Page 89 - Satan: The Sworn Enemy of Mankind

Satan's Faction: The Hypocrites
to believe as they had, in other words, not to follow the messenger.
The fact is, though, that in the Hereafter superiority will belong
only to Allah, His Prophet (saas), and the believers. This certainty is
revealed in the Qur'an as follows:
They say, "If we return to Madina, the mightier will drive
out the inferior." But all might belongs to Allah and to His
Messenger and the believers. But the hypocrites do not
know this. (Surat al-Munafiqun, 8)
They Oppose the Messenger
Obedience to the prophets of Allah is one of the foremost stipu-
lations demanded in the Qur'an. Among the worst traits of the hyp-
ocrites is their violation of this provision, and their rebellion against
the messengers. Because, rebellion against the messenger is rebel-
lion against Allah.
Iblis also opposed Allah by refusing to prostrate himself before
the Prophet Adam (as)—or to accept his superior rank. Both the hyp-
ocrites and Satan are to be punished because they refuse to cooper-
ate with another being they had been commanded by Allah to obey.
Actually, the hypocrites are unable to even comprehend that
obedience to the messenger is obedience to Allah (Surat an-Nisa´,
80). The envy they hide prevents them from following another
human being. The fact is, however, that obedience to the messenger
is one of the most insisted upon commandments in the Qur'an.
Because, though the messenger is a human being, he has been
specifically chosen to communicate the message of Allah's true reli-
gion. The responsibility of others towards him is unquestioning obe-
dience. This Allah has revealed in the following manner:
We sent no Messenger except to be obeyed by Allah's per-
mission. If only when they wronged themselves they had
come to you and asked Allah's forgiveness and the

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