Page 64 - Satan's Sly Game: The False Religion of People-Worship

SATAN'S SLY GAME:
THE FALSE RELIGION OF PEOPLE-WORSHIP

As Allah relates in the verses this man thinks that he is re-
ally the owner of the vineyard and makes a display of it, believ-
ing that this land will forever be in his possession. However, it is
Allah Who will decide what it to happen. Whatever fate He has
determined for this vineyard and this individual will come to
pass. No other being apart from Allah can change the future. But
the vineyard owner, unaware of this and with an ignorant mind-
set, was proud of his possessions. Because he did not consider
the reality of fate, he was making predictions about his vineyard
and his own future. Probably he wanted to dazzle others with
his wealth and win their adulation. Because he placed all these
things above gaining Allah's approval, Allah destroyed his vine-
yard and left him with nothing to garner praise from others.
Because of what happened to him, the owner of the vineyard
woke from his heedless sleep and came to understand that his
error was choosing another priority besides Allah. This situation
is described in the Qur'an:
The fruits of his labor were completely destroyed and
he woke up wringing his hands in grief, ruing every-
thing that he had spent on it. It was a ruin with all its
trellises fallen in. He said, "Oh, if only I had not associ-
ated anyone with my Lord!" (Surat al-Kahf, 42)
From these examples in the Qur'an, we can see that a life
based on ostentation and praise is the selfish passion of faithless
people. They think that the purpose of life is to receive praise
from others, show off their wealth and become richer; and when
they are able to do so, they believe they have gained something.
Elsewhere in the Qur'an, Allah tells us about people who have
this distorted way of thinking:

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