Page 86 - Communication and Argument in the Qur'an

84 COMMUNICATION AND ARGUMENT IN THE QUR’AN

have no relation to true religion. We see in the Qur’an that
people’s reactions to prophets communicating religion and
believers are of two kinds: either they deny Allah’s exis-
tence or they defend the traditional religion.
The unbelievers vigorously defend their ancestral reli-
gion and, as a result, reject His message and try to draw
believers back to the old ways. Many people are strongly
attached to their ancestral religion and judge what they
hear according to whether or not it accords with their
worldview.

When they are told: “Follow what Allah has sent down
to you,” they reply: “We are following what we found
our fathers doing.” What, even though their fathers did
not understand a thing and were not guided! (Surat al-
Baqara: 170)
When they are told: “Come to what Allah has sent
down and to the Messenger,” they say: “What we
found our fathers doing is enough for us.” What. even
if their fathers did not know anything and were not
guided! (Surat al-Ma’ida: 104)
It is usual for some individuals to reject the true religion
on the grounds that it does not accord with their ancestral
religion, which is often very deeply rooted. Even though it
contains an idea of Allah, it is very far from the truth
revealed in the Qur’an. This is the work of satan, for the
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Qur’an warns: “... Do not let the Deluder (satan) delude you

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c concerning Allah” (Surah Luqman: 33). This tactic tries to
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fool people into thinking that their actions, which are actu-
ally done under the influence of satan, are being done in