Opposition to the New Evidence
[21:2] When a proof comes to them from their Lord, that is new, they listen to it heedlessly.
[21:3] Their minds are heedless. And the transgressors confer secretly: “Is he not just a human being like you? Would you accept the magic that is presented to you?
[21:4] He said, “My Lord knows every thought in the heaven and the earth. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.”
[21:5] They even said, “Hallucinations,” “He made it up,” and, “He is a poet. Let him show us a miracle like those of the previous messengers.”
[21:6] We never annihilated a believing community in the past. Are these people believers?
[21:7] We did not send before you except men whom we inspired. Ask those who know the scripture, if you do not know.
[21:8] We did not give them bodies that did not eat, nor were they immortal.
[21:9] We fulfilled our promise to them; we saved them together with whomever we willed, and annihilated the transgressors.
[21:10] We have sent down to you a scripture containing your message. Do you not understand?
[21:11] Many a community we terminated because of their transgression, and we substituted other people in their place.
[21:12] When our requital came to pass, they started to run.
[21:13] Do not run, and come back to your luxuries and your mansions, for you must be held accountable.
[21:14] They said, “Woe to us. We were really wicked.”
[21:15] This continued to be their proclamation, until we completely wiped them out.
[21:16] We did not create the heavens and the earth, and everything between them just for amusement.
[21:17] If we needed amusement, we could have initiated it without any of this, if that is what we wanted to do.
[21:18] Instead, it is our plan to support the truth against falsehood, in order to defeat it. Woe to you for the utterances you utter.
[21:19] To Him belongs everyone in the heavens and the earth, and those at Him are never too arrogant to worship Him, nor do they ever waver.
[21:20] They glorify night and day, without ever tiring.
*21:3 Although the Bible (Malachi 3:1) and the Quran (3:81) prophesy the advent of God’s Messenger of the Covenant, when he did appear, supported by ‘one of the greatest miracles’ (74:30-35), he was met with heedlessness and opposition. The divine assertion that every ‘new’ proof is opposed has been proven by the Arabs’ opposition to the Quran’s miracle. (App. 1 & 2).
21:4 makes it sound like thoughts are traveling through the heavens and earth like radio waves.
Whatever thought we have God will bring it out
Moment of Death Predetermined
[3:154] After the setback, He sent down upon you peaceful slumber that pacified some of you. Others among you were selfishly concerned about themselves. They harbored thoughts about GOD that were not right— the same thoughts they had harbored during the days of ignorance. Thus, they said, “Is anything up to us?” Say, “Everything is up to GOD.” They concealed inside themselves what they did not reveal to you. They said, “If it was up to us, none of us would have been killed in this battle.” Say, “Had you stayed in your homes, those destined to be killed would have crawled into their death beds.” GOD thus puts you to the test to bring out your true convictions, and to test what is in your hearts. GOD is fully aware of the innermost thoughts.
21:6 shows that every community will eventually turn wicked
[17:58] There is not a community that we will not annihilate before the Day of Resurrection, or inflict severe retribution upon them. This is already written down in the book.
[7:34] For each community, there is a predetermined life span. Once their interim comes to an end, they cannot delay it by one hour, nor advance it.
What is our responsibility?
- Lead a good example (26:84)
- Remind (51:55)
- Exhort family (14:31)
- Stand up for rights (26:227, 42:39, 42:41)
- Be patient
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?”
Miracle of the Quran to be Unveiled After Muhammad*
[10:20] They say, “How come no miracle came down to him from his Lord?” Say, “The future belongs to GOD; so wait, and I am waiting along with you.”
Questioning God’s Wisdom*
[6:124] When a powerful proof comes to them, they say, “We will not believe, unless we are given what is given to GOD’s messengers!” GOD knows exactly who is best qualified to deliver His message.* Such criminals will suffer debasement at GOD, and terrible retribution as a consequence of their evil scheming.
[13:38] We have sent messengers before you (O Rashad), and we made them husbands with wives and children. No messenger can produce a miracle without GOD’s authorization, and in accordance with a specific, predetermined time.
[12:109] We did not send before you except men whom we inspired, chosen from the people of various communities. Did they not roam the earth and see the consequences for those before them? The abode of the Hereafter is far better for those who lead a righteous life. Would you then understand?
[38:46] We bestowed upon them a great blessing: awareness of the Hereafter. [38:47] They were chosen, for they were among the most righteous.
[16:43] We did not send before you except men whom we inspired. Ask those who know the scripture, if you do not know.
21:8 disproves the Shia belief of the 12th imam (imam zaman) or the Sunni belief of Jesus being in hiding.
[39:30] You (Muhammad) will surely die, just like they will die. [39:31] On the Day of Resurrection, before your Lord, you people will feud with one another. [39:32] Who is more evil than one who attributes lies to GOD, while disbelieving in the truth that has come to him? Is Hell not a just requital for the disbelievers?
21:10 proves that the Quran is the message, not Hadith or Sunnah.
[50:45] We are fully aware of everything they utter, while you have no power over them. Therefore, remind with this Quran, those who reverence My warnings.
[16:35] The idol worshipers say, “Had GOD willed, we would not worship any idols besides Him, nor would our parents. Nor would we prohibit anything besides His prohibitions.” Those before them have done the same. Can the messengers do anything but deliver the complete message?
[18:27] You shall recite what is revealed to you of your Lord’s scripture. Nothing shall abrogate His words, and you shall not find any other source beside it.
21:14 shows that at some point the disbelievers realize they are astray.
[21:64] They were taken aback, and said to themselves, “Indeed, you are the ones who have been transgressing.”
[21:46] When a sample of your Lord’s retribution afflicts them, they readily say, “We were indeed wicked.”
Why did God create the humans? 21:16
The Purpose of Our Existence
[51:56] I did not create the jinns and the humans except to worship Me alone. [51:57] I need no provisions from them, nor do I need them to feed Me.
[44:38] We did not create the heavens and the earth, and everything between them, just to play. [44:39] We created them for a specific purpose, but most of them do not know.
The Purpose of Our Life*
[67:2] The One who created death and life for the purpose of distinguishing those among you who would do better.* He is the Almighty, the Forgiving.
[17:81] Proclaim, “The truth has prevailed, and falsehood has vanished; falsehood will inevitably vanish.”
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