Surah al-Furqan (The Criterion ) 25 : 21

Overview (Verses 21 - 26)

Ominous Prospects for the Unbelievers

Those who entertain no hope of meeting Us say: ‘Why have no angels been sent down to us?’ – or, ‘Why do we not see our Lord?’ Indeed, they are far too proud of themselves and they have been insolently overbearing. On the day when they shall see the angels, the sinners will receive no happy news then, and they will say: ‘a forbidding ban!’ We shall turn to whatever deeds they have done, and We shall transform it all into scattered dust. On that day, those destined for paradise will be graced with the best of abodes and the fairest place of repose. On the day when the skies shall be rent asunder with clouds, and the angels shall be sent down [in ranks]. On that day, true sovereignty belongs to the Most Merciful [alone]. It will be a day of dire distress for the unbelievers. On that day the wrongdoer will bite his hands and say: ‘Would that I had followed the path shown to me by the Messenger. Oh, woe is me! Would that I had never taken so- and-so for a friend! He surely led me astray from the Reminder after it had come to me!’ Satan is ever treacherous to man. (Verses 21-29)

The unbelievers do not hope to meet God. This means that they do not expect such a meeting and do not take it into account so as to determine their prior behaviour. In their hearts they do not feel any awe of God. Hence, they are ready to make utterances that no one who expects to meet God would entertain. “Those who entertain no hope of meeting Us say: Why have no angels been sent down to us? – or, Why do we not see our Lord?” (Verse 21)

They considered it unreasonable that God’s Messenger should be a man. They demanded that angels be sent to them testifying to the truth of the message in order for them to believe in it. An alternative demand they made was that they should see God, so as to believe in Him. Such an overbearing attitude betrays the sort of ignorance associated with denying God and His attributes, having no proper esteem for Him. Who are they to make such overbearing demands? What are they in comparison with God Almighty? In God’s dominion, they are no more than a particle floating aimlessly in the air, unless they establish a bond between them and God through believing in Him, deriving their strength from Him. Hence, the reply given them in the same verse shows the source of their overbearing attitude: “Indeed, they are far too proud of themselves and they have been insolently overbearing.” (Verse 21)

They have given themselves airs and graces, become conceited, proud and haughty. All of which has led them to great transgression. Their pride is their main preoccupation, which means that they no longer give proper estimation to other things and values. They think themselves too great, or masters of the universe who deserve that God should appear before them in person so that they can believe in Him.

A truly sarcastic reply is given to them as they are informed of the terrible eventuality awaiting them when they see the angels, which is the less overbearing of their demands. For they will only see the angels on a very hard and difficult day on which they will be destined to receive unbearable and inescapable suffering. That is the Day of Reckoning when evil deeds are punished. “On the day when they shall see the angels, the sinners will receive no happy news then, and they will say: ‘a forbidding ban!’” (Verse 22)

This is the day when their suggestion is granted, “On the day when they shall see the angels”. No good news is given to the sinners on that day, for their punishment awaits them. How terrible is the fulfilment of their request! This is when they say, a forbidding ban!’ This phrase used to be said by the Arabs to avert evil and enemies. It is a sort of appeal which hopes to drive enemies away and avoid any harm that might ensue. They utter it on that day by force of habit, because the whole thing comes as a surprise. But what will their words avail them of on that day?

“We shall turn to whatever deeds they have done, and We shall transform it all into scattered dust.” (Verse 23) It all happens in a brief moment. Our imagination follows the motion described in detail, with actions being raised and thrown up in the air. In no time, all good works they did in this present life are left like scattered dust, because they were not based on faith. Faith establishes a bond between people’s hearts and God, and makes good works a way of life, chosen on purpose with due reflection, not in response to a fleeting whim or sudden impulse. With believers, good works are never reduced to the sort of single action that does not reflect a well defined method and clear objective.

According to Islam, man’s life and action are closely related to the universe and the law that governs its existence and binds it all to God, including man and all his activities in life. When man’s life is separated from its central access that relates it to the universe, he finds himself lost, without influence and with no value attached to his work. Indeed his actions become non-existent. It is faith that binds man to his Lord, adding value to his actions and giving them credit in the overall system of the universe.

Hence, the works of the unbelievers are thus made to die, and their death is shown in a highly tangible image: “We shall turn to whatever deeds they have done, and We shall transform it all into scattered dust.” (Verse 23)

On the other side we find the believers, who dwell in heaven, in a perfectly contrasting image: “On that day, those destined for paradise will be graced with the best of abodes and the fairest place of repose.” (Verse 24) They are well settled, enjoying their comfort. This feeling of settlement contrasts with the scattered dust in the opposite image, and the reassurance felt by the believers contrasts with the fear of the unbelievers that obliges them to make a worried prayer.

The unbelievers also used to suggest that God and the angels should appear before them on the tops of clouds. Such suggestions perhaps show the influence of Jewish legends speaking of God revealing Himself over a cloud or a column of fire. Therefore, the Qur’ān shows another image of the day when their request to see angels is granted: “On the day when the skies shall be rent asunder with clouds, and the angels shall be sent down [in ranks]. On that day, true sovereignty belongs to the Most Merciful [alone].” (Verses 25-26)

This verse, and many others in the Qur’ān, make it clear that that day will witness far-reaching celestial events indicating a complete collapse of the system that controls all parts of the universe, including all celestial bodies. Such an upheaval indicates the end of this world. This upheaval is not limited to the earth, but includes planets, stars, solar systems and galaxies. It is useful to look at some aspects of this upheaval as described in different sūrahs: “When the sun is darkened, when the stars fall and disperse, when the mountains are made to move away... when the seas are set alight.” (81: 1-3 and 6) “When the sky is cleft asunder, when the stars are scattered, when the oceans are made to explode, when the graves are hurled about.” (82: 1-4) “When the sky is rent asunder, obeying her Lord in true submission; when the earth is stretched out and casts forth all that is within her and becomes empty, obeying her Lord in true submission!” (84: 1-5) “When the sky is rent asunder and becomes red like burning oil.” (55: 37) “When the earth is severely shaken, and when the mountains crumble away, so as to become like scattered dust.” (56: 4-6) “When the trumpet is blown with a single blast, and the earth and the mountains are lifted up and crushed with a single stroke! Then that which must come to pass will on that day have come to pass; and the sky will be rent asunder – for, frail will it have become on that day.” (69: 13-16) “On a day when the sky will be like molten lead, and the mountains will be like tufts of wool.” (70: 8-9) “When the earth is rocked by her [final] earthquake, when the earth shakes off her burdens.” (99: 1-2) “The day when people will be like scattered moths, and the mountains like tufts of carded wool.” (101: 4-5) “Wait, then, for the day when the skies shall bring forth a pall of smoke which will make obvious [the approach of the Last Hour], enveloping all mankind. ‘Grievous is this suffering!” (44: 10-11) “On the day when the earth and the mountains will be convulsed, and the mountains will become like a sand-dune on the move.” (73: 14) “On that day, the skies shall be rent asunder.” (73: 18) “When the earth is systematically levelled down.” (89: 21) “When every eye is dazzled, and the moon darkens, and the sun and the moon are brought together.” (75: 7-9) “When the stars are effaced, and when the sky is rent asunder, and when the mountains are scattered like dust.” (77: 8-10) “They ask you about the mountains. Say: My Lord will scatter them far and wide, and leave the earth level and bare, with no curves or ruggedness to be seen.” (20: 105-107) “You will see the mountains, which you deem so firm, pass away as clouds pass away.” (27: 88) “One day We shall cause the mountains to move and you will see the earth void and bare.” (18: 47) “On the day when the earth shall be changed into another earth, as shall be the heavens.” (14: 48) “On that Day We shall roll up the heavens like a scroll of parchment.” (21: 104)

All these verses indicate that our world will come to a fearful end characterized by a violent shake-up of the earth, while the mountains will be scattered like dust. The seas will be set alight, or made to explode, either by being overfull as a result of the upheaval taking place or its molecules will explode and turn into fire. The stars will be darkened, the sky rent asunder and the planets scattered. Distances will be confused as the sun and the moon will be brought together.

The sky will look like smoke at one time and alight and red at another. It is a fearful event that leaves nothing in place. In this sūrah God threatens the unbelievers with the sky being rent asunder by clouds. This may be a reference to clouds formed out of the vapours produced by the great explosions. On that day, the angels will go to the unbelievers, as the latter suggested, but their task will not be to confirm the Prophet’s message, but rather to administer punishment to the unbelievers as God will have ordered: “It will be a day of dire distress for the unbelievers.” (Verse 26) So why do they want the angels to go to them when their arrival signals so much distress?