TEST, AND TO US YOU WILL RETURN”.  (S: 21 A: 35)

To be tried and tested is one of the main reasons for our life on Earth, which Allah the Highest called always “The Lower Life”.   Thanks to Allah the Highest, it is not long.

Araf 59-62

59- AND WE HAVE SENT NOAH TO HIS PEOPLE, HE SAID: “MY PEOPLE, WORSHIP ALLAH, YOU HAVE NO GOD OTHER THAN HIM; I FEAR FOR YOU THE PUNISHMENT OF A GREAT DAY”.

60- THE POWERFUL AND IMPORTANT OF HIS PEOPLE SAID: “I SEE THAT YOU ARE IN SIGNIFICANT MISGUIDANCE”.

61- HE SAID: “MY PEOPLE, I AM NOT MISGUIDED, BUT I AM THE MESSENGER OF THE LORD OF ALL THE WORLDS”.

62- “TO DELIVER MY LORD’S MESSAGES TO YOU AND TO GIVE YOU SOUND ADVICE, AND I KNOW WHAT YOU DO NOT ABOUT ALLAH”.

Allah the Highest is telling us about Noah, the Messenger of Allah prayer and peace upon him.  It is clear that idle worshipping was present at the time of Noah peace upon him.

Some of the scholars including Abd Allah Ibn Masoud, Allah’s messenger’s companion thought that idle worshipping started by the practice of drawing a picture then putting a statue of righteous people on their graves after their death.  They were later turned to idles which were worshipped. 

Noah peace upon him spoke to his people and invited them to believe, yet those in places of power and authority of his people rejected faith, denied the fact that there will be resurrection, and the rest of the people followed them.

This shows us the great responsibility of those in power and authority towards the rest of the population.  Those in positions of power and authority in any society are not only responsible for the economic welfare and security of their people, but they are also responsible for their religious, morale, as well as well as ethical welfare.  People often follow the lead of their leaders and follow their example.

Since the beginning of time, those in positions of power and authority were the first to oppose Allah’s prophets and messengers, and the message they carry.  They often did that fearing for the advantages they had.  When those in Positions of Power and authority are correct and live righteously, the whole society straightens up, and when they are not, most of the society goes astray.  Allah the Highest said: “AND WHEN WE DESIRE TO DESTROY A VILLAGE, WE COMMAND THOSE LIVING IN LUXURY AND COMFORT THERE, AND THEY TRANSGRESS THERE IT, THEN THEY DESERVE WHAT WE DECREED, AND WE WILL DESTROY IT TOTALLY”.  (S: 17 A: 16)

Allah the Highest also tells us the responsibility of the messenger.  It is to deliver the message they receive from Allah the Highest the best way they can, and to clarify it to their people and advise them, in aspects of their life and concerning their relationship with Allah the Highest and with each other.  They are not responsible for their decision whether to follow Allah’s Path or not.  Yet, we should always remember that Allah’s prophets and messengers have superior knowledge concerning Allah the Highest, “AND I KNOW WHAT YOU DO NOT ABOUT ALLAH”.  And this, we should always remember.

This also applies to those who take upon themselves to educate people about Allah’s Faith.  Delivering the message and advising people the best people the best they can is all they can do.

Araf 57-58

57- HE IS WHO SENDS THE WIND WITH GLADE TIDINGS BEFORE SENDING HIS MERCY, UNTIL WHEN IT CARRIES HEAVY CLOUDS, WE DIRECT IT TO A DEAD PLACE, WITH IT WE SEND DOWN WATER, WITH WHICH WE BRING FORTH ALL FRUIT, AS SUCH WE REVIVE THE DEAD, SO THAT YOU MAY UNDERSTAND.

58- AND THE GOOD LAND BRINGS FORTH ITS PLANT, WITH ITS LORD’S PERMISSION, AND THE EVIL ONE BRING NOTHING BUT MISERY AND HARDSHIP, THIS IS HOW WE DETAIL OUR AYAHS FOR THE THANKFUL PEOPLE.

Rains is welcomed everywhere, particularly in the desert.  With Rain, Allah the Highest turns the desert into green.  Rain water plants and animals, fills up rivers and wells and reservoirs, and we simply cannot live without it.

Rain is good news, while draught leads to starvation and death of all forms of life.  The gift of water is so precious that it is one of Allah’s gifts and rewards on Earth for those who repent and ask for forgiveness.  Allah the Highest said: “I SAID: “ASK YOUR LORD FOR FORGIVENESS, FOR HE IS MOST FORGIVING * HE WILL SEND THE HEAVENS POURING DOWN UPON YOU”.  (S: 71 A: 10-11)

Allah the Highest shows people the evidence for His Bounty when He sends wind carrying cloud laden with rain, to give life to dead land.  It shows us that land cannot have life of any form, plant, animal, insect, birds etc, without water.  Water is the first ingredient of all forms of life, as Allah the Highest said: “AND WE MADE EVERY LIVING THING OUT OF WATER”.  (S: 21 A: 30)

Allah the Highest sends us Faith and Guidance down.  When it reaches good people, even if they have gone astray, it brings their good nature out and we see all that is good from them.   When those who are bad natured and evil inside receive faith and guidance, nothing but evil, rejection and hatred come out of them, leading to misery and hardship.

Without water, the land will be dead, and without Faith, our hearts will be dead.

Araf 55-56

55- CALL UPON YOUR LORD, PLEADING AND IN PRIVATE, INDEED HE DOES NOT LOVE THE TRANSGRESSORS.

56- AND DO NOT CAUSE MISCHIEF THROUGH THE EARTH AFTER IT HAS BEEN PUT RIGHT, AND CALL UPON HIM IN FEAR AND IN HOPE, INDEED ALLAH’S MERCY IS CLOSE TO THOSE WHO ARE RIGHTEOUS AND DO GOOD.

Our relationship with Allah the Highest is a private one, for Allah the Highest is near and sees our intentions and what is in our hearts.  Allah the Highest is near and close to us, for He said: “AND IF MY SLAVES ASK YOU ABOUT ME, (TEL THEM) I AM NEAR.  I ANSWER THE DAWA (REQUEST) OF WHOEVER CALLS UPON ME WHEN THEY CALL UPON ME.  LET THEM RESPOND TO ME AND BELIEVE IN ME SO THAT THEY MAY BECOME RIGHTLY GUIDED”.  (S: 2 A: 186)

The Muslims were in one of their travels with Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him.  Whenever they went up a hill or down a valley, they raised their voices saying: “Allah the Greatest”.  He said to them: “O people; be easy upon yourselves, you do not call one who is deaf or absent, but you call one who hears and is near”.  (Bukhari & Muslim)

Allah the Highest hears the dawas said quietly or in private just as well as other Dawa, indeed we are often closer to Allah the Highest when we speak to Him in private, like Zachariah did: “THE MENTION OF YOUR LORD’S MERCY TO HIS SLAVE ZACHARIAH * WHEN HE CALLED UPON YOUR LORD IN PRIVATE”.        (S: 19 A: 2-3)

The Dawas should have other essential elements, some are mentioned here:

1-     One should plead to our Lord feeling one’s weakness and helplessness, and being certain of our need to His Help.

2-    We should plead to Allah the Highest with fear and hope in our hearts, and Allah the Highest knows well what is in our hearts. 

3-    One should plead to Allah the Highest, the Creator of Heavens and Earth, the one who can answer any Dawa, whatever it might be, and feeling positive that Allah the Highest will answer, for Allah the Highest is Most Generous and will not have His slave raising his hands pleading to Him and let them go back empty.

4-    The Dawa should not contain transgression against others, or asking for what Allah the Highest has forbidden. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “There are those who transgress in Dawa”.  (Ahmed)

Allah the Highest commands us to do good deeds on Earth and not to transgress even in our Dawa.

Causing mischief is to cause harm and difficulties to others, killing, stealing, cheating, monopolising goods and food, etc. among many other things.  Allah’s mercy is for the righteous who do good deeds, not for those who do evil things.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Allah has mercy upon the merciful of His slaves”.

 And Allah the Highest said: “AND MY MERCY EMBRACES EVERYTHING, I WILL ORDAIN IT TO THE PIOUS WHO GUARD THEMSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE, GIVE ZAKAH, AND THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN OUR AYAHS”.   (S: 7 A: 156)

Araf 54

54- AND YOUR LORD IS ALLAH WHO CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH IN 6 DAYS, THEN SETTLED ON THE THRONE, THE NIGHT COMES OVER THE DAY, EAGERLY SEEKING IT, THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE STARS ARE ALL OBEYING HIS COMMANDS, ONLY HE CREATES AND COMMANDS, BLESSED IS ALLAH THE LORD OF ALL THE WORLDS.

The Creation in Six days means in six periods of time.  Allah the Highest referred to a day as being a thousand years, fifty thousand years, and even more.  The Day of Resurrection is referred to as a day, while it goes on for thousands of years.  Therefore, whenever Allah the Highest mentions a day outside our life on Earth, it means a period of time.

A day is a period of time; we defined on Earth to be when a full day light and night cycle is complete.  Then we divided a day into 24 hours, and an hour into 60 minutes, not 100 and a minute into 60 seconds, not 61 or 51.  These are all manmade, and Allah the Highest uses them in this understanding when a day on earth is spoken about after the earth has been created and inhabited with mankind.

The Lord is the Creator, the Keeper and Controller, and the God is whom we worship.  Our Lord and God is Allah the Highest, who created everything and is the only one who deserves to be worshipped.

Allah the Highest created the Heavens and Earth in six days, which are six periods of time, which can be thousands of billions of years each.  Then He settled on the throne.  As we do not know what Allah the Highest is like, for He said about Himself “NOTHING IS LIKE HIM, AND HE HEARS AND SEES ALL THINGS”.  (S: 42 A: 11)

The Sky is generally dark, and the Earth’s side facing the sun is lit while it is facing it, but soon goes back into darkness.  Darkness is dominant in the sky and is only overcome for a short period to go back to darkness as it was.

All there is in the Universe of suns, stars, moon, Earth and all there is in them, Allah the Highest created and are under his command.  They live, change, and die according to Allah’s commands which we learn about in the rules and laws which rule over us as well as the whole universe.  No one can change these Laws and Rules, but we may learn them and learn to use them and benefit from them.

Allah the Highest Blesses Himself.  Allah the Highest filled the Universe and our Earth, sun and moon with blessings, without which there would be not be life.  Allah the Highest blessed Himself many times in the Quran, such as “BLESSED IS HE WHOM MADE THERE LEVELS IN THE SKY, AND MADE THERE IN A FLAME AND AN ILLUMINATING MOON”.  (S: 25 A: 61)

“BLESSED IS HE WHO HAS THE KINGDOM IN HIS HAND AND IS ABLE TO DO ALL THINGS”.  (S: 67 A: 1)

Allah’s blessings of Himself often come associated with mentioning what He blessed us with.  These blessings, are for all creation, man, animal, fish, birds, plants, insects, microorganisms etc, and not only for one creation not the other, or for the believers and not the disbelievers.  These blessings are for all, unlimited, and not controlled by anyone other than Him, which is a blessing in itself, for if a man controls the sunlight or the air or moon, life would be impossible.

Araf 52-53

52- AND WE BROUGHT THEM A BOOK; WE DETAILED ITS KNOWLEDGE THAT IS GUIDANCE AND MERCY TO THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE.

53- ARE THEY WAITING FOR IT TO COME TRUE?  THE DAY IT COMES TRUE THOSE WHO FORGOT IT BEFOREHAND WILL SAY: “OUR LORD’S MESSENGERS DID COME WITH THE TRUTH, DO WE HAVE INTERCESSORS TO INTERCEDE FOR US? OR WILL WE BE SENT BACK TO DO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE USED TO DO?”  INDEED THEY LOST THEIR OWN SOULS, AND WILL NOT FIND THE LIES THEY INVENTED.

Allah the Highest sent down the Holy Books, ending with the Quran which details to us everything we need to know about our Faith, life on Earth and Relationship with Allah the Highest.  Allah the Highest also sent prophets and messengers, the last of whom is Mohamed prayer and peace upon him, to further clarify and detail what we should know.

Some of the disbelievers say that they will wait to see if what they are being told is true or not before believing, however if they wait, it will be too late.  This is because:

-         They are not likely to live to the Day of Resurrection.

-         If they live to the day of Resurrection, it will then be too late to believe and to do good deeds.  Allah the Highest said: “WILL THEY WAIT UNTIL THE ANGELS COME TO THEM, OR YOUR LORD COMES OR SOME OF YOUR LORD’S SIGNS COME; THE DAY SOME OF YOUR LORD’S SIGNS COME, NO SOUL WILL BENEFIT FROM ITS BELIEVE, HAVE IT NOT BELIEVED BEFOREHAND OR EARNED WHAT IS GOOD WITH ITS FAITH.  SAY: “WAIT, AND SO WE ARE WAITING”.   (S: 6 A:158)

For then, they will not be able to go back to life in order to believe and to do good deeds.

Also they will not have any one to intercede for them, for the prophets, messengers, martyrs and all those Allah the Highest may allow to intercede will be able to intercede for the believers only.

The realization that the Holy Books and the prophets and messengers told them the truth will then be too late.  They would have lost their souls, which will suffer in the Hereafter.  The lies they invented throughout life and the lies others invented and they believed or followed, will be of no use then either, for the time of belief and deeds will be over, and it will be time for reckoning and judgement.

Araf 50-51

50- AND THE PEOPLE OF THE FIRE CALLED THE PEOPLE OF PARADISE SAYING: “GIVE US SOME OF YOUR WATER OR OF WHAT ALLAH PROVIDED FOR YOU”, THEY SAID: “ALLAH HAS FORBIDDEN THE DISBELIEVERS HAVING IT”.

51- THOSE WHOM TAKE THEIR RELIGION AS A SUBJECT OF MOCKERY AND JESTING, AND WERE ALLURED BY THE LOWER LIFE, TODAY WE IGNORE THEM AS THEY FORGOT THE MEETING OF THIS DAY, AND AS THEY REJECTED OUR AYAHS.

Those in the Hell-Fire will begin to suffer, their water is tastes badly and is hot, and their food is bitter.  They see the great difference between what they have and what those in Paradise have, and they ask those in Paradise to give them some of what they have, just water and some good tasting food.  However, these provisions are not for those in Paradise to dispose of, and they know that they are only for the people of Paradise, but forbidden for the disbelievers to have.

Religion is a way of life and way of relating to and worshipping our creator.  Therefore, it is not a subject for mockery, jesting or play.  We might get busy with life, work, earning money, and with our families and children to forget about the Hereafter, Judgement day and the everlasting life to follow.  We occupy ourselves with the needs for our short and temporary existence on Earth, to prepare for our eternal life afterwards; this is a great waste of our life on Earth. 

In the Hereafter, Allah the Highest does not give the disbelievers the smallest share of the good things provided in Paradise, yet Allah the Highest let them see what those in Paradise enjoy, this is in order to make those in the Hell-Fire feel sadder for what they missed. 

The disbelievers will not have a share of the good things in Paradise which they denied it exists in the first place, and will have no Mercy from the God they rejected.  They will however taste Allah’s Anger and Punishment and no one will be ever able to protect them or save them from such punishment.

Araf 48-49

48- AND THE PEOPLE ON THE (ARAF) BARRIER CALLED PEOPLE (IN THE FIRE) THEY KNEW BY THEIR LOOKS SAYING: “YOUR CROWD DID NOT HELP YOU NEITHER DID YOUR ARROGANCE”. 

49- ARE THESE THE PEOPLE YOU SWORE THAT THEY WILL NEVER ENJOY ALLAH’S MERCY, (IT HAS BEEN SAID TO THEM): “ENTER THE PARADISE, THERE IS NO FEAR UPON YOU NEITHER WILL YOU BE SADDENED”.

Those standing on the Araf (the barrier between the Hell-fire and the Paradise will see in the Hell-Fire people they know.  There had power, authority, supporters and wealth.  They had many people working for them and many around them when they had power and wealth.  Now they are in the Hell-Fire, their money, supporters and workers vanished, and only their deeds remained, and their deeds got them into the Hell-Fire.  This is because the Day of Judgement lowers some people and raises some people.  Allah the Highest said: “WHEN WHAT WILL FALL UPON YOU FALL UPON YOU * NO DOUBT IT WILL HAPPEN * IT WILL LOWER SOME AND IT WILL RAISE SOME”.  (S: 56 A: 1-3)

Many of us are allured by our wealth, power and influence which give us superior status in this life.  We will leave it all behind us in this life, and will only carry our deeds; good and bad, with us to the Hereafter.  Some will know that only when it is too late.  Allah the Highest said: “AS FOR HIM WHO IS GIVEN HIS BOOK IN HIS LEFT HAND, HE WILL SAY: “I WISH I WAS NEVER GIVEN MY BOOK * AND NEVER HAD MY JUDGEMENT * I WISH IT WAS THE END * MY WEALTH DID NOT HELP ME * AND MY POWER AND AUTHORITY VANISHED”.  (S: 69 A: 25-29)

Allah the Highest will rebuke those in the Hell-Fire for what they did in this life, and will point out to them that those they treated arrogantly and looked down upon, went to Paradise.  In the mean time, those who mocked them will be in the Hell-Fire.  This is because Allah’s scales for us which determines our place in the Hereafter are very different from our scales in this life.  Allah the Highest sees our hearts, intention, faith, righteousness and piety, while in this life we see wealth and power; however we leave wealth and power behind them. In this life when we go to the Hereafter.

The Muslims should not be allured by wealth and power to let them be their main targets in life, nor estimate people’s esteem according to their wealth and power, but according to Allah’s scales or faith, righteousness and piety.  We should also choose our companions in this life according to these scales; for righteous and pious companions and friends will help one on the way to Paradise, while others will help on the way to the Hell-Fire.

Araf 46-47

46- AND THERE IS A SHIELD BETWEEN THEM, AND ON THE BARRIER THERE ARE MEN WHO KNOW EACH SIDE BY THEIR LOOKS, THEY CALLED PEOPLE OF PARADISE SAYING PEACE: “UPON YOU, YOU ONLY HOPED TO ENTER (PARADISE)”

47- AND WHEN THEIR EYES WERE TURNED TOWARDS THOSE IN THE FIRE THEY SAID: “OUR LORD, DO NOT LET US BE WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS”.

Allah the Highest creates a barrier between the Hell-Fire and Paradise, only Allah knows its height and width.  Allah the Highest tells us about this barrier in Sorah Al-Hadid saying: “AND A WALL WITH A DOOR WAS ERECTED BETWEEN THEM, ON THE INSIDE THERE IS MERCY, AND ON THE BACK THERE IS PUNISHMENT”.  (S: 57 A: 13)

This area between the Paradise and the Hell-Fire is called “Al-Araf”; this Sorah in the Quran is carrying this name.  In this area will wait those who neither did enough to take them to Paradise or the Hell-Fire? 

They will wait there looking at the Hell-Fire on one side, fearing to end up with them, and looking at the Paradise on the other side, hoping to enter there to enjoy its delights.  They will live between fear and hope until Allah the Highest passes His judgement concerning them.

They wait there until they know their destiny. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said about them: “They are the last people Allah has to judge.  When the Lord of the Judges (Allah the Highest) will say: “You are those whose good deeds kept you out of the Fire but are not enough to be admitted to Paradise, you are saved by Me, go to wherever you like in Paradise”.  (Ibn Jarir)

This should tell us never to think a sin to be trivial or a good deed to be too little to do, for this can make the difference between being in Paradise, or the Hell-Fire, may Allah the Highest save us from.

Araf 44-45

44- AND THOSE IN PARADISE CALLED THOSE IN THE FIRE SAYING:  "WE FOUND WHAT OUR LORD HAS PROMISED US TO BE TRUE; DID YOU FIND WHAT YOUR LORD HAS PROMISED YOU TO BE TRUE?"  THEY SAID: “YES INDEED”, A CALLER BETWEEN THEM CALLED OUT: “ALLAH’S CURSE IS ON THE EVIL DOERS”.

45- THOSE WHO PUSH PEOPLE AWAY FROM ALLAH’S PATH, AND DESIRE CORRUPTION IN THIS LIFE, AND DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE HEREAFTER.

In the Hereafter, those in Paradise will be glad to find that what Allah the Highest has promised them of the pleasures and delights to be true; however those in the Hell-Fire be very distressed to find that Allah the Highest promised them to be true.

After the battle of Badr, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him ordered the Muslims to dig a big grave where the disbelievers were buried.  When there were all in the grave, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him went to the grave and said: “Did you find what you Lord has promised you to be true?  For I found what my lord promised me to be true”.  Omar Ibn El-Khatab said: “Allah’s messenger, are you speaking to dead bodies?”  He said: “By Him who has my soul in His hand, you do not hear what I say better than them, but they cannot answer”.  (Muslim: Jannah)

Allah the Highest then will announce that He is cursing the evil doers.  Allah’s curse means that the person cursed is deprived of Allah’s Mercy, which we can never be saved without. Then Allah the Highest tells us about some of the reasons for this cursing:

1-    “PUSH PEOPLE AWAY FROM ALLAH’S PATH”.  Pushing people away from the Path of Allah is done via various means, some are obvious and others are subtle.  Whoever prevents people from believing, worshipping Allah the Almighty, and whoever directs and encourages people to do evil, he is pushing people away from Allah’s Path.

In this life, some of us can do more than others, and some of us have more influence on people’s life than others, such as those in positions of influence or working in the Media.  The more a person can influence people to do good deeds or to do bad deeds, the more he is rewarded or punished for what they did.

2-     “DESIRE CORRUPTION IN THIS LIFE”.  Some people work hard to fill our life with corruption, because they tend to benefit more from a corrupt society gaining more money or power.  If they manage to evade punishment in this lower life for doing that, they are not escaping punishment in the Hereafter, and they cannot evade Allah’s curse.

3-    “AND DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE HEREAFTER”.  They do not believe that they will be resurrected and will have to account for their deeds.  Even if they say that they believe and if they worship Allah the Highest, yet their deeds reflects the fallacy of their claim, and the weakness of their belief.

Araf 42-43

42- AS FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND DO GOOD DEEDS; WE DO NOT DEMAND FROM A SOUL MORE THAN WHAT IT CAN BEAR, THEY ARE THE PEOPLE OF THE PARADISE, WHERE THEY WILL ABIDE FOREVER.

43- AND WE REMOVED ALL GRUDGE FROM THEIR CHESTS, WITH RIVERS FLOWING UNDERNEATH THEM, AND THEY SAID: “THANKS AND PRAISE TO ALLAH WHO GUIDED US TO THIS, AND WE WERE NOT TO BE GUIDED HAD HE NOT GUIDED US; INDEED OUR LORD’S MESSENGERS CAME TO US WITH THE TRUTH".

Allah the Highest is reassuring the believers that He knows what everyone can or cannot do, and in His Justice and Mercy will not demand from any soul more than what it can do.  This meaning is also said in the last Ayah of Sorah Al-Baqarah: “ALLAH DOES NOT PRESCRIBE FOR A SOUL EXCEPT WHAT IT CAN BEAR.  TO HER CREDIT WHAT IT HAS EARNED AND UPON IT WHAT IT HAS EARNED”.  (S: 2 A: 286)

When Allah the Highest sent down: “YOU WHO BELIEVE; GUARD YOURSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE AND BE PIOUS AS YOU OUGHT TO, AND DO NOT DIE AS ANYTHING BUT MUSLIMS”.  (S: 3 A: 102)

The Muslims were worried and fearful as they felt that they will never be as pious as Allah the Highest wanted them to be, then Allah the Highest sent down: “AND BE PIOUS AND GUARD YOURSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, AND LISTEN AND OBEY”.  (S: 64 A: 16)

When the believers do good deeds, each according to what Allah the Highest endowed us with of wealth, mental or physical ability, craft etc, will be rewarded with the Paradise.  One just has to believe in and worship Allah the Highest and be useful to others. 

Then Allah the Highest tells us about the Psychological and emotional state of those in Paradise.  They will not have any negative feelings or emotions such as grudge, anger, hatred, jealousy, envy, sadness, or grief.  They will have total inner peace and serenity.  This gift is enough for anyone’s life to be happy.  However, there is a great deal more, there are beautiful gardens with rivers of water, milk and honey; beautiful homes and wives, and more and more.

Enjoying all of the above and more, the believers will not forget to thank and praise Allah the Highest for guiding them and for sending the prophets and messengers and books to guide them.

We should remember to thank Allah the Highest in this life as well, for we enjoy the great bounty of being rightly guided through Allah’s messenger and Book, the Quran and as He said: “AND YOUR LORD DECREED THAT; IF YOU GIVE THANKS, I WILL GIVE YOU MORE”.  (S: 14 A: 7)

Allah the Highest tells us that the Paradise is the reward for the believers who do good deeds in this life.  They should remember however that no one has a right to enter Paradise, but it is only through Allah’s Mercy and Bounty that we may be admitted.  Allah’s messenger prayer and Peace upon him said: “None of you will enter Paradise through his deeds only”.  They said: “Not even you Allah’s messenger?”  He said: “Not even me, unless Allah embraces me with His Mercy and Bounty”.  (Muslim)

We should work in this life to gain Allah’s Mercy, without which we will never be able to enter His Paradise.

Araf 40-41

40- THOSE WHO REJECT OUR AYAHS, THEIR ARROGANCE MADE THEM FEEL SUPERIOR TO OUR AYAHS, THE HEAVENS GATES WILL NOT OPEN FOR THEM AND THEY WILL NOT ENTER THE PARADISE UNTIL THE CAMEL CAN PASS THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE, THIS IS OUR RECOMPENSE FOR THE EVIL-DOERS.

41- THEIR BED WILL BE IN THE HELL-FIRE, AND THEIR COVER WILL BE OF FIRE, THIS IS THE RECOMPENSE OF THE TRANSGRESSORS.

Allah the Highest treats the disbelieving differently from the believing from the time their souls are taken when they die.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The angels will go to the dying person, if a righteous man, they will say: Come out o contended soul from the pure and good body, enter and be praised, and expect the good news of meeting righteous souls and smelling flowers awaiting you, and a Lord not angry with you.  This will be said to the soul until it reaches the heavens.  If he was of an evil man, they would say: Come out you evil soul, which was in the evil body, come out despised; and expect hot drink and bitter food and other pairs the like thereof.  They will say this while taken up and when they ask for the heavens gates to open for her, they will be asked: Who is that?  They will say: So and so.  They will say: This evil soul is not welcomed, it was in an evil body, go back despised, for the heavens gates will not open up for you.  Then it will be sent back between the heavens and the earth, and then will end up in the grave”.  (Ahmed: 2; 365)

There are two analogies in these Ayahs:

1-    Allah the Highest is giving us the analogy of the disbeliever entering the Paradise to be as difficult as a camel passing through the eye of a needle, which is impossible.

2-    Allah the Highest made a bed for the disbelievers in the Hell-Fire, and gave them a cover.  However, they are not comfortable and cozy as bed and cover ought to be, but are made of fire.  They will suffer from every direction, and will suffer where they are expecting to rest.

It is clear that many disbelievers do not believe out of arrogance of accepting what they rejected in the first place, or believing in a religion its following are mostly the weak and humble.  Some people even feel that the religion of simple people who lived hundreds of years ago is below them, that we are more sophisticated now and the rules and principles which suited them do not suit us now.  All this stems from the sense of arrogance and superiority.

Allah the Highest made the Religion with its principle, rules, ayahs and ways of worship, for everyone, at all times and all places.  This does not mean that we have to ride camels, wear turbans and sit on the floor to be proper Muslims.  Islam is in believing which is in the heart and following Allah’s commands, it is a way of thinking and of life.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Allah does not look at your looks and shapes, but looks at your hearts; piety is here, piety is here, piety is here – pointing to his heart-“.  (M: Ber; 32 & Ma: Zohd; 9 & A: 2; 285,539)

This is just a quick glimpse at what is awaiting the disbelievers of punishment in the Hereafter.  We should remember that belief is in the heart, and Allah the Highest knows what is in our hearts.

Araf 38-39

38- COME AND JOIN IN THE FIRE NATIONS OF MANKIND AND JINN WHO LIVED BEFORE YOU, EVERY TIME A NATION IS ADMITTED, IT CURSES THE OTHER, UNTIL THEY ARE ALL IN IT TOGETHER, THEN THE LAST WILL SAY TO THE FIRST: “OUR LORD THOSE MISGUIDED US, GIVE THEM TWICE AS MUCH PUNISHMENT OF THE FIRE”.  HE SAID: “EACH WILL HAVE TWICE AS MUCH, BUT YOU DO NOT KNOW”.

39- AND THE FIRST OF THEM SAID TO THE LAST: “YOU HAVE NO ADVANTAGE OVER US; THEN TASTE THE PUNISHMENT FOR WHAT YOU EARNED”.

Allah the Highest narrates to us some of the things that are going to happen on the Day of Resurrection and after judgement.  In Arabic, this narration is in the past tense not in the future tense.  This is linguistically an affirmation that this will certainly happen.

The disbelievers and evil doers will be taken to the fire on the Day of Resurrection, where they will be blaming each other for what happens to them.  The later ones will blame the early ones for not believing, saying that had the early ones believed, the later ones would have followed suit.  Therefore they ask Allah the Highest to double the punishment for the early nations.  Allah the Highest does not accept this excuse and orders for the punishment of both to be doubled.

The Early nations will then tell the later ones that they are not better for both went astray and both sinned, and for that they both deserve punishment. 

All the above applies to mankind as well as the Jinn. 

We note that Allah the Highest said about the sins that they are earned.  This means that we should have the intention to commit the sin as well as put some effort into it.  Sins do not happen accidentally or against one’s well.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The pen does not write (in our book of deeds) the deeds of person who is asleep until he wakes up, the child until he reaches puberty and the mad until he regains his sanity”.  (A:6;100,101 & Ma:Talaq;15 & T:Hudod;1 & D:Hudod;17)

Also Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The responsibility is lifted of my nation for the deeds in cases of missing, forgetting and when compelled to do something”.

This shows us that on the Day of Judgement we cannot defend ourselves and our actions by blaming others to have misguided us, of who committed that sin first, and we followed their example.  The same applies on whether they are our forefathers or our contemporaries.  Everyone is responsible for his/her own action and will have to answer for them alone.  No one can blame another for the sins they earned. 

One have to know that being compelled does not mean that it is just to one’s advantage to do wrong or not to do right, but the compelling conditions has to include a definite threat to the life of the person or the loved in a situation that cannot be changed.  Every one of us should think what they will say to Allah the Highest on Judgement when they account for what they did claiming that they were compelled.