Hood
[7:65] To `Aad we sent their brother Hood. He said, “O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. Would you then observe righteousness?”
[7:66] The leaders who disbelieved among his people said, “We see that you are behaving foolishly, and we think that you are a liar.”
[7:67] He said, “O my people, there is no foolishness in me; I am a messenger from the Lord of the universe.
[7:68] “I deliver to you my Lord’s messages, and I am honestly advising you.
[7:69] “Is it too much of a wonder that a message should come to you from your Lord, through a man like you, to warn you? Recall that He made you inheritors after the people of Noah, and multiplied your number. Remember GOD’s blessings, that you may succeed.”
Following the Parents Blindly: A Human Tragedy
[7:70] They said, “Did you come to make us worship GOD alone, and abandon what our parents used to worship? We challenge you to bring the doom you threaten us with, if you are truthful.”
[7:71] He said, “You have incurred condemnation and wrath from your Lord. Do you argue with me in defense of innovations you have fabricated – you and your parents – which were never authorized by GOD? Therefore, wait and I will wait along with you.”
[7:72] We then saved him and those with him, by mercy from us, and we annihilated those who rejected our revelations and refused to be believers.
Maintaining the Status Quo: A Human Tragedy
[2:170] When they are told, “Follow what GOD has revealed herein,” they say, “We follow only what we found our parents doing.” What if their parents did not understand, and were not guided?
From these examples what designates someone from a legitimate messenger from a false messenger?
Appendix 2: HOW TO DISTINGUISH GOD’S MESSENGER FROM A FAKE MESSENGER
The Quran provides straightforward criteria to distinguish the true messengers of God from the false messengers:
[1] God’s messenger advocates the worship of God ALONE, and the abolition of all forms of idol worship.
[2] God’s messenger never asks for a wage for himself.
[3] God’s messenger is given divine, incontrovertible proof of his messengership. Anyone who claims to be God’s messenger, and does not meet the three minimum criteria listed above is a false claimant.
The most important difference between God’s messenger and a fake messenger is that God’s messenger is supported by God, while the fake messenger is not:
* God’s messenger is supported by God’s invisible soldiers (3:124-126, 9:26 & 40, 33:9, 37:171-173, 48:4 & 7, 74:31).
* God’s messenger is supported by God’s treasury (63:7-8).
* God’s messenger, as well as the believers, are guaranteed victory and dignity, in this world and forever (40:51 & 58:21).
If I have a wrong understanding from the verse of the Quran does that make me in innovator?
As long as we are sincere and not forcing our opinion onto others then God will guide us.
[3:7] He sent down to you this scripture, containing straightforward verses – which constitute the essence of the scripture – as well as multiple-meaning or allegorical verses. Those who harbor doubts in their hearts will pursue the multiple-meaning verses to create confusion, and to extricate a certain meaning. None knows the true meaning thereof except GOD and those well founded in knowledge. They say, “We believe in this – all of it comes from our Lord.” Only those who possess intelligence will take heed.
[16:119] Yet, as regards those who fall in sin out of ignorance then repent thereafter and reform, your Lord, after this is done, is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
David’s Exemplary Piety
[38:24] He said, “He is being unfair to you by asking to combine your sheep with his. Most people who combine their properties treat each other unfairly, except those who believe and work righteousness, and these are so few.” Afterwards, David wondered if he made the right judgment. He thought that we were testing him. He then implored his Lord for forgiveness, bowed down, and repented.*
Repentance: Cleaning the Slate
[9:11] If they repent and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), then they are your brethren in religion. We thus explain the revelations for people who know.
_ _
Subscribe to the podcast
Quran translation App on iOS
Quran translation website
Additional Resources
Quran Talk Blog 