Quran Garden

Session 407

Chapter 3

Verses 79, 80 & 81

No person to whom God had given the Scripture, wise judgment, and prophethood would ever say to people, "Be my servants, not God's." Rather, "You should be devoted to the Lord because you have taught the Scripture and studied it closely." He would never command you to take angels and prophets as lords. How could he command you to be disbelievers after you had devoted yourselves to God? (Chapter 3: Verses 79 and 80)

A person whom Allah, the all-knowledgable all-wise, chose to be a messenger would never say to people: "Worship me, or the angels, or worship the prophets." God grants His book, wisdom, and prophethood to those pure in heart and faith.  He says,  

He would never command you to take angels and prophets as lords. How could he command you to be disbelievers after you had devoted yourselves to God? (Chapter 3: Verse 80)

This verse is related to an incident where some of the companions wanted to show their love and respect to prophet Muhammad.  They suggested that the best way to greet him was with prostration.  The Prophet, peace be upon him, made it clear that prostration is to God, and God alone.  Had the messenger agreed to their suggestion, this would have meant that he was taking them out of Islam, and that can never occur from our beloved Muhammad or any other Prophet. 

Now, we move to the next verse in Al-Imran.  God says,

God took a pledge from the prophets, saying, "If, after I have bestowed Scripture and wisdom upon you, a messenger comes confirming what you have been given, you must believe in him and support him. Do you affirm this and accept My pledge as binding on you?" They said, "We do.' He said, "Then bear witness and I too will bear witness." (Chapter 3: Verse 81)

This verse explains why the Almighty sends a chain of messengers.  We all know that the first teachings were revealed to Adam, peace be upon him.  They contained everything necessary for a harmonious and just life on earth.  Adam faithfully delivered God's teachings to his children just as any good father would.  His children passed their knowledge onto their children and so on from one generation to the next.  But unfortunately, with the passage of time we find that some of the religious obligations are ignored and forgotten.  In short, humanity failed at preserving the teachings of their Lord. 

Humanity has always succeeded in passing on material knowledge.  People have used the wheel from the day of its invention without fail.  Every generation after Edison enjoyed light and electricity.  But humans are short-sighted and look for instant gratification.  We value material progress because we can immediately enjoy its benefits.  But we often fail to see the advantages of God's teachings, even though ignoring them usually ends in wars and poverty.   

People often neglect religion and then discard it altogether.  This usually happens gradually.  When you sin, your healthy conscious steps in to deter you or make you feel regret. This self-blame is a sign of a healthy state because it brings you back to the Lord, seeking forgiveness.  However, if you persistently sin, then that part of yourself becomes weaker.  At some point, the self-blame ceases and turns into an insatiable lust that chases after life's pleasures and leads you astray.  Now, you can no longer self-correct, and you need the help of the society around you to guide you towards the right path.  That is why it is critical to surround yourself with the right friends and community.     

Sadly, at times, both the reproaching self is diminished, and the society is corrupt.  Sin becomes widespread and even celebrated.  God says:

They did not forbid each other to do wrong. How vile their deeds were! (5:79)

Who can correct this situation? This is when the heavens must intervene with a new messenger to bring people back to the straight path. 

Allah created us while He possessed all attributes of perfection.  Our creation did not add anything to His attributes.   We cannot benefit God in any way even if we all perfectly follow His teachings.  This means that religion is a mercy from the Lord for our own benefit, not His, and His teachings are meant to elevate our status not His.  Allah is our Creator, and He wants the best for His creation.  We stand to lose if we leave God's teachings behind.  In a scared narration –Hadith Qudsi- narrated by Abu Dharr, may God be pleased with him, the Messenger, peace be upon him, relays to us the words of Allah.  He said:

"O my servants, I have forbidden injustice for myself, and I have forbidden it among you, so do not oppress one another.  O my servants, all of you are astray except for those I have guided, so seek guidance from me, and I shall guide you.  O my servants, all of you are hungry except for those I have fed, so seek food from Me, and I shall feed you.  O my servants, all of you are naked except for those I have clothed, so seek clothing from Me, and I shall clothe you.  O my servants, you sin by night and day, and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness from Me and I shall forgive you. 

O my servants, know that you will not be able to cause any harm to me, and you will not be able to bring me any benefit.  O my servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you, to be as pious as the most pious heart among you, that would not increase my dominion at all.  O my servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart among you, that would not decrease my dominion at all.  

O my servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to rise in one place and make a request of me, and were I to give each all he or she has requested, that would not diminish what I have any more than a needle would diminish the ocean if dipped into it. 

O my servants, it is only your deeds that I record for you and then recompense for you.  Let he who finds good praise Allah, and let he who finds otherwise blame no one but himself."