The Qur’an, in countless Ayahs, criticizes the Quraish, who are the people Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was living with in Makkah and he too was one of them. Many times throughout the Qur’an, Allah criticizes them for worshipping idols instead of Him alone. In Surah Al-‘Alaq, Allah threatens Abu Jahl, the leader of the Quraish. In Surah Al-Masad, He threatens Abu Lahab, another prominent leader and the uncle of Prophet Muhammad. In Surah Al-Ma’un, He critiques those amongst the Quraish who treat orphans poorly and those who do not encourage the feeding of the poor.

What’s so noteworthy about this? Well, imagine you were in Prophet Muhammad’s shoes. Your audience in the first decade of preaching was the people you grew up with. Would it make sense to criticize them? Would people listen if you did? After all, you want them on your side. In fact, wouldn’t you be worried if you kept on doing that, that they would kill you? If you’re an imposter, you’d eventually tell yourself, “Okay, I tried the mean way. I need to change my strategy.” But nope, the Qur’an doesn’t compromise. It doesn’t mean that the Qur’an didn’t try other methods. Of course it did! It spoke with emotion and with logic, but when needs be, it did speak harshly. 

The Quraish tried to compromise multiple times because they got tired. It was said that the leaders told him that if he sets aside days to worship their idols, they would set aside days to worship the one God, Allah. Prophet Muhammad didn’t compromise to even that. However, wouldn’t an imposter do that? After all, that’s the nice option. Beyond that, one should expect persecution (which happened). But, if you do believe you’re a Messenger of God, your mindset is that you have to do what God says – no matter what!

As Surah Al-Kaafiroon says:

1. Say (O Muhammad): “O Al-Kaafiroon (disbelievers in Allah and His Oneness)!
2. I worship not that which you worship,
3. Nor will you worship that which I worship.
4. And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping.
5. Nor will you worship that which I worship.
6. To you be your religion, and to me my religion.”

[Qur’an 109:1-6]

Ayatul Kursi is the 255th Ayah in Surah Al-Baqarah. It is composed of 9 sentences or parts.

1. Allah! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining.
2. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him.
3. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.
4. Who could possibly intercede with Him without His permission?
5. He ˹fully˺ knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them,
6. but no one can grasp any of His knowledge – except what He wills ˹to reveal˺.
7. His Kursi (chair or footstool) encompasses the heavens and the earth,
8. and the preservation of both does not tire Him.
9. and He is the Most High, the Greatest.

Now check this out:

1. Allah! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining.	9. And He is the Most High, the Greatest.
2. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him.	8. and the preservation of both does not tire Him.
3. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.	7. His Kursi encompasses the heavens and the earth,
4. Who could possibly intercede with Him without His permission?	6. but no one can grasp any of His knowledge – except what He wills ˹to reveal˺.

5. He ˹fully˺ knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them

—————–

Can you fathom what you just saw? Can we, in an unbiased way, just appreciate the symmetry here?

The first and last sentences both have something in common – each has 2 names of Allah.

In the second row, both are about the subject of watching over something and not getting tired or sleepy over it.

In the third row, both are about the heavens and the earth. However, what’s beautiful to add is that the 3rd part is talking about ownership and the 7th is talking about the kingdom. Both are about control, but ownership is about property and kingdom is about people, so both aspects of power are covered!

In the fourth row, both parts are statements about Allah and the only exception to each of them.

Then finally the kicker, which is the 5th and middle sentence – He ˹fully˺ knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them. It is as if God is saying He knows what are the sentences before and what are the sentences after. How can someone think of speaking or writing something like that?

• This was beautifully explained by Nouman Ali Khan in this video –