Still, when reminded, those who claim to be the foremost representatives of the faithful retort: “Don’t bring the Qur’an into this!”
About the one they protect, they say, “We do not care what he does in private. He never claimed to be a prophet; he is merely one human among others, brilliant in his analysis, who dispenses good advice, whose inconvenient truths disturb.”
When reminded of the words of the Lord of the worlds, they respond with a bitter reproach: “Our teacher is not a prophet or a scholar of Islam! He is theologian, a professor of world renown! A brilliant intellectual of ideas and positions. A man who knew how to talk to Muslims by making them proud. A good man. Yes a man! It is an honour to defend this servant of God.”
And thus it goes on, as Muslims belittle their religion in their defence of this defender of religion. But the Qur’an is not silent, even though it is ignored.
The servants of the Lord of Mercy are those who walk humbly on the earth, and who, when the foolish address them, reply, ‘Peace’; those who spend the night bowed down or standing, worshipping their Lord, who plead, ‘Our Lord, turn away from us the suffering of Hell, for it is a dreadful torment to suffer! It is an evil home, a foul resting place!’
They are those who are neither wasteful nor niggardly when they spend, but keep to a just balance; those who never invoke any other deity beside God, nor take a life, which God has made sacred, except in the pursuit of justice, nor commit adultery. (Whoever does these things will face the penalties: their torment will be doubled on the Day of Resurrection, and they will remain in torment, disgraced, except those who repent, believe, and do good deeds: God will change the evil deeds of such people into good ones. He is most forgiving, most merciful. People who repent and do good deeds truly return to God.)
[They are] those who do not give false testimony, and who, when they see some frivolity, pass by with dignity; who, when reminded of their Lord’s signs, do not turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to them; those who pray, ‘Our Lord, give us joy in our spouses and offspring. Make us good examples to those who are aware of You’.
These servants will be rewarded with the highest place in Paradise for their steadfastness. There they will be met with greetings and peace. There they will stay — a happy home and resting place!
What are you to my Lord without your supplication? But since you have written off the truth as lies, the inevitable will happen.
Last modified: 2 October 2018
