Islam

Araf 88-89

88- THE ARROGANT PEOPLE WHO WERE IN POWER AND AUTHORITY OF HIS PEOPLE SAID: “WE WILL TURN YOU OUT SHOIB AND THOSE WHO BELIEVED WITH YOU, UNLESS YOU RETURN TO OUR RELIGION”.  HE SAID: “EVEN IF WE HATE THAT?”

89- “WE WILL THEN BE LYING CONCERNING ALLAH IF WE RETURN TO YOUR RELIGION AFTER ALLAH HAS SAVED US FROM IT; WE WOULD NOT RE-EMBRACE IT UNLESS ALLAH OUR LORD WILLS, OUR LORD’S KNOWLEDGE EMBRACED EVERY THING, WE RELY ON ALLAY, OUR LORD RULE OUT JUSTLY BETWEEN US AND OUR PEOPLE, FOR YOU ARE THE BEST JUDGE”.

As has been shown before, those in power and authority take the lead and they decide for the rest.  Pride and arrogance is often one of their features.  They fear anything which may threaten their status, authority and wealth, therefore they threaten those who threaten their status with expulsion from their land unless they denounce their belief.

Expulsion (Exile) used to be a way of removing the threat of people with threatening ideas; however at the present age of modern communications, expulsion is no longer an effective method.  Imprisonment is another method of removing people with threatening ideas from the society.  They advise them to change back to their old religion of Idolatry.  If pretending to believe while one does not is hypocrisy, then what they were asking them to do is much worse.  This like everything else happens if it is Allah’s will.

The believers in this predicament express their reliance on Allah express their reliance on Allah the Highest to help them.  The believers are always afflicted with difficulties and hardships, yet Allah’s help and support is always there, as long as they are patient and persevere, for Allah the Highest said: “MANY A PROPHET FOUGHT AND WITH HIM MANY GODLY PEOPLE, THEY DID NOT LOSS HEART BECAUSE OF WHAT BEFELL THEM IN THE CAUSE OF ALLAH, THEY DID NOT WEAKEN NOR GIVE IN, AND ALLAH LOVES THOSE WHO ARE PATIENT AND PERSEVERE”. (S:3 A:146)

Allah the Highest will rule out between the believers and disbelievers, and Allah the Highest can enforce His judgement and ruling.

We should make sure that we are doing the right thing in Allah’s Way before asking for His judgement and support.  We should be on the right track with Allah the Highest to have His support, for Allah the Highest said: “YOU WHO BELIEVE, IF YOU SUPPORT ALLAH (HIS RELIGION) HE SUPPORTS YOU AND MAKES YOUR FOOT HOLD FIRM”.  (S:47 A:7)

The believers do not qualify for Allah’s support just for saying we believe.

Araf 85-87

85- AND TO MADIAN WE SENT THEIR BROTHER SHOIB, HE SAID: “O PEOPLE, WORSHIP ALLAH, FOR YOU HAVE NO GOD OTHER THAN HIM, YOU RECEIVED A CLEAR SIGN FROM YOUR LORD, FULFIL THE MEASURES AND THE SCALES AND DO NOT GIVE PEOPLE LESS THAN WHAT THEIR THINGS ARE WORTH, AND DO NOT CAUSE MISCHIEF THROUGH THE EARTH AFTER IT HAS BEEN PUT RIGHT, THIS IS BETTER FOR YOU IF YOU ARE TRUE BELIEVERS.

86- AND DO NOT SIT DOWN ON EVERY PATH THREATENING AND TURNING THOSE WHO BELIEVE AWAY FROM THE PATH OF ALLAH AND WISHING TO MAKE LIFE CROCKED, AND REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE FEW AND HE MADE YOU PLENTY, AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT WAS THE END OF THE MISCHIEF MAKERS.

87- AND IF A GROUP OF YOU BELIEVE IN WHAT I WAS SENT WITH A GROUP DID NOT BELIEF, THEN BE PATIENT AND PERSEVERE UNTIL THE TIME WHEN ALLAH RULES OUT BETWEEN US, FOR HE IS THE BEST JUDGE.

The People of Madian (part of what is now Palestine and Jordon, were sent a prophet “Shoib”, being their brother means that he was one of them.  Allah the Highest gives the prophets miracles as proof of their prophecy.  Allah the Highest sent Shoib with a clear sign (miracle) which we are not told what it was.  After supporting Shoib with the proof of his prophecy, Allah the Highest sent his people commands about special prohibitions:

1-    Cheating people in measuring or weighing when buying or selling with them.

2-    Undervaluing people’s good to buy them for less than what it is worth.  Many of us do this thinking it to be clever to buy people’s things for less than what it is worth, yet it is clearly sinful.

3-    Threatening people who correct them and doing their best to come between people and Allah the Highest.

4-    Wanting life on Earth to be crocked in order to take advantage of people’s corruption.  Corrupt people need corrupt societies to flourish and to benefit, for they cannot benefit in upright and righteous societies.  Also corruption will not be that obvious and noticeable in a corrupt society as it would in a non-corrupt society.

It is clear from the Ayah also that the people of Madian were few, which was a reason for them to be weak.  Allah the Highest strengthened them by increasing and multiplying their numbers.

This show us that numbers are not disadvantage for nations but a point of strength.  Whenever nations do not use their own manpower properly and do not invest them and in them, they become a burden instead of an asset.

Shoib then told his people that they have to wait to see Allah’s ruling between the believers and disbelievers.  Allah the Highest told us about this ruling, but the disbelievers do not believe do not believe it.  They have to wait for Allah’s ruling in the form of punishment in this life and or in the Hereafter, then it is too late for the disbelievers to change and put things right.

END OF THE EIGHTH PART OF THE QURAN, THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO ALLAH THE HIGHEST

Araf 83-84

83- WE SAVED HIM AND HIS FAMILY, EXCEPT HIS WIFE, SHE WAS AMONG THOSE PUNISHED.

84- AND WE RAINED DOWN ON THEM FROM HEAVEN (STONES), LOOK AND SEE HOW WAS THE END OF THE EVIL DOERS.

Allah the Highest saved all the believers who followed Lot, and the rest were destroyed including Lot’s wife.

There is a number of reports about Lots wife; some say that she did not want to leave her people when Lot and the believers left, therefore she was punished the same way as her people.  Others say that she left with Lot peace upon him and the believers who were commanded not to look back to see their people being punished.  She looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.  In either case, she did not escape the terrible punishment.

The People of Lot, Sodom and Gomorra, were rained with stones which destroyed them all.

This shows us that:

-         The practice of homosexually is a great sin, which causes Allah’s anger and the collective punishment of those who practice it openly and/or agree with this practice.

-         Being closely related to a prophet does not in itself save a disbeliever from Allah’s punishment, as happened with Lot’s wife, Noah’s son, Ibrahim’s father etc.

Allah the Highest tells us about what happened to those people to take heed.  We should take heed now in particular as the practice of homosexuality spreading and is becoming more open.  Many societies are heading the way of the people of Lot went.

Araf 80-82

80- AND LOT AS HE SAID TO HIS PEOPLE: “O PEOPLE, DO YOU COMMIT A WICKED SIN WHICH NO ONE IN THE WORLD EVER DID BEFOREHAND?”

81- “YOU SATISFY YOUR DESIRES WITH MEN INSTEAD OF WOMEN, INDEED YOU ARE EXCESSIVELY TRANSGRESSING PEOPLE”.

82- THE ANSWER OF HIS PEOPLE WAS TO SAY: “TURN THEM OUT OF YOUR COUNTRY, FOR THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO PURIFY THEMSELVES”.

He was one of Allah’s prophets and a cousin of Ibrahim peace upon him.  He was sent to people who openly practiced homosexuality.  It was said to be practiced by both men and women at that society.

It is clear from the Ayah that they were the first people to practice homosexuality, as is clearly stated in the Ayah “WHICH NO ONE IN THE WORLD DID BEFOREHAND”.

The Sexual Desire between men and women leads to the procreation necessary for the preservation of the human kind, and also it makes for a strong bond between the husband and wife, which is necessary for the maintenance of the family.  Both are needed for the continuation of our life on Earth.

Homosexuality has been a spreading practice in various societies and has been increasing since then.  Its practice has increased, and now it reaches, up to 20 % of men in some societies, in the East and the West.  In some societies it is not kept secret, and in others it is not illegal.  The campaigners for the rights of the homosexuals; want them to have legal marriage, and to have the right to adopt children.

When homosexuality in men reaches these levels, this means that in some societies some 20 % of men are not available for marriage and long term relationships, and this means that some 20 % of females will not find a man.  This is bound to increase many ailments in the society, including promiscuity, increasing homosexuality among females, or many females get left without marriage.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace  upon him said about the time when there will be much more women than men: “A man will be seen followed by 40 women to take care of them, for there will be few men and plenty of women”.  (B: Zakah; 9 & M: Zakah; 59)

Homosexual relationships tend to be much less stable than heterosexual relationships.  An American study found that the average homosexual man will have 26 partners on average every year.  It is hard to imagine how a person would be able to establish strong emotional relationships with 26 different people every year.

Allah’s punishment for those caught practicing homosexuality is very severe, it is death.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Whoever you see doing what the people of Lot used to do, kill who does it, and he to whom it is being done”.  (Nesae & Termezi & Abu Dawood & Ahmed)

Even if people choose to ignore the morale side, homosexuality is detrimental to the human family and its integrity.  Indeed, homosexuality is detrimental to our very existence on Earth.  Allah the Highest forbids us what is bad for us.

Araf 79

79- HE TURNED AWAY FROM THEM AND SAID: “MY PEOPLE, I DELIVERED MY LORD’S MESSAGE TO YOU, AND I ADVISED YOU, BUT YOU DO NOT LIKE THOSE WHO ADVISE YOU”.

After the disbelieving people of the people of Saleh Killed the Female Camel, Saleh peace upon him realized that he could not do anything for them, for their punishment was surely on the way.   Saleh peace upon him fulfilled his responsibility as a prophet and messenger, he delivered the message of Allah to them, and gave them good advice, but they did not like him or the advice.   We mentioned before that Allah the Highest stated several times in the Quran that the duty of the messenger of Allah is but to deliver the message.

After the battle of Badr, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him stood over the big grave where they buried the casualties of the disbelievers and said: “Did you find that what your lord promised you to be true?  I found that what my Lord promised me to be true”.  Omar Ibn El-Khatab said to him: “Allah’s messenger, are you calling upon dead and decaying men?”  He said: “You do not hear me any better than them, but they cannot answer”.  (Bukhari: Magazi & Muslim & A: 2; 31)

It is also reported that he said to them: “What a bad group of people you have been to your prophet; you called me liar when others believed me, you turned me out while others took me in, and you fought me while others supported me, you have been the worst people to your prophet”.  (Ibn Hesham)

The duty of the recipients of the message is to accept it and to support the messenger.  Indeed besides their great responsibility, they are also greatly privilege, to have the chance to meet Allah’s messenger and hear from him directly and to accompany him.

We also have a duty of support and help to those who carry the responsibilities of the prophets at present, the scholars, who sincerely try to make Allah’s message clear to the believers, and to let it be known to those who do not believe.  Their responsibility is to deliver and clarify the message, and our responsibility towards them is that of help, support, and obedience in every way we can.

Araf 73-78

73- AND TO THEMOD, WE SENT THEIR BROTHER SALEH, HE SAID: “O MY PEOPLE, WORSHIP ALLAH, YOU HAVE NO GOD OTHER THAN HIM, YOU HAVE A CLEAR SIGN FROM YOUR LORD, THIS IS ALLAH’S FEMALE CAMEL A SIGN FOR YOU, LET IT EAT OUT OF ALLAH’S LAND AND DO NOT HURT IT, FOR THEN YOU WILL BE TAKEN BY PAINFUL PUNISHMENT.

74- AND REMEMBER AS HE MADE YOU IN CHARGE OF THE EARTH AFTER AAD, AND GAVE YOU POWER OVER THE EARTH, YOU BUILD PALACES IN ITS VALLEYS, AND CARVE HOUSES INTO THE MOUNTAIN, THEN REMEMBER ALLAH’S BOUNTIES UPON YOU AND DO NOT CAUSE MISCHIEF THROUGH THE EARTH.

75- THOSE IN POSITIONS OF POWER AND AUTHORITY OF HIS PEOPLE, WHO WERE TOO PROUD, SAID TO THOSE WHO WERE MEEK, AND THOSE WHO BELIEVED: “DO YOU KNOW IF SALEH IS SENT BY HIS LORD?” THEY SAID: “WE BELIEVE IN WHAT HE WAS SENT WITH”.

76- THE ARROGANT PEOPLE SAID: “WE DISBELIEVE IN WHAT YOU BELIEVE”.

77- THEY KILLED THE FEMALE CAMEL AND DISOBEYED THEIR LORD’S COMMANDS TO THE EXTREME, AND SAID: “O SALEH, LET WHAT YOU PROMISED US WILL HAPPEN, HAPPEN IF YOU ARE TRULY OF THE MESSENGERS”.

78- THEY WERE TAKEN BY THE TREMOR, AND THEY DIED IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

The people of Themod lived in homes carved in the mountains and they built palaces in the valleys.  Their homes still exist in Jordan; the site is called “Petra” and is a tourist attraction.  The Muslims on their campaign to Tabok went past these homes.

The people of Themod asked their prophet Saleh for a miracle to prove that he is truly a prophet and messenger; that he shows them a female camel walking out of the rocks of the mountain.  They asked for this specific sign, and that the female camel will be in foul (pregnant) and goes into labour once she is out of the mountain rocks.

Saleh went on praying for the miracle they asked for and Allah the Highest answered and the female camel came out from the mountain rocks; she was in foul and went into labour once she came out.

He told them that they should leave her to eat and drink in Allah’s land, undisturbed and not hurt, and if they do, they will suffer a severe and painful punishment.

The camel showed another miracle.  She used to drink the well’s water one day and give them as much milk as they want that day, on the next day, they could drink the water of the well.  Allah the Highest said: “WE ARE SENDING THE FEMALE CAMEL AS A TEST AND TRIAL FOR THEM, THEN OBSERVE THEM AND WAIT * AND INFORM THEM THAT THE WATER IS TO BE SHARED BETWEEN THEM, AND EACH WILL HAVE TO BRING HIS SHARE OF DRINKING WATER FROM THE WELL”.  (S: 54 A: 27-28)

And said: “THIS IS A FEMALE CAMEL, SHE DRINKS ONE DAY AND YOU DRINK ANOTHER KNOWN DAY * AND DO NOT DO HER ANY HARM, FOR THEN YOU WILL BE TAKEN BY THE PUNISHMENT OF A GREAT DAY”.  (S: 26 A: 155-156)

They asked for a very specific sign and they were given the specific sign and miracle.  However, there was also a test for them:

-         They should not restrict the camel’s movement.

-         Should not do her any harm in any way.

-         They will share the water of the well with her, one day each.  However, in compensation for the day they cannot get water, they can milk the camel and get unlimited amount of milk.

Failing the test leads to severe punishment.

They rejected the miracle and sign and did not believe.  What is more, they decided to kill the female camel, and planned for it.  9 of the influential men of the tribe decided to kill the female camel and they persuaded the whole tribe.  They killed the camel.  Some say that they also killed her foal, and some reports that the foal walked back into the mountain.

They were given three days to wait before they had the punishment, which was:

1-    A Scream, which could be some very loud sound.

2-    The Tremors.

No one survived these two events, except Saleh and the believers.  One man of them called Abu Ragal who was in Makah at the time was not killed, but he died once he left the Haram.

As the Muslims passed by their homes on their way to Tabok, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said to the Muslims: “Do not enter the homes of those who were punished, or you will suffer what they suffered”. (Bukhari & Muslim & Ahmed)

The disbelievers in Makah asked Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him to show them great miracles as condition for their belief.  He prayed for this and the answer came to him via Gabriel that Allah the Highest will give them what they asked for, but if they do not believe, Allah the Highest will punish them such punishment, none was punished before.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him then asked to be allowed more time with his people, obviously not expecting them to respond and believe, and fearing for them if they do not.

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.