Quranic Reflections - Islamic School of Stanford

death comes up to him from every place, and in no way will he be dead; and
beyond him is a harsh torment. (Such) is the likeness of the ones who have
disbelieved in their Lord: their deeds are like ashes on which the wind blows
severely upon a tempestuous day…” (TMQ, 14: 16-18).
Many ayahs unfold, proceeding to the sermon of Iblis (Satan) in hell, which is
considered the worst affliction of all to be sent down on the disbelievers.
Iblis’s sermon
Allah says what can be translated as, “And Ash-Shaytan (The all-vicious “one”, i.e.,
the Devil) says, as soon as the Command is decreed, “Surely Allah promised you
a promise of Truth, and I promised you, then I failed you; and in no way did I
have any all-binding authority over you except that I called you, so you
responded to me...” (TMQ, 14:22).
Just imagine the sorrow overwhelming the audience of this sermon! How come they
heed Satan at a time when he is washing his hands of them Allah cites Satan as
saying what can be translated as, “…So do not blame me and blame yourselves. In
no way can I be a screamer (i.e., able to every for help for you) for you, and in no
way can you be screamers for me. Surely I disbelieved in your associating me
(with Allah) earlier” Surely the unjust will have a painful torment” (TMQ,
14:22). Can you imagine an affliction worse than this!
The good word
Ayahs now reach a core idea. This core idea clearly points out that belief is the
greatest blessing ever. Allah (SWT) exemplifies the case for us saying what can be
translated as, “Have you not seen how Allah has struck a similitude A good
word is as a good tree…” (TMQ, 14:24). People might think that most blessings are
materialistic, but Allah (SWT) gives us this example to show that one word or one
blessing is greater than all the material blessings man can conceive of! Allah says
what can be translated as, “Have you not seen how Allah has struck a similitude
A good word is as a good tree: its root is firm and its branch is in the heaven. It
brings its crop every season (Literally: every while) by the permission of its
Lord; and Allah strikes similitude’s to mankind that possibly they would remind
themselves” (TMQ, 14:24-25).
Just as trees bear good crops, so does the deep-rooted and lofty-branched tree of la
ilaha ila Allah (there is no god but Allah) which yields believing people. Examples of
such people include disciples of the Qur’an, callers to Allah’s path, positive people,
and other benevolent believers. Indeed, it does bring its crops every season by the
permission of Allah. These crops are in the form of good deeds and righteous acts
that remain as an ever-running sadaqah (charity) even after the person is deceased.
On the other hand, the word of disbelief is fragile, wicked, rootless and branchless.
Allah says what can be translated as, “And the similitude of a wicked word is as a
wicked tree: uprooted from above the earth; in no way does it have any
stability” (TMQ, 14:26).