THE WORD OF GOD

THE WORD OF GOD From The Scriptures The Quran is the book of God. It has been preserved in its entirety since its revelation to the Prophet of Islam between CE 610 and 632. It is a book that brings glad tidings to humankind, along with divine admonition, and stresses the importance of man’s discovery of the Truth on a spiritual and intellectual level. Translated from Arabic and commentary by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan Say, [Prophet], ‘I am only a warner. There is no god but God, the One, the All-Powerful, Lord of the heavens and earth and everything between them, the Almighty, the Most Forgiving.’ Say, ‘This is momentous news, yet you ignore it. I had no knowledge of the Exalted Assembly when they argued [against the creation of man]: it has only been revealed to me that I am a plain warner.’ (38: 65-70) Your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am about to create a human being out of clay; and when I have formed him fully and breathed My spirit into him, prostrate yourselves before him.’ Thereupon the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together, but not Satan, who was too proud. He became one of those who deny the truth. (38: 71-74) It is stated in the Quran that Satan had become man’s enemy from the very first day. He dissuaded Adam’s progeny from adopting the right path by his glib and deceitful talk. Man should therefore be wary of Satan and try to save himself from his evil designs. Satan pursues man at all times and, surreptitiously entering his thoughts, manages to misguide him. Man must save himself from Satan and his promptings. God said, ‘Satan, what prevented you from prostrating yourself to what I created with My own Hands? Were you overcome by arrogance, or are you of those who think [only] of themselves as exalted?’ Satan replied, ‘I am better than him. You created me from fire, but You created him from clay.’ ‘Begone! You are accursed: My curse will remain upon you till the Day of Judgement!’