The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 343
Divine Decree and Determination 343 beyond the faculties that are bestowed upon him, nor can he live beyond his allotted span of life. God does Not Condemn People Without Cause It is a grievous mistake to imagine that the Holy Qur'an has adjudged some people as deserving of hell as a matter of compulsion and that they have been compulso- rily subjected to the authority of Satan. On the contrary God Almighty had said in the Holy Qur'an, addressing Satan: ان عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَنَ 132 O Satan! you will have no authority over My true servants. Behold how clearly does Allah Almighty proclaim man's freedom. This single verse should be enough to satisfy a just minded person. However, the Gospel of Matthew tells a different tale. Matthew states that Satan took Jesus to tempt him. This would mean that Satan had so much authority that he led a holy Prophet by compulsion from place to place and directed him impertinently to prostrate himself before him. Again the devil took him to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the earth and their glory. See Matthew, 4:18. 133 Reflection would show that these verses illustrate that Satan possessed Divine powers. He took Jesus who was unwilling, to a high mountain by his own authority and exercised the power which belongs to God Almighty alone to show Jesus all the kingdoms of the earth. 132 Al-Hijr, 15:43 [Publisher] 133 This seems to be an error in the first edition. The reference should read: Matthew 4:1-8. [Translator]