"Say, 'O My servants who have been prodigal to the detriment of their own soul! Despair not of God's Mercy. Truly God forgives all sins. Truly He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'"
Quran, 39:53
As Nasr in the Study Quran, "Many scholars consider this to be among the most hopeful verses of the Quran . . ." The popular perception outside of Islam is that it's a very harsh faith featuring a very angry, vengeful God, although Allah is the same God as the God the Jews and Christians worship so it's hard to imagine him/her/it being more angry or vengeful than other iterations. There was a study once about the prevalence of angry or war-like language in the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Quran, and the Quran actually possessed a smaller percentage, so in this case, I guess, the Islamic God is less angry or vengeful. More seriously, and importantly, why would we assume that God is angry, and if angry what would be the appeal? If you personify or anthropomorphize God, as the Christians do, I would argue that it's easier to imagine angry paternal God, but it seems like it should be more difficult to do that if God has no gender or no form, although obviously many of us do so, sadly. When referring to this verse the Prophet once said, "I would not wish to have the entire world and all that is in it [in exchange] for this verse."
Other similar passages from the Quran:
"Whomsoever does evil or wrongs himself, and then seeks forgiveness of God, he will find God Forgiving, Merciful." 4:110.
"Truly God forgives not that any partner be ascribed unto Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whomsoever He will . . ." 4:48
"And let not the men of bounty and means among you forswear giving to kinsfolk and the indigent and those who emigrated in the way of God. And let them pardon and forbear. Do you not desire that God forgive you? And God is Forgiving, Merciful." 24:22
"God is kind unto His servants. He provides for whomsoever He will, and He is the Strong, the Mighty." 42:19
"And surely thy Lord shall give unto thee, and thou shalt be content." 93:5
Quran, 39:53
As Nasr in the Study Quran, "Many scholars consider this to be among the most hopeful verses of the Quran . . ." The popular perception outside of Islam is that it's a very harsh faith featuring a very angry, vengeful God, although Allah is the same God as the God the Jews and Christians worship so it's hard to imagine him/her/it being more angry or vengeful than other iterations. There was a study once about the prevalence of angry or war-like language in the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Quran, and the Quran actually possessed a smaller percentage, so in this case, I guess, the Islamic God is less angry or vengeful. More seriously, and importantly, why would we assume that God is angry, and if angry what would be the appeal? If you personify or anthropomorphize God, as the Christians do, I would argue that it's easier to imagine angry paternal God, but it seems like it should be more difficult to do that if God has no gender or no form, although obviously many of us do so, sadly. When referring to this verse the Prophet once said, "I would not wish to have the entire world and all that is in it [in exchange] for this verse."
Other similar passages from the Quran:
"Whomsoever does evil or wrongs himself, and then seeks forgiveness of God, he will find God Forgiving, Merciful." 4:110.
"Truly God forgives not that any partner be ascribed unto Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whomsoever He will . . ." 4:48
"And let not the men of bounty and means among you forswear giving to kinsfolk and the indigent and those who emigrated in the way of God. And let them pardon and forbear. Do you not desire that God forgive you? And God is Forgiving, Merciful." 24:22
"God is kind unto His servants. He provides for whomsoever He will, and He is the Strong, the Mighty." 42:19
"And surely thy Lord shall give unto thee, and thou shalt be content." 93:5
No comments:
Post a Comment