Surah 1 · Verse 7

[1:1-7] The first Chapter of the Quran is an outline of the Quran. The Quran repeatedly emphasizes God's grace and mercy and asks us to never give up hope. It invites us to always be conscious of the Day of Judgment in which God ALONE will judge our worldly choices and deeds. It underlines the importance of attaining freedom by submitting ourselves only to the Truth, and nothing but the Truth. It reminds us of the spiritual, individual, social, and political duties that will guide us on and to the straight path; additionally, it informs us of God's blessings to ancient communities and their various triumphs and blunders. For the literary aspect and purpose of shift in person, see the footnote of verse 39:53. [1:7] Traditional commentaries attempt to restrict the negatively described groups to Christians and Jews. This selfrighteous attitude has led the Muslim masses to ignore their own corruption and deviation from the straight path. The Quran mentions communities as well as individuals who received retribution such as the People of Noah (26:25-102), the People of Thamud (7:78; 11:61-68), the People of Lot (26:160-175), the People of Madyan (11:84-95), Ayka (26:176- 191), Aad (11:59-60; 26:123-140), and Pharaoh (3:11; 11:96-99; 20:78-80). The Bible provides numerous examples of divine retribution against nations: The old world (Genesis 6:7,17), Sodom (Genesis 19:24), Egypt (Exodus 9:14), Israel (Numbers 14:29, 21:6), People of Ashdod (1Samuel 5:6), People of Bethshemesh (1Samuel 6:19), Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:3). The Bible also gives examples of divine punishment against individuals, such as: Cain (Genesis 4:11-12), Canaan (Genesis 9:25), Korah (Number 16:33-35), Achan (Joshua 7:25), Hophni (1Samuel 2:34), Saul (1Samuel 15:23), Uzzah (2Samuel 6:7), Jeroboam (1Kings 13:4), Ahab (1Kings 22:38), Gehazi (2Kings 5:27), Jezebel (2Kings 9:35), Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:31), Belshazzar (Daniel 5:30), Zacharias (Luke 1:20), Ananias (Acts 5:1-10), Herod (Acts 12:23), Elymas (Acts 13:11).