Self-Interest and Pretence

Self-Interest and Pretence

1985 6 June 7-8 Self-Interest and Pretence (484) Owing to the rebelliousness of the Jews, they were meted out severe punishments by God. Yet they did not take heed. They persisted in leading a sinful life. Thus they became subject to God’s curse which was visited upon them through the prophets. As is mentioned in the Qur’an, however, it did not mean that the prophets said to them, “Let the curse fall on you,” or that, “You are the cursed ones.” The verse of the Quran is as follows:

“Those of the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by David and Jesus, the son of Mary, because they rebelled and committed evil and never restrained one another from wrongdoing. Evil is what they were doing.

You see many of them taking the unbelievers as supporters. Evil is that to which their souls prompt them. They have incurred the wrath of God and shall endure eternal torment. Had they believed in God and the Prophet and that which is revealed to him, they would not have taken them as supporters. But many of them are evil-doers (AI-Maida 78-81).

The word curse cannot be taken to mean in its literal sense. It actually involved the exposure of their evil ways and the unveiling of the religious mask they had been putting on. The Jews, the former bearers of divine religion, had allowed self-interest, empty convention and racial prejudice to dominate their lives. Religion was being observed only on a superficial level, just to keep up the pretence that they were faithfully treading the path of God. They had interpreted religious teachings according to the dictates of their own desires. By following their own version of divine religion they were able to delude the common man into believing that they were observing it to the letter. The prophets came to warn them and expose their false pretensions.

There are several passages in the Bible which explain what it meant to be cursed by God. Here is an excerpt from the Book of Psalms in the Bible:

“But unto the wicked, God saith, what hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldst take my covenant in thy mouth?

Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.

Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brothers, thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.

These things hast thou done, and I keep silence;

Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself, but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

Now consider this, ye that forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

Who so offereth praise glorifieth me and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.