[7:0] In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
[7:1] A. L. M. S.*
*7:1 See Appendix 1 for the role of these initials in the Quran’s mathematical miracle.
[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.
[7:4] Many a community we annihilated; they incurred our retribution while they were asleep, or wide awake.
[7:5] Their utterance when our retribution came to them was: “Indeed, we have been transgressors.“
[7:6] We will certainly question those who received the message, and we will question the messengers.
[7:7] We will inform them authoritatively, for we were never absent.
[7:8] The scales will be set on that day, equitably. Those whose weights are heavy will be the winners.
[7:9] As for those whose weights are light, they will be the ones who lost their souls* as a consequence of disregarding our revelations, unjustly.
*7:9 Failing to heed our Creator leads to spiritual starvation and eventual “loss” of the soul.
[7:10] We have established you on earth, and we have provided for you the means of support therein. Rarely are you appreciative.
[7:11] We created you, then we shaped you, then we said to the angels, “Fall prostrate before Adam.” They fell prostrate, except Iblees (Satan); he was not with the prostrators.
Are there people who will not receive the message? (7:6)
[16:36] We have sent a messenger to every community, saying, “You shall worship GOD, and avoid idolatry.” Subsequently, some were guided by GOD, while others were committed to straying. Roam the earth and note the consequences for the rejectors.
[35:24] We have sent you with the truth, a bearer of good news, as well as a warner. Every community must receive a warner.
We Are Born With Instinctive Knowledge About God*
[7:172] Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendants of Adam, and had them bear witness for themselves: “Am I not your Lord?” They all said, “Yes. We bear witness.” Thus, you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, “We were not aware of this.”
[7:173] Nor can you say, “It was our parents who practiced idolatry, and we simply followed in their footsteps. Will You punish us because of what others have innovated?”
[7:174] We thus explain the revelations, to enable the people to redeem themselves.*
Monotheism: Natural Instinct*
[30:30] Therefore, you shall devote yourself to the religion of strict monotheism. Such is the natural instinct placed into the people by GOD. Such creation of GOD will never change. This is the perfect religion, but most people do not know.
If we give the message to someone and they don’t take heed are we held responsible? (7:6)
We are not responsible for the outcome of the person who receives the message all we can do is deliver the message. But if we give the wrong information then we would be held responsible for providing false information.
[80:1] He (Muhammad) frowned and turned away. [80:2] When the blind man came to him. [80:3] How do you know? He may purify himself. [80:4] Or he may take heed, and benefit from the message. [80:5] As for the rich man. [80:6] You gave him your attention. [80:7] Even though you could not guarantee his salvation. [80:8] The one who came to you eagerly. [80:9] And is really reverent. [80:10] You ignored him. [80:11] Indeed, this is a reminder.
On The Day Of Resurrection
[5:116] GOD will say, “O Jesus, son of Mary,* did you say to the people, `Make me and my mother idols beside GOD?’ ” He will say, “Be You glorified. I could not utter what was not right. Had I said it, You already would have known it. You know my thoughts, and I do not know Your thoughts. You know all the secrets. [5:117] “I told them only what You commanded me to say, that: `You shall worship GOD, my Lord and your Lord.’ I was a witness among them for as long as I lived with them. When You terminated my life on earth, You became the Watcher over them. You witness all things. [5:118] “If You punish them, they are Your constituents. If You forgive them, You are the Almighty, Most Wise.” [5:119] GOD will proclaim, “This is a day when the truthful will be saved by their truthfulness.” They have deserved gardens with flowing streams. They abide therein forever. GOD is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. This is the greatest triumph.
The leaders/teachers/messengers are more responsible that the information they deliver is correct:
[9:31] They have set up their religious leaders and scholars as lords, instead of GOD. Others deified the Messiah, son of Mary. They were all commanded to worship only one god. There is no god except He. Be He glorified, high above having any partners.
[14:21] When they all stand before GOD, the followers will say to the leaders, “We used to follow you. Can you spare us even a little bit of GOD’s retribution?” They will say, “Had GOD guided us, we would have guided you. Now it is too late, whether we grieve or resort to patience, there is no exit for us.”
[7:38] He will say, “Enter with the previous communities of jinns and humans into Hell.” Every time a group enters, they will curse their ancestral group. Once they are all in it, the latest one will say of the previous one, “Our Lord, these are the ones who misled us. Give them double the retribution of Hell.” He will say, “Each receives double, but you do not know.”
[33:68] “Our Lord, give them double the retribution, and curse them a tremendous curse.”
[38:61] They will also say, “Our Lord, these are the ones who led us into this; double the retribution of hellfire for them.”
Did the angels prostrate before Adam’s body or soul? (7:11)
The prostration was the command from God to serve the humans.
Dealing with people who will never admit they are wrong!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5CdJFEvwnA
Kathryn Schulz: On being wrong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QleRgTBMX88
Quran Talk Blog 