Page 32 - Those Who Do Not Heed The Qur'an

30 THOSE WHO DO NOT HEED THE QUR'AN

son and only believe what their ruler gives them permission to.
Even today, there are those who reject the Qur'an for similar reasons.
Sadly, because they pay no attention to Allah's existence and are un-
aware that nothing and nobody has any independent power apart
from Him, these people do not realise that their fear of their leaders
is irrational. In reality, those they fear, and under whose orders they
consequently place themselves, are impotent people like them-
selves, who have no real power of their own, living subject to the
fate Allah has created for them. For example, the Pharaoh was a
leader who, while he was alive, placed his people under great pres-
sure, treated them cruelly, and was regarded as all powerful. But as
the Qur'anic verses tell us, his "jurisdiction only covers the life of
this world." Neither the wealth he owned, nor the kingdoms he es-
tablished could protect him against death. Like everybody, his death
at the end of a brief life was inevitable. After he died, he had no
more control over his people.
In fact, when they are summoned to the presence of Allah, people
will not be able to give as an excuse, that they disbelieved because
their rulers persuaded and pressured them. None of the leaders
whom they feared and whose orders they obeyed will be at their
side to help or protect them. Everybody will give an individual ac-
counting to Allah, and will be confronted with every single thing
they have done. So, the image of the power, wealth, magnificence
and potency on earth of the blasphemous leaders is a deceit. Allah
warns that the power of such leaders will not be enough even to
save their own souls:

Say: "Who will protect you night and day from the All-
Merciful?" Yet they turn away from the remembrance of their
Lord. Or do they have gods besides Us who will protect them?
They cannot even help themselves! They will not be safe from