Page 44 - The Struggle of the Messengers

42 The Struggle of the Messengers

However, as we have seen, Pharaoh and other leading
unbelievers foolishly and supposedly claimed to be "gods" (surely
Allah is beyond that). This is one of the reasons why, unless these
unbelievers repent and change their ways, they will be rewarded
with great torment.

The accusation that messengers are crazy

Another of the slanderous techniques frequently employed by
unbelievers is to accuse the Messenger, and sometimes also the
believers with him, of "madness." This foolish accusation has been
made about nearly all Messengers. This is often referred to in the
Qur'an. For example, the Prophet Noah (as) was called a
"madman":

"He is nothing but a man possessed, so wait a while and see
what happens to him." (Surat al-Muminun, 25)
Before them, the people of Noah denied the truth. They denied
Our servant, saying: "He is madman," and he was driven away
with jeers. (Surat al-Qamar, 9)
The same accusation was made against our Prophet (saas):
They say: "You, to whom the Reminder has been sent down,
are clearly crazy. Why do you not bring angels to us if you are
telling the truth?" (Surat al-Hijr, 6-7)
Do they not ponder these words? Has anything come to them
that did not come to their ancestors, the previous peoples? Or is
it that they do not recognize their messenger and, therefore, do
not acknowledge him? Or do they say: "He is a man possessed"
when he has brought the truth to them? But most of them hate
the truth. (Surat al-Muminun, 68-70)

The same slander was directed against the Prophet Moses (as):