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
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