DIVINE JUSTICE DEMANDS A DAY OF JUDGEMENT
While describing the attributes of the Lord Almighty during the discussion of the Oneness of the Creator of the Universe, we have said that God is Just and so He has provided each and every essential thing for everything and every being, without being requested.
A Persian couplet says :
We were inexistent and we never requested to come into existence. But the Mercy and Kindness of the Merciful Lord even hears our unsaid pleas.
One of the demands of God's justice is to give reward to those good people who, as we see, passed their whole lives in obedience, worship and piety but, in this world of ours, they got no reward in proportion with their labours and hardships. Likewise, the Just Lord's attribute of Justice also demands that He should punish offenders who, as we see, have indulged in various mischiefs and conspiracies and devastating corruption but no punishment is or has been given to them in this world. They pass away from this world continuing their offences and sins. Often it also happens that mischievous offenders live easy and luxurious lives whereas good people live in difficulties. We also see how much cruelty man shows towards man. They loot one another's property; kill one another and trample others' honour under their feet. Since God Almighty is Just, certainly a day will come when everyone will get his due based on his good or bad deeds. Right of everyone will be restored to him or her.
This day every soul shall be rewarded for what it has earned; no injustice (shall be done) this day; surely Allah is quick in reckoning. (40:17)
Those who had oppressed others will, surely be thrown into fire on that Day as warned:
Surely We have prepared for the iniquitous a fire, the curtains of which shall encompass them about ... (18:29)
The poor person who was unjustly killed will be able to take revenge
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from the evil oppressor.
And when the female infant buried alive is asked For what sin she was killed, (81:8-9)
And God may give reward/compensation to the oppressed victim. Good people may get rewards and evil ones may get chastisement so that His justice is manifested.
TRUE PEOPLE HAVE INFORMED ABOUT QIYAMAT
All the Messengers and Prophets who were most true in the entire universe and whose word is an exhaustive argument for us have given the news that Qiyamat will surely come. Pious and religious minded people belonging to every religion and sect believed in life after death. In fact religion is based only on two principles: Origin and returning to life. Most verses of Holy Quran concerning faith in God at the same time demand faith in the Hereafter and Resurrection.
The love of desires, of women and sons and hoarded treasures of gold and silver and well bred horses and cattle and tilth, is made to seem fair to men; this is the provision of the life of this world; and, Allah is He with Whom is the good goal (of life). (3:14)
And all the religions and faiths are unanimous about the aforesaid two principles of Origin and Hereafter.
In short, not one or two but thousands of true announcers have given the news of the arrival of the Day of Judgement. (So also) logic demands it must be accepted, understood and believed that the Day will certainly come.
THE BEST PROOF OF RESURRECTION IS THE
POSSIBILITY OF ITS COMING
As said earlier, the issue of resurrection is not against logic. Whenever mind thinks about it, it says that it is a 'possibility or a likely' thing. Moreover, all the true informers whose number is one lakh twenty-four thousand (Messengers and Prophets) and so also all of their legatees have said so and the word of each and everyone of them is sufficient for the intellect to accept.
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Some ill informed persons have tried to create a doubt that coming back of a perished thing is impossible. They say how is it to appear again? But they have no proof (argument) in support of this claim. The only word which they have with them is 'necessity'. Taking support of this word they say our argument in this matter is the said necessity. In any case, if anybody puts forth a logical argument, our reply is as given earlier.
THERE IS NO RETURN OF A PERISHED THING IN QIYAMAT
First, we put forth the words of Khwaja Nasiruddin Tusi. He says: In Qiyamat, there is no returning of a perished thing. It is, rather, the reconnection of separated and scattered elements. The explanation of this word is that the body was a mixture and collection of many atoms and elements. After death it got scattered in different particles. When Qiyamat will occur, all of these scattered particles will, by the Command of God, rejoin one another. Thus the meaning of 'Maad' is the rejoining of scattered particles and the joining of soul with body after their separation. Thus it is understood that Resurrection is not the return of perished things. (Apart from this, this issue is also not an agreed one).
THE STRONGEST ARGUMENT IS THE POSSIBILITY OF ITS OCCURRENCE
Secondly, for the existence of any thing, the possibility of the existence of something similar to it is the best and greatest argument or proof. Every man should think over the earlier condition of his body. He will know that in the beginning there were many innumerable particles including dust, air, and some were mixed with air in atmosphere. With God's imperative power they came together, and took the forms of various different things like food articles, vegetables, seeds, grains, fruits and animals etc. All these things, after getting down the throat of a father entered his stomach and, for a second time, scattered in the forms of the limbs of the father. Then at the time of passion or sexual arousal the substance which was made up of all digested materials and which contained the essence of all useful eatables and had taken the form of semen, got dragged
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from all parts of the body and jumped out of his sexual organ and settled in the womb of a mother. (This is why it is obligatory to wash each and every part of the human body while taking the post-coital bath). It is because the semen was drawn from all body.
In short, everybody was, in the beginning, in different forms of separate elements. God collected them in one substance, first in the hearts of earth (dust), water and air,
0 people! if you are in doubt about the raising, then surely We created you from dust, (22:5)
Secondly, it remained scattered in the physical parts or organs of a father's body.
HE WILL GATHER THEM FOR THE THIRD TIME TOO
After seeing and knowing about the said separation and recollection on two occasions, is there anything which cannot be believed if it is said that in the grave, for the third time, after the decomposing of body and scattering of body particles, the said elements will be recollected for the third time too?
And certainly you know the first growth, why do you not then mind? (56:62)
You have known about the first worldly creation and the first birth, then why do you not, 0 man! Recollect that you were dust, Our Hand of Power collected you, that you became a part of the father's body in the form of edible matter, then, after these parts were scattered in the father's different body organs, We recollected you, that is, after ejecting you in the form of semen made you enter your mother's womb. You have already seen this scattering and recollection in the worldly life. Now, even after this observation, why do you get astonished when you are told that We will after the scattering your body particles throughout the universe, recollect them for the third time too?
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DEAD COMING TO LIFE IN THE WORLD
On several occasions the dead do come to life in this world also. Just look at the vegetable world. You observe in the spring season that trees become alive after their death due to drying up. They once again get a fresh spirit or life. The earth, which had died, also becomes alive.
then gives life therewith to the earth after its death; (30:24)
On a number of occasions a dead man has also become alive again. People who had died had come to life through Isa (Jesus a.s.) and also Infallible Imams (a.s.). Some such events are recorded in history and biography books we present here two events mentioned in the Holy Quran.
UZAIR (A.S.) REMAINED DEAD FOR A HUNDRED YEARS
The Lord of the Universe has, in verse 259 of Surah Baqarah, mentioned the story of Uzair (a.s.).
Or the like of him (Uzair) who passed by a town, and it had fallen down upon its roofs; he said: When will Allah give it life after its death? So Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him to life. (2:259)
The summary, cause of revelation and explanation of this verse is that Uzair was one of the Prophets in Bani Israel. He had memorized the whole Torah by heart and also was a leader and teacher of Jews in Jerusalem. Once he was travelling on his donkey. He had some bread and few grapes with him. When he reached a village wherein all its residents had died years ago and there was no sign of their life except their worn and torn bones. Uzair threw a glance full of gloom and astonishment at those bones and exclaimed: How will God turn these torn and worn bones into living beings again? (This statement of Uzair was only by way of wonder. He never doubted God's might and never denied Resurrection).
The Lord of the Universe, in order to make Uzair (a.s.) understand that Resurrection might be an astonishing thing for him but for Him it is nothing strange or difficult, made him die instantly. So Uzair
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(a.s.) remained in the condition of death for one hundred years. The bones of his ass decayed. Of course what was wonderful to human eye was that grapes were fresh and sweet despite passing of such a long time. There was no change even in their colour!
God made Uzair (a.s.) alive after one hundred years. An angel came to him in human form and asked him, "How long have you remained here?" He replied, "For one day or a part of it." The angel said, "No, but you have stayed for a full period of a hundred years. Just look at your food. It has not at all decayed or deteriorated. (But) look at your donkey. Its bones have become rotten. Now you see what happens before your eyes and realize the Might of your Lord."
Uzair (a.s.) saw that the particles of the decayed body of the ass began to move and instantly joined with one another, restructuring its legs, head, eyes and ears etc. The donkey soon got up. Then Almighty Lord said, "See how We are able to recollect and reassemble the particles of the body of the donkey and to give it a new life. So understand that God is able to do everything."
When Uzair (a.s.) returned to Baitul Maqdas (Jerusalem), there also he found a totally different scene. The city had been totally altered. None of the people known to him was found there. In a very astonished state of mind he knocked at the door of his house. People inside asked, "Who is it?" He said, "It is I, Uzair." People rushed out and said, "Are you joking? There is no trace of Uzair for the last one hundred years. Have you any of his signs of identification?" (Uzair was one of those whose prayer was answered by Almighty God). An old lady stepped forward and said, "If you are Uzair, then I am his aunt and I have become blind. Pray to God so that I may regain my eyesight."
Uzair (a.s.) prayed to God Almighty and that lady could see again. Then both described what had happened during the past years. All understood what had happened and the story became a reminder for all.
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FOUR BIRDS WHOM GOD MADE ALIVE AFTER DISSECTION
Another event mentioned in the Holy Quran concerns Ibrahim (a.s.). Once he submitted to the Almighty God, "My Lord! I want to see how You make the dead alive, so that my heart may get satisfaction." Came the Command, "Take four birds (four kinds viz. a crow, a cock, a dove, and a peacock). Slaughter them and dissect their bodies into pieces and mix up their pieces of all of them with one another. Then make four heaps of the said mixed up meat and put one heap each on four different hills. Then call up each one of the birds by their names. Every one of them will fly and come to you within no time.
And when Ibrahim said: My Lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead, He said: What! and do you not believe? He said: Yes, but that my heart may be at ease. He said: Then take four of the birds, then train them to follow you, then place on every mountain a part of them, then call them, they will come to you flying; and know that Allah is Mighty, Wise. (2:260)
It is mentioned in the commentary that Ibrahim (a.s.) had held the heads of all the four birds in his hands and he was calling them one by one. Then he saw that the body particles (dissected portion) began to join with one another and to reform the bodies as they were re-assembled the head-less birds flew speedily towards their heads in the hands of Ibrahim (a.s.). In order to check the accuracy, Ibrahim (a.s.) tried to make the body of one bird join with the head of another but he could not succeed as every body was rushing towards its own head and finally got joined. All the four birds thus became alive.
ALMIGHTY ALLAH HAS POWER OVER EVERYTHING
It is likely that some may think how many forms (due to change) might have been taken in the scattered particles of a dead body. How then it is possible for them to reassemble as before? But such thinking is only the result of ignoring the all-encompassing power of Almighty God.
When we have learnt in the discussion about God's Oneness that God's knowledge covers everything and that not a single particle
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from the particles of each and everything is beyond His knowledge. He also has power of everyone and everything. After this there is no scope at all for any doubt about the fulfilment of His Wish. It is true that a dead body, after a long time, becomes scattered and also emanates foul smell and also becomes the food of ants and many other insects and that even if it does not go in the stomach of any animal it does turn into dust which also is swept far and wide by winds. Then it becomes the ingredients of wheat, barely, seeds and vegetables or is used up in house building materials. In any case it still remains in this world and by no means goes out of the all-encompassing Knowledge of God. Then, at His Will, Almighty Allah recollects and reassembles them from wherever they may be and in whichever form they may be (rather they themselves get remixed at God's Command). We have seen this in the story of Ibrahim (a.s.) and four birds. It is mentioned there that, as ordered by God, Ibrahim (a.s.) cut the birds in to pieces and then mixed up that meat. Then dividing the mixed meat into four heaps, he placed those heaps on four hills... In short, Almighty Allah knows each and every particle in the universe (His creation) even if they have changed forms on thousands of occasions. Likewise, He is also able to reassemble them and to take them to the station (place) of either reward or punishment.
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To show the Might of Allah and in order to prove that He can do whatever He likes and that He can do everything, we give below some examples as testimony to this truth.
FIRE AND WATER TOGETHER
He Who has made for you the fire (to burn) from the green tree, so that with it you kindle (fire). (36:80)
The trees named Markh and Aqaar are such that if a branch is torn off from any of the two, waters, drips therefrom. One of the two is masculine and the other feminine in nature. Water drips from both. But when one is brushed against the other, it gives out fire. These
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1 For removal of doubts regarding the eater and the eaten one, refer the Ayatullah's book, 80 questions.
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two trees are considered very important in the Arabian Peninsula. In olden times there were no matchboxes. People used to ignite fire with the help of the branches of these trees. How wonderful that if they remain apart they give out water but if they are brushed against one another they give out fire! How these two opposites are placed in one and the same thing? If it is wet and has not yet become dry it should not emanate water. Scholars of science say that except the tree of Unnab, there is hidden fire in every other tree. Then cannot such Mighty and Powerful creator reassemble a dead body and put soul (life) in it again?
HOW WILL THE POWDERED BONES BECOME ALIVE?
And he strikes out a likeness for Us and forgets his own creation. Says he: Who will give life to the bones when they are rotten?
Say: He will give life to them Who brought them into existence at first, and He is cognizant of all creation, (36:78-79)
Once Ibne Abi Khalaf came to the Holy Prophet with an old bone in this hand. He was pressing and crushing it with his hand. When it all became powder he blew it off with his mouth and asked, "Who will make this stuff alive?" In the above verse, Almighty Creator of the universe, talks about this foolish and ignorant talking of this man and scolds him. God Almighty says, "This man gives us an example but forgets his own creation. (0 the one who takes such objections! You were nothing. God brought you into being after you were nothing; from non-existence to existence). Say (0 Messenger!) Only He will make them alive Who had created them first. He has knowledge of every creation." 0 Man! You also were nothing before and now you are something. The same powered elements of human body of faithful persons are like particles of gold, distinct from all other particles. When it rains, it sweeps aside the particles of dust and golden particles begin to shine out. Here there is no room for doubt. The elements of everybody's will be re-assembled by Almighty Allah through His Command.
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NO SCOPE FOR DOUBT IN DIVINE KNOWLEDGE
As we have described in the story of Ibrahim (a.s.) and four birds, he caught and cut into pieces a crow, a cock, and dove and a peacock. Then he mixed their minced meat so that it could not be separated from one another. Then, as per a narration, made seventeen heaps of it and put them at seventeen places on different hills. Then he took the head of dove in his hand called it out. In response, all the particles of its meat flew from every station and re-assembled to form the body as it was before being slaughtered and then it joined with its head. Then Ibrahim (a.s.) called out the peacock; all the particles of its meat flew from every station and re-assembled to form the body of the peacock. Ibrahim (a.s.) put the head of the cock before it but it did not join. One's head was not being joined with another's body. In short, there is no chance of any error in the knowledge of God.
CREATION OF SKIES IS MORE DIFFICULT AND IMPORTANT
THAN CREATION OF MAN
Certainly the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the creation of the men, but most people do not know. (40:57)
To create the skies and the earth, to fix separate orbits for the rotation of each of them, and to arrange their affairs etc are works, which are greater and more complex than the creation of man. Now what is to be seen is that the One who created skies will He not be able to create a man again and to take account of his deeds?
His command, when He intends anything, is only to say to it: Be, so it is. (36:82)
As and when He will wish, the Qiyamat will come up instantly. The moment Allah wishes all will become alive.
For more details please refer Martyr Ayatullah Dastghaib's commentary Qalbe Quran (Explanation of Surah Yasin).
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IT IS OBLIGATORY TO REMOVE THE HARM IF THERE IS
ANY LIKELIHOOD OF IT
If intelligence tells that there is a likelihood of harm at a certain place something must be done which can avoid or remove that harm. For example, while passing through a forest or path there is a danger of a carnivorous animal or of bandits or thieves who can harm our lives and or property then, even if this possibility is not certain, reason demands that we should not take that path and go by any other avenue where there is certainty of safety. Of course, such harms can also be of various degrees and kinds. For instance, if the danger is about falling down due to rough roads then man does not pay much attention to it. But if there is a danger of jumping over a pass, which can risk life, then surely it is a very serious matter. Then how dangerous and risky it would be to cross the bay of hell? So it is absolutely essential to take utmost care for avoiding every likely danger. Even the slightest possibility of a great harm makes it compulsory to take defensive steps. Here is an example for further clarification.
IF MIND HINTS AT A DANGER OR HARM, ATTENTION
MUST BE PAID
If a child tells you that there is a scorpion under your clothes and that it is crawling upwards. Will you tell him, "You are a child. You do not know anything. We cannot believe you?" No. You will never say so because there is a likelihood of a great harm. What is more important is a scorpion, not a straw or a stalk. You will, at once, take off your shirt and try to find out the scorpion even though you had no certainly of its presence. There was merely a likelihood or possibility. Yet intelligence says that such possibility is worth taking cognisance.
Or for example, you want to proceed on a journey. Someone tells you that you will not get any water anywhere on this route. The demand of intelligence then is that you should keep a container full of water with you. Now, if you get fresh water on your way, you will throw away the old water and fill up your container with fresh water. By so doing you will suffer no loss and save yourself from the
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possibility of remaining thirsty. But, if thinking that this is merely a possibility, you did not take water with you and found no water enroute then you will have to die of thirst and you will get nothing except grief and sorrow.
ALL PROPHETS AND MESSENGERS WARNED PEOPLE
After understanding this logical problem, now we say that one lakh twenty-four thousand (1,24,000) Messengers and Prophets came to the world and all of them unanimously warned humanity of a danger saying, "0 People! All of your words and deeds are being constantly and instantly being recorded. God has appointed two angels for every person. Whatever good or bad you do, they note it down :
He utters not a word but there is by him a watcher at hand. (50:18)
Suppose even if you are not sure about the coming of Qiyamat or of the Day of Judgement (Resurrection), if you have any brain, your intelligence will call upon you to take precautionary action and to be cautions. There is indeed a possibility of Qiyamat if not certainly. So, responding to this demand of reason, do not oppress anyone, do not be unjust towards anybody, and do not attack anyone's honour. I would now like to give some admonition and give a logical argument about Resurrection to make one understand that it is the demand of reason and logic to put faith in Resurrection.
IMAM JA'FAR SADIQ (A.S.) ADMONISHES AN
UNBELIEVER OF RESURRECTION
It is mentioned in Usoole Kafi, Tradition: 2; in Kitabut Tawheed that Imam Sadiq (a.s.), during his sermons, told Ibne Abil Awjaa, "If what the religious people say is true, and doubtlessly it is true, then the believers will certainly get salvation, and you will be destroyed. And if what you say (denial of Hereafter and accounting) is true, though it is certainly not true, even then both of you (the believers and the unbelievers) will be on an equal footing."
Ibne Abil Awjaa said, "Is not our and their word the same?" The Imam said, "How can it be same or equal when they (religious people) believe that Qiyamat will surely arrive and there also will be
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reward or punishment and when they also believe that the sky is full of its residents and that the Creator of all the skies and the earth is Only One God, you say that skies are void and that there is no God ..."
You have seen that in this tradition Imam (a.s.) used the argument of cautiousness for proving Resurrection. This is the minimum argument. Otherwise there must be certainty of belief about the Day of Judgement. Doubtfulness or hesitation is not at all enough, not even mere imagination.
RESURRECTION IS GREAT
We hear news about Qiyamat but imagine that it is an ordinary matter, though we give much importance to this world, the same world which the Lord Creator of the Universe has termed a 'plaything':
The life of this world is only idle sport and play, (47:36)
But about Qiyamat, which is an ordinary thing in our (mistaken) view has been given much importance by God and He has called its news "The Great Event" :
Of what do they ask one another?
About the great event, (78:1)
Doubtlessly Qiyamat is very great. It will be the Day when all the first and last (earlier and latter) human beings will be made to assemble. Such a huge gathering will be such that in it, everyone will be worrying about his or her result (consequences of deeds before death). All will be weeping and wailing save a few about whom we shall talk later on.
AMR BECAME FRIGHTENED BY QIYAMAT
Amr bin Maadikarb was one of the most famous brave and courageous men among Arabs. History of Islam has recorded him as one of the greatest warriors in a number of battles. Once, when he was a polytheist, he visited the Holy Prophet. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) invited him to Islam, and said, "If you believe in Islam, God Almighty will protect you from the greatest fright on the Day of
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Resurrection." He asked, "0 Muhammad! What is the great fright? I am so tough-hearted that nothing can frighten me." The Holy Prophet said, "0 Amr! It is not so, as you imagined. It will be a tremendously frightening sound, which will make all the dead alive and make the entire living die, except those whom God wishes that they should not die. Then again there will be terrible roar which will make all the dead stand and line up. The sky will be fragmented. All the mountains will break up and become scattered. Thus there will be no living being whose heart will not be palpating due to fear, remembering the sins committed by it. All will be worrying only about their own selves except those whom God wills (that they may not become restless). 0 Amr! What do you think?"
In short, the Holy Prophet described the frightening events of Qiyamat in such a manner that the whole body of Amr began to tremble. He said, "What should I do to avoid that fright on the most terrible day?" The Holy Prophet said, "Say Laa Ilaah Illallaah' (There is no God except Only One God)."
So Amr instantly became a Muslim then and there along with his entire people.
RED HOT EARTH UNDER THE UNBELIEVER'S FEET
On that day, wherever will a man look he will see only frightening things. The condition of this earth will be totally changed. In addition to all that we have said earlier, the ground of Resurrection will also become alive and intelligent. It will remain stable, calm and wise under the feet of the believers but, the same ground will turn into a burning piece of land under the feet of an unbeliever and will be red hot, giving out flames. No curtain or barrier will be seen over there, no tree or a mountain. Everyone will look at one another. All will be human beings but their faces will be changed. In this world all are alike but on the Day of Judgement, they will take shapes and forms according to their deeds (before death).
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DIFFERENT FACES IN THE FIELD OF MAHSHAR
(GRAND ASSEMBLY)
The day on which the trumpet shall be blown so you shall come forth in hosts, (78:18)
It is mentioned in Tafsir Majmaul Bayan that Muaaz asked for the explanation of this verse from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) who replied, "You have asked a very important thing." Then the eyes of the Holy Prophet became tearful. He said, "On the Day of Judgement, my community (Ummah) will be divided into ten groups. God Almighty will cut all those ten from the Muslims. He will change theirs faces and appearances. Some will come in the shape of monkeys, some in the form of swines, hands and legs of some will be cut off, and some will be blind, some deaf and dumb. One of those groups will arrive in the grand field chewing their own tongues, dirt dripping from their lips the bad foul of which will make all restless. One group will arrive upside down and will get punishment in the same position. One group will be hanging on branches of fire. One group will be spreading an obnoxious and foul smell, which will be worse than that of corpses. One group will be wearing shirts made of Qitraan, which will stick to their bodies.
People asked, "0 Messenger of God! Who will be these people?"
FATE OF BACKBITERS, USURERS AND CORRUPT PEOPLE
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, "Those who will assume the forms of monkeys will be backbiters. They create enmity between two parties and carry one's talk to the other, and make them quarrel."
"Those who will be seen as swines will be eaters of unlawful earning. For example, who give (in trade or business or bargaining) less then due, who are dishonest in their dealings with others and who mix up bad things with good to earn unlawfully and who usurp the properties of others.
Those who will arrive on their heads will be eaters of interest, the usurers.
Those who will be chewing their own tongues will be the scholars
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who did not act according to what they taught to others, whose deeds were different from their words. They had given many sermons but never acted accordingly. Others had benefited from their advices and admonitions but they themselves had remained unfortunate and unlucky. Such scholars will chew their own tongues and will worry very much but to no avail."
