Al-A'raf 132: And they said; “Whatever sorcery you bring to enchant us, we will not believe in you.”

We have come to Surah Al-A'raf, verse 132. What does it say? And they said: whatever miracle you bring to bewitch us, we are not going to believe in you, they say. All of them — as if they had eaten from the same bowl and graduated from the same class — those who do not believe in Allah always say the same thing. What do they say? Whatever miracle you bring to bewitch us, we are not going to believe in you, they say.

All of them said this to their prophets. Only a word or two changed. That is: if you really are a prophet to us, (?), they say. Or: destroy us, they say. So always the same words. Thereupon Pharaoh and his chiefs said to Moses: whatever miracle you bring us, we are not going to believe in you. Because you are a great sorcerer. Yes. You are a great sorcerer.

By keeping us from our gods, you want to get us out of this thing. These are the words of kufr that would put out the light of guidance. The words of kufr that would put out the light of guidance. Yet Allah had sent His light and mercy to this people. Despite His sending His messenger who would bring them out of oppression into mercy, out of darkness into light, the enmity toward Allah in people, grudge and hatred at the same time. The pride and grandeur, fame and glory in them — and in the hereafter, in their eternal abode, senseless people who buy punishment. If they could use their minds a little, would they (?) Allah and turn their backs on Him?

Yes, could one really turn away from Him? So here, what are the words of kufr that would put out the light of guidance? You want to drive us out of our city, do you want to deprive us of our gods? These are the words of kufr that would put out the light of guidance. In fact, the light of guidance never goes out. A person puts out the light of guidance in himself. With these words. So here a person might understand it like this: Look, so kufr can put out the light of guidance. It is not so. He puts out the light of guidance in himself. What does it say? Will you (?) us from our gods? Yet what does Allah Almighty say in His verse?

Did they think they would put out Allah's light by blowing with their mouths? Allah will complete His light until the Day of Judgement. So here, they are not able to put out Allah's light. Only by their own will, with the decisions they have made, Allah's light upon themselves they put out themselves, they turn their backs on that guidance of Allah and leave themselves in darkness. And about this, in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 17, what does it say? Their state, the hypocrites', is like one who kindles a fire on a dark night. If we read it in the, um — in our translation, if we read it — in the translation, yes.

Their state, the hypocrites', is like a fire burning on a dark night. When the fire lights up its surroundings, those who put out the fire, that is, those who put out that light of guidance — upon themselves, though; otherwise Allah's light does not go out. Yes, those who put out that fire leave themselves in darkness, they no longer see. That is, if they turn their backs on that fire, on that light of guidance, they leave themselves in darkness and they no longer see. So they are blind, deaf, and their hearts are sealed, says Allah Almighty.