Page 93 - The importance of conscience in the Qur'an
P. 93
Examples of the Rightly-Guided in the Qur'an 91
messengers are a warning to people:
There is instruction in their stories for people
of intelligence. This is not a narration which
has been invented but confirmation of all that
came before, a clarification of everything, and
a guidance and a mercy for people who
believe. (Surah Yusuf: 111)
For this reason, everyone reading the Qur'an must
compare their attitudes and actions with those of the
messengers and make a serious effort to emulate them.
It must be made clear that the sayings and actions of the
messengers were due to Divine revelation, not conscience as
such. However, one can make an analogy between the Divine
revelation of the messengers and the conscience in ourselves.
Both are divinely inspired and cannot be disobeyed or ignored.
However, it is essential to understand that our conscience can
never go against revelation.
In the Qur'an, people other than messengers are also given
as examples of conscientious people who have taqwa. Maryam,
the mother of Prophet 'Isa, Asiya the wife of the pharaoh of
Egypt and the magicians who obeyed Prophet Musa despite
Pharaoh's oppression, are some examples of righteous people
whom we should imitate.
Prophet Nuh's summons to Islam
The prophets spent their lives explaining the true religion
with great patience and perseverance, without compromising
under any circumstances. In the Qur'an, it is stated that Prophet
Nuh (AS) called his people day and night to Allah's way, warning
them of His penalty. He did not falter in the face of their ridicule
and oppression.
He said, 'My Lord, I have called my people