Commentary on the Koran: Surah 26 (No. Q026)

Pickthall Translation; ESV used unless otherwise noted.

Introduction

Surah 26 Ash-Shu’ara “The Poets” takes its title from verses 224ff. where the difference between poets and a prophet is pointed out. The text carries on from the previous Surah dealing with the criterion of the elect as the true believers and the leaders of the faith in prophecy. The elect live by faith and never lie no matter what the reason. The poets are referred to as they are those who say things they often do not mean. The pagan Arabs believed the work of poetry and its inspiration to be the work of the jinn or demons.

The persecution of the prophets and the elect of the faith and the Churches of God is not a new thing and the persecuted of the church there are given this text to sustain and reassure them. The prophets have been persecuted and killed over the centuries as recorded in Scripture and that was the inspiration of the Prophet in Arabia under this persecution. Pickthall makes the comment here in his introduction that it is the persecutors that always suffer in the end and the Hadithic persecutors of pseudo-Islam will indeed be made to suffer in these days.

This text shows that the prophets of true Islam of the Scriptures always came with the same message and the Prophet here had the same message as did Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and Moses and Aaron to Elijah and John and Messiah and the apostles and the Muhammads or councils of the Churches of God. There is one God, one Faith, and one Baptism.

The text comes from the Middle group of Beccan Surahs with the exception of verses 224-227 which were edited at Al-Madinah. The texts were taken from the Scriptures for the inspiration of the church under persecution as the Prophet declared at the beginning.

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26.1.Ta. Sin. Mim.

Job 7:17 What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him,

Psalm. 147:5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

Psalm 94:9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?

1John 3:19-20 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; ²⁰for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

26.2. These are revelations of the Scripture that maketh plain.

Isaiah 42:21 The LORD was pleased, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious.

Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

26.3. It may be that thou tormentest thyself (O Muhammad) because they believe not.

Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Jeremiah 3:14 Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

John 8:47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

1John 4:6 We are from God. [tou theou] Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

The Koine Greek uses the words Tou Theou in the biblical texts here where Ton Theon in the accusative case refers to the one True God, Eloah, in the OT and the theos in the nominative case or theoi in the plural in the NT texts refer to the Elohim of the OT Hebrew who are the Host of Heaven, as sons of God. This Greek was developed in Egypt to translate the Hebrew text by and for the LXX (ca 160 BCE).

26.4. If We will, We can send down on them from the sky a portent so that their necks would remain bowed before it.

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Job 42:2 I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

26.5. Never cometh there unto them a fresh reminder from the Beneficent One, but they turn away from it.

2Timothy 4:4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.

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.”

26.6. Now they have denied (the Truth); but there will come unto them tidings of that whereat they used to scoff.

Romans 2:8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

2Peter 3:3-7 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. ⁴They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation." ⁵For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, ⁶and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. ⁷But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

1Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, ⁴he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, ⁵and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

26.7. Have they not seen the earth, how much of every fruitful kind We make to grow therein?

26.8. Lo! herein is indeed a portent; yet most of them are not believers.

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.

Isaiah 55:10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

Psalm 104:13-15 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. ¹⁴You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth ¹⁵and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

Romans 1:19-20 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

The signs of the existence of God are all there for men of understanding.

26.9. And lo! thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

Exodus 34:6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Nehemiah 9:32 Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day.

26.10. And when thy Lord called Moses, saying: Go unto the wrongdoing folk,

26.11. The folk of Pharaoh. Will they not ward off (evil)?

Exodus 3:7 Then 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,

Exodus 3:10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.

Acts 7:34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’

26.12. He said: My Lord! Lo! I fear that they will deny me,

26.13. And I shall be embarrassed, and my tongue will not speak plainly, therefor send for Aaron (to help me).

Exodus 3:14-15 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you." ¹⁵God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

The text here in Hebrew is ‘eyeh ‘asher ’eyeh or “I will be what I will be” (or become). This text means that Eloah was expanding Himself to become the Ha Elohim of the Angelic Host of the Sons of God and in this case the Messiah who was given the expanded Israel as the sons of Shem and the nations of the world as his inheritance (cf. Deut. 32:8 ff; Acts ch. 7) and here he gave the law to Moses and the nation of Israel (1Cor. 10:4).

Exodus 4:10-14 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.

26.14. And they have a crime against me, so I fear that they will kill me.

Exodus 2:12, 15 ¹²He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

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.

26.15. He said: Nay, verily. So go ye twain with Our tokens. Lo! We shall be with you, Hearing.

26.16. And come together unto Pharaoh and say: Lo! we bear a message of the Lord of the Worlds,

26.17. (Saying): Let the Children of Israel go with us.

Exodus 4:21-23 And the LORD said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. ²²Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, ²³and I say to you, "Let my son go that he may serve me." If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.'"

26.18. (Pharaoh) said (unto Moses): Did we not rear thee among us as a child? And thou didst dwell many years of thy life among us,

26.19. And thou didst that thy deed which thou didst, and thou wast one of the ingrates.

26.20. He said: I did it then, when I was of those who are astray.

26.21. Then I fled from you when I feared you, and my Lord vouchsafed me a command and appointed me (of the number) of those sent (by Him).

See Exodus 3:10 at ayat 26.11 above.

Exodus 2:9-10 And 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.

26.22. And this is the past favour wherewith thou reproachest me: that thou hast enslaved the Children of Israel.

Exodus 1:11, 13-14 ¹¹Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.

¹³So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves ¹⁴and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.

26.23. Pharaoh said: And what is the Lord of the Worlds?

26.24. (Moses) said: Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, if ye had but sure belief.

26.25. (Pharaoh) said unto those around him: Hear ye not?

26.26. He said: Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers.

Exodus 5:1-2 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."

2Chronicles 20:6 and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.

Psalm 24:1-2 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, ²for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

26.27. (Pharaoh) said: Lo! your messenger who hath been sent unto you is indeed a madman!

2Chronicles 36:16 But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy.

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

26.28. He said: Lord of the East and the West and all that is between them, if ye did but understand.

Psalm 95:3-5 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. ⁴In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. ⁵The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Isaiah 59:19 So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives.

Malachi 1:11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.

26.29. (Pharaoh) said: If thou choosest a god other than me, I assuredly shall place thee among the prisoners.

26.30. He said: Even though I show thee something plain?

26.31. (Pharaoh) said: Produce it then, if thou art of the truthful!

26.32. Then he flung down his staff and it became a serpent manifest,

26.33. And he drew forth his hand and lo! it was white to the beholders.

26.34. (Pharaoh) said unto the chiefs about him: Lo! this is verily a knowing wizard,

26.35. Who would drive you out of your land by his magic. Now what counsel ye?

26.36. They said: Put him off, (him) and his brother, and send into the cities summoners

26.37. Who shall bring unto thee every knowing wizard.

26.38. So the wizards were gathered together at a set time on a day appointed.

26.39. And it was said unto the people: Are ye (also) gathering?

26.40. (They said): Aye, so that we may follow the wizards if they are the winners.

26.41. And when the wizards came they said unto Pharaoh: Will there surely be a reward for us if we are the winners?

26.42. He said: Aye, and ye will then surely be of those brought near (to me).

26.43. Moses said unto them: Throw what ye are going to throw!

26.44. Then they threw down their cords and their staves and said: By Pharaoh's might, lo! we verily are the winners.

26.45. Then Moses threw his staff and lo! it swallowed that which they did falsely show.

26.46. And the wizards were flung prostrate,

26.47. Crying: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,

26.48. The Lord of Moses and Aaron.

Exodus 4:2-6 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— ⁵"that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you." ⁶Again, 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.

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.

26.49. (Pharaoh) said: Ye put your faith in him before I give you leave. Lo! he doubtless is your chief who taught you magic! But verily ye shall come to know. Verily I will cut off your hands and your feet alternately, and verily I will crucify you every one.

26.50. They said: It is no hurt, for lo! unto our Lord we shall return.

26.51. Lo! we ardently hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins because we are the first of the believers.

Some of Pharaoh’s people believed in God as a result of the miracles performed by Moses in Pharaoh’s presence. No one knows by what means God will call those He determines to place among His elect.

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

26.52. And We inspired Moses, saying: Take away My slaves by night, for ye will be pursued.

26.53. Then Pharaoh sent into the cities summoners,

26.54. (Who said): Lo! these indeed are but a little troop,

25.55. And lo! they are offenders against us.

26.56. And lo! we are a ready host.

26.57. Thus did We take them away from gardens and watersprings,

26.58. And treasures and a fair estate.

26.59. Thus (were those things taken from them) and We caused the Children of Israel to inherit them.

26.60. And they overtook them at sunrise.

26.61. And when the two hosts saw each other, those with Moses said: Lo! we are indeed caught.

26.62. He said: Nay, verily! for lo! my Lord is with me. He will guide me.

26.63. Then We inspired Moses, saying: Smite the sea with thy staff. And it parted, and each part was as a mountain vast.

26.64. Then brought We near the others to that place.

26.65. And We saved Moses and those with him, every one;

26.66. And We drowned the others.

26.67. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

26.68. And lo, thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

This is a retelling of the story in the biblical account of Exodus 12:33-42; 13:17-22 and Exodus chapter 14. Much of the Story of Moses and the Exodus is contained in the Surahs, from Surah 2 onwards, and especially Surah 20 (Commentary on the Koran (Q020)). It serves as a story of deliverance to the people of the faith under persecution as we see here.

So also is the story of Abraham repeated with the stories of the patriarchs and the prophets.

26.69. Recite unto them the story of Abraham:

26.70. When he said unto his father and his folk: What worship ye?

26.71. They said: We worship idols, and are ever devoted unto them.

26.72. He said: Do they hear you when ye cry?

26.73. Or do they benefit or harm you?

Psalm. 115:4-8 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. ⁵They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. ⁶They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. ⁷They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. ⁸Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.

Jeremiah 10:5 Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”

Isaiah 41:23-24 Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified. ²⁴Behold, you are nothing, and your work is less than nothing; an abomination is he who chooses you.

26.74. They said: Nay, but we found our fathers acting on this wise.

26.75. He said: See now that which ye worship,

26.76. Ye and your forefathers!

Joshua 24:2 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.

Isaiah 45:20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save.

Jeremiah 2:28 But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for as many as your cities are your gods, O Judah.

Judges 10:14 Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.

26.77. Lo! they are (all) an enemy unto me, save the Lord of the Worlds,

Ephesians. 6:12 For 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.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

26.78. Who created me, and He doth guide me,

26.79. And Who feedeth me and watereth me.

26.80. And when I sicken, then He healeth me,

26.81. And Who causeth me to die, then giveth me life (again),

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.

Genesis 48:15 And he blessed Joseph and said, "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,

26.82. And Who, I ardently hope, will forgive me my sin on the Day of Judgment.

26.83. My Lord! Vouchsafe me wisdom and unite me to the righteous.

26.84. And give unto me a good report in later generations.

26.85. And place me among the inheritors of the Garden of Delight,

Psalm 130:3-4 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

Daniel 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

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.

The desire of the faithful believers is to attain unto the Garden of Delight, of the First Resurrection.

26.86. And forgive my father. Lo! he is of those who err.

Luke 11:4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

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

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

26.87. And abase me not on the day when they are raised,

26.88. The day when wealth and sons avail not (any man)

See Psalm 49:7 at ayat 26.209 below.

(See also 2Corinthians 5:10 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 10 (No. Q010).)

Isaiah 2:11-12 The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. ¹²For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.

Psalm 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

26.89. Save him who bringeth unto Allah a whole heart.

26.90. And the Garden will be brought nigh for those who ward off (evil).

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Isaiah 33:6 and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is his treasure. (RSV)

The righteous will attain the Garden of Paradise which is the First Resurrection as they chose to distance themselves from evil.

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 5:10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.

26.91. And hell will appear plainly to the erring.

26.92. And it will be said unto them: Where is (all) that ye used to worship

26.93. Instead of Allah? Can they help you or help themselves?

26.94. Then will they be hurled therein, they and the seducers

26.95. And the hosts of Iblis, together.

26.96. And they will say, when they are quarrelling therein:

26.97. By Allah, of a truth we were in error manifest

26.98. When we made you equal with the Lord of the Worlds.

26.99. It was but the guilty who misled us.

26.100. Now we have no intercessors

26.101. Nor any loving friend.

See Judges 10:14 at ayat 26.76 above.

Refer to Revelation. 20:11-15 at ayat 18.31 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 18 (No. Q018).

Revelation. 20:10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Psalm 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

Psalm 89:6-8 For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, ⁷a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? ⁸O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you?

26.102. Oh, that we had another turn (on earth), that we might be of the believers!

26.103. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers!

They will get their second chance during the Second Resurrection. If, after the intensive corrective training during the 100 years, they refuse to repent and modify their behavior they will indeed be accursed.

Isaiah 65:20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.

26.104. And lo, thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

Deuteronomy 7:21 You shall not be in dread of them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.

Psalm 116:5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.

Jude 1:25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Here again we revert to Noah as the First Stage of the Restoration and the work of the prophets.

26.105. Noah's folk denied the messengers (of Allah),

26.106. When their brother Noah said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)?

26.107. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

26.108. So keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.

26.109. And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.

26.110. So keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.

26.111. They said: Shall we put faith in thee, when the lowest (of the people) follow thee?

26.112. He said: And what knowledge have I of what they may have been doing (in the past)?

26.113. Lo! their reckoning is my Lord's concern, if ye but knew;

26.114. And I am not (here) to repulse believers.

26.115. I am only a plain warner.

26.116. They said: If thou cease not, O Noah, thou wilt surely be among those stoned (to death).

26.117. He said: My Lord! Lo! my own folk deny me.

26.118. Therefore judge Thou between us, a (conclusive) judgment, and save me and those believers who are with me.

26.119. And We saved him and those with him in the laden ship.

26.120. Then afterward We drowned the others.

26.121. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

26.122. And lo, thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

See Nehemiah 9:32 at ayat 26.9 above.

Genesis 6:13 And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Genesis 7:21-23 And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind. ²²Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. ²³He 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.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

1Peter 3:20 because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

Job 34:11 because he repays a person for his behavior; and according to a person's conduct, he lets it happen to him. (ISV)

Romans 2:6 For he will repay everyone according to what that person has done: (ISV)

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, ¹³and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?

26.123. (The tribe of) A'ad denied the messengers (of Allah).

26.124. When their brother Hud said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)?

26.125. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

26.126. So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

26.127. And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.

26.128. Build ye on every high place a monument for vain delight?

26.129. And seek ye out strongholds, that haply ye may last for ever?

26.130. And if ye seize by force, seize ye as tyrants?

26.131. Rather keep your duty to Allah, and obey me.

26.132. Keep your duty toward Him Who hath aided you with (the good things) that ye know,

26.133. Hath aided you with cattle and sons.

26.134. And gardens and watersprings.

26.135. Lo! I fear for you the retribution of an awful day.

26.136. They said: It is all one to us whether thou preachest or art not of those who preach;

26.137. This is but a fable of the men of old,

26.138. And we shall not be doomed.

26.139. And they denied him; therefor We destroyed them. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

26.140. And lo! thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

26.141. (The tribe of) Thamud denied the messengers (of Allah)

26.142. When their brother Salih said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)?

26.143. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

26.144. So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

26.145. And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.

26.146. Will ye be left secure in that which is here before us,

26.147. In gardens and watersprings.

26.148. And tilled fields and heavy-sheathed palm-trees,

26.149. Though ye hew out dwellings in the mountain, being skilful?

26.150. Therefor keep your duty to Allah and obey me,

26.151. And obey not the command of the prodigal,

26.152. Who spread corruption in the earth, and reform not.

26.153. They said: Thou art but one of the bewitched;

26.154. Thou art but a mortal like us. So bring some token if thou art of the truthful.

26.155. He said: (Behold) this she-camel. She hath the right to drink (at the well), and ye have the right to drink, (each) on an appointed day.

26.156. And touch her not with ill lest there come on you the retribution of an awful day.

26.157. But they hamstrung her, and then were penitent.

26.158. So the retribution came on them. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

26.159. And lo! thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

Read Deuteronomy 28 for the blessings and the curses that come as a result of our deeds. Right behaviour results in blessings and wicked deeds are followed by curses and destruction.

God favours His creation with all good things and requires our loyalty and obedience to Him in that we worship Him and serve Him with all our heart and strength.

Messengers are sent to warn the people that if they refuse to modify their behavior the blessings are taken away and destruction follows and the wicked are ruined. Verses 123 to 159 give us accounts of people who went before us and serve as examples so the future generations may learn and avoid the consequences suffered by earlier generations.

So also Lot and the Sons of God, termed Yahovahs, were sent to Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. chs. 18-19).

26.160. The folk of Lot denied the messengers (of Allah),

26.161. When their brother Lot said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)?

26.162. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

26.163. So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

26.164. And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.

26.165. What! Of all creatures do ye come unto the males,

26.166. And leave the wives your Lord created for you? Nay, but ye are froward folk.

26.167. They said: If thou cease not, O Lot, thou wilt soon be of the outcast.

26.168. He said: I am in truth of those who hate your conduct.

26.169. My Lord! Save me and my household from what they do.

26.170. So We saved him and his household, every one,

26.171. Save an old woman among those who stayed behind.

26.172. Then afterward We destroyed the others.

26.173. And We rained on them a rain. And dreadful is the rain of those who have been warned.

26.174. Lo! herein is indeed a portent, yet most of them are not believers.

26.175. And lo! thy Lord, He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

Genesis chapter 19 verses 1 to 29 gives us the biblical account of the story of Lot and the punishment God meted out to the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah who practiced wickedness and refused to repent.

2Peter 2:6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;

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.

26.176. The dwellers in the wood (of Midian) denied the messengers (of Allah),

26.177. When Shu'eyb said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)?

26.178. Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you,

26.179. So keep your duty to Allah and obey me.

26.180. And I ask of you no wage for it; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds.

26.181. Give full measure, and be not of those who give less (than the due).

26.182. And weigh with the true balance.

26.183. Wrong not mankind in their goods, and do not evil, making mischief, in the earth.

26.184. And keep your duty unto Him Who created you and the generations of the men of old.

26.185. They said: Thou art but one of the bewitched;

26.186. Thou art but a mortal like us, and lo! we deem thee of the liars.

26.187. Then make fragments of the heaven fall upon us, if thou art of the truthful.

26.188. He said: My Lord is Best Aware of what ye do.

26.189. But they denied him, so there came on them the retribution of the day of gloom. Lo! it was the retribution of an awful day.

26.190. Lo! herein is indeed a portent; yet most of them are not believers.

26.191. And lo! thy Lord! He is indeed the Mighty, the Merciful.

Reuel (Friend of God) or Shu’eyb (in Arabic) was priest of Midian and his name Jethro meant “His Excellency,” as his title as priest of God.

Jethro: priest of Midian

Moses’ father-in-law was called Hobab, who was the son of Reuel or Raguel (Num. 10:29). Although there is much confusion over these names, it seems that Hobab was also known as Jethro (meaning his excellence).

Numbers 10:29-32 And Moses said to Hobab the son of Reu'el the Mid'ianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said, `I will give it to you'; come with us, and we will do you good; for the LORD has promised good to Israel." ³⁰But he said to him, "I will not go; I will depart to my own land and to my kindred." ³¹And he said, "Do not leave us, I pray you, for you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us. ³²And if you go with us, whatever good the LORD will do to us, the same will we do to you." (RSV)

Exodus 3:1a Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Mid'ian; (RSV)

The name Hobab (SHD 2246) means cherished or loved fervently, perhaps by God, just as much as his own people, which would explain the inspired advice he later gave to Moses regarding judgments given to the Israelites. According to Josephus, Hobab had “Iothor [i.e. Jethro] for a surname”. Jethro’s descent is given as: son of Nawil, son of Rawail, son of Mour, son of Anka, son of Midian, son of Abraham.

Josephus (Ant. Jews, III, iii) claimed that Raguel (also Reuel, as in v. 29) was Moses’ father-in-law, however, Judges 4:11 (see below) clearly states that he was known as Hobab. Matthew Poole gives a reasonable explanation for this discrepancy in his comment on Exodus 2:18 below. Other commentators claim that Jethro was an honorary title, while Reuel was his personal name. Hence, as with the Keturah/Hagar question, there is some contradictory opinion over identity and this perhaps sums up the rather mysterious nature of the sons of Keturah and their descendants.

Reuel (SHD 7467, Re’uw’el) means Friend of God and is a title given to Abraham and was carried by Jethro as Priest of Midian. Raguel is simply another version of this title (see Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary). It was obviously carried by the Priest of Midian as it was carried by the father of Hobab and by Hobab/Jethro himself.

Chobab (SHD 2246) means cherished and is derived from 2245: hide as in the bosom; to cherish.

Yithrow (SHD 3503) means His excellence coming from Yithrah (SHD 3502, excellence). Thus we are looking at Hobab the name and Jethro the title. His Excellence, Hobab, the Friend of God is the rendering of the names of Jethro, Hobab, Reuel or Reguel.

It is thus beyond doubt that he was sheik and High Priest of Midian and hereditary religious leader of the tribe.

Another Reuel mentioned in the Bible is a son of Esau by Bashemath, daughter of Ishmael (Gen. 36:4ff.). See the paper Law and the Seventh Commandment (No. 260).

Burton in The Gold-Mines of Midian has this to say in his footnote on page 332:

Jethro’s Moslem title is “Khatib el-Anbiya,” or Preacher to the Prophets, on account of the words of wisdom which he bestowed upon his son-in-law (Exod. ii. 18) … Some writers have made him the son of Mikhail, ibn Yashjar, ibn Madyan; but they are charged with ignorance by Ahmed ibn Abd el-Halim. El-Kesai states that his original name was Boyun; that he was comely of person, but spare and lean; very thoughtful, and of few words (Sale’s Koran, p. 117). Other commentators add that he was old and blind. In the “Berakhoth,” Jetro [sic.] and Rahab are Gentiles, or strangers, affiliated to Israel on account of their good deeds (p. 48, M. Schwab’s version. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1871).

E.H. Palmer in The Desert of the Exodus (Deighton, Bell & Co., Cambridge, UK, 1871) repeats the assertion that Jethro/Hobab was blind, and had been given a commission to preach the true Faith.

Sho‘eib, as the Arabs call Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, is said to have been blind, notwithstanding which infirmity he was divinely commissioned to preach the true religion lately revealed unto Abraham, and to convert the people of his native city Midian. They rejected his doctrine and mocked the blind prophet, for which sin they were destroyed by fire from heaven, while Midian was laid waste by an earthquake, Jethro alone escaping alive. He fled to Palestine, and is said to be buried near Safed. (ftnt. p. 539; emphasis added)

It appears that Jethro/Hobab, The Friend of God (Raguel: Josephus) took the fact of the supremacy over the Egyptians in the Red Sea as proof positive of the power of the Angel of Yahovah acting for the One True God, with Israel as the people of God (Ex. 18:11). He was already a priest of Midian and it is obvious that he is observing the activities of the Being sent to Israel as proof of the birthright promises given to Isaac. That view was to continue down to the writing of the Qur’an and is reflected in the Qur’an. The Kuturah or Pure Arabs, as well as the sons of Ishmael, resent that birthright to this very day.

(See Exodus 18:1-12)

See 2Chronicles 36:16 at ayat 26.27 and Psalm 116:5 at ayat 26.104 above.

Here we have another messenger sent to another community of people. Humanity seems bent on their own destruction. Warning is given to get them to mend their ways and the warning is not heeded and disaster follows. Scripture tells us that that is the way of humanity until the establishment of God’s kingdom.

The messenger depends upon his master for his livelihood and demands no remuneration from the people being warned. The messenger is not mad but is inspired by the Holy Spirit to perform his mission. The liars are the disbelievers who deny the truth when the evidence and the works of God are visible for all humanity to witness. He gave them eyes to see and ears to hear but they seem to think that He is not aware of their doings and they think that they will not be punished.

Judges 8:28 So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel, and they raised their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.

Micah 6:11 Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights?

Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.

1Thessalonians 5:21-22 but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²²Abstain from every form of evil.

Deuteronomy 7:21 You shall not be in dread of them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.

26.192. And lo! it is a revelation of the Lord of the Worlds,

26.193. Which the True Spirit hath brought down

26.194. Upon thy heart, that thou mayst be (one) of the warners,

26.195. In plain Arabic speech.

The purpose of the Qur’an was to place a record of the Scriptures before the idolaters of the Arabs in Arabic for them to keep before them until the last days when they will be warned by the last Council or Muhammad of the Churches of God from Jeremiah 4:15-16, and then under the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11:3ff. They will be converted and those that do not repent will be destroyed by the Messiah and the prophets and saints of the First Resurrection.

See 2Peter 1:21 at ayat 26.27 above.

John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 14:26 but the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

26.196. And lo! it is in the Scriptures of the men of old.

26.197. Is it not a token for them that the doctors of the Children of Israel know it?

26.198. And if We had revealed it unto one of any other nation than the Arabs,

26.199. And he had read it unto them, they would not have believed in it.

26.200. Thus do We make it traverse the hearts of the guilty.

26.201. They will not believe in it till they behold the painful doom,

26.202. So that it will come upon them suddenly, when they perceive not.

These disbelievers continue until the last days not seeing or understanding and they will be converted for the coming of the Messiah or die.

See Matthew 5:17 at ayat 26.2 above.

Romans 8:7 for the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

Ephesians 4:18-19 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. ¹⁹They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

1Thessalonians 5:2-3 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

26.203. Then they will say: Are we to be reprieved?

26.204. Would they (now) hasten on Our doom?

26.205. Hast thou then seen, if We content them for (long) years,

26.206. And then cometh that which they were promised,

26.207. (How) that wherewith they were contented naught availeth them?

26.208. And We destroyed no township but it had its warners

26.209. For reminder, for We never were oppressors.

Nehemiah 9:30 Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.

Romans 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

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.

Proverbs 21:30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.

Amos 3:7 For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Isaiah 66:4 I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight.

Psalm 49:7-9 Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, ⁸for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, ⁹that he should live on forever and never see the pit.

Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Refer to Revelation. 20:11-15 at ayat 18.31 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 18 (No. Q018).

26.210. The devils did not bring it down.

26.211. It is not meet for them, nor is it in their power,

26.212. Lo! verily they are banished from the hearing.

26.213. Therefor invoke not with Allah another god, lest thou be one of the doomed. 26.214. And warn thy tribe of near kindred,

James 2:19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

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

The demons can only do what God allows them to do. The messenger delivers his message and God brings about the punishment. Do the right deeds and God will reward you.

26.215. And lower thy wing (in kindness) unto those believers who follow thee.

Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, (RSV)

26.216. And if they (thy kinsfolk) disobey thee, say: Lo! I am innocent of what they do.

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

26.217. And put thy trust in the Mighty, the Merciful.

See Psalm 116:5 at ayat 26.104 above.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Psalm 118:8-9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. ⁹It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

Job 9:4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered? (ERV)

Luke 6:36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

26.218. Who seeth thee when thou standest up (to pray)

26.219. And (seeth) thine abasement among those who fall prostrate (in worship).

26.220. Lo! He, only He, is the Hearer, the Knower.

Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Isaiah 66:2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. (NLT)

26.221. Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend?

26.222. They descend on every sinful, false one.

26.223. They listen eagerly, but most of them are liars.

After the Hijrah to Al-Medinah in 622 it became obvious that the Beccan idolaters would do anything to frustrate the plan of God and deny the Scriptures so these later texts were added so that the idolaters both at Becca and Al-Madinah would be reminded of their false teachings and idolatrous eloquence.

26.224. As for poets, the erring follow them.

1Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Ephesians 2:1-2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ²in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

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.

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

1John 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

26.225. Hast thou not seen how they stray in every valley,

26.226. And how they say that which they do not?

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Daniel 9:5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.

Psalm 53:2-3 God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. ³They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 23:3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

26.227. Save those who believe and do good works, and remember Allah much, and vindicate themselves after they have been wronged. Those who do wrong will come to know by what a (great) reverse they will be overturned!

Proverbs 10:16 The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.

Proverbs 11:19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.

Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.

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

2Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 8:28-30 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

The reference to the valleys refers to the various locations in Arabia including the uncultivateable valley of Becca where all were idolatrous except the very few of the faith who survived among them.

They killed Ali and Hussein and Islam plunged again into Darkness under their Imams and Sheiks as has the faith in the West under the Binitarian and Trinitarian Sunday worshippers of Baal and Easter.

The whole world awaits the Messiah and the Wrath of God (see the paper Wars of the Last Days and the Vials of the Wrath of God (No. 141B)).

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