Anfal 31-33

Anfal 31-33

31- AND WHEN OUR AYAHS ARE RECITED TO THEM THEY SAY: “WE HEARD, HAD WE DESIRED, WE WOULD HAVE SAID THE LIKE OF THIS, THIS IS NOTHING BUT THE MYTHS ABOUT THE EARLY PEOPLE”.

32- AND AS THEY SAID: “ALLAH, IF THIS IS THE TRUTH FROM YOU, THEN RAIN US WITH STONES FROM HEAVENS, OR SEND US SEVERE PUNISHMENT”.

33- BUT ALLAH WOULD NOT PUNISH THEM WHILE YOU ARE AMONGST THEM, AND ALLAH DOES NOT PUNISH THEM WHILE THEY ARE ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS.

Ayah 31 is responding to the claim of the disbelievers that they could have produced a Quran like this, The Quran.  However, they did not respond to the Challenge for them to compose 10 Sorahs of the like thereof, ten short Sorahs. Allah the Highest said: “OR DO THEY SAY: HE MADE IT UP.  THEN BRING FORTH TEN MADE UP SORAHS, AND CALL UPON WHOM YOU CAN OTHER THAN ALLAH FOR ASSISTANCE IF YOU ARE TRUTHFUL”.  (S:11 A:13)  

Then this challenge was reduced to produce a Sorah, one Sorah, which can be as short as 3 Ayahs.  Allah the Highest said: “AND IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT ABOUT WHAT WE SENT DOWN UPON OUR SLAVE, THEN PRODUCE A SORAH OF THE LIKE THEREOF, AND CALL UPON YOUR HELPERS OTHER THAN ALLAH IF YOU ARE TRUTHFUL * BUT IF YOU DO NOT AND YOU WILL NOT, AND THEN GUARD YOURSELVES FROM A FIRE, ITS FUEL IS PEOPLE AND STONES, PREPARED FOR THE DISBELIEVERS”.  (S:2 A:3,4)

They could not respond to this challenge either.

After these warnings and challenges, they are told that they deserve to be punished severely for denying Allah’s Ayahs, and for saying that they are nothing but myth and old stories.  

They asked Allah the Highest to punish them with stones from the heavens if they are receiving the truth and they deny it.  Why is it, that Allah the Highest did not punish them.  It was because of:-

1. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, pleaded to Allah the Highest, not to punish them on a number of occasions while he was still in Makah.
2. Allah’s Mercy overcomes His anger.  
3. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, and many Muslims were still living amongst them.

Allah the Highest then tells us of two conditions which protect the Muslims from being collectively punished severe punishment:

1. “BUT ALLAH WOULD NOT PUNISH THEM WHILE YOU ARE AMONGST THEM”    Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, being amongst us in His example and teachings, is a protection from Allah’s punishment.  This is for us now and until the Day of Resurrection.
2. “AND ALLAH DOES NOT PUNISH THEM WHILE THEY ARE ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS”.   As long as the believers seek Allah’s forgiveness when they commit sin, they will not suffer a severe and sweeping punishment. 

Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “The Devil said: “By your power and majesty my Lord, I will continue to tempt your slaves as long as their souls are still in their bodies”.  The Lord said: “By My Power and Majesty, I will continue to forgive them, as long as they ask for forgiveness”.  (Ahmed & Hakem)

These are the safeguards for the Muslims from the Punishment of Allah the Highest.