The Great Controversy and the Quran
by Gabriela Phillips
We all inhabit a story; a certain narrative that helps us make sense of where we came from, what is right, who is my people, and where we are going. My roots are in Italy, my grandparents, fleeing war, came to Argentina and their stories stayed so close to me that I dedicated much of my life to serve refugees, to this day. That’s my family story, but as an Adventist I have a larger story that frames my identity, purpose for life, and future. It is called the Great Controversy. The GC is our story, it’s HIS STORY!
The Worshipper
Who also knows this story? Well, you may be surprised…In the sacred text of the Muslim people, we can find echoes of the story that we can piece together gradually using the Bible as our roadmap.
Remember when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to place a successive authority/ khalifa on earth.” They asked, “Will You place in it someone who will spread corruption there and shed blood while we glorify Your praises and proclaim Your holiness?” Allah responded, “I know what you do not know.” Baqara 2:30
This story is a bit strange; God is announcing the angels that he is about to create man to place him on the earth. Are the angels pleased? No! They questioned the divine wisdom, “How come a new creature? Why would you replace worshipping angels by beings that will spill corruption and blood? God’s answer is puzzling… I know something you don’t.
What is it that God knows? The answer is not in the Qur’an, its in the Bible, and you know the answer too (Gen 3;15). So God created Adam. The next ayat seems disjointed…
How can the angels know that man will bring bloodshed and corruption? Biblically speaking this can only make sense if the one being announced is the second Adam, but this is not how Muslims understand it. Let’s move on.
He taught Adam the names of all things, then He presented them to the angels and said, “Tell Me the names of these, if what you say is true?” God gives Adam knowledge, the knowledge of names, “They replied, “Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are truly the All-Knowing, All-Wise.” God gives Adam a knowledge of something even angels don’t know. Is not clear to me all that the term names comprises, but the angels see Adam and declare that God is wise and all knowing. That’s a clue there.
The Qur’an’s narrative is not linear like in the Bible, but evocative. Stories are often scattered, a piece here, another piece there.
“It is we who have placed you [humanity] with authority on earth, and provided you therein with means for the fulfillment of your life: small are the thanks that ye give! It is We Who created you and gave you shape; then We bade the angels prostrate to Adam, and they prostrated; not so Satan He refused to be of those who prostrate. (Allah) said: ‘What prevented thee from prostrating when I commanded thee?’ He said: ‘I am better than he: Thou didst create me from fire and him from clay.’ (Allah) said: ‘Get thee down from this: it is not for thee to be arrogant here: get out, for thou art of the meanest (of creatures).’
Remember the angels were wondering why God would create a dangerous being? Now, after they see that this creature has been given knowledge, God tells them to prostrate, this is not a prostration of worship, but more like Joseph and his brothers. We don’t have this in the bible, not this way, because the reality is that the questioning in heaven was concerning the second Adam, not the first.
The Sifting
The test now exposes who submits to the will of God and who doesn’t. Satan doesn’t. Why? Because he is proud, arrogant.
What’s the problem? “And behold, We said to the angels: ‘Bow down to Adam’ and they bowed down. Not so Iblis: he refused and was haughty/proud: He was of those who reject Faith” (al-Baqarah 2:34)
Satan’s fall was due to pride, God made the right X-ray. How many seemingly reasonable arguments are nothing but disguises for pride?
He said: ‘Give me respite til the day they are raised up.’ (Allah) said: ‘Be thou among those who have respite.’ He said: ‘Because thou hast thrown me out of the way, lo! I will lie in wait for them on thy straight way: Then will I assault them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left: Nor wilt thou find, in most of them, gratitude (for thy mercies).’
This is incredibly arrogant. Satan is cast away from the presence of God, and asked for mercy, Give the breath of life till the day of resurrection. God grants his time. Is he grateful? Repentant? No! His response is revenge. Because you expelled me from the straight path, I will be revenge. How? Satan is going to lie in wait for those in the Straight Path, for God’s believers to take them out.
Revenge’s Strategy
Satan’s plan for revenge is two-fold. His actual target is God Himself, yet he can’t, so he harasses God’s people. How do I know they are God’s people? Because they are on the Straight Path.
I see three key things here, 1) You cannot rise above your image of God, what you worship is what you will mirror in life. 2) I will lie in wait. Please, picture this in your mind. Let me help you. The very first time the Bible uses the word sin is in the story of Cain, before killing his brother. God speaks with him and tells him, “Sin is crouching at the door, but you can Master it.” This verb is what a wild beast does, sin is like a wild animal, a lion, a cheetah, waiting quietly to pounce a gazelle when the graceful animal least expect it, and is not just a tackle, the aim is destruction. Sin is a sniper, ready to kill you. 3) Satan’s strategy is to assault, but pay attention from where: in front, behind, right, and left…but he cannot attack from above or below. Above is where God stands, below is the sign of his prostration, worship. Satan has no access there.
(Allah) said: “Get out from this, disgraced and expelled. If any of them follow thee, Hell will I fill with you all.”
Can you see the options now? Follow God in obedience or follow Satan. Both are marching somewhere, one to eternal life the other to hell. Satan has authority over his followers
“Secret counsels are only (inspired) by the evil one, in order that he may cause grief to the Believers; but he cannot harm them in the least, except as Allah permits; and on Allah let the Believers put their trust” (al-Mujadilah 58:10)
Satan has no authority over God’s people. We will call them God’s remnant.
“No authority has he over those who believe and put their trust in their Lord. His authority is over those only, who take him as patron and who join partners with Allah” (an-Nahl 16:99-100). “‘As for My servants, no authority shalt thou have over them…’” (al-Isra’ 17:65).
…Stay tuned for part 2.
Gabriela Phillips is Director of Adventist-Muslim Relations at the North American Division.
