Approaching the West — Page 149
A pproaching the West—149 The Pharisees also with Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would show a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day; for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but ye not discern the signs of the time? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. (Matt. 16:1-4, [Mark 8:11-13, Luke 11:29-30, John 2:18]). To accede to the demand of showing more Signs would be a futile exercise. God seldom shows Signs on demand. Asking for a fresh Sign implies that the Signs already shown were not enough and did not establish the Prophet’s truth. Therefore, God requires the disbelievers to reflect on the past Signs and get a lesson. And they say, ‘Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?’ Has there not come to them the clear evidence in what is contained in the former Scriptures? (20:134). Rejection of God’s Signs Denial of fresh Signs remained a serious flaw among generation after generation among the disbelievers. The Holy Qur’ ā n not only identifies the reasons of disbelief, but