THE MESSAGE FROM THE QURAN

God stood Adam up among the angels, as well as Satan, and tested them by commanding them to prostrate themselves before Adam. In this way He gave the first man on earth a practical demonstration of the two paths that would be open to his progeny. Either they would follow the example of the angels and bow to God’s commandments, even if this meant bowing before an inferior creature; or else they would be proud like Satan and refuse to bow before others which is a refusal to bow to God’s commandments. This is the test that man faces in his entire life. Here on earth man is constantly faced with two alternative courses of action. He can follow the angelic course and carry out God’s commandments by bowing before truth and justice in all that he does. He can also act as Satan did, letting himself be controlled by arrogance and contempt, refusing to concede the rights of others. When he turns to the Lord in repentance, God relents towards him, and cleanses him of his sins as if he had never committed them. This was the lesson of the forbidden tree. It is when man lets himself be deceived by Satan and exceeds the bounds that God has laid down for him that he goes astray. As soon as he eats of the 'forbidden fruit' he is deprived of God’s grace or, in other words, Paradise. But this loss is not an irretrievable one. Man still has the opportunity to turn in repentance to his Lord, rectify his actions and seek forgiveness for his sins. When he turns to the Lord in repentance, God relents towards him and cleanses him of his sins as if he had never committed them. The raising of the call to truth among men is a test of this nature. The preacher of truth is an ‘Adam’; it is for people to bow before him. If, carried away by pride and prejudice, they refuse to acknowledge his position, then they are following in Satan’s footsteps. God does not become plainly visible in this world; He tests people by revealing Himself through His signs. Those who can interpret His signs have discovered God Himself, and those who fail to interpret His signs have failed to find God. o