"We Sent You Only Universally to All People, a Herald and Warner, but Most People Do Not Know." (Quran 34:28)

 Published in June 19, 2017

Translated by: Ahmed Fathy

Introduction:

1- In our fatwas section, we have received this question: (… Dear Sir, … Was Prophet Muhammad sent to the Arabs only or to all people worldwide? If to all people till the end of days, how come that the Eskimo Muslims (if there are any) would fast during Ramadan though they have 6-month day and a 6-month night? … Thank you …). This has been our reply: (God has sent Muhammad with the Quranic message to all people in all eras and locations till the Last Day and He preserved the Quran available in its text for those who seek guidance. Those who cannot fast during Ramadan can stop fasting and donate money or food for the poor for each day of Ramadan; this applies to Eskimo and other people who cannot fast. Islamic/Quranic legislations are based on easiness and facilitation, without burdening anyone at all.). 

2- One of the newcomers within our website has written his comments denying the universality of the Quranic message; we have refuted his claims within this comment of ours: (Almighty God has sent Muhammad to convey the Quran as a mercy and warning to all humanity and all jinn, as per the Quran itself, and the Quranic message is preserved in tact till the end of days for that reason. The Quran is in the Arabic tongue, and God created people of many tongues colors, and races; He created people with the ability to learn tongues/languages of one another and granted them freedom to choose guidance or misguidance. God says in the Quran: "...nor do We ever punish until We have sent a messenger." (17:15). We cannot imagine with our limited brains how all human beings, jinn, and angels will be judged on the Last Day. But we perceive and wonder at the fact that Arabs so far have not pondered the Quran enough though it was revealed in Arabic: their tongue. Arabs during Muhammad's lifetime denied the Quran, and most of them feigned conversion to Islam and committed the heinous crimes called the Arab conquests; this shows practically how they rejected the Quranic teachings. Such conquests led to civil wars that led later on to the emergence of the earthly, man-made devilish religions of the Muhammadans using Satanist revelations that contradict the Quran. Until now, the Arab Muhammadans are the arch-enemies of the Quran. In contrast, there are those who are non-Arabs and are guided to monotheism without the Quran or after reading translations of Quranic verses. The West countries have discovered – after centuries of ordeals and atrocities – the higher human values like justice, freedom, dignity, etc. without knowing that they are the same higher Quranic values. Sadly, the West countries people assume wrongly that Islam is represented by ISIS and other Wahabi terrorists as per the beliefs of the Sunnite sharia laws adhered to by most Sunnites. Within the internal dealings and affairs, the West countries is nearer, unknowingly, to the Quranic sharia laws of Islam; this means that it is easy to reach the higher values and the high moralistic level through one's mind. The human mind can easily get rid of the notions of deifying and sanctifying mortals and items and any myths (e.g., trinity), and millions of people are rejecting such myths without reading the Quran. In contrast, there are more than 1 billion Muhammadans who read the Quran, and yet, they deify and sanctify mortals, items, tombs, and books. This means that the language of the Quran is no barrier; we have no right to ponder on a metaphysical issue like those who have heard or not about the Quranic message or about the fate and judgment of those who apply higher human values without knowing about the Quran. So, judgment is God's business and affair, not mortals'. This is a complicated and metaphysical issue that cannot be tackled by limited human minds. We are not to deny Quranic verses about the universality of the Quranic message.)

3- This newcomer was not convinced by our comment (this is OK and this is his right), and he kept debating and quarrelling with us and with other commentators within his insistence to deny Quranic facts and tenets; this is against our website policies; our website is no chat-room for silly people with idle talk. In fact, our website moves ahead and publishes unprecedented innovative thought, and useless debates are not allowed as they lead to fruitless, useless, and time-consuming arguments that lead to nowhere; people eventually in that case level accusations against one another and insult one another – this occurred a lot since we have launched our website in 2006, and we maintain a policy to avoid such situations by never allowing arguments to get out of proportion within any topic: it is enough that everyone writes his/her opinion and never to argue with others to insist on convincing them to adopt a certain viewpoint.       

4- When the debate/argument got out of control and turned into personal insults because of this newcomer, we have written a last comment asking everyone to stop such argument, as everyone has shown his/her opinion, and that we must tackle other topics, as our own viewpoint (which is no infallible, final, or decisive word on the subject but merely our ponderings) is tackled in a coming article (the one you are reading here). We, Quranists, adhere to the notion that all our writings are personal ponderings and viewpoints; those who reject this notion never respect the right of others to hold different opinions and keep on arguing endlessly to impose their opinions on others by insulting them. This is not the policy of our website; when we found that this newcomer is rejecting our comment arrogantly and insulting us indirectly while insisting he has the right to argue as much as he pleases, we had no choice but to stop him from writing comments on our website.  

5- We write this article you are reading now to explain our point of view regarding that topic of the universality of the Quranic message.

Firstly: no pious Quran-believing people can deny the universality of the Quranic message:  

1- The Quran repeats the asserted, emphasized fact that God has sent Muhammad to convey the Quran to the whole world: "But it is no less than a reminder to all the Worlds." (68:52); "...It is just a reminder for all humankind."" (6:90); "It is only a Reminder to all humankind." (81:27); "...It is only a reminder for all humankind." (12:104). 

2- We know now that almost all people worldwide now know about the Quran; God tells us that the Quran will reach everyone: "It is but a reminder to humankind. And you will know its content after a while."" (38:87-88).

3- God has sent Muhammad with the Quran as a mercy for humankind for those who choose to obtain God's mercy: "We did not send you except as mercy to humankind." (21:107). The Quran is the Warner to all humanity: "Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion upon His servant, to be a warning to humanity." (25:1).

4- The Quran is a message for humankind and jinn as well; the Quran tells us about jinn who listened to the Quran recited by Muhammad and they preached and warned using it among other jinn; see 72:1-15 and 46:29-32.

5- The universality of the Quranic message is asserted in using words like (all) and (universally): "We sent you only universally to all people, a herald and warner, but most people do not know." (34:28); "Say, "O people, I am the messenger of God to you all - He to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no god but He. He gives life and causes death." So believe in God and His Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, who believes in God and His words. And follow him, that you may be guided." (7:158).

6- Muhammad is dead; he was a mortal and a human being, but the Quranic message is preserved and will remain till the Last Day as the warner and bearer of glad tidings to all people in all eras: "Surely We revealed the Message, and We will surely preserve it." (15:9).

Secondly: the Arabic tongue/language of the Quran:

1- God create human beings as different in tongues, races, and colors and each prophet preached in the tongue of his people and the scripture was descended in the tongue they can understand: "And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your languages and colors. In this are signs for those who know." (30:22); "We never sent any messenger except in the language of his people, to make things clear for them. God leads astray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills. He is the Mighty, the Wise." (14:4).

2- The source of all celestial messages or scriptures given to prophets is (the Mother of the Book) in Heaven, where al meanings of scriptures are located and then the descend on prophets in the tongues of their peoples; the Quran is in Arabic as it was revealed to Muhammad in Arabia: "By the Book that makes things clear. We made it an Arabic Quran, so that you may understand. And it is with Us, in the Mother of the Book, sublime and wise." (43:2-4).

3- Before the Quran, the Torah and the Gospel were revealed in the tongues of their peoples, and the Quran, revealed in Arabic, endorses these previous scriptures: "And before it was the Book of Moses, a model and a mercy. And this is a confirming Book, in the Arabic language, to warn those who do wrong-and good news for the doers of good." (46:12). The Quranic text now has been translated into all human languages.  

4- It is impossible that all human beings would talk in one language; Prophet Muhammad talked in Arabic like his people in Arabia, and this is why the Quran is revealed in Arabic: "The Honest Spirit came down with it. Upon your heart, that you may be one of the warners. In a clear Arabic tongue. And it is in the scriptures of the ancients." (26:193-196). This means that Quranic knowledge is mentioned on celestial messages/books given to previous nations, and the last message of God, the Quran, was descended in Arabic: "Thus We inspired you with an Arabic Quran, that you may warn the Central City and whoever is around it, and to warn of the Day of Assembly, of which there is no doubt; a group in the Garden, and a group in the Furnace." (42:7); "We made it easy in your tongue, in order to deliver good news to the righteous, and to warn with it a hostile people." (19:97). 

Thirdly: guidance is never linked to the Arabic tongue/language in which the Quran was revealed:

1- Thus, God addresses Arabs about the reason why the Quran was revealed in Arabic; so that they take heed, remember, reflect, and be pious; but in fact, they did not and they do not. "...These are the Verses of the Clear Book. We have revealed it an Arabic Quran, so that you may understand." (12:1-2); "We have cited in this Quran for humankind every ideal, that they may take heed. An Arabic Quran, without any defect, so they may become pious." (39:27-28); "Thus We have revealed it an Arabic Quran, and We have diversified the warnings in it, that perhaps they would become righteous, or it may produce a lesson for them." (20:113); "We made it easy in your language, so that they may remember." (44:58). 

2- The vast majority of Arabian people denied and rejected the Quran, and they fought Islam under the leadership of the Qorayish tribe. This tribe feigned conversion to Islam shortly before the death of Muhammad to protect its interests. Once Muhammad died, this tribe led the worst and most heinous crimes against Islam: the Arab conquests and its resulting civil wars. God predicts in the Quran their rejection of the Quran within verses revealed in Mecca: "Say, "He is Able to send upon you an affliction, from above you, or from under your feet. Or He can divide you into factions, and make you taste the violence of one another. Note how We explain the revelations, so that they may understand." But your people rejected it, though it is the truth. Say, "I am not responsible for you." For every happening is a finality, and you will surely know." (6:65-67).  

3- This means that guidance is NOT linked to the Arabic tongue within which the Quran was revealed; Arabs who were led by Qorayish rejected the Quran in all their deeds, acts, stances, and words as we know from history; they declared their rejection of the Quran and they used to follow their whims; the even tried to influence Muhammad by their whims: "Thus We revealed it an Arabic code of law. Were you to follow their desires, after the knowledge that has come to you, you would have neither ally nor defender against God." (13:37); "A revelation from the Dominant, the Merciful. A Book whose Verses are detailed, a Quran in Arabic for people who know. Bringing good news, and giving warnings. But most of them turn away, so they do not listen. And they say, "Our hearts are screened from what you call us to, and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a barrier. So do what you want, and so will we."" (41:2-5). 

4- Most Arabs deny and reject the Quran until now though it was revealed in their own language; Quranists suffer persecution from them when Quranists call for using the Quran as the only criterion. Most Arabs have abandoned the Quran and become the worst nation worldwide, as terrorism comes from their countries to strike everywhere all over the world. Bloodbaths and bloodshed occur in the Arab world while Arabs assume wrongly that they adhere to the Quran, but they are losers as they reject the Arabic Quran: "We send down in the Quran healing and mercy for the believers, but it increases the wrongdoers only in loss." (17:82).    

5- In contrast, West countries have reached higher Quranic and human values without reading the Quran; e.g., justice, charity, freedom, peace, and human dignity. This means that people in the west are guided to Islam in terms of behavior (i.e., peaceful demeanor) within all dealings with all people; Europeans have discovered that suffering, wars, and bloodbaths are caused by tyranny, compulsion in religion, and the dominance of religious and political clergy. Europeans realized that fact that peace is maintained by all West nations when they adhere to justice, freedom, and charity as the basis of all nations; this is how they got out of the obscurantist culture of the Middle-Ages still revived and maintained by Arabs now.    

Fourthly: guidance is available for every person; this is unrelated to conveying the message itself:

1- Muhammad conveyed the whole of the Arabic Quranic message; yet Arabs denied and rejected it, and later on, they have established the earthly, man-made religions also in Arabic. 

2- Conveying the Quranic message goes on or must go on: "Say, "This is my way; I invite to God, based on clear knowledge-I and whoever follows me. Glory be to God; and I am not of the polytheists."" (12:108).

3- This verse applies to the past, present, and future: "There is no community but a warner has passed through it." (35:24); this means that all eras and all nations have their own warners (i.e., prophets and non-prophets) as preachers and callers of the Truth existing everywhere in all eras, regardless of different tongues.

4- The above point is asserted by the innate nature and instinct inside every human being: (There is no God but Allah), as we infer from this verse: "So devote yourself to the religion of monotheism-the natural instinct God has instilled in all humankind. There is no altering God's creation. This is the true religion, but most people do not know." (30:30). This innate instinct might be sometimes be covered because of committing many sins to which sinners are addicted and this leads sinners to deny the celestial message (the Quran): "Not at all. Their hearts have become corroded by what they used to earn." (83:14); "Then, evil was the end of those who committed evil. That is because they rejected God's verses, and used to ridicule them." (30:10). This is why the Quranic/Arabic word (Kufr) which means ''disbelief'' means also (a cover); disbelievers and polytheists cover their instinct of monotheism by saints/allies and gods/deities as partners to Allah, our Creator, as they believe in Him inwardly but within polytheism. Once a calamity befalls those polytheists (e.g., like when about to get drowned), they forget their polytheism and invoke only God for deliverance. Once delivered, they return to their polytheistic myths!  

5- In fact, God tests each person with situations to make him/her remember the monotheistic innate instinct that sometimes are forgotten because of sins of the flesh. This monotheistic innate instinct makes every child ask about the universe and its Maker and Creator and its beginning and end. These are the questions leading to monotheistic guidance when one ardently seeks it and granted it by God's mercy: "As for those who strive for Us - We will guide them in Our ways. God is with the doers of good." (29:69).

6- Seekers of guidance and Truth might include persons from the Eskimo, and God may have sent prophets to them, as this is echoed in their traditional heritage like many peoples and races, but the earthly religions covered all this with myths that distort the innate natural instinct of monotheism (There is no God but Allah) and lead people to polytheism (to believe in the Creator among other partners and deities/mediators). All seekers of guidance and Truth use their minds to reject deified items/mortals and the notion of sons/daughters of God or mother of God. God is exalted above such myths. Thus, even an Eskimo person can use the reasoning mind to reject paganism and idolatry and deifying mortals/mausoleums; this Eskimo person can read books on world religions translated into all languages, including translations of the Bible and the Quran, that are spread all over the world. Even if some translations are not that good or accurate, because of the whims of interpreters and their exegeses, as well as other myths of the Muhammadans, this Eskimo person will find guidance in reading the translated versions of the Quran.    

7- The reason is as follows: the Quran is made easy for guidance and remembrance as per the Quranic Chapter 54. "We made the Quran easy to learn. Is there anyone who would learn?" (54:17). This is an open invitation for all human beings who seek guidance; they do not have to ponder too deeply in the Quranic text; this is done by more knowledgeable persons. But ordinary persons can find guidance in the Quran in hundreds of its verses in their direct address appealing to all minds of people who seek guidance and Truth.

8- As for isolated people in, e.g., the Amazon forests and unchartered zones in Africa, they cannot possible know about the Quranic message and they might have no warners/prophets; God says about their likes: "...nor do We ever punish until We have sent a messenger." (17:15).