In my country it is customary for people to celebrate this day of Hatred and Violence in the Qur’an Awareness Month by exchanging gifts, having a big Hatred and Violence in the Qur’an Awareness dinner, and spending the day with loved ones. I am not sure where or how this quaint and intriguing custom originated, but I wish you all the happiest of days.
In any case, today’s installment again inculcates hatred of Jews and Christians by emphasizing their dishonesty and perversity:
Say, “What thing is greatest in testimony?” Say, ” Allah is witness between me and you. And this Qur’an was revealed to me that I may warn you thereby and whomever it reaches. Do you [truly] testify that with Allah there are other deities?” Say, “I will not testify [with you].” Say, “Indeed, He is but one God, and indeed, I am free of what you associate [with Him].”
Those to whom We have given the Scripture recognize it as they recognize their [own] sons. Those who will lose themselves [in the Hereafter] do not believe.
And who is more unjust than one who invents about Allah a lie or denies His verses? Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed.
And [mention, O Muhammad], the Day We will gather them all together; then We will say to those who associated others with Allah , “Where are your ‘partners’ that you used to claim [with Him]?” Then there will be no [excuse upon] examination except they will say, “By Allah , our Lord, we were not those who associated.” See how they will lie about themselves. And lost from them will be what they used to invent. (Qur’an 6:19-24)
This passage emphasizes the oneness of Allah, and claims that “those to whom We have given the Scripture ” — that is, the Jews and Christians — “recognize it” — that is, the truth of Muhammad’s message — “as they recognize their sons” (v. 20). That is, the Jews and Christians know that Islam is true. This is because, says Ibn Kathir, “they received good news from the previous Messengers and Prophets about the coming of Muhammad, his attributes, homeland, his migration, and the description of his Ummah.” That is, their unbelief in Islam is not a sincere rejection based on honest conviction, but sheer perversity: they “lie about themselves” (v. 24).