Translation
When Our [God’s] revelations are presented to them, specially to those who deny that they will come back to us, they say: “Bring a Qur’an that is different from this or change it.” Say to them: “I cannot change it on my own accord. I follow nothing other than what is revealed to me. If I were to alter what came from my Sustainer God, then I would be afraid of its consequence, especially on a tumultuous day (a day of accountability, final day of judgement).” Say further: “If God had so willed, I would not have come to recite this to you nor would God make this known to you. You know that I have lived among you for almost a lifetime already. What is it that you do not comprehend?” 463
Who can be more at fault that the one who pronounces lie about God or deny God’s revelations? Such deniers will not succeed. Such people serve others beside God as deities who can do neither harm nor any good. They say: “These are our intermediaries for God.” Reply to them: Are you informing God of what He is not aware of in (His own) universe and on this planet (of His)? God’s glory is above what they ascribe to Him.
All of mankind was (is) but one single community but they started to aspire divergent views. Had not a decree [Kalimah—Word] from your Sustainer God already been pronounced in this matter, their disagreements would have been dealt with already. They say: Why does not God send a sign (a miracle or a proof) to him?” Say to them: “Only God knows what He had not expressed yet. You should wait then, and I too am with you who wait.” 464
Interpretation
463 These verses of the Qur’an clearly establish God as the Source and Author of the Book. Prophet Mohammad is not the author of the book—rather a receiver, a conveyer, and a messenger to disseminate and explain the guidance contained in the book. Like previous prophets, he not only explained the message, but lived his life accordingly and strove diligently to build a community, a society, and a nation (Ummah) that commits itself to the teachings and perpetuates a social, political, financial, and ethical norm that is grounded on acknowledging God as our Creator, seeking the truth in all spheres of human activities, and establishing justice for all in all generations.
464 The Prophet had been tested and denied in so many ways, some of which are narrated in these verses. Demands from the deniers of God and his prophethood ranged from refusing to accept the Qur’an as is and asking that he make changes as they like, or bringing some new proof and evidence of his prophethood while calling him a madman or a poet who writes fictional and old stories. The Prophet, along with various Qur’anic revelations, had consistently asserted that these verses were guidance directly from God through the archangel Gabriel, and the Prophet had no role in creating content of the revelations; rather his role was to disseminate, explain, and actualize a world that conforms to this guidance based on individuals and groups who are inspired by such divine revelations and his leadership.
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REFLECTION
The unity of the human race is reflected in various verses in the Qur’an as the original intent and vision of God. It is only due to our own divergent views and failure to fully appreciate and accept God’s unified guidance that leads to discord, disharmony, and lack of unity among people.
ACTION
We as people of faith and people of goodness have a responsibility to shape the world and to remake our human society in every generation to conform to the true message from God and to ensure that every human being has the freedom of choice and the means to strive for such dignified position.