The Majestic Quran

42. Ash-Shura The Consultation This chapter was revealed in the middle Makkan period, at a time when the Muslims were being severely persecuted. The Makkans didn’t just object to the belief in the Oneness of God, but denied that a human being could be a prophet. This awesome objection is refuted: “The Heavens are about to cleave” (5), so absurd and insulting was their conviction. The central theme is the truthfulness of prophethood. In describing the unique, distinctive and the otherness of God the Quran states: “There is nothing like Him” (11). A list of tips for encountering the other is given: invite people to the way of God; be patient; don’t follow others’ whims; believe firmly; be just; be tolerant; be responsible; don’t argue; and finally, “God will gather us together and all will return to Him” (15). “You will see the wrongdoers in a state of terror because of what they did and its consequences will unfold before them. But the righteous believers will be in the gardens of Paradise” (22). The message is one of making the right choice: do you want the harvest of this life, or the Hereafter? The mission of the Prophet r is to help us make the right choice: “Say, ‘I don’t ask you for any reward for this work, except, “love one’s relatives”’” (23). The next few verses explain the wisdom behind differences in human abilities and talents. Without this difference between the rich and poor and varying abilities, there would be no rank and file, no discipline and no organisation; people would be unwilling to cooperate with each other. Consequently, human civilisation wouldn’t flourish. The next section (36–39) gives nine tips for social harmony; “the works one ought to do” (41): avoid major sins, indecency and anger; forgive;