Page 48 - The Importance of Following the Good Word

distinguishable by its non-adherence to the right path, its
turning a deaf ear to reminders, and persistent arrogance,
continue to remain the same although the time have changed.
A time difference, extending to hundreds of years, does not
alter the facts revealed in the Qur'an.
Indeed, many nations followed in the footsteps of the
people of Prophet Nuh (as) who had denied the truth:
The people of Nuh denied the truth before them, and
the Confederates after them. Every nation planned to
seize its Messenger and used false arguments to rebut
the truth. So I seized them, and how was My retribu-
tion! (Surah Ghafir, 5)
The messengers sent to these nations, and the Muslims
who followed them, openly warned these people against the
Fire, and made them aware of the punishment and disap-
pointment to be faced by those who prefer their own man-
made false religion over Allah's, for the way they were
adhering to was not the path of Allah but of evil. Satan, on
the other hand, calls people, not to salvation, but to the Fire.
This fact is related in the Qur'an as follows:
Satan is your enemy so treat him as an enemy. He sum-
mons his party so they will be among the people of
the Searing Blaze. (Surah Fatir, 6)
By turning their faces from the call of the believers, who
summoned them to Allah's pleasure, mercy and the prom-
ised Garden, these people have, instead, answered Satan's
call. Surely, none would readily admit that he does not abide
by the Qur'an but follows Satan's call. Yet, whether they are
willing to admit it or not, by not following the good word,
they have essentially made their choice.

46 THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING THE GOOD WORD