Commentary on the Koran: Surah 20 (No. Q020)

Pickthall Translation and English Standard Version used unless otherwise noted.

Introduction

As we have said, Surah 20 Ta Ha was written in the year 613 the Fifth year of the Prophet’s mission which commenced in 608 CE. The message was given soon after the First Hijrah or Flight from Becca to Abyssinia under the Prophet’s cousin Ja’far.

The poor were seeking shelter under the protection of the Sabbatarian Church in Abyssinia and the Beccans were trying to have them extradited to Becca for suppression.

This Surah served to convert Omar ibn ul-Khattab who was a scribe. His conversion is related by Pickthall in his introduction to the Surah. He afterwards became Caliph.

Omar set out one day, sword in hand, with the intention of killing the Prophet – “This Sabaean who has split the unity of the Qureysh, calls their ideals foolish and their religion shameful, and blasphemes their gods.”

A friend met him and dissuaded him from killing the Prophet. He reminded Omar that if he killed him he would have to deal with the vengeance of a powerful clan. He is recorded as saying “Thinkest thou that the Banu abd Munaf would let thee walk on the earth if you had slain him” (cf. also Pickthall’s comments on Ta Ha regarding tribal pride surviving religious differences).

He then asked Omar if it were not better to return to the folk of his own house and keep them straight. Omar then asked which of the people of his own house. He was told: “Thy brother in law and cousin Said ibn Zeyd and thy sister Fatimah daughter of Al Khattab, for, by Allah, they have become Muslims and followers of [Muhammad] in his religion, so look thou to them.”

Note that Omar used the term Sabaean in his quote but the term is ignored by Muslim scholars and by Pickthall in his translation. The Sabaeans were from the area of Sheba and the Queen of Sheba was converted by Solomon. Modern Scholars have done their best to discredit the story; however the kingdom is held by many to date from ca 1200 BCE.

At the time that Omar was using the term, he was not in favour of the religious beliefs of the Prophet which form the Koran. They are directly tied to Biblical Unitarianism and using Old and New Testament theology. He thus could only have been using the term in its sense of Biblical Unitarianism, as the pleas by the Beccans in the mission to the Negus of Abyssinia made it very clear that they had nothing to do with Trinitarianism, and the statements by Ja’far cousin of the Prophet show they followed Biblical Law and the worship of the One True God and followed the Messianic faith (cf. Surah 19 above).

The Islamic writers also stated that the Sabaean practices also infiltrated the Sharia as we see below. The marriage practices were derived from Scripture in the main. The pilgrimages were idolatrous and derived from mysticism.

The Muslim writer Muhammad Shukri al-Alusi compares their religious practices to Islam in his Bulugh al-'Arab fi Ahwal al-'Arab: (cf. Wikipedia article on the Sabaeans) ^[18]

The Arabs during the pre-Islamic period used to practice certain things that were included in the Islamic Sharia. They, for example, did not marry both a mother and her daughter. They considered marrying two sisters simultaneously to be a most heinous crime. They also censured anyone who married his stepmother, and called him dhaizan. They made the major [hajj] and the minor [umra] pilgrimage to the Ka'ba, performed the circumambulation around the Ka'ba [tawaf], ran seven times between Mounts Safa and Marwa [sa'y], threw rocks and washed themselves after intercourse. They also gargled, sniffed water up into their noses, clipped their fingernails, plucked their hair from their armpits, shaved their pubic hair and performed the rite of circumcision. Likewise, they cut off the right hand of a thief.

— Muhammad Shukri al-Alusi, Bulugh al-'Arab fi Ahwal al-'Arab, Vol. 2, p. 122

A late Arabic writer wrote of the Sabaeans that they had seven temples dedicated to the seven planets, which they considered as intermediaries employed in their relation to God. Each of these temples had a characteristic geometric shape, a characteristic color, and an image made of one of the seven metals. They had two sects, star and idol worshippers, and the former doctrine was similar to one that come from Hermes Trismegistus.^[19]

The Sabaeans were mentioned in the Qur'an twice as قوم سبأ, people of Saba. The Qur'an mentions the kingdom of the Saba in the 34th Chapter. The Qur'anic narrative, from sura 27 (An-Naml),[5] has Suleiman (Solomon) getting reports from the Hoopoe bird about the kingdom of Saba, ruled by a queen whose people worship the sun instead of God. Suleiman (Solomon) sends a letter inviting her to submit fully to the One God, Allah, Lord of the Worlds according to the Islamic text. The Queen of Saba is unsure how to respond and asks her advisors for counsel. They reply by reminding her that they are "of great toughness" in a reference to their willingness to go to war should she choose to. She replies that she fears if they were to lose, Suleiman may behave as any other king would: 'entering a country, despoiling it and making the most honorable of its people its lowest'. She decides to meet with Suleiman in order to find out more. Suleiman receives her response to meet him and asks if anyone can bring him her throne before she arrives. A jinn under the control of Suleiman proposed that he will bring it before Suleiman rises from his seat. One who had knowledge of the "Book" proposed to bring him the throne of Bilqis 'in the twinkling of an eye' and accomplished that immediately.[6] The queen arrives at his court, is shown her throne and asked: does your throne look like this? She replied: (It is) as though it were it. When she enters his crystal palace she accepts Abrahamic monotheism and the worship of one God alone, Allah.

These rituals of the circumambulation and the stoning and the other aspects are still kept at Mecca to this day. The understanding of the Beccan idolaters was seriously deficient in the Abrahamic faith and the idolatrous corruption of the Sabaeans and the confusion or denigration of the church under the Prophet. The Sabaeans were conquered by the Himyarite kingdom and which was converted to Judaism at the end of the Fourth century. The Jews were vehemently opposed to the Messianic faith of the Churches of God. Hence the use of the term Sabaean might have with it the acknowledgment of the distinction between the Jews and the Sabbatarian Christian system. There is no doubt however, from the Qur’an itself that the Prophet and the church there were Biblical Unitarians following Scripture and keeping the Sabbath.

Omar is recorded to have returned enraged against his sister and brother-in-law. There was with them in the house Khabab ibn ‘Arit who had a leaf of parchment containing the Surah 20 “Ta ha,” which he was reading to them (cf. Pickthall ibid).

When Omar arrived they hid Khabab in a closet and Fatimah hid the leaf under her thigh. Pickthall records the clash as follows: “...when he entered he said ‘What was that mumbling which I heard.’ They said: ‘Thou heardest nothing.’ Omar said: ‘Yea by Allah! And I have already been informed that ye are become followers of [Muhammad] in his religion’ Then he attacked his brother in law Sa’id ibn Zeyd, but Fatimah sprang to keep him off her husband and he struck and wounded her.”

They then admitted that they had become converts and believers. The records join the belief in Allah with that of his messenger and may well be derived from, or be the origin of the Shirk or idolatrous declaration.

Omar repented of the violence when he saw his sister’s blood. He then is recorded as saying: “Give me that leaf from which I heard you reading that I may see what this is that Muhammad has brought.” It is recorded that Omar was a scribe so he had no difficulty with the text. His sister required his purification as he was an idolater and so he went and washed himself, and she hoped for his conversion.

When he had read it he said: “how excellent are these words” and on hearing that Khabab came out of the closet and said: “O Omar I hope that Allah has brought you in answer to the prayer of the Prophet, for only yesterday I heard him saying: O Allah! Strengthen Al-Islam with Abul Hukm ibn Hisham or Omar ibn Al-Khattab; and Allah is Allah O Omar”. At that Omar said: “O Khabab direct me to Muhammad that I may go to him and make surrender.”

Thus Omar was converted in the Fifth year of the Prophet’s mission in 613 and the Ninth year before the Main Hijrah in 622 CE, and after the Flight from Becca to Abbyssinia by the poor and weak of the church under Ja’far cousin of the prophet. With Omar and other conversions the faith grew in Mecca and then after the flight to Al-Madinah the battles forced on it saw it grow into the force it did. However, as we will see, the idolaters managed to destroy its theology after the murder of Ali and Hussein.

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20.1. Ta. Ha.

20.2. We have not revealed unto thee (Muhammad) this Qur'an that thou shouldst be distressed,

20.3. But as a reminder unto him who feareth,

20.4. A revelation from Him Who created the earth and the high heavens,

20.5. The Beneficent One, Who is established on the Throne.

20.6. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and whatsoever is between them, and whatsoever is beneath the sod.

2Timothy 3:16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (RSV)

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

2Peter 1:20-21 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.²²For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 47:8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.

Deuteronomy 10:14 Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.

Psalm 145:8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

20.7. And if thou speakest aloud, then lo! He knoweth the secret (thought) and (that which is yet) more hidden.

Hebrews 4:13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Psalm 139:4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

1Corinthians 14:25 the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed. (ERV)

20.8. Allah! There is no God save Him. His are the most beautiful names.

Isaiah 46:9-10 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, ¹⁰declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'

Psalm 97:9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.

20.9. Hath there come unto thee the story of Moses?

20.10. When he saw a fire and said unto his folk: Lo! Wait! I see a fire afar off. Peradventure I may bring you a brand therefrom or may find guidance at the fire.

20.11. And when he reached it, he was called by name: O Moses!

20.12. Lo! I, even I, am thy Lord, So take off thy shoes, for lo! thou art in the holy valley of Tuwa.

20.13. And I have chosen thee, so hearken unto that which is inspired.

Exodus 3:1-10 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. ²And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. ³And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned." ⁴When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." ⁵Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." ⁶And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. ⁷Then the LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, ⁸and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. ⁹And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. ¹⁰Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."

20.14. Lo! I, even I, am Allah, There is no God save Me. So serve Me and establish worship for My remembrance.

It is at this stage that the Angel of the Presence of God spoke to Moses and relayed the messages of the One True God for no one has seen God ever nor has heard his voice (see the paper The Angel of YHVH (No. 024)).

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

Isaiah 45:5-6 "I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; ⁶That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, (NASB)

Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'"

20.15. Lo! the Hour is surely coming. But I will to keep it hidden, that every soul may be rewarded for that which it striveth (to achieve).

20.16. Therefore, let not him turn thee aside from (the thought of) it who believeth not therein but followeth his own desire, lest thou perish.

Mark 13:32 But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Romans 14:12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Psalm 58:11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”

Deuteronomy 30:17-18 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, ¹⁸I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.

20.17. And what is that in thy right hand, O Moses?

20.18. He said: This is my staff whereon I lean, and wherewith I bear down branches for my sheep, and wherein I find other uses.

20.19. He said: Cast it down, O Moses!

20.20. So he cast it down, and lo! it was a serpent, gliding.

20.21. He said: Grasp it and fear not. We shall return it to its former state.

Exodus 4:2-4 The LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff." ³And he said, "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. ⁴But the LORD said to Moses, "Put out your hand and catch it by the tail"—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—

20.22. And thrust thy hand within thine armpit, it will come forth white without hurt. (That will be) another token.

20.23. That We may show thee (some) of Our greater portents,

Exodus 4:6-7 Again, the LORD said to him, "Put your hand inside your cloak." And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. ⁷Then God said, "Put your hand back inside your cloak." So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.

20.24. Go thou unto Pharaoh! Lo! he hath transgressed (the bounds).

Exodus 3:9-10 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. ¹⁰Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."

Deuteronomy 26:7 Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.

20.25. (Moses) said: My Lord! relieve my mind

20.26. And ease my task for me;

20.27. And loose a knot from my tongue,

20.28. That they may understand my saying.

20.29. Appoint for me a henchman from my folk,

20.30. Aaron, my brother.

20.31. Confirm my strength with him

20.32. And let him share my task,

20.33. That we may glorify Thee much

20.34. And much remember Thee.

20.35. Lo! Thou art ever Seeing us.

20.36. He said: Thou art granted thy request, O Moses.

20.37. And indeed, another time, already We have shown thee favour

Exodus 4:10-17 But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue." ¹¹Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? ¹²Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." ¹³But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else." ¹⁴Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, "Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. ¹⁵You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. ¹⁶He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. ¹⁷And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.

Moses was made an elohim to Aaron and Pharaoh.

20.38. When we inspired in thy mother that which is inspired,

20.39. Saying: Throw him into the ark, and throw it into the river, then the river shall throw it on to the bank, and there an enemy to Me and an enemy to him shall take him. And I endued thee with love from Me that thou mightest be trained according to My will,

20.40. When thy sister went and said: Shall I show you one who will nurse him? and we restored thee to thy mother that her eyes might be refreshed and might not sorrow. And thou didst kill a man and We delivered thee from great distress, and tried thee with a heavy trial. And thou didst tarry years among the folk of Midian. Then camest thou (hither) by (My) providence, O Moses,

20.41. And I have attached thee to Myself.

Exodus 2:2-10 The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. ³When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. ⁴And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. ⁵Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. ⁶When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children." ⁷Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?" ⁸And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." So the girl went and called the child's mother. ⁹And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages." So the woman took the child and nursed him. ¹⁰When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, "Because," she said, "I drew him out of the water."

Exodus 2:11-15 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. ¹²He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. ¹³When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, "Why do you strike your companion?" ¹⁴He answered, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid, and thought, "Surely the thing is known." ¹⁵When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

20.42. Go, thou and thy brother, with My tokens, and be not faint in remembrance of Me.

20.43. Go, both of you, unto Pharaoh. Lo! he hath transgressed (the bounds).

20.44. And speak unto him a gentle word, that peradventure he may heed or fear.

20.45. They said: Our Lord! Lo! we fear that he may be beforehand with us or that he may play the tyrant.

20.46. He said: Fear not. Lo! I am with you twain, Hearing and Seeing.

20.47. So go ye unto him and say: Lo! we are two messengers of thy Lord. So let the children of Israel go with us, and torment them not. We bring thee a token from thy Lord. And peace will be for him who followeth right guidance.

Exodus 5:1-3 Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'" ²But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go." ³Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword."

Exodus 5:22-23 Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? ²³For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all."

20.48. Lo! it hath been revealed unto us that the doom will be for him who denieth and turneth away.

Pharaoh was warned of the consequences if he rejected the demands made by Aaron and Moses. No one can defy the Almighty God and escape unharmed.

Jeremiah 11:8 Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart. Therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not.”

Jeremiah 32:23 And they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or walk in your law. They did nothing of all you commanded them to do. Therefore you have made all this disaster come upon them.

Ezra 9:7 From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today.

Daniel 9:11-12 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. ¹²He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem.

Hebrews 3:12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

20.49. (Pharaoh) said: Who then is the Lord of you twain, O Moses?

20.50. He said: Our Lord is He Who gave unto everything its nature, then guided it aright.

Exodus 5:2 But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go."

Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.

Isaiah 37:16 O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.

Psalm 25:9-10 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. ¹⁰All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

20.51. He said: What then is the state of the generations of old?

20.52. He said: The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a Record. My Lord neither erreth nor forgetteth,

Pharaoh should have known how some of the earlier generations perished when they continued to walk in their wicked ways and refused to listen to the warnings of the messengers sent to them.

God dealt with the Egyptians and their idolatry and their disobedience through Moses and the plagues. These are explained in the paper Moses and the God’s of Egypt (No. 105) and the Passover (No. 098).

Genesis 7:23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark.

Jude 1:7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Psalm 56:8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

Deuteronomy 32:4 The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

See Revelation 20:12 at ayat 20.111 below.

20.53. Who hath appointed the earth as a bed and hath threaded roads for you therein and hath sent down water from the sky and thereby We have brought forth divers kinds of vegetation,

20.54. (Saying): Eat ye and feed your cattle. Lo! herein verily are portents for men of thought.

Genesis 11:2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. (ERV)

Genesis 11:8 So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.

Genesis 1:12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Psalm 147:8-9 He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. ⁹He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.

Psalm 65:9 You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it.

Psalm 104:27-28 These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. ²⁸When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

In the birds of the air, the creatures in the sea, the animals of the field and the environment around us are portents for men of understanding. The disbelievers take everything for granted and understand little of the plan of God.

20.55. Thereof We created you, and thereunto We return you, and thence We bring you forth a second time.

Genesis 3:19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

1Corinthians 15:21-22 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. ²²For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

John 5:28-29 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice ²⁹and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

20.56. And We verily did show him all Our tokens, but he denied them and refused.

Pharaoh saw the signs and miracles that transpired but God had hardened his heart and he refused to let the Israelites go. These are explained in the papers listed above concerning Moses and the Gods of Egypt and the Passover.

20.57. He said: Hast come to drive us out from our land by thy magic, O Moses?

20.58. But we surely can produce for thee magic the like thereof; so appoint a tryst between us and you, which neither we nor thou shall fail to keep, at a place convenient (to us both).

20.59. (Moses) said: Your tryst shall be the day of the feast, and let the people assemble when the sun hath risen high.

20.60. Then Pharaoh went and gathered his strength, then came (to the appointed tryst).

20.61. Moses said unto them: Woe unto you! Invent not a lie against Allah, lest He extirpate you by some punishment. He who lieth faileth miserably.

20.62. Then they debated one with another what they must do, and they kept their counsel secret.

20.63. They said: Lo! these are two wizards who would drive you out from your country by their magic, and destroy your best traditions;

20.64. So arrange your plan, and come in battle line. Whoso is uppermost this day will be indeed successful.

20.65. They said: O Moses! Either throw first, or let us be the first to throw?

20.66. He said: Nay, do ye throw! Then lo! their cords and their staves, by their magic, appeared to him as though they ran.

20.67. And Moses conceived a fear in his mind.

20.68. We said: Fear not! Lo! thou art the higher.

20.69. Throw that which is in thy right hand! It will eat up that which they have made. Lo! that which they have made is but a wizard's artifice, and a wizard shall not be successful to whatever point (of skill) he may attain.

20.70. Then the wizards were (all) flung down prostrate, crying: We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses.

Exodus 7:8-13 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ⁹"When Pharaoh says to you, 'Prove yourselves by working a miracle,' then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.'" ¹⁰So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. ¹¹Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. ¹²For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. ¹³Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 44:25 who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish,

Read Exodus chapters 7 to 11 for more details.

20.71. (Pharaoh) said: Ye put faith in him before I give you leave. Lo! he is your chief who taught you magic. Now surely I shall cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and I shall crucify you on the trunks of palm trees, and ye shall know for certain which of us hath sterner and more lasting punishment.

20.72. They said: We choose thee not above the clear proofs that have come unto us, and above Him Who created us. So decree what thou wilt decree. Thou wilt end for us only this life of the world.

20.73. Lo! we believe in our Lord, that He may forgive us our sins and the magic unto which thou didst force us. Allah is better and more lasting.

20.74. Lo! whoso cometh guilty unto his Lord, verily for him is hell. There he will neither die nor live.

When his people were convicted to believe in the God of Moses and Aaron Pharaoh wanted to punish them. Ayats 72 to 74 give us the reasons for their conviction.

See Exodus 7:12 at ayat 20.70. above.

Exodus 8:18-19 The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. ¹⁹Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

20.75. But whoso cometh unto Him a believer, having done good works, for such are the high stations;

20.76. Gardens of Eden underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide for ever. That is the reward of him who groweth.

Once again we are taken to the Resurrections of the Dead. The two gardens of the Resurrection and the final reward are mentioned far more in the texts of the Qur’an than in the Scriptures because the understanding had been corrupted by the Baal worshippers and Scripture had been misrepresented. The location of the Resurrections and the Gardens are in the Middle East in what was the original Garden of Eden.

See also Romans 2:7 at ayat 20.82. below.

2Peter 1:4 Through these he has given us his precious and wonderful promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, seeing that you have escaped the corruption that is in the world caused by evil desires. (ISV)

Revelation 22:12 Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

20.77. And verily We inspired Moses, saying: Take away My slaves by night and strike for them a dry path in the sea, fearing not to be overtaken, neither being afraid (of the sea).

20.78. Then Pharaoh followed them with his hosts and there covered them that which did cover them of the sea.

20.79. And Pharaoh led his folk astray, he did not guide them.

Exodus 14:21-28 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. ²²And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. ²³The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. ²⁴And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, ²⁵clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from before Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians." ²⁶Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen." ²⁷So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the LORD threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. ²⁸The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained.

20.80. O Children of Israel! We delivered you from your enemy, and we made a covenant with you on the holy mountain's side, and sent down on you the manna and the quails,

20.81. (Saying): Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you, and transgress not in respect thereof lest My wrath come upon you: and he on whom My wrath cometh, he is lost indeed.

Exodus 24:7-8 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient." ⁸And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."

Exodus 16:4-5 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. ⁵On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.”

Exodus 16:13-16 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. ¹⁴And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. ¹⁴When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. ¹⁶This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.'"

Exodus 16:35 The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan.

Hebrews 3:16-17 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? ¹⁷And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

20.82. And lo! verily I am Forgiving toward him who repenteth and believeth and doeth good, and afterward walketh aright.

Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 3:19-20 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, ²⁰that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

Acts 5:31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Romans 2:7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;

20.83. And (it was said): What hath made thee hasten from thy folk, O Moses?

20.84. He said: They are close upon my track. I hastened unto Thee, my Lord, that Thou mightest be well pleased.

Psalm 40:8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

1John 3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

20.85. He said: Lo! We have tried thy folk in thine absence, and As-Samiri hath misled them.

20.86. Then Moses went back unto his folk, angry and sad. He said: O my people! Hath not your Lord promised you a fair promise? Did the time appointed then appear too long for you, or did ye wish that wrath from your Lord should come upon you, that ye broke tryst with me?

20.87. They said: We broke not tryst with thee of our own will, but we were laden with burdens of ornaments of the folk, then cast them (in the fire), for thus As-Samiri proposed.

20.88. Then he produced for them a calf, of saffron hue, which gave forth a lowing sound. And they cried: This is your god and the god of Moses, but he hath forgotten.

20.89. See they not, then, that it returneth no saying unto them and possesseth for them neither hurt nor use?

20.90. And Aaron indeed had told them beforehand: O my people! Ye are but being seduced therewith, for lo! your Lord is the Beneficent, so follow me and obey my order.

20.91. They said: We shall by no means cease to be its votaries till Moses return unto us.

20.92. He (Moses) said: O Aaron! What held thee back when thou didst see them gone astray,

20.93. That thou followedst me not? Hast thou then disobeyed my order?

20.94. He said: O son of my mother! Clutch not my beard nor my head! I feared lest thou shouldst say: Thou hast caused division among the Children of Israel, and hast not waited for my word.
20.95. (Moses) said: And what hast thou to say, O Samiri?

20.96. He said: I perceived what they perceive not, so I seized a handful from the footsteps of the messenger, and then threw it in. Thus my soul commended to me.

20.97. (Moses) said: Then go! and lo! in this life it is for thee to say: Touch me not! and lo! there is for thee a tryst thou canst not break. Now look upon thy god of which thou hast remained a votary. Verily we will burn it and will scatter its dust over the sea.

Ayats 83 to 97 relate the story of the Golden Calf. The biblical account is given in Exodus 32. See also the paper The Golden Calf (No. 222). That was the Moon God Sin or Qamar whose horns of the moon still adorn the mosques of the idolaters with the star of Venus and the breasts of the goddess.

20.98. Your God is only Allah, than Whom there is no other God. He embraceth all things in His knowledge.

See Isaiah 46: 9-10 at ayat 20.8 above.

Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.

1Samuel 2:3 Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

1John 3:20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

20.99. Thus relate We unto thee (Muhammad) some tidings of that which happened of old, and We have given thee from Our presence a reminder.

1Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

1Corinthians 10:6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

20.100. Whoso turneth away from it, he verily will bear a burden on the Day of Resurrection,

20.101. Abiding under it - an evil burden for them on the Day of Resurrection,

20.102. The day when the Trumpet is blown. On that day we assemble the guilty white-eyed (with terror),

20.103. Murmuring among themselves: Ye have tarried but ten (days).

20.104. We are Best Aware of what they utter when their best in conduct say: Ye have tarried but a day.

20.105. They will ask thee of the mountains (on that day). Say: My Lord will break them into scattered dust.

20.106. And leave it as an empty plain,

20.107. Wherein thou seest neither curve nor ruggedness.

20.108. On that day they follow the summoner who deceiveth not, and voices are hushed for the Beneficent, and thou hearest but a faint murmur.

20.109. On that day no intercession availeth save (that of) him unto whom the Beneficent hath given leave and whose word He accepteth.

20.110. He knoweth (all) that is before them and (all) that is behind them, while they cannot compass it in knowledge.

20.111. And faces humble themselves before the Living, the Eternal. And he who beareth (a burden of) wrongdoing is indeed a failure (on that day).

The First Resurrection takes place at the return of Messiah and the Second Resurrection occurs 1,000 years later. The First Resurrection is symbolised by the Day of Trumpets and the Second Resurrection is symbolised by The Last Great Day as the Great White Throne Judgment after the millennial system symbolised by Tabernacles.

See John 5:28-29 at ayat 20.55 above.

Mathew 24:31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

1Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Daniel 12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Revelation 20:12-13 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. ¹³And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.

Revelation 16:18-20 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. ¹⁹The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. ²⁰And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found.

20.112. And he who hath done some good works, being a believer, he feareth not injustice nor begrudging (of his wage).

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.

Refer to Galatians 6:9 and Romans 2:7 at ayat 20.82 above.

20.113. Thus we have revealed it as a Lecture in Arabic, and have displayed therein certain threats, that peradventure they may keep from evil or that it may cause them to take heed.

20.114. Then exalted be Allah, the True King! And hasten not (O Muhammad) with the Qur'an ere its revelation hath been perfected unto thee, and say: My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.

Psalm 37:27 Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Romans16:17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

2Timothy 3:5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

2Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Ephesians 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

Refer to 2 Timothy 3:16 at ayat 20.6 and Psalm 97:9 at ayat 20.8 above.

20.115. And verily We made a covenant of old with Adam, but he forgot, and We found no constancy in him.

20.116. And when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, they fell prostrate (all) save Iblis; he refused.

20.117. Therefor we said: O Adam! This is an enemy unto thee and unto thy wife, so let him not drive you both out of the Garden so that thou come to toil.

20.118. It is (vouchsafed) unto thee that thou hungerest not therein nor art naked,

20.119. And that thou thirstest not therein nor art exposed to the sun's heat.

20.120. But the devil whispered to him, saying: O Adam! Shall I show thee the tree of immortality and power that wasteth not away?

20.121. Then they twain ate thereof, so that their shame became apparent unto them, and they began to hide by heaping on themselves some of the leaves of the Garden. And Adam disobeyed his Lord, so went astray.

Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, ¹⁷but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

Genesis 3:2-7 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, ³but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" ⁴But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. ⁵For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." ⁶So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. ⁷Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

When the angels were instructed to teach and guide the human family the loyal angelic host agreed to do so but Satan and his followers refused as they were not willing to serve mankind.

Exodus 3:15-24 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." ¹⁶To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." ¹⁷And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; ¹⁸thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. ¹⁹By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." ²⁰The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. ²¹And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. ²²Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—" ²³therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. ²⁴He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

These fundamental sins were the basis of death in mankind (see also the Doctrine of Original Sin Part I: The Garden of Eden (No. 246) and the Doctrine of Original Sin Part II: The Generations of Adam (No. 248)).

20.122. Then his Lord chose him, and relented toward him, and guided him.

God chose to have mercy on Adam and guided him. Abel knew how to offer the right sacrifice acceptable to God. Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted.

20.123. He said: Go down hence, both of you, one of you a foe unto the other. But when there come unto you from Me a guidance, then whoso followeth My guidance, he will not go astray nor come to grief.

Man and the demons are adversaries to one another. See Genesis 3:15 above.

Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹²For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

20.124. But he who turneth away from remembrance of Me, his will be a narrow life, and I shall bring him blind to the assembly on the Day of Resurrection.

20.125. He will say: My Lord! Wherefore hast Thou gathered me (hither) blind, when I was wont to see?

20.126. He will say: So (it must be). Our Revelations came unto thee but thou didst forget them. In like manner thou art forgotten this Day.

20.127. Thus do We reward him who is prodigal and believeth not the Revelations of his Lord; and verily the doom of the Hereafter will be sterner and more lasting.

Isaiah 59:2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

Ezekiel 33:8-9 "When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand. ⁹"But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life. (NASB)

See Revelation 20:12 at ayat 20.111 above.

Not paying heed to the guidance when it comes and turning away from it will land the individual in the Second Resurrection to face intensive corrective training to lead them to repentance, and those that do not repent will face the second death.

20.128. Is it not a guidance for them (to know) how many a generation We destroyed before them, amid whose dwellings they walk? Lo! therein verily are signs for men of thought.

Deuteronomy 6:10-15 "Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, ¹¹and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied, ¹²then watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ¹³"You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. ¹⁴"You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you, ¹⁵for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth. (NASB)

Joshua 24:1, 14 ¹Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God.

¹⁴Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

The Israelites knew that the previous inhabitants of the land were destroyed for their wicked ways to make way for them. That fact should have served as a warning to them to do the right thing and live in compliance with the commandments and statutes given to them by Moses the servant of God.

There would be other people who inherited similar things like the Israelites did who knew what transpired with the previous generations who were destroyed. Yet the succeeding generations do not seem to learn from history and keep repeating it.

20.129. And but for a decree that had already gone forth from thy Lord, and a term already fixed, the judgment would have been inevitable (in this world).

2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

The plan was set in motion long ago and terms for various things have been determined so the earth and the structure will go on as planned.

20.130. Therefore (O Muhammad), bear with what they say, and celebrate the praise of thy Lord ere the rising of the sun and ere the going down thereof. And glorify Him some hours of the night and at the two ends of the day, that thou mayst find acceptance.

Psalm 119:164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.

Psalm 119:62 At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.

Daniel 6:10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Psalm 55:17 Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.

20.131. And strain not thine eyes toward that which We cause some wedded pairs among them to enjoy, the flower of the life of the world, that We may try them thereby. The provision of thy Lord is better and more lasting.

1John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Luke 12:15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Enjoy what has been given to us and do not envy what others may have. Possessions and our family members can become a trial unto us.

20.132. And enjoin upon thy people worship, and be constant therein. We ask not of thee a provision: We provided for thee. And the sequel is for righteousness.

John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

1Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and request. Likewise, be alert with your most diligent efforts and pray for all the saints. (ISV)

Psalm 24:3-5 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? ⁴He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. ⁵He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

20.133. And they say: If only he would bring us a miracle from his Lord! Hath there not come unto them the proof of what is in the former scriptures?

[Note here the reference to the Scriptures given to them and the proof of what is in them. Yet they have the blasphemy to declare them lost.]

20.134. And if we had destroyed them with some punishment before it, they would assuredly have said: Our Lord! If only Thou hadst sent unto us a messenger, so that we might have followed Thy Revelations before we were (thus) humbled and disgraced!

20.135. Say: Each is awaiting; so await ye! Ye will come to know who are the owners of the path of equity, and who is right.

Matthew 16:4 An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." Then he left them and went away. (ISV)

Luke 16:31 He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"

John 12:40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”

2Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Romans 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

James 1:25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Miracles do not have the required impact on those who are not called and chosen. The Israelites saw all those miracles during Moses’ time but they forgot again and again and had to be punished. Those during Christ’s time saw the many miracles but that generation still killed him as they had the prophets before.

It is the First Resurrection that has been reserved for the elect of the baptism of God into the body of Christ.

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