Muhammad’s speech in the Quran. Part 3
In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful
An example of relationships between believers is prescriptions given to Muhammad in order for him to guide his followers.
And when those come to you who believe, say, “Peace be upon you!”
Your Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy: that any of you who does wrong out of ignorance and then repents after that and corrects himself – indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful!” (6:54)
It is not news that Arabs being pantheists at that time, and in general, most people on earth believed in the Creator of all things. In this regard, I would like to draw attention to the fact that these passages describe people who believe in the signs of God.
Faith in the signs of the Lord redirected people’s appeal from faith to fictional associates with Him to the true God.
Say, “Call upon God or call upon the Gracious! Whichever [name] you call – to Him belong the best names!”
And do not recite loudly in your prayer or quietly but seek between that an [intermediate] way! (17:110)
By themselves, call and prayer are motivated by need and search for the support. The most optimal models of call and prayer for believers, of course, are examples of messenger’s appeals.
And say, “My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority!”
And say, “Truth has come, and vainness has departed. Indeed is vainness, ever bound to depart!” (7:80-81)
Undoubtedly, by the truth, which vainness cannot resist, is meant to be the Word of God. The Prescription is intended to educate the ignorant attitude in people. But sketchy information does not give a complete picture for evaluation. Therefore, the messenger was given a prescription to fully complete his report of information.
So high is God, the true King! And, do not hasten with the Literature (Quran) before its suggestion is commanded to you, and say, “My Lord! Increase me in knowledge!” (20:114)
And complacency is out of the question here. Creator stimulated the messenger to self-improvement through knowledge.
Divine knowledge gave a vision of the future probability that caused the next call.
Say, “My Lord, if You should show me that which they are promised, My Lord, then do not place me among the obscurantists!” (23:93-94)
Muhammad did not consider himself free from call for forgiveness for himself. The suggestion to appeal for the mercy of the Almighty, he has received from God.
And say, “My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful!” (23:118)
Like all of us, the messenger was tested in this life as well. He was not immune against the temptation and instigation of disobedient ones, and in order to be protected he prayed to the Creator.
And say, “My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the disobedient ones, And I seek refuge in You, my Lord , lest they be present with me!” (23:97-98)
Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind!
The King of mankind!
The God of mankind!
From the evil of the sneaking whisperer, who whispers in the thoughts of mankind, from among the invisible creatures and mankind! (114:1-6)
The same applies to the prayer to be protected against witchcraft.
Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
From the evil of that which is created!
And from the evil of darkness when it settles!
And from the evil of the blowers in knots!
And from the evil of an envier when he envies!” (113:1-5)
Controversy at the main subject – monotheism – was continually accompanied by the instructions of God, which was accompanied by a glorification of God.
And say, “Praise to God, who has not taken a son!
And has had no partner in [His] kingship!
And has no [need of a] patron from humiliation!
And glorify Him with [great] glorification!” (17:111)
Sincere appreciation and awareness of the true greatness of the Creator Muhammad manifested in praise of the Lord.
Say, “O God, Owner of kingship! You give kingship to whom You will and You take kingship away from whom You will! You honor whom You will and You humiliate whom You will! In Your hand is good! Indeed, You are over all things competent! You cause the night to enter the day, and You cause the day to enter the night; and You bring the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living. And You give provision to whom You will without account.” (3:26-27)
The messenger of God tirelessly appealed to the Creator, and completely took for granted any course of events.
Say, “O God! Creator of the heavens and the earth! Knower of the hidden and the apparent! You will judge between your servants concerning that over which they used to differ!” (39:46)
After all, he understood the true nature of the Creator.
Say: He is God, the One!
God – is Immutable!
He neither begets nor is born,
Nor is there to Him any equivalent.” (112:1-4)
The polemics with the adherents of the holders of the Prescriptions reveals the same erroneous beliefs among Muslims today.
They say, “Never will the fire touch us, except for counted days.”
Reply, “Have you taken an obligation from God, and He will never break His obligation? Or do you say about God that which you do not know?” (2:80)
Muhammad did not even think of making some kind of self-name for believers or exclusivity of a certain group of believers.
They say, “Be Jews or Christians, and you will be guided.”
Say, “Rather, to be the community of Ibrahim (Abraham), inclining toward truth! And he was not of those who associate with God!” (2:135)
Only the continuation of the mission given by the Lord and sticking to His guidance gives a chance to get into the group of favourites on the Day of Debt.
The Prescription thoroughly criticizes the tradition, which is contrary to the original guideline of God.
Say, “Who has forbidden the adornment of God which He has produced for His servants and the good things of provision?”
Say, “They are for those who believe during the worldly life, exclusively for them on the day of standing before Him.” Thus do We detail the signs for a people who know!
Say, “My Lord has only forbidden excessiveness – what is apparent of it and what is concealed – and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with God that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about God that which you do not know!” (7:32-33)
Restrictions in adornments and clothing material – a vivid example of reproach, voiced in this passage. The article “The Quran about adornments” in more detail shows the Quranic picture on this topic.
The abolition of the old religious traditions has caused confusion to people. Conservatism and dogmatism did not let to form correct conclusions.
The foolish among the people will say, “What has turned them away from their direction, which they used to face?”
Say, “To God belongs the east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a straight path!” (2:142)
The instability in beliefs, weakness of faith, lack of development of moral qualities are usually predetermined the duplicity of people.
Here you are loving them, but they are not loving you. You believe in the Prescription – all of it. And when they meet you, they say, “We believe.” But when they are alone, they bite their fingertips at you in rage.
Say, “Die in your rage. Indeed, God is Knowing of that within the thoughts.” (3:119)
Such qualities drew out with all their obviousness in extreme situations.
Then after distress, He sent down upon you security [in the form of] drowsiness, overcoming a faction of you, while another faction worried about themselves, thinking of God other than the truth – the thought of ignorance, saying, “Is there anything for us in this matter?”
Say, “Indeed, the matter belongs completely to God!” They conceal within themselves what they will not reveal to you.
They say, “If there was anything we could have done in the matter, some of us would not have been killed right here!”
Say, “Even if you had been inside your houses, those decreed to be killed would have come out to their death beds.” [It was] so that God might test what is in your thoughts and purify what is in your hearts. And God is Knowing of that within the thoughts! (3:154)
Convulsive clinging to earthly life, reluctance to give up the pleasures of this world dictated the rules of hypocrites’ behaviour.
Say, “Then prevent death from yourselves, if you should be truthful!” (3:168)
“Feathered” state of such people suggests an answer for every situation.
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction. But if good comes to them, they say, “This is from God!”, and if evil befalls them, they say, “This is from you!”
Say, “All are from God!”
So what is with those people that they can hardly understand the story? (4:78)
Comparing Muhammad’s clear answers from the Quran with the attributed to him statements; it seems that we are talking about two different individuals.