Title: 'Large Party' or a 'Few' - A Contradiction in 56: 13 - 14 and 56: 39 - 40? Question: My question relates to so-called contradictions or errors of the Holy Quran. I have been presented with a number of them, and would be grateful if you can shed some light on some. One of these follows: Please review the following verses; 56: 14. A large party from among the first believers, 56: 15. And a few from among the later ones, and 56: 40. A large party from among the first believers. 56: 41. And a large party from among the later ones. Is this a contradiction? Jazak Allah Mashhood United Kingdom Answer: The contradictions or errors you have been presented with are of the nature of those dealing with the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter. The presenters' contention is that these verses contradict one another in terms of the people entering Paradise. It will be clear from this presentation that these verses do not contradict each other in any way. First, I would like to point out a humble correction in the cited verses. I believe that the presenters' wanted to indicate that Surah Al Waqi'ah 56: 13 - 14 contradicts the same Surah Al Waqi'ah 56: 39 - 40. Now that we have cleared up this minor detail, we can discuss the issue better. While Surah Al Waqi'ah deals with several issues one of its main focuses is the Judgment of mankind. The bliss of Paradise and the torment of Hell are explicitly mentioned and so is the description of those who will enter them. If read and understood correctly one can easily see that people are sorted into three categories and everything they have done and believed is taken into consideration. And ye shall be sorted out into three classes. Then (there will be) the Companions of the Right Hand; what will be the Companions of the Right Hand? And the Companions of the Left Hand, what will be the Companions of the Left Hand? And those Foremost (in Faith) will be Foremost (in the Hereafter). ( Al Waqi'ah 56: 6 - 10) According to the Qur'an the three classes are the Companions of the Right Hand, the Companions of the Left Hand and those, who are Foremost in faith. Keeping this in mind, the Qur'an explains what will happen to the best of all mankind: "A number of them (the Foremost) from those of old," and "...a few from those of later times" (56: 13 - 14) will achieve the closest relationship with God and other blissful things. This explains our first category of the 'Foremost' of people. The next category is that of the Companions of the Right Hand whom "a (goodly) number from those of old," and "...a (goodly) number from those of later times" (56: 39 - 40) will be blessed with Paradise but not the nearness to God as those in the first category. The third category is not related to our present discussion. It is evident from the Qur'an itself that the verses quoted by the presenters are not related to the same group of people. The Qur'an plainly describes that "many" from the older generations and only a "few" from the later generations will fall into the 'Foremost' category. Then it distinctly places "many" of the older generations and "many" of the later generations of people into the category of 'Companions of the Right Hand'. There is no contradiction and there are no errors. It is absolutely clear from the verses themselves that the Qur'an is discussing differing classes of people in its verses. I hope I have clarified the issue. God knows best Ronnie Hassan January 21, 2003