God’s Messengers Challenged (17:90 – 17:93)

God’s Messengers Challenged

[17:90] They said, “We will not believe you unless you cause a spring to gush out of the ground.
[17:91] “Or unless you own a garden of date palms and grapes, with rivers running through it.
[17:92] “Or unless you cause masses from the sky, as you claimed, to fall on us. Or unless you bring GOD and the angels before our eyes.
[17:93] “Or unless you own a luxurious mansion, or unless you climb into the sky. Even if you do climb, we will not believe unless you bring a book that we can read.”* Say, “Glory be to my Lord. Am I any more than a human messenger?”
*17:93 God’s Messenger of the Covenant, Rashad Khalifa, was thus challenged, including the challenge to bring a new book, or bring down masses from the sky. Verse 3:81 defines the duties of God’s Messenger of the Covenant. Overwhelming proof is detailed in Appendices 2 & 26. 

[20:133] They said, “If he could only show us a miracle from his Lord!” Did they not receive sufficient miracles with the previous messages?

Messengers Are Just Human Beings

[25:20] We did not send any messengers before you who did not eat food and walk in the markets. We thus test you by each other; will you steadfastly persevere? Your Lord is Seer. [25:21] Those who do not expect to meet us said, “If only the angels could come down to us, or we could see our Lord (we would then believe)!” Indeed, they have committed a gross arrogance, and have produced a gross blasphemy.

[25:7] And they said, “How come this messenger eats the food and walks in the markets? If only an angel could come down with him, to serve with him as a preacher!” [25:8] Or, “If only a treasure could be given to him!” Or, “If only he could possess an orchard from which he eats!” The transgressors also said, “You are following a bewitched man.” [25:9] Note how they called you all kinds of names, and how this led them astray, never to find their way back. [25:10] Most blessed is the One who can, if He wills, give you much better than their demands—gardens with flowing streams, and many mansions

[18:55] Nothing prevented the people from believing, when the guidance came to them, and from seeking the forgiveness of their Lord, except that they demanded to see the same (kind of miracles) as the previous generations, or challenged to see the retribution beforehand.

[6:35] If their rejection gets to be too much for you, you should know that even if you dug a tunnel through the earth, or climbed a ladder into the sky, and produced a miracle for them (they still would not believe). Had GOD willed, He could have guided them, unanimously. Therefore, do not behave like the ignorant ones.

[4:153] The people of the scripture challenge you to bring down to them a book from the sky! They have asked Moses for more than that, saying, “Show us GOD, physically.” Consequently, the lightning struck them, as a consequence of their audacity. Additionally, they worshiped the calf, after all the miracles they had seen. Yet, we pardoned all this. We supported Moses with profound miracles. 

[6:7] Even if we sent down to them a physical book, written on paper, and they touched it with their hands, those who disbelieved would have said, “This is no more than clever magic.” 

Prophecy of the Smoke:

[52:44] When they see masses falling from the sky, they will say, “Piled clouds!”

[34:2] He knows everything that goes into the earth, and everything that comes out of it, and everything that comes down from the sky, and everything that climbs into it. He is the Most Merciful, the Forgiving.

[34:9] Have they not seen all the things in front of them and behind them, in the heaven and the earth? If we willed, we could have caused the earth to swallow them, or caused masses to fall on them from the sky. This should be a sufficient proof for every obedient servant.

[57:4] He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days,* then assumed all authority. He knows everything that enters into the earth, and everything that comes out of it, and everything that comes down from the sky, and everything that climbs into it. He is with you wherever you may be. GOD is Seer of everything you do.