Page 46 - Beauties for Life in the Qur'an

44 BEAUTIES FOR LIFE IN THE QUR'AN

exposed the facts, they realized how unconscious and feeble
were the beings that they worshipped.
He then introduced Allah through His sublime attributes and
thereby revealed the incomparable difference between the stone
idols that lacked any strength and the being of Allah, the All-
Mighty and All-Wise:
They are all my enemies, except for the Lord of all the worlds:
He created me and guides me. He gives me food and drink.
When I am ill He heals me. He will cause my death and then
give me life. He in Whom I sincerely hope will forgive my mis-
takes on the Day of Reckoning. (Surat ash-Shu'ara': 77-82)
This method enabled his idolatrous people to grasp the irra-
tional situation they were in, but its influence lasted for only a
certain time.

Using a Question-and-Answer Format
Similarly, people can be encouraged to inquire further about
that which they are not convinced. Doing so will enable them to
understand how well they have understood the information
provided, and thereby allow them to provide further explana-
tions. Offering more information before clarifying what has
been presented already only confuses people.
In addition, it is a Qur'anic method to refute distorted think-
ing by presenting the Qur'an's sound and rational reasoning.
Another verse enlightens us about this method:
What about the one who argued with Ibrahim about his Lord, on
the basis that Allah had given him sovereignty? Ibrahim said:
"My Lord gives life and causes to die." He replied: "I also give
life and cause to die." Ibrahim said: "Allah makes the sun come
from the east. Make it come from the west." And the disbeliever