Surah al-Furqan (The Criterion ) 25 : 77

Explanatory Note

With the picture of God’s true servants fully drawn, showing them as the cream of humanity, the sūrah concludes by stating that mankind are worth very little in God’s sight, except for the fact that some of them turn to Him in prayer. As for those who deny Him and His messages, they will be punished. “Say: No weight or value would my Lord attach to you were it not for you calling out [to Him]. You have indeed denied [His message], and in time this [sin] will cleave unto you.”

It is a fitting final statement which is intended to give comfort and reassurance to the Prophet, consoling him for the stiff resistance and impudent remarks he received from his people who persisted with their opposition in order to maintain their false beliefs. What value would they and humanity have, if it had not been for the small group of believers who prayed and appealed to God, as do His true servants? What significance do they have when the earth on which all mankind live is no more than a tiny particle in the great universal expanse? Moreover, man is no more than one of the numerous species that live on earth. Any nation is but one of many that live on earth, and a single generation of one nation is no more than a single page of a great book the number of whose pages is known only to God Almighty.

“Say: No weight or value would my Lord attach to you were it not for you calling out [to Him].” The phraseology here is meant to give support and honour to the Prophet who speaks of his Lord who grants him His protection. What are the unbelievers if they continue to refuse to join God’s true servants? They are no more than fuel for hell: “You have indeed denied [His message], and in time this [sin] will cleave unto you.”