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October 13, 2006 – October 20, 2006
RELIGIOUS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (PART 4)
I seek refuge in Allah from satan the rejected.
In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.
QUESTION: Is a ‘disbeliever’ the same as a ‘hypocrite’? Also, is ‘an idol worshiper’ the same as a disbeliever?
ANSWER: The answer to this question will involve a lot of verses to fully understand the definition and the difference between the words. It is also important to know that God has used more than one word to describe everything. Sometimes, they may essentially mean the same. It is similar to calling God, as Allah or Al-Rahman, or His scripture as Al-Quran or Al-Furqan, or the deliverer of God’s message as a messenger or a warner.
Simply put, a disbeliever is one who does not believe in the existence and authority of God. It also means one who denies and rejects God’s words and His revelations. In addition, such people also deny the reality of the Day of Resurrection, or have doubts in it. In many cases, a believer may turn into a hypocrite or a disbeliever, due to their doubts or by disbelieving after believing.
Hypocrites typically come out of believers. Once they get doubts about God, His revelations, or His messengers, they start to waver between belief and disbelief. Such people follow the Quran only partially, while upholding human traditions and customs at the same time. Ego and arrogance is the main reason for turning into a hypocrite. The hypocrites lack the steadfastness and perseverance that is required of them, and end up surrendering to their personal opinions rather than following all of God’s laws.
An idol worshiper is more like a disbeliever who rejects God’s laws and follows authorities and gods beside Allah. They challenge God’s laws by distorting them or changing them. Whether they follow their ego or other humans for their religious guidance – these constitute idols besides God.
To enlighten you further, I will have to quote a few verses from the Quran so that you can understand the context in which God has used the words. After reciting each
verse, I will explain it to you.
DISBELIEVER: Some verses to understand the meaning of this word
2:87 We gave Moses the scripture, and subsequent to him we sent other messengers, and we gave Jesus, son of Mary, profound miracles and supported him with the Holy Spirit. Is it not a fact that every time a messenger went to you with anything you disliked, your ego caused you to be arrogant? Some of them you rejected, and some of them you killed.
2:88 Some would say, “Our minds are made up!” Instead, it is a curse from GOD, as a consequence of their disbelief, that keeps them from believing, except for a few of them.
COMMENT: The above verses tell you that most people reject God’s Absolute Authority by rejecting His messengers even though He sends profound miracles and signs through them, as a mercy to guide the people. This happens due to their ego and arrogance, and they challenge God by demanding what they like, rather than appreciating whatever God sends down.
2:121 Those who received the scripture, and know it as it should be known, will believe in this. As for those who disbelieve, they are the losers.
COMMENT: Here the disbelievers are defined as those who reject God’s scripture and don’t care whether it is from God or not. This shows the disregard they have for God’s words.
4:150 Part 1: Those who disbelieve in GOD and His messengers.
4:150 Part 2: And seek to make distinction among GOD and His messengers.
Proof: The Allah letters are 9 and 8, revealing the diff. of 1 – when people choose a certain messenger over another, or want to believe in and follow a certain messenger only, or reject a messenger of God, they have disbelieved. Their punishment is Hell, without a doubt. The “Revelation of 1” clarifies this serious offense of gross arrogance and ego, whereby the disbelieving humans place their personal opinions above God’s words.
4:150 Those who disbelieve in GOD and His messengers, and seek to make a distinction among GOD and His messengers, and say, “We believe in some and reject some,” and wish to follow a path in between;
4:151 These are the real disbelievers. We have prepared for the disbelievers a shameful retribution.
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Revealed: Verse 4:151 has 14 Allah letters, confirming the “system of messengers” and the serious consequences for challenging, disobeying or rejecting this important command.
Revealed: The Aleefs for both verses are 9 and 8, revealing the diff. of 1 – this is the Proof of Absoluteness expressed through these verses. They reflect a gross violation and challenge to God’s Absolute Authority, by disobeying the command to believe in all His messengers, without making any distinction.
On the other hand, the believers are marked with God’s mercy in the accompanying verse:
4:152 Part: As for those who believe in GOD and His messengers, and make no distinction among them, He will grant them their recompense.
Revealed: The Allah letters are 19 for this part of verse – Glory be to my Lord.
God’s attributes of Forgiver and Most Merciful appear at the end of the verse on “believers” and not on the verses on disbelievers - who differentiate between His messengers, or reject them. This ending portion is clearly marked with Allah letters and those of His current messenger, proving that God’s mercy is only for the believers.
4:152 Part: (Ending part of verse) GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
Revealed: The Allah letters are 7, and messenger’s letters are 8, revealing the diff. of 1 – His mercy and forgiveness extends only to the believers, Praise be to Him. Let me write the appropriate portions of verses on “disbelievers and believers”, to show you the clear proof and revelation.
4:150 Part: Those who disbelieve in GOD and His messengers.
4:152 Part: As for those who believe in GOD and His messengers.
Revealed: The Aleefs are 3 and 4, revealing the diff. of 1.
Revealed: The Allah letters are 9 and 10, revealing the diff. of 1 and
revealing the sum of 19.
Revealed: The Arabic letters are 23 and 22, revealing the diff. of 1. Revealed: The messenger’s letters are 13 and 13 – Matched and Balanced by God, to prove that there should be no distinction or differentiation
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between His messengers. They should all be equal in the eyes of the believers, and in their belief.
Revealed: The GV of messenger’s letters are 364 and 350, revealing the diff. of 14 – confirmed through the Seven Pairs.
In addition to all the proofs above, the verses on “disbelievers” and the “believers” are marked with messenger’s letters having a difference of precisely 19, as you will observe now.
Revealed: In verse 4:150, messenger’s letters are 63. In verse 4:152, messenger’s letters are 44, revealing the diff. of 19 – Praise be to my Lord.
The verse on the “believers” also has a secret and sacred coding split up as 14 and 19, for those who have accepted these miracles of God, as well as the messenger delivering them.
4:152 Part 1: As for those who believe in GOD and His messengers, and make no distinction among them.
Revealed: The Allah letters are 14, and messenger’s initials are 19, revealing the Sacred Codes.
4:152 Part 2: He will grant them their recompense.
Revealed: The Allah letters are 19 up to Part 2, while Allah letters were 14
for Part 1, again revealing the Sacred Codes of 14 and 19.
4:167 Surely, those who disbelieve and repel from the way of GOD have strayed far astray.
4:168 Those who disbelieve and transgress, GOD will not forgive them, nor will He guide them in any way;
4:169 Except the way to Hell, wherein they abide forever. This is easy for GOD to do.
COMMENT: In these verses, the disbelievers are defined as those who disbelieve in God and His message and repel others from the path of God, as well as violate and transgress God’s laws. These people are clearly destined for Hell.
16:83 They fully recognize GOD’s blessings, then deny them; the majority of them
are disbelievers.
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COMMENT: Those who deny and are unappreciative of God’s blessings and provisions given to them and refuse to worship Him are classified as disbelievers.
27:67‐68 Those who disbelieved said, “After we turn into dust, and also our parents, do we get brought out? We have been given the same promise in the past. These are nothing but tales from the past.”
COMMENT: Those who do not believe in the Day of Resurrection and in God’s Omnipotence to create and recreate are considered disbelievers.
46:9 Say, “I am not different from other messengers. I have no idea what will happen to me or to you. I only follow what is revealed to me. I am no more than a profound warner.
46:10 Say, “What if it is from GOD and you disbelieved in it? A witness from the Children of Israel has borne witness to a similar phenomenon, and he has believed, while you have turned arrogant. Surely, GOD does not guide the wicked people.” 46:11 Those who disbelieved said about those who believed, “If it were anything good, they would not have accepted it before us.” Because they were not guided to it, they said, “This is an old fabrication.”
COMMENT: When a messenger brings a new message and proof / miracle / sign from God, the wicked people have doubts about it and reject him, without realizing that it is indeed from God. The majority of the people of the scripture refused to believe in the Quran when it was revealed through Muhammad. The majority of the followers of the Quran refused to believe in the Miracle of 19 when it was revealed through Rashad. The vast majority still stubbornly and arrogantly refuse to believe in the latest revelations of the Seven Pairs, the Revelation of 1 and the Revelation of the Sacred Codes, revealed through Makbool. The proofs of God are unique and cannot be fabricated by another human. This is to distinguish them as being truthful and from God. These verses point out to the mathematical proofs in God’s scriptures, and those who refuse to believe or reject God’s proofs are the disbelievers.
40:35 They argue against GOD’s revelations, without any basis. This is a trait that is most abhorred by GOD and by those who believe. GOD thus seals the hearts of every arrogant tyrant.
40:69 Have you noted those who argue against GOD’s proofs, and how they have deviated?
40:70 They are the ones who have disbelieved in the scripture, and in the messages we have sent with our messengers. Therefore, they will surely find out.
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COMMENT: Those who argue against God’s revelations and His proofs in the scripture, and in the messages delivered by His messengers; have deviated from Submission by disbelieving in the verses of the scripture, and are labeled as disbelievers. Verse 40:70 is therefore coded to reveal that the Lord (202) sends the messengers with the mathematical proofs to guide the people and to test their submission (162) to Him, through the Statute Book (462) that they already have.
40:70 Part: They are the ones who have disbelieved in the scripture, and in the messages we have sent with our messengers.
Revealed: The GV of messenger’s letters is 462 – The Statute Book.
40:70 Part: Therefore, they will surely find out.
Revealed: The GV of messenger’s letters is 202 – Lord.
Revealed: The GV of Allah letters for the entire verse is a perfect 162 – The Submission. The Lord thus sends the messengers with the proofs and the messages to guide the humans towards Submission to Him, and tests the existing submitters as to their steadfastness.
50:24‐26 Throw into Gehenna (Hell) every stubborn disbeliever. Forbidder of charity, aggressor, full of doubt. He set up beside GOD another god. Throw him into severe retribution.
COMMENT: Those who followed their own personal opinions or followed someone else’s commands had set up another god beside Allah. This happens because of their doubts about Allah and for refusing to follow His commands in the Quran; therefore, their destiny will be Hell due to disbelief.
56:80‐82 A revelation from the Lord of the universe. Are you disregarding this narration (God’s Hadith)? Do you make it your business that you disbelieve?
COMMENT: The Quran and its subsequent mathematical revelations are the Hadith of God (His Words). Anyone who disregards them and does not fully believe in them is considered a disbeliever.
70:36‐38 What is keeping those who disbelieved from joining you (the messenger)? To the right, and to the left, they flee. How can any of them expect to enter the blissful Paradise?
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COMMENT: The majority of the people run right and left - away from the message, closing their eyes and ears to the message recited by the messenger of God; thereby becoming disbelievers and depriving themselves of the chance of redemption, to enter Paradise.
15:80‐81 The people of Al-Hijr disbelieved the messengers. We gave them our revelations, but they disregarded them.
25:37 Similarly, when the people of Noah disbelieved the messengers, we drowned them, and we set them up as a “sign” for the people. We have prepared for the transgressors a painful retribution.
COMMENT: Disbelieving in God’s messengers is a gross sin and constitutes idolatry. They are the ones who are given the revelations and disregarding them can bring about God’s retribution.
2:98 Anyone who opposes GOD, and His angels, and His messengers, and Gabriel and Michael, should know that GOD opposes the disbelievers.
COMMENT: Anyone who opposes God’s system or opposes any of His messengers, who deliver and recite His messages, which include His angels and human messengers, is considered a disbeliever. God can choose anyone He likes to be His messenger – this is to show and demonstrate His Absolute Authority over all matters and commands, and whoever does not agree with this attribute, privilege and right of God is a disbeliever.
10:101 Say, “Look at all the signs in the heavens and the earth.” All the proofs and all the warnings can never help people who decided to disbelieve.
COMMENT: The messenger recites the Shahadah to introduce himself as the messenger of the Almighty God. When people disbelieve in him, they fail to realize or show reverence for the ONE who created the infinite and vast universe with so many signs and proofs. If they really feared GOD, then they will think twice before rejecting the message from Him. An opportunity is lost by the majority to show reverence for His words and Signs, and therefore they stay as disbelievers. This is the reason God warns the people not to be the first to reject His revelations.
2:41 Part: You shall believe in what I have revealed herein, confirming what you have.
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Revealed: The GV of Allah letters is 66 – confirming the Source and the Author of the Quran and its subsequent revelations.
Revealed: The messenger’s letters are 14 – the Quran is confirmed once again through me.
2:41 Part: “Do not be the first to reject it.”
Revealed: The Allah letters are 7, and messenger’s letters are 8, revealing the diff. of 1.
7:101 We narrate to you the history of those communities: their messengers went to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe in what they had rejected before. GOD thus seals the hearts of the disbelievers.
7:102 We found that most of them disregard their covenant; we found most of them are wicked.
COMMENT: The humans made a Covenant with God before being sent to Earth, which includes the following:
- That Allah is the only Lord (7:172).
- That we shall hear and obey (5:7, 2:285, 2:100-102, 24:51).
- That we shall uphold His scriptures (7:169, 2:99-100).
- That we shall only speak the truth, and not lie against God (7:169).
- That we shall follow His guidance - by following & supporting His messengers (7:35, 6:130, 20:123, 3:81, 40:70, 7:101,102, 16:63-64).
Despite these covenants made with ALLAH, most of the humans disregard them by refusing His commands and by rejecting His Absolute Authority. He tests the humans by sending messages through human messengers. The serious message of our “Covenants” made with God are narrated and marked in verses 7:101-102.
Revealed: The verse 7:101, relating to the rejection of messengers despite clear proofs presented by them, is marked with 14 Aleefs. It is further augmented by placing the messenger’s initials as 42 and the entire letters of messenger’s name as 56, thereby revealing the diff. of 14, being the Seven Pairs.
7:102 Part 1: We found that most of them disregard their Covenant.
7:102 Part 2: We found most of them wicked.
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Revealed: The Allah letters are 6 and 5, revealing the diff. of 1 – Proven by God.
6:27 If only you could see them when they face the hellfire! They would say then, “Woe to us. Oh, we wish we could go back, and never reject our Lord’s revelations, and join the believers.”
6:28 As a matter of fact, (they only say this because) their secrets have been exposed. If they go back, they will commit exactly the same crimes. They are liars.
6:29 They say (subconsciously), “We live only this life; we will not be resurrected.” 6:30 If only you could see them when they stand before their Lord! He would say, “Is this not the Truth?” They would say, “Yes, by our Lord.” He would say, “You have incurred the retribution by your disbelief.”
6:31 Losers indeed are those who disbelieve in meeting GOD, until the Hour comes to them suddenly, then say, “We deeply regret wasting our lives in this world.” They will carry loads of their sins on their backs; what a miserable load!
COMMENT: Those who rejected God’s revelations – be they from the scripture or the numbers, or His Signs and Miracles, or His messengers, will wish upon seeing the retribution of Hell, that they could go back and join the believers, by believing and following whatever God had sent down to the people. A simple question will be asked by GOD to the disbelievers as to what they think about the truth of His words and why they did not submit (162). They would agree on that Day that God’s words and revelations were the truth. These people never believed in meeting God, and will realize that their life spent on earth was wasted away.
6:30 Part: He (God) would say, “Is this not the truth?” They (the disbelievers) would say, “Yes, by our Lord.”
Revealed: The GV of Allah letters is a perfect 162 – GOD’s revelations are the truth, and they were sent down to give them a chance for Submission (162) to GOD.
6:30 Part: He (God) would say, “Is this not the truth?”
Proof of Truth: The Allah letters are 8, and messenger’s letters are 9, revealing the diff. of 1 – God revealed the truth of His words and revelations through the messengers; hence, the confirmation of the System is provided through Allah letters and of the messenger, Makbool Husain, Glory be to my Lord.
THE HYPOCRITES: Some verses to understand the meaning of this word
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4:60 Have you noted those who claim that they believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you, then uphold the unjust laws of their idols? They were commanded to reject such laws. Indeed, it is the devil’s wish to lead them far astray.
4:61 When they are told, “Come to what GOD has revealed, and to the messenger,”
you see the hypocrites shunning you completely.
4:62 How will it be when a disaster hits them, as a consequence of their own works? They will come to you then and swear by GOD: “Our intentions were good and righteous!”
4:63 GOD is fully aware of their innermost intentions. You shall ignore them, enlighten them, and give them good advice that may save their souls.
COMMENT: There are followers of the scripture (and some believers) who follow innovations and idols (unauthorized human beings) besides the Quran. God does not allow this. When they are asked to listen and follow the messenger, they turn away in aversion and shun the messenger. They may pretend to be believers and may approach the messenger to express their belief – in order to avoid the disaster or an affliction and to receive God’s mercy, but He knows their innermost thoughts and belief. They are considered hypocrites by God, because they believe with their mouths, while their hearts do not believe.
8:49 The hypocrites and those who harbor doubt in their hearts said, “These people are deceived by their religion.” However, if one puts his trust in GOD, then GOD is Almighty, Most Wise.
COMMENT: Some people believe in the Quran only partially; therefore, they do not believe in the verses on messengers. Such people mock and ridicule the believers who follow the messenger, out of their hypocrisy, and remain under the illusion that they are guided. God knows best about their belief. They are exposed as hypocrites when they reject any messenger of God.
9:64 The hypocrites worry that a sura may be revealed exposing what is inside their hearts. Say, “Go ahead and mock. GOD will expose exactly what you are afraid of.”
9:65 If you ask them, they would say, “We were only mocking and kidding.” Say, “Do you realize that you are mocking GOD, and His revelations, and His messenger?” 9:66 Do not apologize. You have disbelieved after having believed. If we pardon some of you, we will punish others among you, as a consequence of their wickedness.
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9:67 The hypocrite men and the hypocrite women belong with each other – they advocate evil and prohibit righteousness, and they are stingy. They forgot GOD, so He forgot them. The hypocrites are truly wicked.
9:68 GOD promises the hypocrite men and the hypocrite women, as well as the disbelievers, the fire of Hell, wherein they abide forever. It suffices them. GOD has condemned them; they have incurred an everlasting retribution.
COMMENT: These are very serious verses; they point out the fact that mocking of God, His revelations, and His messengers, is against submission. Such people are considered hypocrites and will get the same punishment of Hell, just like the disbelievers. There is no difference in retribution on the Day of Judgment.
9:75 Some of them even pledged: “If GOD showered us with His grace, we would be charitable, and would lead a righteous life.”
9:76 But when He did shower them with His provisions, they became stingy, and turned away in aversion.
9:77 Consequently, He plagued them with hypocrisy in their hearts, till the day they meet Him. This is because they broke their promises to GOD, and because of their lying.
COMMENT: These verses reflect “conditional worship of God”. When God answered their imploring for more worldly provisions, they still remained stingy in giving charities, and did not observe God’s laws. God does not guide such people who break their pledges and promises with Him – it is a serious violation of their oaths, and they remain hypocrites in this life deprived of God’s guidance and mercy.
9:97 The Arabs are the worst in disbelief and hypocrisy, and the most likely to ignore the laws that GOD has revealed to His messenger. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.
9:101 Among the Arabs around you, there are hypocrites. Also, among the city dwellers, there are those who are accustomed to hypocrisy. You do not know them, but we know them. We will double the retribution for them; then they end up committed to a terrible retribution.
COMMENT: The people who received the Quran were the Arabs. The majority of them are considered by God to ignore His laws that He revealed through His messengers. The majority of them are therefore, labeled as hypocrites and disbelievers.
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Hypocrites Fail in the Test: 33:11 That is when the believers were truly tested; they were severely shaken up.
Revealed: The messenger’s initials are 14, and messenger’s letters are 19 – revealing the Sacred Codes, confirming the test that the believers are put into, to distinguish if they are truthful or liars.
33:12 The hypocrites and those with doubts in their hearts said, “What GOD and His messenger promised us was no more than an illusion!”
Revealed: Both verses: The messenger’s letters are 19 and 33, revealing the diff. of 14 – all of you are already being tested through this messenger, as the Code of Seven Pairs reveals, though God has spared you with the severe test up to now. But be prepared for the future tests.
As I have stated earlier in the sermon, the hypocrites typically originate out of the believers, as explained and proven through the above pair of verses. This happens when they harbor doubts about God and His messenger, at which point God labels them as hypocrites.
COMMENT: When the believers are tested by God through the messenger, some of them doubt the messenger’s words – if they do not achieve immediate success or victory; they reveal their hypocrisy by criticizing God and His messenger, or by expressing doubts. The sincere believers are distinguished during the tests conducted through the messenger and their response is one of belief, trust, and compliance. Here is what they say, and the statement further confirms the system of God as well as the belief. If your belief is according to the proofs of the verse, then you are approved by God to be in this congregation.
33:22 Part: They said (the believers), “This is what GOD and His messenger have promised us.”
Revealed: The Allah letters are 13, and messenger’s letters are 12, revealing the diff. of 1 – Glory be to my Lord.
33:22 Part: They said (the believers), “This is what GOD and His messenger have promised us, and GOD and His messenger are truthful.”
Revealed: The Allah letters are 19, and messenger’s letters are 20, revealing the diff. of 1 – Glory be to my Lord.
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The Inevitable Test: 29:11 GOD will most certainly distinguish those who believe, and He will most certainly expose the hypocrites.
Revealed: The Allah letters are 14 – Test through the Seven Pairs Revelation. Those who say they believe in God and the Quran, but fail or refuse to believe in these revelations are hypocrites. Their fate on the Day of Judgment is the same as the disbelievers.
63:1 When the hypocrites come to you they say, “We bear witness that you are the messenger of GOD.” GOD knows that you are His messenger, and GOD bears witness that the hypocrites are liars.
63:2 Under the guise of their apparent faith, they repel the people from the path of
GOD. Miserable indeed is what they do.
63:3 This is because they believed, then disbelieved. Hence, their minds are blocked; they do not understand.
COMMENT: When Muhammad preached God’s message through the Quran, and recited the correct Shahadah from it, some of the Arabs believed and followed him. Later, some of those who believed turned around to disobey God and His messenger by adding Muhammad’s name to the Shahadah. They did this to show their love for the human messenger, contrary to his commands, and violating God’s revelations in the Quran. Such people are not believers, but pretend to be. Their sole intention is to break up the congregation and they repel others from true Islam. That is why God says: “they believed, then disbelieved”. This clarifies what I have stated earlier that hypocrites are born out of believers.
THE IDOL WORSHIPERS – Some of the verses to understand the meaning of it
2:105 Neither the disbelievers among the followers of the scripture, nor the idol worshipers, wish to see any blessings come down to you from your Lord. However, GOD showers His blessings upon whomever He chooses. GOD possesses infinite grace.
COMMENT: The disbelievers here are compared with the idol worshipers – both groups of people do not like God’s messengers and God’s laws revealed through the scripture. The disbelievers may have the scripture but not follow it totally; while the idol worshipers do not like any scripture and follow other unauthorized teachings or no teachings at all. When God appoints a messenger with His blessings and grace, they oppose it.
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3:186 You will certainly be tested, through your money and your lives, and you will hear from those who received the scripture, and from the idol worshipers, a lot of insult. If you steadfastly persevere and lead a righteous life, this will prove the strength of your faith.
COMMENT: The believers are tested by God with their money and lives through the messenger. Some followers of the scripture and those that do not follow the scripture (the idol worshipers) do not care to believe and follow the messengers and oppose them by insulting them. The true believers are thus distinguished over the disbelievers, hypocrites, and idol worshipers.
5:82 You will find that the worst enemies of the believers are the Jews and the idol worshipers. And you will find that the closest people in friendship to the believers are those who say, “We are Christian.” This is because they have priests and monks among them, and they are not arrogant.
COMMENT: In this verse, the disbelieving Muslims who idolize Muhammad and refuse to believe in subsequent messengers and messages are called by God as idol worshipers. The Jews and this group of disbelievers are the most ardent opponents of the messengers and of the believers. On the other hand, the Christians who faithfully follow Jesus’ teachings believe in humility, non-aggression, and non- violence and therefore, may be more apt to listen rather than opposing the believers.
6:22 On the day when we summon them all, we will ask the idol worshipers, “Where are the idols you set up?”
6:23 Their disastrous response will be, “By GOD our Lord, we never were idol worshipers.”
6:24 Note how they lied to themselves, and how the idols they had invented have abandoned them.
6:25 Some of them listen to you (the messenger), but we place veils on their hearts to prevent them from understanding, and deafness in their ears. Thus, no matter what kind of proof they see, they cannot believe. Thus, when they come to argue with you, the disbelievers say, “These are tales from the past.”
6:26 They repel others from this (Quran), as they themselves stay away from it, and thus, they only destroy themselves without perceiving.
COMMENT: These verses clearly inform you that the people who follow other than God’s messengers are called “idol worshipers”. These people follow their own opinions, or follow other unauthorized human beings, thereby constituting idols
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besides God. If they believed and followed the entire Quran, this sin of idolatry would not happen.
6:14 Say, “Shall I accept other than GOD as a Lord and Master, when He is the Initiator of the heavens and the earth, and He feeds but is not fed?” Say, “I am commanded to be the most devoted submitter, and, ‘Do not be an idol worshiper.”
6:15 Say, “I fear, if I disobeyed my Lord, the retribution of an awesome day.”
COMMENT: This verse defines idolatry as accepting commands from other than God. These verses address the messengers, who follow God’s commands to submit to Him, and tells us that any disobedience to God’s commands can bring about the retribution of an awesome day. It also clarifies the meaning of idolatry as being the opposite of submission to God. Even a messenger cannot make up his own commands – they follow the inspiration given to them.
6:105 We thus explain the revelations, to prove that you have received knowledge, and to clarify them for people who know.
6:106 Follow what is revealed to you (the messenger) from your Lord, there is no god except He, and disregard the idol worshipers.
6:107 Had GOD willed, they would not have worshiped idols. We did not appoint you as their guardian, nor are you their advocate.
COMMENT: These verses clarify that messengers receive revelations and the knowledge from God, they are strictly commanded to follow them with the faith and belief that they are from the One God who is the Lord of the Universe. Those who reject God’s revelations and reject the messenger are considered idol worshipers.
7:2 This scripture has been revealed to you – you shall not harbor doubt about it in your heart – that you may warn with it, and to provide a reminder for the believers.
7:3 You shall all follow what is revealed to you from your Lord; do not follow any idols besides Him. Rarely do you take heed.
COMMENT: The scripture has actually been sent down to remind the believers about their Covenants with God, so that they can uphold His laws to redeem their souls. At the same time, it serves as a warning to the opponents and disbelievers in God. Everyone is advised to follow God’s words and revelations – any deviation from it or following other sources besides Quran constitutes setting up idols besides Allah.
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17:2 Similarly, we gave Moses the scripture, and rendered it a beacon for the Children of Israel that: “You shall not set up any idol as a Lord and Master besides Me.”
COMMENT: This conveys the same message again consistent with God’s teachings to the people, including the Children of Israel that: they were commanded to follow the scripture alone without resorting to anyone else beside His messengers, or any other source beside the scripture. God is the only One whose commands have to be obeyed and all humans are advised to disregard the commands of unauthorized humans, otherwise they will be guilty of setting up lords and masters beside Allah.
4:60 Have you noted those who claim that they believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you, then uphold the unjust laws of their idols? They were commanded to reject such laws. Indeed, it is the devil’s wish to lead them far astray.
COMMENT: The devil does not want the humans to follow God’s laws, as he does not believe in His Absolute Authority. Some people may believe in the past messengers and revelations and the current ones in the presence of the messenger, but then deliberately uphold and follow the laws of human gods which are based on traditions, innovations, customs, and conjecture. Such people challenge God’s Authority and refuse to reject human laws. This verse clarifies “idolatry” as failing to uphold all of God’s laws, or following other than His laws.
16:35 The idol worshipers say, “Had GOD willed, we would not worship any idols besides Him, nor would our parents. Nor would we prohibit anything besides His prohibitions.” Those before them have done the same. Can the messengers do anything but deliver the complete message?
COMMENT: The idolaters bent on disbelieving in God’s laws and in violating them, blame God for not guiding them and their parents, rather than asking forgiveness for their sins and repenting to Him. As the verse shows, these people deliberately reject and refuse to follow the message delivered by God’s messengers.
40:66 Say, “I have been enjoined from worshiping the idols you worship besides GOD, when the clear revelations came to me from my Lord; I was commanded to submit to the Lord of the Universe.
COMMENT: Messengers are commanded to follow the clear revelations of God, and not to obey or follow other human beings. If they do, they would be guilty of idol
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worship – accepting commands from others beside God. The same applies to the believers and all others to follow whatever God reveals through the messenger.
CONCLUSION: Simply put, there is not much difference in the words: hypocrites, disbelievers, or the idol worshipers. Either you are a believer, or you are included in one of the above 3 categories. The punishment on the Day of Resurrection is the same for all the 3 categories. They will all be thrown in Hell – an everlasting punishment. You would have noticed that God has used these words in the same verses sometimes, to show us that there is no real difference in these 3 categories. They all belong with the devil and are God’s enemies – this is the bottom line.
This khutbah (sermon) is for the weeks of October 13 and October 20, 2006. There will be no posting of sermon on October 20, 2006.
Peace be upon the messengers.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Universe.