seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Quran 24:39. As for those who disbelieve, their works are like a mirage in a desert. The thirsty assumes it is to be water. Until, when he has reached it, he finds it to be nothing, but there he finds God, Who settles his account in full. God is swift in reckoning.
40. Or like utter darkness in a vast ocean, covered by waves, above which are waves, above which is fog. Darkness upon darkness. If he brings out his hand, he will hardly see it. He to whom God has not granted a light has no light.
41. Do you not realize that God is glorified by whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and even by the birds in formation? Each knows its prayer and its manner of praise. God knows well what they do.
42. To God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and to God is the ultimate return.
43. Have you not seen how God propels the clouds, then brings them together, then piles them into a heap, and you see rain drops emerging from its midst? How He brings down loads of hail from the sky, striking with it whomever He wills, and diverting it from whomever He wills? The flash of its lightning almost snatches the sight away.
44. God alternates the night and the day. In that is a lesson for those who have insight.
45. God created every living creature from water. Some of them crawl on their bellies, and some walk on two feet, and others walk on four. God creates whatever He wills. God is Capable of everything.
46. We sent down enlightening revelations, and God guides whomever He wills to a straight path.
47. And they say, “We have believed in God and the Messenger, and we obey,” but some of them turn away afterwards. These are not believers.
48. And when they are called to God and His Messenger, in order to judge between them, some of them refuse.
49. But if justice is on their side, they accept it willingly.
50. Is there sickness in their hearts? Or are they suspicious? Or do they fear that God may do them injustice? Or His Messenger? In fact, they themselves are the unjust.
And here's the commentary.
As the first part of the section gives a picture of the brilliant and dazzling Divine light which is given to the believers, the last part describes the utter darkness of doubt and ignorance in which the disbelievers are. Their apparent hopes of success are compared with a mirage, and, when they are undeceived of these, they will find themselves in the presence of God and will have their dues paid to them.
Here only animals are spoken of as having been created from water, but elsewhere we are told that all life, whether animal or plant, has been created from water.
The various kinds of animal life are here divided into three classes: (1) The creeping things, the lowest and the first form in the development of animal life. (2) Those walking upon two legs, such as birds, the second form of the development of animal life. Man, though walking on two legs, is not included in them, because human life is the highest form of the development of animal life, and it is generally mentioned as quite distinct from all animal life. (3) Those which walk on four legs, and to this class belong most of the mammals.
Satan doesn't like humans. He is jealous of us..... and the reason he is jealous is real.... God loves humans more than He loves the Angels. Satan is nothing more than a fallen Angel. Well he didn't really fall.... he got sassy with God and he got tossed. Satan has set his cap to destroy the testimony of every human who loves God.... be they Jewish, Christian, or Muslim. We all worship the same God.... we just do it differently. Like the Protestants and Catholics.... same God different books.
There is, however, a dark side to those spiffy humans. Those who say they believe.... but they don't. The pew warmers and the money grubbers are all claiming to be part of the clan that loves God.... but they only love the recognition they get or the money they make.... you know the "send me a dollar and I'll pray for you" crowd.
There is darkness on earth.... and it's lack of light is really quite simple....no God Loving Human has flicked the switch.
Not all humans can call on God for light.
There are some who only claim to believe. They can claim to be followers.... but they don't know the first thing about what real "following" is about.
They hang around the seashore [or forums] all day.... on their bellies.... like the satanic "god" they "worship"..... they are the lowest of creations.... only a hair above fallen angels. They are the scum of the earth... who pretend to be shiny God fearing good guys.... when all they are is a a mirage... claiming to be human... but only human in form.... not substance.
I think that's what the author is talking about here.
Is your church a mirage?
Are you shining a light?
