Translation
Among them are those who come to you to listen, but there is a filter over their hearts so that they do not understand, and there is a deafness in their hearing. They will not achieve faith even if all possible signs are shown to them. They only come with an intent to argue with you. Those who deny faith have only this to say: “This [the Qur’an] is nothing but stories of the ancients.” They discourage others from it, and they themselves keep away from it; they thus harm their own souls and fail to perceive.
If you could witness when they will be made to stand before the fire, they would say: “Would we be sent back? We would then certainly not deny the message from our Lord and we will be among the believers.” The truth that they denied will be made known to them. Even if they were sent back, they would surely go back to what was forbidden before, and they are truly liars. Some of them say: “There is nothing beyond the life of this world, and we will not be raised after our death.” Again, if you could only see them when they will stand before their Sustainer God, Who will ask: “Isn’t this the truth?” They will say: “Yes, our Sustainer.” God will say: “Then face the consequences of your disbelief!”
Lost indeed are those who fail to prepare to meet their Sustainer God. That meeting comes to them suddenly, and they will say: “Too bad for us that we neglected such a meeting!” It is a burden they will have to face [as a consequence], and it is an evil of a burden to carry on one’s back. The life of this world is but a play and a sport (unless one makes good use of it), and the life after death will be better for those who act responsibly. What is it that you fail to understand?
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REFLECTION
The Qur’an explains the realities of life on this planet and life after death with clarity and purposefulness that is difficult to deny unless one is deaf, dumb, and blinded by one’s own greed, ego, and intellectual arrogance. Genuine and sincere discussions and questioning are important and should be encouraged, something that is sorely missing in many religious communities and institutions, including Muslim communities and Islamic centers, which is contrary to Islamic teachings. Without vigorous dialogues and debates, we will not strengthen our faith and be able to find solutions to our social and political issues.
ACTION
As God asks the question, “What is it that you fail to understand?”, we need to respond with a sincere desire and a purposeful engagement on our faith and on our social obligations as individuals and as communities serving others.