Translation
Say: “O people, if you doubt about what I (Prophet Mohammad) convey to you as God’s guidance, then let it be known that I do not worship or serve any of your deities and belief but that of God alone Who brings your death and demise and I am commanded to have faith (in Him). You should set yourself sincerely to the right faith and stay away from polytheism. You should not invoke and seek out anyone, other than God, which can neither benefit you nor cause you any harm. If you do so, you are only proving your denials and unfairness (to yourself). If God were to let any affliction touch you, there is none who can remove it and if He intends goodness for you, none can take away His Grace. He brings out consequences to His creations as He wills. He is truly full of Mercy and Forgiveness!”
Say: O people, truth has indeed been conveyed to you from your Sustainer God. Now whoever seeks and follows the true guidance, does it for his or her own good and whoever misguides, does it to his or her own peril. I am (as a prophet) not responsible for your conducts! (As for my followers) follow what has been revealed to you and be patient till God brings about just outcomes as He is Best of all judges! 487
Interpretation
487 These verses summarize, like many places in the Qur’an, the true essences of faith and goodness that get shrouded not only by denials but also by the cloaks of rituals that are devoid of meaning and inspirations. And once again reflecting the true consonance of the Qur’anic narratives, we are told again that the choice is on us to accept faith and goodness and to do so with free will and not through coercion or any other means of force, delusion, superstition, or false arguments.
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REFLECTION
Freedom of choice is fundamental in Islamic faith and in human existence as well, reflecting the consistency in which the gift of human freedom operates in the spiritual and the physical worlds. This overriding consistency of order and harmony is also visible in the natural world in which we live. The more we are uncovering through science and human knowledge, the more apparent the harmony and purposefulness in our creation become.
ACTION
Being true to our nature of being and taking lessons from the world we are part of are essential to develop deeper faith and a better understanding of our life and our existence on this earth and in this universe.