Overview (Verses 123 - 127)

Drawing the Lines of Battle
 
The order was then given to the two combatants to descend to earth, which would be the battleground in this long-lasting war: “Get down, both of you, and be out of it; each of you shall be an enemy to the other.” (Verse 123) Thus, the enmity was declared the whole world over. This means that there is no excuse for Adam and his progeny. None can claim to have been taken unawares. Everyone knows the score and the unabating hostility. The whole universe is aware of it: “Each of you shall be an enemy to the other.” (Verse 123)
 
Along with this declaration which resounded throughout the heavens and the earth, and which was witnessed by all the angels, God has willed, out of His grace, to send His messengers bringing guidance to mankind, before He punishes them for their sins. Thus, at the same time He alerts His servants to this enmity between Adam and Satan, He announces to them that He will provide them with guidance. He will then give them their reward according to whether they follow His guidance or reject it: When guidance shall come to you from Me, he who follows My guidance will not go astray, nor will he suffer misery; but he who turns away from My message shall have a straitened lift and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection. ‘Lord,’ he will say, ‘why have You raised me up blind, while I was endowed with sight?’ He will reply: ‘Thus it is: Our revelations were brought to you, but you were oblivious to them. So today shall you be consigned to oblivion. ‘For thus shall We reward him who transgresses and does not believe in his Lord’s revelations. Indeed the suffering in the life to come shall be most severe and most enduring. (Verses 123-127) This promise of the guidance mankind will receive from God is made immediately after Adam’s story, as though it constitutes a part of it. It is declared there in heaven at the conclusion of the story. It is, then, final, determined long ago, admitting no cancellation or amendment.
 
“He who follows My guidance will not go astray, nor will he suffer misery.” (Verse 123) When human beings follow divine guidance, they are immune from going astray and suffering misery. Both eventualities however exist, but God protects those of His servants who follow His guidance from them. Misery is attendant on following error, even though a person has all the pleasures the world can give. Indeed, such pleasures are part of his misery both in this life and in the life to come. For every forbidden pleasure is succeeded by pain and negative consequences. When human beings stray from God’s guidance, they sink into worry, confusion and instability. They swing from one extreme to the other. Misery will always be the result of such worry and confusion, even though a person enjoys all the riches life can give. But the ultimate misery is that suffered in the hereafter. However, those who follow God’s guidance are protected from error and misery in this earthly life. This compensates them for their lost Paradise until they return to it on the appointed day.
 
“But he who turns away from My message shall have a straitened life and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.” (Verse 124) When human life severs its links with God, depriving itself of His abundant grace, it becomes straitened, even though it may be materially affluent. It is a type of stress attendant on being isolated from God and the reassurance of His mercy. It is a stress that demonstrates itself in worry, doubt and confusion; holding tight to what one owns and fearing unexpected loss; coveting all manner of comfort and pleasure; nurturing aspirations and ambitions, etc. People do not feel true reassurance except when they place their trust in God, holding tight to their bond with Him. The reassurance generated by faith in God adds much to life’s dimensions in length, breadth, depth and expanse. Without such reassurance, life is nothing but a continuous misery and is far harder than what man suffers through poverty and deprivation.
 
“We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.” (Verse 124) This is the same type of going astray as that which man went through in the life of this world. It comes by way of recompense for his turning away from God’s message in this first life. Hence, he asks: “Lord, why have You raised me up blind, while I was endowed with sight?” (Verse 125) The answer is not long coming: “Thus it is.. Our revelations were brought to you, but you were oblivious to them. So today shall you be consigned to oblivion. For thus shall We reward him who transgresses and does not believe in his Lord’s revelations. Indeed the suffering in the lift to come shall be most severe and most enduring.” (Verses 126-127)
 
Anyone who turns his back on God’s message certainly transgresses. He walks away from the guidance brought to him by God’s Messenger when it is the richest blessing and the most valuable resource. He transgresses as he turns his sight to objects he was not meant to look at, yet remains oblivious to God’s revelations. It is not surprising that he lives a straitened life. Moreover, on the Day of Resurrection he will be raised up blind.
 
We note here how the wording and the images drawn provide complementary and contrasting scenes: the fall from heaven is followed by misery and going astray. It contrasts with the return to heaven where one is free from all such misery. A life of ease contrasts with a straitened life, and guidance contrasts with blindness. All this comes by way of comment on Adam’s story, which is the story of all mankind. It starts and ends in heaven, as we saw earlier in Sūrah 7, The Heights. However the scenes here are different. In each case, they fit the general emphasis of the sūrah in which they are drawn.