TRANSLATION
Surely We [God] had inspired you [Mohammad] as We had inspired Noah and the prophets after him; We inspired Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants; [We inspired] Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and We gave David a scripture. [We sent] Messengers that We have mentioned to you before and others that We have not mentioned to you. And God spoke His words to Moses. [These are] Messengers, bearing good news and dispensing caution, so that people may have no excuse before God after the Messengers. God is infinitely Mighty and Wise!291
Notwithstanding, God Himself testifies with what He had revealed to you that He has revealed it with His knowledge, and Angels bear witness as well, though none can bear witness as God does. Those who deny God’s grace and obstruct people from true guidance have erred and moved far [from truth]. Such as these who deny the truth and act wrongfully, God will never forgive them, nor guide them to the [straight] path, but [they move on] a path to Hell where they will be bound for a long time—a consequence that is easy for God to enforce.
O mankind [listen up]: This Messenger has come to you with truth from your Sustainer God; it is in your best interest to believe. If you deny and disbelieve, [know that] God owns all that is in the universe and on Earth; He is All knowing and Wise!292
INTERPRETATION
291. Once again God draws attention to the common message with which He inspired all the prophets who came to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, a commitment He made to Adam and Eve when they were being sent to the earth for their transient stay and struggle to prove their affinity to God and disdain for evil. God has fulfilled His promise; now it is up to us to fulfill our commitment as Adam and Eve had repented and sought guidance to come back to God.
292. God inspires us as He inspired the prophets throughout the ages by sending them our way and by their constant struggle to help us find the right course of action, livelihood, and mutual benefit. It is up to us to make the right choice, as God has endowed us with knowledge and freedom. Our humanity and our attachment to God is proven by the choices we make—this has serious consequences to us individually and collectively, but for God, His ownership and control of our universe will remain unchanged and unaffected by the choices we make.
REFLECTION
Through messages and messengers, God kept His promise to Adam and Eve and eliminated any plea or excuse we might have that we did not know what our course of action ought to be or how we should conduct ourselves on this planet with respect to God, our fellow human beings, and the natural world that sustains our lives.
ACTION
God gave us freedom and the knowledge of what choices to make that are good for us collectively and individually. We have to decide and make that choice if we want to be successful on this planet and be in God’s grace in the afterlife.