About a Forgotten Religious Duty: Preaching the Big Criminals by Bringing to Them 'Good News' of Their Hell Torment
Published in March 14, 2020
Translated by: Ahmed Fathy
Firstly: the Lord God's Word, the Quran, is the source of their being brought 'good news' of their fate in Hell in case of non-repentance before their death:
The Lord God says the following in the Quran.
1- "Those who believe, and emigrate, and strive in God’s Path with their possessions and their souls, are of a higher rank with God. These are the winners. Their Lord announces to them good news of mercy from Him, and acceptance, and gardens wherein they will have lasting bliss. Abiding therein forever. With God is a great reward." (9:20-22); this means the Lord God brings to them good news of Paradise wherein they will abide forever.
2- "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." (42:23); we find here that the Lord God brings good news to His monotheistic servants.
3- "“But you can worship whatever you wish besides Him.” Say, “The losers are those who lose their souls and their people on the Day of Resurrection.” That is indeed the obvious loss. They will have layers of Fire above them, and layers beneath them. That is how God strikes fear into His servants - “O My servants! Beware of Me!” As for those who avoid the worship of Taghut, and devote themselves to God - theirs is the good news. So give good news to My servants. Those who listen to the Word, and follow the best of it. These are they whom God has guided. These are they who possess intellect." (39:15-18); this means that the Lord God Himself strikes fear into His servants against the Hell-Fire and He brings good news to those who follow the Quran only and avoid Taghut.
Secondly: the warning and good news brought by the Lord God in the Quran makes the Quran itself the bearer of good news and a warning:
The Lord God says the following in the Quran.
1- "...And this is a confirming Book, in the Arabic tongue, to warn the unjust ones - and to bring good news for the charitable ones." (46:12).
2- "This Quran guides to what is most upright; and it brings good news to the believers who perform good deeds, that they will have a great reward.And those who do not believe in the Hereafter - We have prepared for them a painful torment." (17:9-10).
3- "...A Book whose Verses were perfected, then elaborated, from One who is Wise and Informed. That you shall worship none but God. “I am a warner to you from Him, and a bearer of good news.”" (11:1-2).
4- "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..." (41:2-4).
Thirdly: the Quran is mentioned here as the bearer of good news to the monotheistic believers:
The Lord God says the following in the Quran.
1- "Say, “Whoever is an enemy of Gabriel - it is he who revealed it to your heart by God’s leave, confirming what preceded it, and guidance and good news for the believers.”" (2:97).
2- "...These are the Verses of the Quran - a Clear Book.Guidance and good news for the believers. Those who observe prayers and Zakat and are certain of the Hereafter." (27:1-3).
3- "...We have revealed to you the Book, as an explanation of all things, and guidance, and mercy and good news for those who submit." (16:89).
4- "Say, “The Holy Spirit has brought it down from your Lord, truthfully, in order to stabilize those who believe, and as guidance and good news for those who submit.”" (16:102).
Fourthly: the Messenger, Muhammad, who preached the Quran only and nothing else alongside with it, was a bearer of good news and a warner:
The Lord God says the following in the Quran.
1- "Praise be to God, who revealed the Book to His servant, and allowed in it no distortion. Valuable - to warn of severe torment from Himself; and to deliver good news to the believers who perform righteous deeds, that they will have an excellent reward. In which they will abide forever. And to warn those who say, “God has begotten a son.”" (18:1-4).
2- "With the Truth We sent it down, and with the Truth it descended. We sent you only as a bearer of good news and a warner." (17:105).
3- "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).
4- "We have sent you with the Truth - bringing good news, and giving warnings. You will not be questioned about the inmates of Hell." (2:119).
5- "We sent you only universally to all people, a bearer of good news and warner, but most people do not know." (34:28).
6- "O prophet! We have sent you as a witness, and a bearer of good news, and a warner." (33:45).
7- "We sent you as a witness, and a bearer of good news, and a warner." (48:8).
8- "Is it a wonder to the people that We inspired a man from among them: “Warn the humankind, and give good news to those who believe..." (10:2).
9- "O People of the Book! Our Messenger has come to you, making things clear to you - after a cessation of messengers - so that you cannot say, “No bearer of good news has come to us, and no warner.” In fact, a bearer of good news has come to you, and a warner; and God is Capable of everything." (5:19).
10- "...I am only a warner, and a bearer of good news to a people who believe.”" (7:188).
Fifthly: the Lord God has commanded Muhammad to bring good news of Paradise to living believers as part of preaching:
The Lord God has said the following to Muhammad.
1- The Quranic phrase (and bring good news to the believers) is mentioned, for instance, in the following Quranic verses: "Your women are cultivation for you; so approach your cultivation whenever you like, and send ahead for yourselves. And fear God within piety, and know that you will meet Him. And bring good news to the believers." (2:223); "...and those who keep God’s laws – and bring good news to the believers." (9:112); "And bring good news to the believers that for them is a great reward." (33:47); "And something else you love: support from God, and imminent victory and bring good news to the believers." (61:13).
2- "You warn only him who follows the Message, and fears the Dominant Lord inwardly. So give him good news of forgiveness, and a generous reward." (36:11).
3- "As for those who avoid the worship of Taghut, and devote themselves to God - theirs is the good news. So give good news to My servants. Those who listen to the Word, and follow the best of it. These are they whom God has guided. These are they who possess intellect." (39:17-18).
4- "And give good news to those who believe and do righteous deeds; that they will have gardens beneath which rivers flow..." (2:25).
5- "...But bring good news to the patient ones." (2:155).
6- "...Your God is One God, so to Him submit, and give good news to the humble." (22:34).
7- "...And give good news to the charitable ones." (22:37).
Sixthly: the Lord God has commanded Muhammad to bring 'good news' of Hell-Fire to the disbelievers/polytheists:
1- This is about the significant use of the Quranic expression (good news) in the contexts of warning against the Hell torment: Of course, the disbelievers/polytheists believe in their deserving to enter into Paradise despite their crimes/sins as they believe in many myths including the so-called intercession. The big criminals propagate such myths and falsehoods, especially about intercessors, to bring good news to their followers and disciples about Paradise; such convinced followers and disciples die while assuming that on the Last Day, intercessors will be waiting eagerly to intercede on their behalf; yet, the cruel surprise waiting for them in the Hereafter, before they enter into Hell, is that there are no intercessors at all. Inside Hell, they will address their deified/sanctified allies/gods (made by them as equals/peers to the Lord God) in that manner: "“By God, We were in evident misguidance. For equating you with the Lord of the worlds." (26:97-98); they will address the big criminals (i.e., sheikhs/clergymen of the terrestrial religions of Satan) in that manner: "No one misled us except the criminals." (26:99); they will say the following as they will regret their being deceived by the myth of intercession/intercessors: "Now we have no intercessors." (26:100). This is why part of preaching them while they are living on earth is to bring them 'good news' of their fate in Hell in case they would die without repentance; preachers of the Quranic Truth must ridicule their belief in myths.
2- Hence, the Lord God has commanded Muhammad to bring to them 'good news' of their fate in Hell: "bring good news to the hypocrites that they will have a painful torment. Those who ally themselves to the disbelievers instead of the believers..." (4:138-139); "And a proclamation from God and His Messenger to the people on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage, that God has disowned the polytheists, and so did His Messenger. If you repent, it will be better for you. But if you turn away, know that you cannot escape God. And announce to those who disbelieve the good news of a painful torment." (9:3); "What is the matter with them that they do not believe? And when the Quran is read to them, they do not prostrate? In fact, those who disbelieve are in denial. But God knows what they hide inside. So bring them good news of a painful torment." (84:20-24).
Seventhly: the preachers of the Quranic Truth are commanded to bring 'good news' of Hell to the big criminals:
1- During his ministry as a prophet/messenger of the Lord God, Muhammad reminded and warned living people using the Quran only and not using his own words and style of talking. The Lord God has said the following to Muhammad.
1/1: "...So remind by the Quran whoever fears My warning." (50:45).
1/2: "Say...This Quran was revealed to me, that I may warn you with it, and whomever it may reach..." (6:19).
1/3: "And warn with it those who fear to be gathered before their Lord - they have no ally or intercessor apart from Him - perhaps they will grow in piety." (6:51).
1/4: "So leave alone those who take their religion for play and pastime, and whom the worldly life has deceived. But remind with it, lest a soul becomes damned on account of what it has earned. It has no helper or intercessor besides God. Even if it offers every equivalent, none will be accepted from it..." (6:70).
2- Muhammad was a mortal human being; he died after delivering the entirety of the Quranic Message. After his death, the Quran remains as the Messenger until the end of days. The preachers of the Quranic Truth go on with the mission of preaching the Quranic Message as they follow the Quranic insights and thus follow the footsteps of Muhammad; the Quran is the Remaining Message until the end of days. The Lord God has said the following to Muhammad.
2/1: Muhammad was told here about the preachers of the Quranic Truth in later eras who will follow his footsteps: "Say, “This is my way; I invite to God, based on clear knowledge - I and whoever follows me..." (12:108).
2/2: Muhammad was told here about the warners (with the Quranic Truth) who will emerge after his death: "We sent you with the Truth; a bearer of good news, and a warner. There is no community but a warner has passed through it." (35:24).
3- The preachers of the Quranic Truth in all eras will become witnesses along with prophets/messengers, on the Last Day, who will testify against their foes: "And the earth will shine with the Light of its Lord; and the Book will be put in place; and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought in; and Judgment will be passed among them equitably, and they will not be wronged." (39:69).
4- Some of the preachers of the Quranic Truth who call for justice may get killed in the process since the big criminals (i.e., enthroned tyrants) have them murdered; many prophets/messengers were murdered in the ancient times; this is about bringing 'good news' of Hell to the big criminals: "As for those who disbelieve in God’s Verses, and kill the prophets unjustly, and kill those who advocate justice among the people - bring them good news of a painful torment." (3:21).
5- In all human communities, and our modern era is no exception to this rule, there are big criminals who are human devils who reject the Quranic Discourse of Truth and trade in devilish, distracting hadiths/discourses/narratives/tales; they must be brought 'good news' of their fate in Hell: "Among the people is he who trades in distracting tales; intending, without knowledge, to lead away from God’s Path, and to make a mockery of it. These will have a humiliating torment. And when Our Verses are recited to him, he turns away in pride, as though he did not hear them, as though there is deafness in his ears. So bring him good news of a painful torment." (31:6-7).
6- The big criminals in our modern era never believe in the Quran as the Only Discourse in Islam; they must be brought 'good news' of their fate in Hell: "These are God’s Verses which We read to you in Truth. In which discourse, after God and His Verses, will they believe? Woe to every sinful liar. Who hears God's Verses being read to him, yet he persists arrogantly, as though he did not hear them. Bring to him good news of a painful torment. And when he learns something of Our Verses, he takes them in mockery. For such there is a shameful torment. Beyond them lies Hell. What they have earned will not benefit them at all, nor will those they adopted as allies instead of God. They will have a terrible torment. This is guidance. Those who disbelieve in their Lord’s Verses will have a torment of agonizing pain." (45:6-11).
7- The big criminals in our modern era repel others from the Path; i.e., the Quran, and they trade in religious opium and earn millions of ill-gotten wealth; they must be brought 'good news' of their fate in Hell: "They want to extinguish God’s Light with their mouths, but God refuses except to complete His Light, even though the disbelievers dislike it. It is He who sent His Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, in order to make it prevail over all religions, even though the polytheists dislike it. O you who believe! Many of the rabbis and priests consume people's wealth illicitly, and hinder from God’s Path. Those who hoard gold and silver, and do not spend them in God’s cause, bring them good news of a painful torment. On the Day when they will be heated in the Fire of Hell, then their foreheads, and their sides, and their backs will be branded with them: “This is what you hoarded for yourselves; so taste what you used to hoard.”" (9:32-35). We do not mention the names of such famous sheikhs/clergymen of the Muhammadans; we talk about their receiving 'good news' of their fate in Hell to raise awareness of readers to keep off such clergymen of Satan and to undeceive the masses who venerate and revere such clergymen of Satan.
Eighthly: bringing good news and warning without using such terms in the Quranic text:
The meanings of good news and warning are sometimes expressed differently in the Quranic text. Let us exemplify this in the points below.
1- "When some adversity touches the human being, he prays to his Lord, repenting to Him. But then, when He confers on him a grace of His, he forgets what he was praying for before, and he attributes rivals to God, in order to lead astray from His Path. Say, “Enjoy your disbelief for a little while; you will be among the inmates of the Fire.” Is he who worships devoutly during the watches of the night, prostrating himself and standing up, mindful of the Hereafter, and placing his hope in the mercy of his Lord? Say, “Are those who know and those who do not know equal?” Only those possessed of reason will remember. Say, “O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord within piety. For those who do good in this world, is goodness. And God’s earth is vast. The patient ones will be paid their wages in full, without limits.”" (39:8-10); the Quranic verse 39:10 is about bringing good news.
2- This is about warning without using the verb (to warn).
2/1: "Have you not seen those who exchanged the Bounty of God with disbelief, and landed their people into the house of perdition? Hell - they will roast in it. What a miserable settlement. And they set up peers to God in order to lead away from His Path. Say, “Enjoy yourselves; your fate is the Hell-Fire.”" (14:28-30); the underlined part serves as a warning.
2/2: "When We decide to destroy a town, We command its affluent ones, they transgress in it, so the word becomes justified against it, and We destroy it completely." (17:16); this Quranic verse serves as a warning addressed the affluent, tyrannical ones and their followers who submit to them!
2/3: "Woe on that Day to the deniers. “Eat and enjoy yourselves a little; you are indeed criminals.” Woe on that Day to the deniers. And when it is said to them, “Prostrate”, they do not prostrate. Woe on that Day to the deniers. In what discourse, beyond this, will they believe?" (77:45-50); this warning is addressed to those who never believe in the Quranic Discourse only and insist on believing in other discourses besides it.
3- This is about brining good news only without warning: "When those who believe in Our Verses come to you, say, “Peace be upon you, your Lord has prescribed mercy for Himself. Whoever among you does wrong out of ignorance, and then repents afterwards and reforms - He is Forgiving and Merciful.”" (6:54).
Lastly: the Lord God says the following in the Quran about the Quran itself:
1- "This is a proclamation for the humankind, that they may be warned thereby, and know that He is One God, and that people of understanding may remember." (14:52); the Holy Quran is a proclamation for the humankind in all eras until the advent of the Hour; this a proclamation is conveyed by the preachers of the Quranic Truth in all eras.
2- "...It is only a Reminder, and a Clear Quran. That he may warn whoever is alive, and prove the Word against the disbelievers." (36:69-70); the Holy Quran is the Reminder to preach all living people before they die and before the realization of the promise of the Last-Day events.
3- This means that we must preach the big criminals by bringing to them 'good news' of their Hell torment; in fact, this is a forgotten religious duty.