The Message of the Quran

The Jews were considered representatives of revealed religion in the Arab world. People used to ask them about the Prophet Mohammad. They would say something in an innocuous manner, to turn people away from the Prophet and his mission. They used to preach to people, exhorting them to follow the truth and live their lives according to it; in practice, however, they failed to believe when their turn came to do so. When a positive response to the call of God means demolishing the structure on which one has based one’s life, when it involves relinquishing positions of high honour and prestige, then those who have gained religious rank through worldly glory find it extremely difficult. For the truly devout, however, these things are no hindrance. The fulfillment that others find in worldly pleasures, true believers find in remembering God, in spending for His cause, in obeying His commandments and being steadfast in His path. They know well that it is God’s punishment that is to be feared, not worldly loss. “Children of Israel, remember the blessing I have bestowed on you, and that I have exalted you above the nations. Guard yourselves against the day when no soul can avail another in the least; when neither intercession nor ransom shall be accepted from it, nor will they be helped. Remember how We delivered you from Pharoah’s people who had oppressed you cruelly, slaying your sons and sparing your women. Surely that was a great trial from your Lord. We parted the sea for you and, taking you to safety, drowned Pharoah’s men before your very eyes. We made a covenant with Moses over forty nights, but in his absence you took up the calf and worshipped it, thus committing evil. Yet after that We pardoned you, so that you might give thanks. And recall when we gave Moses the Scriptures and knowledge of right and wrong, so that you might be rightly guided; and when Moses said to his people: ‘You have wronged yourselves, my people, in worshipping the calf. Turn in repentance to your creator and slay the culprits among you. That will be best for you in His sight.’ And He relented towards you. He is the Forgiving One, the Merciful. And when you said to Moses; ‘We will not believe in you until we see God with our own eyes,’ a thunderbolt struck you whilst you were looking on. Then We raised you after your death, so that you may give thanks. We caused the clouds to cast their shadow over you and sent down for you manna and quails, saying: ‘Eat of the good things We have given you.’ Indeed they did not wrong Us, but they wronged themselves.” (Quran, 2:47-57)