Araf 40-41 | aamsaafanquran's Blog

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.