ism

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597 The Hypocrites were inconsistent, and in this reflect unregenerate mankind. If a disaster happens, due to their own
folly, they blame somebody else; but if they are fortunate, they claim reflected credit by pretending that Heaven has
favoured them because of their own superior merits. The modern critic discards even this pretence, eliminates Heaven
altogether, and claims all credit direct to himself, unless he brings in blind Chance, but that he does mostly to "explain"
misfortune. If we look to the ultimate Cause of all things, all things come from Allah. But if we look to the
proximate cause of things, our own merit is so small, that we can hardly claim
credit for good ourselves with any fairness. In Allah's hand is all good: iii.26. On the other hand, the proximate
cause of our evil is due to some wrong in our own inner selves; for never are we dealt with unjustly in the very least:
iv. 77. (4.78)
4:79 - Whatever good (O man!) happens to thee is from Allah; but whatever evil happens to thee is
from thy (own) soul. And We have sent thee as an Apostle to (instruct) mankind: and enough
is Allah for a witness. 598
598 To blame a man of God for our misfortunes is doubly unjust. For he comes to save us from misfortune, and it is
because we flout him or pay no heed to him, that our own rebellion, brings its own punishment. If we realise this truth
we shall be saved from two sins: (1) the sin of injustice to Allah's Messengers, who come for our good, and not for our
harm: (2) the sin of not realising our own shortcomings or rebellion, and thus living in spiritual darkness. If the
Message is from Allah, that carries its own authority: "enough is Allah for a witness." (4.79)
4:80 - He who obeys the Apostle obeys Allah: but if any turn away We have not sent thee to watch
over their (evil deeds). 599
599 The Messenger was sent to preach, guide, instruct, and show the Way,-not to drive people to good. That is not Allah's
Plan, which trains the human Will. The Messenger's duty is therefore to convey the Message of Allah, in all the ways
of persuasion that are open to him. If men perversely disobey that Message, they are not disobeying him but they are
disobeying Allah. In the same way those who obey the Message are obeying Allah. They are not obliging the
Messenger: they are merely doing their duty. (4.80)
4:85 - He who obeys the Apostle obeys Allah: but if any turn away We have not sent thee to watch
over their (evil deeds). 599
599 The Messenger was sent to preach, guide, instruct, and show the Way,-not to drive people to good. That is not Allah's
Plan, which trains the human Will. The Messenger's duty is therefore to convey the Message of Allah, in all the ways
of persuasion that are open to him. If men perversely disobey that Message, they are not disobeying him but they are
disobeying Allah. In the same way those who obey the Message are obeying Allah. They are not obliging the
Messenger: they are merely doing their duty. (4.80)
36:18 - The (people) said: "for us We augur an evil omen from you: if ye desist not we will certainly
stone you and a grievous punishment indeed will be inflicted on you by us." 3963
3963 Tair means a bird. Like the Roman augurs, the Arabs had a superstition about deriving omens from birds. Cf. the
English word "auspicious", from the Latin avis, a bird, and specio, I see. From Tair (bird) came ta-taiyara, or ittaiyara,
to draw evil omens. Because the prophets of Allah denounced evil, the evil-doers thought that they brought ill-luck to
them. As a matter of fact any evil that happened to them was the result of their own ill-deeds. Cf. vii. 131, where the
Egyptians ascribed their calamities to the ill-luck brought by Moses: and xxvii. 47, where the Thamud ascribed ill-luck
to the preaching of Salih. (36.18)
36:17 - "And Our duty is only to proclaim the clear Message." 3962
3962 Then they proceed to explain what their mission is. It is not to force them but to convince them. It is to proclaim openly
and clearly Allah's Law, which they were breaking,-to denounce their sins and to show them the better path. If they
were obstinate, it was their own loss. If they were rebellious against Allah, the punishment rested with Allah. (36.17)
GOGS:
18:94 - They said: "O Zul-qarnain! the Gog and Magog (people) do great mischief on earth: shall
we then render thee tribute in order that thou mightest erect a barrier between us and them?"
2439
2439 What we are mainly concerned with is its interpretation. The Conqueror had now arrived among a people who were
different in speech and race from him, but not quite primitive, for they were skilled in the working of metals, and could
furnish blocks (or bricks) of iron, melt metals with bellows or blow-pipes, and prepare molten lead (xviii. 96).
Apparently they were a peaceable and industrious race, much subject to incursions from wild tribes who are called
Gog and Magog. Against these tribes they were willing to purchase immunity by paying the Conqueror tribute in return
for protection. The permanent protection they wanted was the closing of a mountain gap through which the incursions
were made. (18.94)
21:96 - Until the Gog and Magog (people) are let through (their barrier) and they swiftly swarm from
every hill. 2753
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