Surah Sad (Sad) 38 : 7

Explanatory Note

The plain fact is that the Quraysh elders did not for an instant believe that Muĥammad, whom they knew very well, was a sorcerer or a liar, as they alleged. Their allegations were simply propaganda tools aimed at misleading people. The Quraysh elders recognized that the truth Muĥammad preached would do away with all their privileges; privileges that relied on deception and false values.

The Quraysh elders also tried to deceive people by pointing to the faiths of the people of earlier revelations who had allowed superstitions to creep into their faith, diverting it from the pure concept of God’s oneness: “Never did we hear of a claim like this in any faith of latter days! It is all an invention.” (Verse 7) By that time, the concept of trinity had spread among the Christians while the legend of Ezra being God’s son had infiltrated Judaism. Hence the elders specifically referred to these, saying: “Never did we hear of a claim like this in any faith of latter days!” They claimed to have never before heard anyone advocate God’s absolute oneness as did Muĥammad. Hence, it could only be fabrication.

A person who believes in God’s oneness and understands the meaning of His oneness, sets his relation with his Lord on this basis, and puts his relations with everyone and everything other than God in their respective positions. Thus, his energy and feelings are not manipulated by a host of other different deities nor are other people able to impose themselves on him.

A believer who knows that God, the One, is the originator of this universe deals with the universe and all that exists in it on the basis of cooperation and friendship. This gives life a taste and vitality that are totally different from that which is felt by those who do not believe in any of this.