Rejection of the Truth
On Doomsday everyone will understand that rejecting the Truth was due to arrogance, though one kept quoting ‘principles’ to justify one’s rejection.
Chapter 7 of the Quran states: “For all people a term has been set: and when [the end of] their term approaches, they can neither delay it by a single moment, nor can they advance it. Children of Adam! If messengers come to you from among yourselves, reciting My revelations to you, then those that take warning and mend their ways, on such shall come no fear nor shall they grieve. But those who deny and scorn Our revelations shall be the inmates of Hell, where they shall remain forever. Who does a greater wrong than he who invents lies against God or rejects His revelations? Such people will have what has been decreed for them. And when Our messengers come to them to take away their souls, they shall ask them, ‘Where are those you used to call upon besides God?’ They will answer, ‘They have deserted us,’ and they will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.” (7:34-37)
The decision about Heaven or Hell as the final destination for a person is taken on the basis of his response after the truth has appeared before him, supported by arguments whose rationality is testified to by his intellect. The message is conveyed to him in the full sense. Even after that, if a person refuses to accept the Truth, he does so out of egotism. His desire to maintain his superiority prevents him from lowering himself in comparison to the Truth. Such a person has no value in God’s eyes.
Whenever a person rejects the truth, he does so imagining that he has something to back him up. He may rely on wealth and power, or on respect and popularity. He may feel confident that all his personal matters are in such good order that rejection of the Truth will not harm him in any way. He has erroneously regarded as supports—on which he could depend for salvation—the things, actually meant for his trial.
But on Doomsday, when all these false props desert him, it will not be difficult for him to understand that he was actually rejecting the Truth merely due to arrogance, though he kept quoting ‘principles’ to justify his rejection.
