Title: Does God Communicate with Ordinary Humans? - Fussilat 41: 30 - 32 Question: I am glad to see that your site is up and working again, alhamdulillah . I feel I have a fairly close relationship with God, as I pray and supplicate far more often than I used to in the past, and I am able to keep up my remembrance of Him. However, I wonder if there is a dimension to this relationship that is entirely lacking and that should be there. The Qur'an states: "In the case of those who say, 'Our Lord is God,' and further, stand straight and steadfast, the angels descend on them (from time to time): 'Fear ye not!' (they suggest), nor grieve! but receive the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of Bliss), that which ye were promised! We are your protectors in this life and in the Hereafter: therein shall ye have all that your souls desire; therein shall ye have all that ye ask for! A hospitable gift from One Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful!" ( Surah 41:30-32) The above is Yusuf Ali's translation, which I know has serious flaws that I hope you may correct in your own translation of these verses. The immediate impression I received from reading these verses was that the angels would declare these words on the Day of Judgment while greeting the righteous at the gates of Paradise. But verse 31 reads "We are your protectors in this life and the Hereafter" which seems to indicate that the words are being declared during the life of this world. If so, to whom are these words directed? If all sincere believers receive these tidings, does this mean that if we have not been visited by a party of angels delivering us such tidings, we are not true believers? Please clarify. The Qur'an further states: "It is not fitting for a man that God should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by the sending of a messenger to reveal, with God's permission, what God wills: for He is Most High, Most Wise" ( Surah 42:51) All Muslims believe that God sent His messengers with His revelations throughout history and terminated this process with the final messenger, Muhammad (pbuh). But what does the Qu'ran mean when it says that God speaks to humans via inspiration or 'from behind a veil?' Is it alluding to special mystical conversation? Personally, the only communication I have ever engaged in with God is prayer, supplication, repentance, expressing thanks etc. and receiving His 'responses' in the form of answered or unanswered prayers. Does this kind of communication count as 'inspiration' or speech 'from behind a veil?' Please explain the meaning of these verses as well. And I suspect that Yusuf Ali's translation in these instances is misleading. If this is the case, please provide what you believe to be more accurate renditions of the referred verses. Many thanks for all your guidance and help thus far. May God reward you for all your work. Omar Sarwar Answer: I agree with your interpretation of the referred verse of Surah Fussilat . The information given in the verse relates to the Hereafter, not to the life of this world. The correct translation of the verse, in my opinion, should be as follows: Those who declare: 'Our Lord is God alone' and then remain steadfast on it, angels shall descend upon them [saying] that: 'You shall neither fear [your future] nor regret [your past]. Receive tidings of [the eternal bliss of] Paradise, which you were promised. We were your companions in the worldly life and are also your companions in the later life. Here you shall have all that your hearts desire, here you shall have all that you ask for. As a first greeting from the Forgiving, the Merciful. ( Fussilat 41: 30 - 32) It may be interesting to note that the sentence translated as: "We are your protectors in this life and in the Hereafter", is a sentence based on the nominal clause, which can be the past, the present or the future tense. The tense actually implied in such cases is determined by the context and the most appropriate meaning of the sentence. As for the referred verse of Surah Al-Shooraa , it is, in fact, a reference to the revelation to those, who are chosen by God as His prophets. This fact becomes absolutely clear from the verse that follows the referred verse. I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad March 11, 2002