And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction.[99]

 

Does it not then direct them aright how many of the generations In whose dwelling-places they go about We destroyed before them? Most surely there are signs in this for those endowed with understanding.[100]

 

We destroyed aforetime populations round about you; and We have shown the Signs in various ways, that they may turn (to Us).[101]

 

And We have left thereof an evident Sign, for any people who (care to) understand.[102]

 

All Praise is to God for making the people of Muhammad steadfast in their belief and for protecting the authenticity of the Al Quran which has been and shall be the one of the main pillars of our faith in the days to come.  

 

This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. [103]

 

If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah) never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost. (all spiritual good). [104]

 

This (Al Quran) is no less than a Message for the nations. [105]

 

We will assuredly guard it (Al Quran). [106]

 

None can change His Words: for He is the one who heareth and knoweth all. [107]

 

All Praise is to God, apart from the Al Quran we have also the As Sunnah (records of the Prophet’s saying, doing and silence). To this end, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had said to the effect:

 

I left in you two matters, you will not got astray as long as you take hold of it: The Book Of Allah (Al Quran) and the Tradition of the Prophet (As Sunnah). [108]

 

With the advent of prophet Muhammad [pbuh] no longer will God tests us with apocalypse alike that in Noah’s or Lot’s or Syuaib’s or Salleh’s time but rather through a test of a lesser degree. To this end, the prediction of an apocalypse to come in 2012 sounds hollow.

 

And Allâh would not punish them while you (Muhammad) are amongst them, nor will He punish them while they seek (Allâh’s) Forgiveness.[109]

 

Do men think that they will be left alone on saying “We believe” and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false.[110]

 

Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves.[111]

 

And know ye that your possessions and your progeny are but a trial.[112]

 

O ye who believe! Truly, among your wives and your children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves. [113]

 

Notwithstanding, God will test through our closed ones, poverty, property and other means.

 

Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves. [114]

 

And know ye that your possessions and your progeny are but a trial. [115]

O ye who believe! Truly, among your wives and your children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves: so beware of them! [116]

 

Be that as it may, God tests us according to our capability. Nonetheless, Satan will endeavour to tip the scale and made the burden felt duly onerous.

 

O ye Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you, in the same manner as he got your parents out of the Garden.[117]

 

He did lead astray a great multitude of you. Did ye not, then, understand? [118]

 

Should the burden is made onerous by the Satan, one must supplicate God for assistance.

 

And say “O my Lord! I seek refuge with Thee from the suggestions of the Satans. “And I seek refuge with Thee O my Lord! Lest they should come near me.” [119]

 

If a suggestion from Satan assail thy (mind), seek refuge with Allah; for He heareth and knoweth (all things). Those who fear Allah, when a thought of evil from Satan assaults them, bring Allah to remembrance, when lo! they see (aright)! [120]

 

Even Prophet Job supplicated God for assistance when he could not stomach anymore the onslaught of Satan on him.

 

And remember Our servant Job, when he called upon his Lord: The Satan has afflicted me with toil and torment. [121]

 

So for those who have sinned be quick to repent before it is too late as Pharaoh had regrettably found out.

 

We took the Children of Israel across the sea: Pharaoh and his hosts followed them in insolence and spite. At length, when overwhelmed with the flood, he said: “I believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to Allah in Islam).” (It was said to him): “Ah now!- But a little while  before, wast thou in rebellion!- and thou didst mischief (and violence)! “This day shall We save thee in thy body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee! But verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!” [122]  

 

Notwithstanding, many still failed to achieve the grade and they and their descendant to-be became history. Failing to understand the purpose of the divine test, our Blessed Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was understandably upset to perceive there were still many who have yet to accept Islam. To this end, he was reprimanded by God.

 

And if their turning away is hard on you, then if you can seek an opening (to go down) into the earth or a ladder (to ascend up) to heaven so that you should bring them a sign and if Allah had pleased He would certainly have gathered them all on guidance, therefore be not of the ignorant. [123]

 

If it had been Allah’s will, they would not have taken false gods: but We made thee not one to watch over their doings, nor art thou set over them to dispose of their affairs. [124]

 

As earlier mentioned that the test is for the sole purpose of producing tip-top Vicegerents in the near future in quantity and quality who are to subjugate the evil ones in the Outer Space out there, govern them and bring them back to worship God. This is the task that had been rejected when offered to other creations except mankind. Thence we have to undergo the test and we accepted this with our “eyes open”. Thus God chastised us as being foolish. Such being the case there is no cause for complain and regret now.

 

We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof: but man undertook it;- He was indeed unjust and foolish. (With the result) that Allah has to punish the Hypocrites, men and women, and the Unbelievers, men and women, and Allah turns in Mercy to the Believers, men and women: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [125]

 

Bibliography

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[67] An Nisa (4):116.

[68] Al Maidah (6):88.

[69] Terjemahan Sunan Ibnu Majah Bk.4, 966 (1993).

[70] Terjemahan sahih Muslim Bk.4,707 (1994).

[71] Ali Imran (3):128-129.

[72] Al Ankabut (29):40

[73] Al Ar’aaf (7):72.

[74] Al Anbiya (21):11

[75] Yunos (10):23.

[76] An Nisa (4):110

[77] An Nisa (4):111

[78] Yunos (10):13.

[79] Al An’aam (6):6

[80] Maryam (19):59

[81] Al Baqarah (2):59

[82] An Nisa (4):111

[83] Al Maidah (5):49

[84] Anfaal (8):55

[85] Al Hadid (57):26

[86] Asy Syu’araa (26):120-121.

[87] Hud (11):46.

[88] At Tahriim (66):10.

[89] Al Araaf (7):72.

[90] Al Haaqqah (69):6-8.

[91] Hud (11):64.

[92] Hud (11):94-95.

[93] Al Hijr (15):78-79.

[94] Asy Syu’araa (26):190.

[95] An Naml (27): 57.

[96] Al Ankabut (29):35.

[97] Al Anfaal (8):54

[98] Al Hijr (15):4

[99] Al Israa (17):16

[100] Thaha (20)128; As Sajda (32):26; Hgafir (40):21

[101] Al Ahqaf (46):72

[102] Al Ankabut (29):35

[103] Al Maidah (5):3.

[104] Ali Imran (3):85.

[105] Al Anaam (6):90.

[106] Al Hijr (15):9.

[107] Al Anaam (6):115.

[108] Translation of Al Muwatta Vol .II, 544 (?)

[109]  An Anfaal (8):33

[110] Al Ankabut (29):2-3

[111] Ali Imran (3):186

[112] Al Anfaal (8):28

[113] At Taghabun (64):14.

[114] Ali Imran (3):186.

[115] Al Anfaal (8):28.

[116] At Taghabun (64):14.

[117] Al A’raaf (7):27

[118] Yasin (36):62

[119] Al Mukminun (23):97-98.

[120] Al A’raaf (7):200-201

[121] Shad (38):41

[122] Yunos (10):90-92

[123] An An’aam (6):35

[124] An An’aam (6):107

[125] Al Ahzab (33):72