Following Our Parents Blindly: A Great Human Tragedy
[14:10] Their messengers said, “Do you have doubts about GOD; the Initiator of the heavens and the earth? He invites you only to forgive your sins, and to give you another chance to redeem yourselves.” They said, “You are no more than humans like us, who want to repel us from the way our parents used to worship. Show us some profound authority.”
[14:11] Their messengers said to them, “We are no more than humans like you, but GOD blesses whomever He chooses from among His servants. We could not possibly show you any kind of authorization, except in accordance with GOD’s will. In GOD the believers shall trust.
[14:12] “Why should we not trust in GOD, when He has guided us in our paths? We will steadfastly persevere in the face of your persecution. In GOD all the trusters shall trust.”
[14:13] Those who disbelieved said to their messengers, “We will banish you from our land, unless you revert to our religion.” Their Lord inspired them: “We will inevitably annihilate the transgressors.
[14:14] “And we will let you dwell in their land after them. This is (the reward) for those who reverence My majesty, and reverence My promise.”
[14:15] They issued a challenge, and consequently, every stubborn tyrant ended up doomed.
[14:16] Awaiting him is Hell, wherein he will drink putrid water.
[14:17] He will gulp it down, though he cannot stand it, as death comes to him from every direction, but he will never die. Awaiting him is a terrible retribution.*
*14:17 When we rebelled against God, and agreed with Satan during the great feud (38:69), the angels suggested that we should be banished to Hell (Appendix 7). But the Most Merciful decided to give us another chance to redeem ourselves. He said to the angels, “I know what you do not know” (2:30). God knew that many humans would have protested that they had no idea how bad Hell was. The awesome description of Hell in 14:17 and in 22:19-22, nullifies such a protest. Now we have a pretty good idea how terrible Hell is.
[14:18] The allegory of those who disbelieve in their Lord: their works are like ashes in a violent wind, on a stormy day. They gain nothing from whatever they earn; such is the farthest straying.
Isaiah 14:12 – 17.
12. How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13. You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. 14. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15. But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. 16. Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: “Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, 17. the man who made the world a wilderness, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?”
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