THOSE WHO TURN AWAY They Are Not Believers - (al-Quran)

After Saying: ‘We Believe’

Those Who Turn Away

They Are Not Believers – (al-Quran)

(M. Javed Naseem)

Our Creator, the Almighty Allah, says that when we say by mouth that ‘we believe’ or ‘we hear and we obey’, it’s not good enough. We need to prove it. You’ll be tried and tested so that you could prove what you claim. If you are steadfast and patiently persevere, you are successful. That’s the real Faith (Iman). In this context, I’ll be talking about a few verses from Surah An-Noor (The Light) of the Holy Quran.

وَيِقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَبِٱلرَّسُولِ وَأَطَعْنَا ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّىٰ

فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ مِّن بَعْدِ ذٰلِكَ وَمَآ أُوْلَـٰئِكَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“They say: ‘We believe in Allah and in the

Messenger, and we obey’. But even after that, some

of them turn away. They are not (really) Believers.

(al-Quran 24:47)

That’s typical of us today. We can say or claim anything, even under oath, and in reality we do everything contrary to that. We don’t have the character to support our claims with our actions. This disparity between the word and action is called hypocrisy (Munaafiqat). And when we become hypocrites, we don’t belong to the community of ‘Believers’ any more. The above verse from the Quran tells us that Allah does not accept us as Believers if we turn away from obeying Allah and the Prophet (s.a.w.). So, do we qualify for Allah’s help after that?

وَإِذَا دُعُوۤاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ

مُّعْرِضُون وَإِن يَكُنْ لَّهُمُ ٱلْحَقُّ يَأْتُوۤاْ إِلَيْهِ مُذْعِنِينَ َ
“When they are summoned to Allah and

His messenger, in order that He may judge

between them, behold some of them decline

(to come). But if the right is on their side,

they come to him with all submission.”

(al-Quran 24:48-49)

Any group of people, any sect, any clan, any army, any community or any country that claims to be ‘super’ or the ‘strongest’ and brings misery to other human beings through warfare, conspiracies, bloodshed and diseases, is actually digging its own grave. It’s only a matter of time that their prime noon would transform into grim night of endless darkness. The history of Nimrod, Pharoah and all empires is witness to it.

We are all human beings and we have been created weak with limits. It’s only logical and reasonable that we respect those bounds and stay within our limits. Otherwise, we would be spreading evil, injustice and corruption; and committing transgression (Fitnah or Fassaad) in the earth. We are strictly forbidden to do that and are warned of the grave consequences thereof.

لاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مُعْجِزِينَ فِى

ٱلأَرْضِ وَمَأْوَاهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَلَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
“Never think that the Unbelievers are going to

frustrate (Allah's Plan) on earth. Their abode is

the Fire – and it is indeed an evil refuge!”

(al-Quran 24:57)

We live in the age of ‘consumerism’ and everything is commercialized revolving around money. People even make money from religion. Very few people take it seriously enough to seek moral and spiritual guidance. Many Mullahs and so-called scholars use it for material gains and comfortable living. The result is that their teachings have no bearing. If your actions don’t support and confirm your verbal claims (or speeches), you are a hypocrite (Munaafiq). Apply the teachings on your life first before preaching them to others. Once your character shows what you claim (or speak) you don’t need to preach any more. Your character, your behavior and your conduct does it for you.

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ALLAH’S PROMISE:

‘The Abode of Unbelievers

Is The Hellfire’

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It’s very easy to claim that we believe in Allah (or God), because, generally, we think that this belief is hidden and nobody is aware of it unless we announce it. That’s a very clever act of belief. It’s political. In fact, belief is what you show with your actions (or conduct). Belief is what you stand for; what you live for and what you can die for. Let me make it very plain and simple. Belief is when you obey Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.) by following their commands. The Prophet (s.a.w.) did not preach anything on his own. He rather preached what Allah taught him through the Quran; through His commands and through Gabriel who explained the Quran to him. In other words, the Prophet (s.a.w.) not only preached the Quran, but he also practiced it his entire life. He lived by the Quran and so should we as Muslims.

وَلَقَدْ أَنْزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ آيَاتٍ مُّبَيِّنَاتٍ وَمَثَلاً مِّنَ

ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْاْ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
“We have already sent down to you verses making

things clear, an illustration from (the story of) people

who passed away before you, and an admonition

for those who fear (Allah).”

(al-Quran 24:34)

لَّقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ آيَاتٍ مُّبَيِّنَاتٍ وَٱللَّهُ يَهْدِى

مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
“We have indeed sent down signs that make

things manifest; and Allah guides whom

He wills to a way that is straight.”

(al-Quran 24:46)

All the troubles and problem we Muslims are facing in this world today, point out that we are a people astray. We ignore the signs of Allah. We have deviated from the ‘right path’ detailed for us by God. We believe in Allah and Islam in theory only. In practice we do the contrary violating all rules and defying all commands. In the Middle East and Europe, Muslims say that there are two types of Muslims: Believers and Practitioners. Excuse me? If you don’t practice what you believe, you are a hypocrite. There is only one definition of Muslim: The one who practices Islam is a Muslim. Simple as that! Then there is a philosophical definition of a Muslim: The one who surrenders to the Will of Allah (meaning: obeying Allah; living for Allah; and dying for Allah).

إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوۤاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ

بَيْنَهُمْ أَن يَقُولُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَأُوْلَـٰئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
“The answer of the Believers, when summoned

to Allah and His Messenger, in order that He may

judge between them, is no other than this: They

say, "We hear and we obey". It is such as these

(people) that will attain felicity.”

(al-Quran 24:51)

وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَخْشَ ٱللَّهَ وَيَتَّقْهِ فَأُوْلَـٰئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَآئِزُون

“It is those who obey Allah and His Messenger, and

fear Allah and do right, that will win (in the end).”

(al-Quran 24:52)

Only obedience to Allah guarantees the peaceful and happy life in this world and great rewards in the Hereafter. If we live by Allah’s commands (by His Book – the Quran) He would be pleased with us and grant us the authority in the world. If we disobey Him, we would be humiliated by other nations and would live like their slaves. In other words, Islam is the guarantee of our welfare and success. Here’s what Allah says in the Quran:

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“Allah has promised, to those among you who

believe and work righteous deeds, that He will,

of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance

(of power), as He granted it to those before them;

that He will establish in authority their religion –

the one which He has chosen for them; and that

He will change (their state), after the fear in

which they (lived), to one of security and peace.

'They will worship Me (alone) and not associate

aught with Me. If any do reject Faith after this,

they are rebellious and wicked.”

(al-Quran 24:55)

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The rebellion and wickedness are actually signs of disobedience to Allah. Sometimes we commit a sin or a crime and don’t want to admit it. So, we look for ways and means to rationalize our action – in other words to justify it. Spiritually, that’s a disease of the heart. That’s wickedness and puts us together with the Unbelievers. Allah does not accept the good deeds of the Unbelievers for the Hereafter. They are rewarded for those deeds here in this world only.

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوۤاْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍ بِقِيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ ٱلظَّمْآنُ

مَآءً حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَآءَهُ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْئاً وَوَجَدَ ٱللَّهَ

عِندَهُ فَوَفَّاهُ حِسَابَهُ وَٱللَّهُ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ
“But the Unbelievers – their deeds are like a

mirage in sandy deserts, which the man parched

with thirst mistakes for water; until when he comes

up to it, he finds it to be nothing: But he finds

Allah (ever) with him, and Allah will pay him his

account. And Allah is swift in taking account.

(al-Quran 24:39)

أَفِى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَّرَضٌ أَمِ ٱرْتَابُوۤاْ أَمْ يَخَافُونَ أَن يَحِيفَ ٱللَّهُ

عَلَيْهِمْ وَرَسُولُهُ بَلْ أُوْلَـٰئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّالِمُونَ
“Is it that there is a disease in their hearts? Or

do they doubt, or are they in fear that Allah and

His Messenger will deal unjustly with them?

Nay, it is they themselves who do wrong.”

(al-Quran 24:50)

A true Muslim never comes up with big claims. He always proves his obedience to his Lord and the Prophet (s.a.w.) by his conduct and actions. We can fool some people with our false claims but we cannot fool Allah. He is All-Knowing, All-Hearing.

وَأَقْسَمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَانِهِمْ لَئِنْ أَمَرْتَهُمْ لَيَخْرُجُنَّ

قُل لاَّ تُقْسِمُواْ طَاعَةٌ مَّعْرُوفَةٌ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
“They swear their strongest oaths by Allah that,

if only you would command them, they would

leave (their homes). Say: "Swear not! Obedience

is (more) reasonable. Verily, Allah is well

acquainted with all that you do."

(al-Quran 24:53)

قُلْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْهِ مَا حُمِّلَ

وَعَلَيْكُمْ مَّا حُمِّلْتُمْ وَإِن تُطِيعُوهُ تَهْتَدُواْ

وَمَا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلاَّ ٱلْبَلاَغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
“Say: ‘Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger but

if you turn away, he is only responsible for the

duty placed on him; and you for that placed on

you. If you obey him, you shall be on right

guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to

preach the clear (Message).”

(al-Quran 24:54)

If you find the word ‘surrender’ or ‘obedience’ too complex to understand or to explain, here’s the simple formula of success, as laid down by the Almighty in the Quran. It covers all bases:

وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّـلواَةَ وَآتُواْ ٱلزَّكَواةَ

وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
“So establish regular prayer and give

regular charity; and obey the Messenger;

that you may receive mercy.”

(al-Quran 24:56)

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