Playing God

"All rights of this book are reserved for the publisher and the author. This copy is for reading purpose only. This copy cannot be uploaded on any website except those of the publisher and the author." Playing God: Misreading a Divine Practice 11 all that could have been done to call them to accept faith has been done. Before migration, as long as a messenger remains among his people, they are protected from any punishment and given respite due to his presence. So, when the pagan Arabs demanded from Muhammad (sws) to bring the punishment he had been threatening them with, th ey w ere told: +23< [I@- +2 AG 3 X ?- )y: ||( But God was n ot g oing to send them a punishment whilst you are amongs t them. (8:33) Secondly, a messenger is not authorized to make the decision of migration for himself since only the Almighty knows when a part icul ar people has been given enough time to accept th e truth. A messenger must keep to his task of warning his people, in spite of bitter opposition, until he is informed by the Almighty that the time for warning them is over. The Prophet Jonah (sws) was reprimanded by the Almighty when he on his own decided to migrate from his people: O B }C 4< ~K < 3 7 10I F 1 @ FC< Hp _? \,: 1:R :- jB C F? [X 4PIR TI iH [I@ R R 1 @ )z&: yD( And remember dh ū al-n ū n , when he departed in wrath thinking that We will not hold him responsible! So he cried through the depths of darkness: “There is no god but You. Glory be to You. I was indeed wrong!” (21:87) www.javedahmadghamidi.com www.al -m wrid.org