THE WORD OF GOD

Warn them of [the coming of] the Day of Remorse, when everything will have been decided, while they are heedless and do not believe. It is We who will inherit the earth and all who dwell upon it: they shall all return to Us. (19: 39-40) When a man meets with failure in this world, he has the opportunity to start his life afresh, and he feels himself fortunate to have friends and supporters who will offer him assistance. But, failure in the life Hereafter allows of no chance of reversal. What keen regret a man feels when he learns that he had the opportunity to do what was right and proper, but did nothing until it was too late! The root cause of all evil is that man takes himself to be his own master, while the fact is that this life is only a transient period in his existence. God was the Lord of everything in the beginning and He will be the Lord of everything till the end. In truth, there is nobody but God who may hold the position of a master. Also recount the story of Abraham in the Book. He was a man of truth, and a prophet. He said to his father, ‘Why do you worship something that can neither hear nor see nor benefit you in any way? Father, I have been given some knowledge which has not come to you, so follow me: I shall guide you along a straight path. Father! Do not worship Satan—for, truly, Satan is a rebel against the Most Gracious One! Father, indeed I fear lest a punishment from the Gracious One afflict you, and you become a friend of Satan.’ (19:41-45) Abraham was born in Iraq. His father, Azar, was a polytheist. When Abraham received prophethood, he advised his father to give up polytheism and start worshipping God, or face God’s retribution. Worship of Satan does not mean actually worshipping Satan himself, but worshipping something indicated by Satan. Although it is an inherent part of human nature to feel the need to glorify some being, place it in an elevated position and then bow down and pay homage to it, the real focus of such feelings should be and is God. But, Satan, by various methods, influences people and diverts their minds from this in order to make them worship things other than God, i.e. place them on a par with those who associate others with God and offer only to others what they should offer to God. o