As discussed earlier, some people make unjust judgments that have nothing in common with Islam, determine what is lawful and unlawful, and proclaim what Allah has declared lawful to be unlawful and vice versa. Meanwhile, they change religion's originality and essence and devise a "false man-made religion" with its set of beliefs and practices. Many people, who do not know the Qur'an and Islam, fail to recognize this "religion's" unjust nature and thus are deceived into following it unconsciously. This is how those who lay down commands on Allah's behalf lead people into sin and rebellion. The Qur'an describes their condition as follows: Among them is a group that distorts the Book with their tongues, so that you think it is from the Book when it is not from the Book. They say:
"It is from Allah," but it is not from Allah. They tell a lie against Allah, and they know it.
Some communities who do not embrace Allah's just religion and insist upon their inherited beliefs even go so far as to slander Allah. Since they neither employ their wisdom and conscience nor appreciate the extent of Allah's knowledge, they remain bereft of any understanding that will guide them to the truth. And so they invent many beliefs that are incompatible with the Qur'an and lead ignorant people in the ways of injustice. They make what is lawful unlawful and vice versa, and make ungrounded accusations, as we read in the following verses: They say: "These animals and crops are sacrosanct. No one may eat them except those we wish," – as they allege – and animals on whose backs it is forbidden to ride, and animals over which they do not mention Allah's name, inventing falsehood against Him. He will repay them for the things they have invented. They say:
"What is in the wombs of these animals is exclusively for our men and unlawful for our wives. But if it is stillborn, they can share in it." He (Allah) will repay them for their false depiction. He is All-Wise, All-Knowing. Those who kill their children foolishly without any knowledge and make what Allah has provided for them unlawful, inventing lies against Allah, such people are lost. They are misled. They are not guided.
Therefore, those who engage in such activities are informed of how they will be punished in the Hereafter and of the fact that they cannot avoid it. In Surat al-An'am, Allah gives the following example regarding the cruelty that these people commit "without any knowledge": And a pair of camels and a pair of cattle – Say:
"Is it the two males He has made unlawful, or the two females, or what the wombs of the two females contain? Were you then witnesses when Allah gave you this instruction?" Who could do greater wrong than someone who invents lies against Allah, thus leading people astray without any knowledge? Allah does not guide the people of the wrongdoers.
These verses also make clear that most people tend to judge on Allah's behalf and attribute those things about which they have no knowledge to religion. This being the case, our Lord, Who has the best knowledge of human nature, warns humanity thus:
"Do not say about what your lying tongues describe:
'This is lawful and this is unlawful,' inventing lies against Allah"
In Surat as-Saffat, on the other hand, Allah asks these people:
What is the matter with you? How do you reach your judgment? Will you not pay heed? Or do you have some clear authority? Bring your Book, then, if you are telling the truth!
They are surprised that a Warner should come to them from among themselves. The unbelievers say: "This is a lying magician. Has he turned all the gods into One Allah? That is truly astonishing!" Their leaders went off saying:
"Carry on as you are! Hold fast to your gods. This is clearly something planned. We have not heard of this in the old religion. This is merely something contrived. Has the Reminder been sent down to him out of all of us?" They are in doubt about My Reminder. They have yet to taste My punishment.
Such people generally assert they act so in the name of religion, for they are not knowledgeable about Islam. Those who disregard Allah's judgments or change them because they conflict with their personal interests disrespect Allah and His Book. Such people fail to appreciate that our Lord, Who created everything from nothing, can do anything He wills, that His Knowledge encompasses everything, and that He knows a person's secrets and what is even more concealed. Their "knowledge," however, is limited to prejudice and superstitions. Allah shows His True Path in the Qur'an:
Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord – there is no god but Him – and turn away from the idolaters.
The Qur'an lays down what is right and what is wrong. Therefore, people who are inclined to guidance, follow their conscience, avoid the selfish whims and desires of their lower selves, and are committed to live by Allah's judgments easily find their way to the true path. Everyone can understand the Qur'an, a Book of Divine Wisdom, for its descriptions of moral perfection and judgments are extremely clear, intelligible, and easy. Every sincere person guided by Allah can readily comprehend the Qur'an and feels no difficulty in living by its dictates, as we read in:
The Qur'an was sent down as guidance for humanity, with Clear Signs containing guidance and discrimination.
However, only those who love and fear Allah, submit wholeheartedly to Him, and prefer the Hereafter to this life pay attention to the Qur'an and ponder its verses. In another verse, Allah commands us as follows:
We did not send down the Qur'an to you to make you miserable, but only as a Reminder for those who stand in awe (of Allah).
This issue is also an important secret of the Qur'an. To understand it, all that is needed is a firm intention, a profound faith, and sincerity, as opposed to a high level of intelligence, for Allah guides His sincere servants to the truth, ensures that they benefit from the Qur'an, and attain salvation. However, this Revelation of Allah to humanity only guides those who love and fear Him and observe His limits. Some of the related verses are as follows:
On that Day We will raise up among every community a witness against them from among themselves, and bring you as a witness against them. We have sent down the Book to you making all things clear, and as guidance and a mercy and good news for the Muslims.
As these verses state, the Qur'an admonishes humanity and guides all Muslims who are humble and observe Allah's limits. Said Nursi, a great Turkish Islamic scholar, writes that the Qur'an is a guide for Allah's devoted servants: "The All-Wise Qur'an is the leader to the aware and the conscious, the guide of jinn and men [and women], the teacher of those attaining to perfection, and instructor of those seeking reality." (Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, "The Letters: The 26th Letter")
