Argument in the Qur’an (4/8)

The Unbelievers’ Arguments among Themselves

Those unbelievers whose “hearts are scattered wide” always argue with themselves just as they argue with the believers, because human beings are “argumentative more than anything else” (Surat al-Kahf: 54). Satan enters the picture at every point, convincing them that arguing is natural and that a quarrel between two people who love each other is the “spice of life.” This shows just how widespread his influence is. The media is especially eager to take up this topic to legitimate arguing. The suggestion is that people are not sincere, but opportunistic, in their relationships with each other.

Instead of solving a matter, people say that “the less you touch on provocative issues, the happier you will be.” But in spite of all this distortion, it is possible to draw a truth out of these ideas: those led astray by satan will never stop arguing. They will argue until the Day of Judgment and then even afterwards in Hell; they will argue among themselves in the Hereafter just as they did in this world:

One “great blast” will seize them while they are quibbling (Surah Ya Sin: 49) and they will accuse each other of being greedy and misleading (Surat as-Saffat: 27-33). In Hell they will argue with Allah (Surat al-A‘raf: 38-41, Surah Fussilat: 29, Surah Qaf: 27-30, and Surat al-Mu’minun: 106-108), with the custodians of Hell (Surat az-Zukhruf: 77-80 and Surat al-Mulk: 8-11), with the believers in Heaven (Surat al-Hadid: 13-15), and among themselves (Surah Ghafir: 46-50, Surah Saba’: 31-33, and Surah Sad: 59-64). All of this will be to humiliate them and turn their broken hopes into misery.

The keepers of Hell will not listen to them, saying that they should address their pleas to Allah. But Allah will forbid them to speak to Him, saying that all of the blessings of Paradise are forbidden to them. Those who led them astray and the idols they worshipped will not know them; in fact, they will deny that they led the unbelievers astray. Satan will say that he only called them and they came running. In other words, he did not force them to accept his “truth.” As a result, they will experience eternal misery. (Allah knows the truth.)