RationalWiki:Annotated Qur'an/The Counsel

Annotated Qur'an
Sura 42: The Counsel
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Qur'an 42:1 Ha, Meem.	Qur'an 42:1 Notes Just Arabic letters that are often in the first line of a Surah

Qur'an 42:2 Ayn, Seen, Qaf.	Qur'an 42:2 Notes Oh, bonus letters! They must be extra important to be in their own verse!

Qur'an 42:3 Thus He inspires you, and those before you—God the Almighty, the Wise.	Qur'an 42:3 Notes These letters come with equally meaningless praise.

Qur'an 42:4 To him belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth. He is the Sublime, the Magnificent.	Qur'an 42:4 Notes Allah loves to stroke his infinite ego in this book. So many verses exist for that reason alone.

Qur'an 42:5 The heavens above them almost burst apart, while the angels glorify the praises of their Lord, and ask forgiveness for those on earth. God is indeed the Forgiver, the Merciful.	Qur'an 42:5 Notes The Forgiver, the Merciful... tell that to the people rotting away in Jahannam and just begging for the slightest iota of forgiveness and mercy. Most humans would be too merciful to inflict endless torture upon anyone, proving themselves to be more forgiving and merciful than Allah.

Qur'an 42:6 As for those who take masters other than Him: God is in charge of them, and you are not responsible for them.	Qur'an 42:6 Notes Is that a threat? Is this threatening verse immediately after the words "the Forgiving, the Merciful" in a clear, beautiful book?

Qur'an 42:7 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.

Qur'an 42:7 Notes There is immense doubt of this "Day of Assembly" when the only sources describing it are questionable and contradictory. Also, this Forgiving, Merciful despot created that furnace as a form of infinite punishment and promised to fill it to the brim with humans and jinn alike. The furnace itself is sentient and will supposedly beg Allah for mercy, as it has to deal with its own suffering and the suffering of all inside it.

Qur'an 42:8 Had God willed, He could have made them one community, but He admits into His mercy whomever He wills. As for the wrongdoers, they will have no protector and no savior.	Qur'an 42:8 Notes Allah explicitly states here that he does not will for everyone to receive his forgiveness and mercy.

Qur'an 42:9 Or have they adopted protectors besides him? But God is the Protector, and He gives life to the dead, and He has power over all things.	Qur'an 42:9 Notes Allah is petty for seeing that the people whom he created find other gods more convincing than him... and deeming them to be subhuman trash.

Qur'an 42:10 Whatever matter you differ about, its judgment rests with God. “Such is God, my Lord, in Whom I trust, and unto Him I repent.”	Qur'an 42:10 Notes Does this include matters where sincere Muslims disagree? Many of this religion's most fervent adherents disagree with each other regarding how to actually worship the tyrant on top, and yet they all love Allah and want only to worship him as best they can.

Qur'an 42:11 Originator of the heavens and the earth. He made for you mates from among yourselves, and pairs of animals, by means of which He multiplies you. There is nothing like Him. He is the Hearing, the Seeing.	Qur'an 42:11 Notes Fun fact: Not all animals breed with a single male and a single female. Many animals reproduce asexually. Other animals can exhibit genders beyond just the male and female with which most humans are familiar.

Qur'an 42:12 To Him belongs absolute control of the heavens and the earth. He spreads the bounties to whomever He wills, or reduces it. He is aware of all things.	Qur'an 42:12 Notes Allah, again, states that he does not will to spread bounties to everyone and gladly wants to reduce it to many of his own creations.

Qur'an 42:13 He prescribed for you the same religion He enjoined upon Noah, and what We inspired to you, and what We enjoined upon Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus: “You shall uphold the religion, and be not divided therein.” As for the idolaters, what you call them to is outrageous to them. God chooses to Himself whom He wills, and He guides to Himself whoever repents.	Qur'an 42:13 Notes Several aspects of this religion are specific to Muhammad and places near where he lived. Were those part of the exact same religion revealed to the other prophets?

Qur'an 42:14 They became divided only after knowledge came to them, out of resentment among themselves. Were it not for a predetermined decision from your Lord, judgment would have been pronounced between them. Indeed, those who were made to inherit the Book after them are in grave doubt about it.	Qur'an 42:14 Notes Knowledge of the book somehow leads to disagreement and divisiveness. This book says so.

Qur'an 42:15 To this go on inviting, and be upright as you were commanded, and do not follow their inclinations, and say, “I believe in whatever Book God has sent down, and I was commanded to judge between you equitably. God is our Lord and your Lord. We have our deeds, and you have your deeds. Let there be no quarrel between us and you. God will bring us together, and to Him is the ultimate return.”

Qur'an 42:15 Notes Considering that few people actually believe that Muhammad got any direct commands from Allah or even that Allah is anything like the Quran's description of him, Muhammad would need to provide evidence.

Qur'an 42:16 As for those who dispute about God after having answered His call, their argument is invalid with their Lord; and upon them falls wrath; and a grievous torment awaits them.	Qur'an 42:16 Notes What a lovely threat for those who hear outlandish tales without equally extraordinary evidence... How are they supposed to know that this is Allah's call in the first place and not just the ramblings of a convincing conman?

Qur'an 42:17 It is God who revealed the Book with the truth, and the Balance. And what will make you realize that perhaps the Hour is near?	Qur'an 42:17 Notes This book is way too contradictory and confusing to be called the truth. Granted, the lack of evidence makes it questionable even if each and every claims happens to be accurate.

Qur'an 42:18 Those who do not believe in it seek to hasten it; but those who believe are apprehensive of it, and they know it to be the truth. Absolutely, those who question the Hour are in distant error.	Qur'an 42:18 Notes How can people seek to hasten something which they sincerely believe to be fictional in the first place? This verse suggests that the disbelievers don't actually know it to be the truth because they sincerely don't know it to be the truth. This book should prove why these disbelievers are in distant error instead of just saying so ad nauseam.

Qur'an 42:19 God is kind towards His worshipers. He provides for whomever He wills. He is the Powerful, the Honorable.	Qur'an 42:19 Notes Again, how do people know that this providence comes from Allah specifically?

Qur'an 42:20 Whoever desires the harvest of the Hereafter, We increase for him his harvest; and whoever desires the harvest of this world, We give him thereof, and he has no share of the Hereafter.	Qur'an 42:20 Notes What of those many Muslims who desire the harvest of this world and the hereafter?

Qur'an 42:21 Or is it that they have partners who litigate for them religious laws never authorized by God? Were it not for the conclusive decision, it would have been settled between them. The wicked will have a painful punishment.	Qur'an 42:21 Notes Allah becomes less believable with each and every verse misrepresenting disbelievers and threatening them with horrific punishments.

Qur'an 42:22 You will see the unjust terrified of what they have earned, and it will befall them. As for those who believe and do good deeds, they will be in the Meadows of the Gardens; they will have whatever they please in the presence of their Lord; that is the supreme blessing.	Qur'an 42:22 Notes These holy gardens probably only grow carrots and sticks.

Qur'an 42:23 That is the good news God gives to His servants who believe and do good deeds. Say, “I ask of you no wage for it, except affection among the near of kin.” Whoever does a good deed, We will increase its goodness for him. God is Forgiving and Appreciative.	Qur'an 42:23 Notes This forgiveness and appreciation seems to only apply to believers who devote their lives to appeasing this overlord's limitless ego.

Qur'an 42:24 Or do they say, “He forged a lie about God.” If God so willed, He could have sealed your heart. But God obliterates the false, and confirm the true by His Words. He knows what is in the hearts.	Qur'an 42:24 Notes Allah clearly failed to obliterate the falsehoods in his own final message to humanity based on the impossibilities and contradictions in this book.

Qur'an 42:25 It is He who accepts the repentance of His worshipers, and remits the sins, and knows what you do.	Qur'an 42:25 Notes This, of course, only applies to those who devote their lives to worship. Everybody else can stuff it.

Qur'an 42:26 And He answers those who believe and do good deeds, and He increases them of His grace. But the disbelievers will suffer a terrible punishment.	Qur'an 42:26 Notes He could simply answer those who sincerely doubt and want the truth, but torturing them for all eternity is clearly preferable to the Merciful.

Qur'an 42:27 If God were to increase the provision to His servants, they would transgress on earth; but He sends down in precise measure whatever He wills. Surely, regarding His servants, He is Expert and Observant.	Qur'an 42:27 Notes Why? Can the truly noble and righteous not continue to be noble and righteous with the extra worldly wealth?

Qur'an 42:28 It is He who brings down the rain after they have despaired, and unfolds His mercy. He is the Guardian, the Praised.	Qur'an 42:28 Notes Allah claims that to be sure, but how can anyone verify that these rains are his doing specifically?

Qur'an 42:29 And of His signs are the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the creatures He has spread throughout them; and He is Able to gather them at will.

Qur'an 42:29 Notes Interestingly, cosmologists and biologists are typically far less religious than the general public. Those experts who study these signs should overwhelmingly find them pointing to Allah if this verse were true, should they not? There are many who agree that the creation of the heavens and the earth must point to a creator. What evidence points to the god described in this book being that very creator in reality?

Qur'an 42:30 Whatever misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned; and yet He pardons much.	Qur'an 42:30 Notes Apparently, bad things don't happen to good people. Also, despite this Allah claiming direct credit for many catastrophes, he tells believers to blame themselves.

Qur'an 42:31 You are not the ones to interfere on earth; and besides God, you have no ally, and no helper.	Qur'an 42:31 Notes Cult leaders often tell their members that their only allies in this world, their only real hope, is in the cult itself.

Qur'an 42:32 And of His signs are the ships sailing the sea like flags.	Qur'an 42:32 Notes How do the people making ships specifically to sail the seas point to Allah? Many people fail to see the direct connection.

Qur'an 42:33 If He willed, He could have stilled the winds, leaving them motionless on its surface. Surely in that are signs for every disciplined, grateful person.	Qur'an 42:33 Notes Basically, wind is proof of Allah. Sunlight, temperature differentials, oceans; not responsible unless Allah somehow controlled those too for some reason

Qur'an 42:34 Or He could wreck them, because of what they have earned. And yet He pardons much.	Qur'an 42:34 Notes He still chooses to wreck them far more frequently than any loving god should.

Qur'an 42:35 Those who dispute Our signs know that there is no asylum for them.	Qur'an 42:35 Notes Oh, we should probably stop editing now... Or we would... if these can actually be shown in any capacity to be Allah's signs, because what evidence does anyone have outside of a poorly written book that these are Allah's signs in the first place?

Qur'an 42:36 Whatever thing you are given is only the provision of this life. But what God possesses is better and more lasting for those who believe and rely on their Lord.	Qur'an 42:36 Notes This book claims to have truth while only providing outlandish claims instead of proper evidence for them.

Qur'an 42:37 And those who avoid major sins and indecencies; and if they become angry, they forgive.	Qur'an 42:37 Notes Sadly, this very deity refuses to forgive those who anger him. How does a being who knows literally everything at all times even get angry? Nothing could surprise or disappoint him. This world operates in the exact way which this deity predestined it to operate.

Qur'an 42:38 And those who respond to their Lord, and pray regularly, and conduct their affairs by mutual consultation, and give of what We have provided them.	Qur'an 42:38 Notes Allah wants the believers to just assume that he is their lord.

Qur'an 42:39 And those who, when wronged, defend themselves.	Qur'an 42:39 Notes What of those whom Allah has wronged and thus have no power to defend themselves?

Qur'an 42:40 The repayment of a bad action is one equivalent to it. But whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward lies with God. He does not love the unjust.	Qur'an 42:40 Notes How is equivalence determined here? How specifically can any finite series of finite actions committed in a finite lifetime deserve infinite consequences? Alas, this unjust god must hate himself.

Qur'an 42:41 As for those who retaliate after being wronged, there is no blame on them.	Qur'an 42:41 Notes Are the people whom Allah has doomed to infinite torture not wronged by Allah?

Qur'an 42:42 Blame lies on those who wrong people, and commit aggression in the land without right. These will have a painful punishment.	Qur'an 42:42 Notes Allah fits that bill, though so does his favorite prophet Muhammad.

Qur'an 42:43 But whoever endures patiently and forgives—that is a sign of real resolve.	Qur'an 42:43 Notes Allah could just forgive those who were condemned to their predestined path.

Qur'an 42:44 Whoever God leaves astray has no protector apart from Him. And you will see the transgressors, when they see the torment, saying, “Is there a way of going back?”	Qur'an 42:44 Notes Allah leaves them astray and alone. He should stop contradicting his own perfect message by pretending otherwise.

Qur'an 42:45 And you will see them exposed to it, cowering from disgrace, looking with concealed eyes. Those who believed will say, “The losers are those who lost themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection.” Indeed, the evildoers are in a lasting torment.	Qur'an 42:45 Notes This verse is immediately after a verse where Allah claims to leave them astray. They apparently lost themselves and Allah is in the right for, as he himself says, leaving him astray.

Qur'an 42:46 They will have no allies to support them against God. Whomever God leaves astray has no way out.	Qur'an 42:46 Notes Allah forsakes people and knows how cruel it is while still blaming them for failing to do something which Allah has prevented them from ever doing.

Qur'an 42:47 Respond to your Lord before there comes from God a Day that cannot be turned back. You will have no refuge on that Day, and no possibility of denial.	Qur'an 42:47 Notes Can the other days be turned back?

Qur'an 42:48 But if they turn away—We did not send you as a guardian over them. Your only duty is communication. Whenever We let man taste mercy from Us, he rejoices in it; but when misfortune befalls them, as a consequence of what their hands have perpetrated, man turns blasphemous.	Qur'an 42:48 Notes Misfortune supposedly befell each and every prophet, especially Muhammad. Does that not count "as a consequence of what their hands have perpetrated" because they happen to be the good kind of people who ever suffer any form of hardship?

Qur'an 42:49 To God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates whatever He wills. He grants daughters to whomever He wills, and He grants sons to whomever He wills.	Qur'an 42:49 Notes He does that without even proving his own existence to people who are not already predisposed to accept this answer.

Qur'an 42:50 Or He combines them together, males and females; and He renders whomever He wills sterile. He is Knowledgeable and Capable.	Qur'an 42:50 Notes How should readers interpret this verse? Does this count as a strict adherence to a gender binary?

Qur'an 42:51 It is not for any human that God should speak to him, except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger to reveal by His permission whatever He wills. He is All-High, All-Wise.	Qur'an 42:51 Notes Allah refuses to communicate except through channels that hide any and all evidence that these messages actually came from him. He would rather sound just like someone's own imagination or someone else entirely.

Qur'an 42:52 We thus inspired you spiritually, by Our command. You did not know what the Scripture is, nor what faith is, but We made it a light, with which We guide whomever We will of Our servants. You surely guide to a straight path.	Qur'an 42:52 Notes Of course, Allah only wills to guide a minority of his own creations.

Qur'an 42:53 The path of God, to whom belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth. Indeed, to God all matters revert.	Qur'an 42:53 Notes How many times has this chapter alone claimed that Allah has any ownership or dominion over everything in the heavens and the earth? Why does this Allah feel the need to repeat this ad nauseam without actually proving anything to people questioning their own beliefs.