THE WORD OF GOD
From The Scriptures
The Quran is the book of God. It has been preserved in its entirety since its revelation to the Prophet of Islam between CE 610 and 632. It is a book that brings glad tidings to humankind, along with divine admonition, and stresses the importance of man’s discovery of the Truth on a spiritual and intellectual level.
Translated from Arabic and commentary by
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
By [the winds] that pluck out vehemently and those that blow gently, and by [the clouds] that swim serenely and by those that outstrip them suddenly, and by those who regulate events. On the Day when a violent convulsion will convulse [the world], to be followed by further [convulsions], hearts will be throbbing, while eyes will be downcast. They say, ‘What? shall we be brought back to life,even after we have turned into decayed bones?’ and they say, ‘That indeed would be a losing return.’ But all it will take is a single blast, and behold! They will all come out in the open. (79: 1-14)
Every year we experience periods of calm weather followed by gales bringing clouds and rainstorms. Soon it is clearly visible that where the land was desolate, a new world has sprung up. This event of nature indicates the possibility of the Hereafter. This shows in symbolic fashion that the emergence of the Hereafter from the present world is just as possible as the emergence of lush green foliage from dry barren land.
Have you heard the story of Moses? His Lord called out to him by the sacred valley of Tuwa: [saying], ‘Go to Pharaoh, he has exceeded all bounds, and say, “Will you reform yourself? Do you want me to guide you to your Lord, so that you should fear Him?”’ Moses showed him the great sign, but he denied it and refused [the faith]. Then he quickly turned his back. And he summoned all his people, and proclaimed, ‘I am your supreme Lord,’ but God seized him and meted out to him the chastisement of both the next world and the present: surely there is in this a lesson for the God-fearing. (79: 15-26)
The life of Pharaoh and other deniers of the truth like him provides proof of the fact that one who denies realities is ultimately punished for it. These historical examples are enough to teach man a lesson. But an instructive event is such only to one who has a prudent mentality, and who examines an action from the viewpoint of its result and not just in relation to its beginning.
[O Men!] Are you more difficult to create than the heaven which He has built, by raising its vault high and fashioning it flawlessly, and making its night dark and bringing forth its morning light, and the earth which He spread out, after that bringing forth from it its water and its pasture land, and making the mountains firm: [all this] as a means of sustenance for you and your animals? (79: 27-33)
The magnificent phenomenon before us in the shape of the universe is so great that all other things are small in comparison to it. So, in the world when the occurrence of a big event is possible, why should the occurrence of a small event not be possible? There are already many factors in existence on a large scale which explain the Quran’s declaration that man shall one day have to face resurrection.
When the great overwhelming event arrives, on the Day that man remembers what he strove for and Hell is there for all to see, anyone who has acted arrogantly and prefers the life of this world, will find himself in Hell; but one who fears to stand before his Lord and restrained himself from base desires, shall dwell in Paradise. They will ask you [Prophet] about the Hour, saying, ‘When it will come to pass?’, what have you to do with the mentioning of it? Your Lord alone knows when it will come; you are but a warner for those who fear it. On the Day when they see it, they will feel as if they had tarried in this world for only one evening or one morning. (79: 34-46)
Man is between two domains. One is the present world, which is before him, and the second is the world of the Hereafter, which is hidden from view. The real test of man is that he should prefer the Hereafter to the present world. But this can be done only by one who has the courage to exercise control over the base desires of the self and not behave arrogantly.
