An Invitation to Peace
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<strong>An</strong> <strong>Invitation</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Peace</strong><br />
regarding future events in extremely clear terms while in the most<br />
unlikely circumstances. The confidence and clarity with which these<br />
things have been announced and the way they have then come about,<br />
often against the heaviest odds, are signs for those who will accept.<br />
Abu Lahab<br />
The Prophet had an uncle by the name of Abu Lahab. This man hated<br />
Islam <strong>to</strong> such an extent that he would follow the Prophet around in<br />
order <strong>to</strong> discredit him. <strong>An</strong>yone he saw the Prophet speaking <strong>to</strong> he<br />
would go <strong>to</strong> and ask him what he had said, and then go about<br />
contradicting him. He faithfully said the exact opposite of anything<br />
Muhammad would say just <strong>to</strong> spite him. He was clearly someone who<br />
would not leave any s<strong>to</strong>ne unturned or let any chance go by <strong>to</strong> try <strong>to</strong><br />
prove Muhammad was not who he said he was. From the moment the<br />
Prophet summoned all of his clansmen for the first time <strong>to</strong> deliver the<br />
warning he had received from God, Abu Lahab had angrily opposed<br />
him saying, “May you have destruction for the rest of your day!” The<br />
Qur’an then revealed a small chapter, addressing Abu Lahab. It said:<br />
“Destroyed be the hands of Abu Lahab and destroyed he is!<br />
Neither his wealth will avail him nor his earnings! He will soon enter a<br />
Fire of great flames and his wife, the carrier of firewood. Around her<br />
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neck will be a rope of palm fibre!”<br />
This chapter said very clearly that Abu Lahab was condemned <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong><br />
Hell. In other words, it was saying he would never change and would<br />
die a disbeliever. Abu Lahab went on <strong>to</strong> live for a full ten years after the<br />
revelation of this chapter. All he had <strong>to</strong> do now <strong>to</strong> prove the Qur’an<br />
was wrong was <strong>to</strong> say, ‘The Qur’an says I’m never going <strong>to</strong> believe, that<br />
I’m going <strong>to</strong> Hell and so will die a non-Muslim. Well, I believe in<br />
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Qur’an 111:1-5<br />
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