TRANSLATION
All that is in the universe and all that is on Earth belongs to God. Certainly We [God] had enjoined the people who were given revelations before your time and [similar enjoinment] on you now that you all be mindful of your responsibilities to God [and to fellow humans]. But if you deny Him, then know that God owns all that is in the universe and on Earth; God is Self-sufficient and ever to be praised. [Again] to God belongs all that is in the universe and on Earth, and God is sufficient to address and have trust over all matters.280
If He wills, He will cause you, O Humanity, to disappear and be replaced by other beings. God certainly has the power to do so. If anyone desires the benefit of this world, let him know that with God is the benefit of this world and the life that comes afterward. God is certainly All Hearing and All Seeing!281
INTERPRETATION
280. The universal nature of God’s guidance to all people is once again brought to light. Whatever guidance and obligations are given in revelations are given to all people who have received such guidance—whether Jew, Christian, Muslim, or other religions, since all faith-based religions come from the same God—and all such guidance is the same. In a similar vein, denial of God and His guidance, no matter who does that—Jews, Christians, Muslims, or people of other religions—will bring the same consequence of shame and suffering, and God will replace them with others who have true faith, even replacing the human race with other species and intelligent beings, perhaps already existing in other planets. Jinns (another creation of God, made from fire, mentioned in the Qur’an) already coexist on Earth with us and have similar aspirations, failings, and challenges.
281. Human beings are prone to seek benefits in this world in terms of wealth, power, honor, children, spouses, and other earthly possessions, whereas God wishes to confer benefit both in this world and in the life to come after death. We need to balance our desires in this world with the benefit in the afterlife and not compromise our values and our faith, which might give temporary gains in this world but lead to long-lasting loss of face and grief in the life after death and in the active presence of God Almighty.
REFLECTION
We belong to God irrespective of our professed faith—Jews, Christians, Muslims, and other people of faith. We are all subject to the same expectation and purposefulness, and we will all be judged and rewarded by the same standard that has been communicated in all the revealed books. The notion of a special relationship with God because of being a Muslim or a Jew or a Christian is a false premise. The key is our genuine faith in God Almighty and our ability to conduct ourselves in goodness and fight all forms of evil in our lives and in our societies.
ACTION
The sooner we recognize that labels lead to a false sense of security and that only genuine faith and goodness will lead us to God and His grace, the sooner we will bring peace to ourselves and harmony with all others.