Thursday, February 25, 2016

Polytheism -> Monotheism -> Good Speech‏

إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الذِّكْرَ وَخَشِيَ الرَّحْمَٰنَ بِالْغَيْبِ فَبَشِّرْهُ بِمَغْفِرَةٍ وَأَجْرٍ كَرِيمٍ
Only you (can) warn (him) who follows the Reminder and fears the Most Gracious in the unseen. So give him glad tidings of forgiveness and a reward noble.

وَمَا عَلَّمْنَاهُ الشِّعْرَ وَمَا يَنبَغِي لَهُ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ وَقُرْآنٌ مُّبِينٌ
لِّيُنذِرَ مَن كَانَ حَيًّا وَيَحِقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ
And not We taught him [the] poetry, and not it is befitting for him. Not it (is) except a Reminder and a Quran clear, To warn (him) who is alive and may be proved true the Word against the disbelievers. 

Prophet-Messenger Muhammad was sent on mission to a polytheistic society, who were highly religious, and took pride in the fact that they were the custodians of the Ka'aba, housing their idols in it. The Quran, Surah An-Najm, specifically names their three major idols and condemns their faith. 

History informs us that the polytheists considered Allah (The Deity) to be the head of their pantheon of gods, and that Allah was the moon-god. The Quran, Surah Al-Qamar, draws our attention to the miracle of the splitting of the Moon, which negated the pagans' false belief of deifying the moon. Surely He, who could split the moon, also had power over the associated physics, and was able to ensure that the Earth survived for people to recognise the clear sign and heed the warning.        

Some of the primary addressees of the Quran were converting to the monotheistic message that they were being called to. It is but natural to expect that they were experiencing a wide range of emotions from gratitude for the guidance to anger at the past practices and their polytheistic religious leaders. The Quran 6:108 contained their revilement and fury thus: 
And (do) not insult those whom they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah (in) enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made fair-seeming to every community their deed. Then to their Lord (is) their return, then He will inform them about what they used to do.

When Moses was sent on mission to Pharaoh, he and his brother Aaron were ordered thus: 
Go, both of you, to Firaun. Indeed, he (has) transgressed. And speak to him a word gentle, perhaps he may take heed or fear." 

Regarding the sects created within the religion, the Quran 6:159 condemns sectarianism, but also orders the believers to steer clear of arguments about the sects' beliefs:   
Indeed, those who divide their religion and become sects, you are not with them in anything. Only their affair (is) with Allah, then He will inform them of what they used to do. 

And hold firmly to (the) rope (of) Allah all together and (do) not be divided. And remember (the) Favor (of) Allah on you when you were enemies then He made friendship between your hearts then you became by His Favor brothers. And you were on (the) brink (of) pit of the Fire then He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes clear for you His Verses so that you may (be) guided. 

In the Hereafter, God promises to reward those who believe and work accordingly with grades of dignity. Good speech will be rewarded thus: 
Indeed, Allah will admit those who believe and do the righteous deeds, (to) Gardens flow from underneath it the rivers. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearl, and their garments therein (will be of) silk. And they were guided to the good of the speech, and they were guided to (the) path (of) the Praiseworthy. 

The Quran ,Surah Rum, begins with the news of the victory of the Romans, reminding that Allah's promise is true. The Quran, Surah Rum, ends on the following note of encouragement for the believers: 

فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَلَا يَسْتَخِفَّنَّكَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُوقِنُونَ
So be patient. Indeed, (the) Promise (of) Allah (is) true. And (let) not take you in light estimation those who (are) not certain in faith.

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