Surah 7.176-183

[Eucharisted]

Here is my reflection on the words of the Qu’ran regarding righteousness, evil, and Hell. After my reflections, I will give a general reflection.

[7.176] And if We had pleased, We would certainly have exalted him thereby; but he clung to the earth and followed his low desire, so his parable is as the parable of the dog; if you attack him he lolls out his tongue; and if you leave him alone he lolls out his tongue; this is the parable of the people who reject Our communications; therefore relate the narrative that they may reflect.

Okay, so this is clearly saying that God wants to exalt men, but some men don’t want to be exalted; they’d rather follow their own desires.

[7.177] Evil is the likeness of the people who reject Our communications and are unjust to their own souls.

This makes sense! If you reject righteousness, you are clearly evil. There is no middle ground.

[7.178] Whomsoever Allah guides, he is the one who follows the right way; and whomsoever He causes to err, these are the losers.

So God guides some souls, and He causes other souls to err. In essense, God is the cause of righteousness and evilness.

[7.179] And certainly We have created for hell many of the jinn and the men; they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear; they are as cattle, nay, they are in worse errors; these are the heedless ones.

God has created many souls for Hell. Given the above verses, this makes sense. He causes many men to err, and since they are not guided, they will go to Hell; so He literally created some people for Hell.

[7.180] And Allah’s are the best names, therefore call on Him thereby, and leave alone those who violate the sanctity of His names; they shall be recompensed for what they did.

Alright, so for those whom God guides, they are to call on Him, and not to associate with those who violate His Names. I assume this refers to people who use His Name in vain.

[7.181] And of those whom We have created are a people who guide with the truth and thereby they do justice.

So, the people who God created for Heaven are truthful and just. I assume this means that everyone else is not truthful or just (i.e., they are evil).

[7.182] And (as to) those who reject Our communications, We draw them near (to destruction) by degrees from whence they know not.

Yep, I was correct. Everyone else is evil. Only those whom God has created for Heaven are good. Since He has created many for Hell, this means only a very few get into Heaven.

Those who were created for destruction are drawn by degrees. I assume this either means ‘little by little’ or ‘unwanted punishments’.

[7.183] And I grant them respite; surely My scheme is effective.

So, God gives a little bit of relief to those who He created for Hell. I assume this is because He is merciful to the wicked.

General Reflection: God has created some people for Heaven and created many people for Hell. Those who go to Heaven He guides, call upon His names, are good, and do not associate with evil people. Those who go to Hell He causes to err, are evil, and do not want to submit to God. God is the cause of both good and evil.

 

[famdigy]

Your interpretation of verses 7:178+ are wrong because they are not in harmony with other Quranic verses. A fundamental belief of Muslims is that God is Just, His justice is absolute and He doesn’t wrong anyone.

“He is always standing firm on justice. There is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Wise.” Quran (3:18)
“And your Lord does not deal unjustly with anyone.” Quran (18:49)

The verses above set the context for the following:

[7.177] Evil is the likeness of the people who reject Our communications and are unjust to their own souls.

Those who reject God’s communication are the evil ones and are unjust to themselves because they will have paved the way to hellfire with their own hands.

[7.178] Whomsoever Allah guides, he is the one who follows the right way; and whomsoever He causes to err, these are the losers.

The absence of Allah’s guidance leads the person to become lost and to fend for himself. If it were the way you suggest, the unbelievers and sinners would come up with any excuse to say “Oh God, we wanted your guidance but you caused us to go astray”. The losers are those who end up in hell and as the previous verse stated, they have wronged themselves, in other words God is not unjust to anyone, rather, people are unjust to their own souls. In this sense misguidance is a type of punishment. The bad people have gone astray and have been afflicted with misguidance by their own choice. Therefore in reality, initial misguidance is ascribed to the creatures, and the misguidance that is a punishment pertains to the Creator. The verse in 7:178 is referring to the latter.

[7.179] And certainly We have created for hell many of the jinn and the men; they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear; they are as cattle, nay, they are in worse errors; these are the heedless ones.

Those who do not use the profit yielding faculties, given to them, which can help them to find out the truth, have been referred to in this verse. Those who misuse or neglect the faculties, which can make them real human beings, superior to all created beings, finally deteriorate to the animal state. Rather, to a lower state than even the animals because the animals follow their instincts and nature, while those who don’t use their faculties to find truth have betrayed their nature.

[7.180] And Allah’s are the best names, therefore call on Him thereby, and leave alone those who violate the sanctity of His names; they shall be recompensed for what they did.

The best names of Allah are those which give us the idea of His infinite attributes, such as the Merciful and The compasionate, etcetera. There are people who use His names profanely- which suggest things derogatory to His unity and infiniteness-such as calling Him the father of Jesus. Violating the sanctity of His holy names, assigning to Him attributes which negate His absoluteness, and omnipotence.

[7.181] And of those whom We have created are a people who guide with the truth and thereby they do justice.

God’s prophets and those who have been thoroughly purified by Him are the people who guide mankind with truth.

[7.182] And (as to) those who reject Our communications, We draw them near (to destruction) by degrees from whence they know not.

The beliers of His signs in verse 182 may enjoy a temporary respite but Allah shall punish them in a way that they will not perceive. This refers to a concept called “istidraj” meaning God will grant the evil doers respite, a moment in time whereby they dig themselves further into darkness until suddenly and without warning God takes them back to him for judgment.

[7.183] And I grant them respite; surely My scheme is effective…

This is tied to verse 182. Those who reject God’s communication may think they have escaped God’s punishment as they continue in their obstinacy. Allah’s promise on the other hand never fails, eventually they will run out of time and when that time comes, it is too late for them to change their ways.

 

[Eucharisted]

[7.179]
And certainly We have created for hell many of the jinn and the men; they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear; they are as cattle, nay, they are in worse errors; these are the heedless ones.

Those who do not use the profit yielding faculties, given to them, which can help them to find out the truth, have been referred to in this verse. Those who misuse or neglect the faculties, which can make them real human beings, superior to all created beings, finally deteriorate to the animal state. Rather, to a lower state than even the animals because the animals follow their instincts and nature, while those who don’t use their faculties to find truth have betrayed their nature.

It says He created many men for Hell. That is a clear statement, there is no way to say, “Well, it dosen’t say He literally created men for Hell,” because He emphasizes the truth of the statement by saying “certainly We have created for hell”. Note the word certainly. That word means assurdely, without a doubt. So without a doubt, God has created many men for Hell.

 

[Reuben_J]

[7.179] And certainly We have created for hell many of the jinn and the men; they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear; they are as cattle, nay, they are in worse errors; these are the heedless ones.

Those who do not use the profit yielding faculties, given to them, which can help them to find out the truth, have been referred to in this verse. Those who misuse or neglect the faculties, which can make them real human beings, superior to all created beings, finally deteriorate to the animal state. Rather, to a lower state than even the animals because the animals follow their instincts and nature, while those who don’t use their faculties to find truth have betrayed their nature.

I am one of those non-Muslims who have problem with this verse. Reading the verse and no matter how hard I try to rationalize your explanation, I tend to agree with the OP in that Allah created hell for men (and jinn).

**“,… and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear; …” **sounds like a misquote from Ezekiel 12:2 "Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people" which Jesus quoted during his ministry.

Only Jesus was saying these are the hard-core unbelievers, the rebellious. Even if they see signs and wonders as proof they would still not believe. This is true for those in this category - there are hundred and one reasons that they can use to justify their unbelief. And all of them may be valid and can be rationalized.

On that basis I do not agree with your explanation because it’s not so much a person does not use his intellect but because he/she refuses to believe. I would be more lenient to those who do not use those ‘faculties’ than to those who refuse to believe. I do not believe God would be unmerciful for those who are unbelieving or foolish and they should be given chances to believe until the day they die.

 

[famdigy]

[7.179] And certainly We have created for hell many of the jinn and the men; they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear; they are as cattle, nay, they are in worse errors; these are the heedless ones.

Yes, Allah (swt) has made hell known as a destination for many of humans and Jinns he created, and this doesn’t negate what we’ve come to know as the purpose for which Allah (swt) created the creation is to enter them into his mercy which is the everlasting paradise in Heaven

[11:118] And if your Lord had pleased He would certainly have made people a single nation, and they shall continue to differ.
[11:119] Except those on whom your Lord has mercy; and for this did He create them; and the word of your Lord is fulfilled: Certainly I will fill hell with the jinn and the men, all together.

It is true that Allah’s (swt) purpose of creating mankind is so they earn His mercy and enter into His Heaven. It is also true His purpose for the evil-doers of men and Jinn is to enter them into the fire. The difference between the two is that the former is the original and complete purpose for mankind while the later is conditional and necessary one.

A practical example would be of a high end furniture manufacturer, he brings in wood to a factory for processing so that he would make furniture and sell them at showrooms. The manufacturer knows that not all the wood which comes in is fit to be part of the furniture, some pieces are rotten, others are cracked and so on. Thus they may thrown into the dumpster or turned into wood chips.

Another example would be of a farmer that sows seeds for the next season, he knows that when it comes time to collect the produce, some will not make it, either because of insect infestation or the seeds never matured or the produce rotted. While his primary purpose is to collect the produce for resale in a market, it is necessary to get rid of the rotten and unsellable produce. The action of getting rid of produce as opposed to placing them in the market is dependent on the condition of the produce

Likewise the verse above is talking about a secondary conditional purpose for mankind. The condition being hearts they do not use to understand, eyes they do not use to see with and ears they do not use to listen with. Therefore the divine decree related to the happiness of those who make it Heaven and the sorrow of those who end up in hell is dependent on their condition and this is what is pointed to in the very first verse above.

 

[Eucharisted]

So Muslims believe in unconditional election?

In Christianity, God created everyone for Heaven, and He goes to great lengths to make sure people get to Heaven. But some people, despite His Mercy, don’t want God. So they are cut off from God for eternity, i.e., they go to Hell. But God didn’t create them for Hell. Those whom He knew would go to Hell if He created them He created because He dose not mess around with free-will; He created us free to love Him or reject Him, and He dosen’t spurn our freedom, because He loves us. It’s like with two lovers: The woman runs away, and the man is sad, but he loves the woman and so respects her freedom to love him or reject him.

 

[JorjaMay]

That makes me wonder.
Another fact:
The Quran has LOTS of passages about God keeping people in the dark. This is one thing that really made me wonder. Why would HE keep people away from the truth. Very odd.

 

[famdigy]

So Muslims believe in unconditional election?

In Christianity, God created everyone for Heaven, and He goes to great lengths to make sure people get to Heaven. But some people, despite His Mercy, don’t want God. So they are cut off from God for eternity, i.e., they go to Hell. But God didn’t create them for Hell.

He created many men and Jinn for hell doesn’t mean the sole purpose of their creation is so He would throw them into hell. It means God prepared them for it by their deeds. Just as a furniture maker would prepare rotten wood for the dumpster or a farmer would prepare bad crop for the garbarge.

This week I did some work on my lawn, I cut the grass, raked it and collected dead grass and thache in piles, you can say that I prepared them to be thrown in brown paper bags to be recycled. But the primary purpose of me maintaining my lawn is not so I could throw out the dead grass, rather it is to have a beautiful lawn. Throwing out the dead grass is a necessary and secondary purpose.

If it were as you believe then where is God’s justice, Mercy, forgiveness?

“And your Lord does not deal unjustly with anyone.” Quran (18:49)

And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way. Quran (2:168)

Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Quran (39:53)

So when we read “He created many of men and Jinn for hell” doesn’t mean his intention in creating them is to put them into hell, rather it means he prepared those who reject faith for hell, which is evident in the tail of the ayah you have ignored.

You focused on the beginning of the Ayah and ignored the rest, while it is always from the complete Ayah that we understand it’s meaning.

It’s what people do when they want to interpret the verses out of context, they focus on one part of the verse while ignoring the rest. No, if you are honest then you should read it in it’s entirety

“And certainly We have created for hell many of the jinn and the men”

, why were they created for hell, rather why are they destined for hell?

“they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear;”

It’s because they rejected faith, and nothing will convince them to return to the path.

As Allah says in another verse

“Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path)” Quran 2:18

It is those people that have been created for hell, not because God didn’t give them a choice, but because they refused to believe and follow in action.

 

[famdigy]

That makes me wonder.
Another fact:
The Quran has LOTS of passages about God keeping people in the dark. This is one thing that really made me wonder. Why would HE keep people away from the truth. Very odd.

The truth is there for anyone who wants to see, and God guides to the truth anyone who seeks it. That’s why in our 5 daily prayers we always ask God for his guidance in keeping us on the straight path. The people who end up in hell are there because of their own doing, God only wants the best for mankind.

 

[Eucharisted]

He created many men and Jinn for hell doesn’t mean the sole purpose of their creation is so He would throw them into hell. It means God prepared them for it by their deeds. Just as a furniture maker would prepare rotten wood for the dumpster or a farmer would prepare bad crop for the garbarge.

This week I did some work on my lawn, I cut the grass, raked it and collected dead grass and thache in piles, you can say that I prepared them to be thrown in brown paper bags to be recycled. But the primary purpose of me maintaining my lawn is not so I could throw out the dead grass, rather it is to have a beautiful lawn. Throwing out the dead grass is a necessary and secondary purpose.

If it were as you believe then where is God’s justice, Mercy, forgiveness?

So when we read “He created many of men and Jinn for hell” doesn’t mean his intention in creating them is to put them into hell, rather it means he prepared those who reject faith for hell

That is not mercy, that is cruelity. If God created everyone for Heaven, but some didn’t want Heaven, instead wanting Hell, and those some go to Hell then it would be justice. But if, as the Qu’ran says, God created some people for Hell, because they wanted Hell, then that would be cruelity.

 

[famdigy]

That is not mercy, that is cruelity. If God created everyone for Heaven, but some didn’t want Heaven, instead wanting Hell, and those some go to Hell then it would be justice.

Eucharisted, nobody wants to go to Hell, even the unbelievers.

Clearly we have a different understanding of what the verse means.

You read it as God’s purpose in creating them is to put them into hell. And we read it as God’s purpose in creating them for hell is in a manner of speaking, will enter them into Hell for rejecting Him. Again, why do you only quote the first part of the verse and ignore the rest?

 

[Eucharisted]

Eucharisted, nobody wants to go to Hell, even the unbelievers.

Clearly we have a different understanding of what the verse means.

You read it as God’s purpose in creating them is to put them into hell. And we read it as God’s purpose in creating them for hell is in a manner of speaking, will enter them into Hell for rejecting Him. Again, why do you only quote the first part of the verse and ignore the rest?

Here’s why I’m coming up with a different understanding: The Qu’ran is not the Bible.

The Christian Bible was compiled by the Bishops of the Catholic Church. Because of this, the Church says how the Bible is interpreted and understood.

The Qu’ran, on the other hand, is revelation from Allah and no man may intepret it. Hence, you can only recite it. Because you can only recite it, you can only understand it in as far as the words are shown. To attempt to find a deeper understanding would be an interpretation. But some verses are clearly speaking symbolically, or referring to persons in a spiritual manner, so, you don’t just read the Qu’ran literally but in the manner it has been written - i.e., you can only understand the Qu’ran in as far as the words are shown.

This is why I’m reading the verse as “Allah has created men for Hell” - because that’s what the text says. I cannot come up with an interpretation of the text, because that would violate the Qu’ran, so I can only read the Qu’ran for what it is. I have read the chapter in context, too, and I come up with the same understanding: Allah has created men for Hell.

I cannot - as you have done - say Allah created men for Hell in the sense that the men have rejected Allah, because that’s not what the text says - not the verse alone and not the context. You are interpreting the Qu’ran in light of what Islam teaches you, and this violates the Qu’ran. “Impossible!” You say, “Allah has entrusted the Qu’ran to us!” True, but the Qu’ran is the literal Verbitum of Allah, so it cannot be interpreted: Hence, it cannot be read in light of any Islamic teachings. It can only be read as it is. (And this is why the Qu’ran is central to Islam: The Qu’ran is the guide of Islam, not visa-versa)

The Bible is not the literal Verbitum of God. It is the Word of God, yes, but not the literal Word of God. So it can be interpreted and understood in light of what Christianity teaches. (Hence, the Catholic Church says how the Bible can be understood and be interpreted).

 

[famdigy]

Here’s why I’m coming up with a different understanding: The Qu’ran is not the Bible.

The Christian Bible was compiled by the Bishops of the Catholic Church. Because of this, the Church says how the Bible is interpreted and understood.

The Qu’ran, on the other hand, is revelation from Allah and no man may intepret it. Hence, you can only recite it. Because you can only recite it, you can only understand it in as far as the words are shown. To attempt to find a deeper understanding would be an interpretation. But some verses are clearly speaking symbolically, or referring to persons in a spiritual manner, so, you don’t just read the Qu’ran literally but in the manner it has been written - i.e., you can only understand the Qu’ran in as far as the words are shown.

that’s not a correct understanding because of the following:

[Quran 3:7] He it is Who has revealed the Book to you; some of its verses are decisive, they are the basis of the Book, and others are allegorical; then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity they follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking to mislead and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation. but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding.

we can understand only the clear decisive verses as far as the words are shown, but to understand the allegorical, we need to consult those who are firmly rooted in knowledge, those who spent the time to learn the book, those who have knowledge of the book.

[Quran 13:43] And those who disbelieve say: You are not a messenger. Say: Allah is sufficient as a witness between me and you and whoever has knowledge of the Book.

The command to prey for example is a clear and decisive. on the flip side, “the hand of Allah is over theirs” would be allegorical, as the hand is a reference to power or will and not a physical hand.

and then you have verses that have both a literal meaning and a hidden deeper meaning. For example Surah al-rahman (55) the most merciful. we read:

Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?
He has let free the two bodies of flowing water, meeting together:
Between them is a Barrier which they do not transgress:
Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?
Out of them come Pearls and Coral:
Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?

The literal meaning could be the physical separation of salt and fresh water even as the fresh water from rivers flows into oceans. The fresh water doesn’t mix with the salt water. I forgot what the phenomenon is called, but you can find it if you consult an oceanography book. On a side note, this is an example of modern science in the Quran.

The hidden meaning According to the teaching of the prophet’s family
The two bodies refer to (Nubbuwa) prophethood and (imamah) divinely commissioned guides which flow together and yet with a distinguishing line between them, assigning separate functions to each of them, so as not to create confusion. The Holy Prophet is the most perfect manifestation of prophethood and Ali is the most perfect manifestation of Imamah and Fatima is the distinguishing line between them which connects both of them. According to a tradition related by Salman Farsi, Ibn Jubayr and Sufyan Sawri recorded by Ibn Marduwayh and Jalal al Din al Suyuti the two oceans are Ali and Fatimah and the Holy Prophet is the link between them, Hasan and Husayn are the pearls.

The overriding factor is that one has to take the understanding of the ambiguous verses from those who are “firmly rooted in knowledge” in our view these people are Muhammad (pbuh&hf) and his family (as).

putting all of that aside for a minute, in order to establish that God had created men simply to throw them in hell, you will need to first establish God did not grant free will to humans. There are muslims who believe in predestination of everything. This is however a wrong believe that creates contradictions in the Quran and diverges from the teachings of the Prophet’s family (as).

 

[Eucharisted]

[Quran 3:7] He it is Who has revealed the Book to you; some of its verses are decisive, they are the basis of the Book, and others are allegorical; then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity they follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking to mislead and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation. but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding.

Thank you for proving exactly what I was talking about in my post above your post.

One last thing:

but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding.

And just to prove that comma is not a translation error:

003.007
YUSUFALI: He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: In it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord, and searching for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden meanings except Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: “We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord:” and none will grasp the Message except men of understanding.
PICKTHAL: He it is Who hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture wherein are clear revelations - they are the substance of the Book - and others (which are) allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension by seeking to explain it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah. And those who are of sound instruction say: We believe therein; the whole is from our Lord; but only men of understanding really heed.
SHAKIR: He it is Who has revealed the Book to you; some of its verses are decisive, they are the basis of the Book, and others are allegorical; then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity they follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking to mislead and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation. but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding.

Have a nice day!