Qur’an Sura 68 (part 2) – God sees everything

This part of Sura 68 speaks to God’s awareness of everything going on.
He knows who follows Him - and who doesn't.
He also knows who encourages people to stray away from Him.
And finally - He encourages believers to not follow those who want to transgress.

Let's compare the verses from this Sura (The Pen) with what we see in Psalms from the Bible.

If you're a Muslim, as you read this, I encourage you to take an open look at the God of the Bible.  Remember, He is the same God who made promises to Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael.  The Qur'an anticipates that you will examine the Bible, with the Book of Psalms as one of the points of emphasis.  That's what we're going to do in this session - see the similarities between both books.

If you're a Christian, as you read this, I encourage you to do the exact opposite.  Remember the same promises - know that the God of the Bible did make those promises to Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael.  Take a fresh and open look at what David says - and how it relates to not just the people of Israel - but all of God's people.

If you're neither one, it will still be a different take on an important world issue.  Nothing like what you'll find in the news reports - where seemingly neither the Bible or the Qur'an are actually being read or understood.

Sura 68 - The Pen

Order of Revelation - 2
Traditional order in Qur’an - 68

Sura 68 addresses the following:

1.  The sense from the Prophet that his first revelation was actually from an evil spirit. This appears to be confirming what his wife told him - that Muhammad was not crazy / hallucinating / etc.

2.  Confirms that God can see what people are doing.

3.  Compares the revelations to the Prophet to what others are told by their idols (gods).

4.  Says that God can take care of Himself.

5.  Tells Muhammad not to be like Jonah.

Part 1 was covered in introduction to Sura 68.

Sura 68, Part 2 - God can see what people do

[68:7] Your Lord is fully aware of those who strayed off His path, and He is fully aware of those who are guided.
[68:8] Do not obey the rejectors.
[68:9] They wish that you compromise, so they too can compromise.
[68:10] Do not obey every lowly swearer.
[68:11] A slanderer, a backbiter.
[68:12] Forbidder of charity, a transgressor, a sinner.
[68:13] Unappreciative, and greedy.
[68:14] Even though he possessed enough money and children.
[68:15] When our revelations are recited to him, he says, "Tales from the past.”

This part of Sura 68 speaks to God’s awareness of everything going on.
He knows who follows Him - and who doesn't.
He also knows who encourages people to stray away from Him.
And finally - He encourages believers to not follow those who want to transgress.

This is about God not only knowing His people -
but He knows about peer pressure -
knows that if the transgressor can get a believer to follow his ways instead of God’s -
then it will be easier for the transgressor to do whatever he wants -
because the people of God will not be trying to correct him.

On the issue of compromise

This certainly isn't a problem unique to Muslims - having people who want you to stray from your beliefs.  Whether they be people that don't believe, or people that "sort of believe" - but don't want to follow all of what your Holy Book says, there are always lots of non-believers and nominal believers wanting people of faith to water down your beliefs.

On the issue of God knowing / seeing all

This is another theme common to all Abrahamic religions - an all knowing / all seeing God.  While people may think they are "getting away with things" in this life, the transgressors are all seen by God.  He knows who follows His ways and who doesn't.  He also knows who's responsible for leading people astray.  They also will not get away with what they have done.

Psalm 139 - on God knowing each of us

One of the best examples in the Bible about just how much God knows about each of us -
God’s omniscience and omnipresence both -
knowing that God knows everything and is everywhere -
comes from the Psalmist, David -
in Psalm 139 -

Ps 139:1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

Ps 139:2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
Ps 139:3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Ps 139:4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.