Title: 'Questioning' on Judgment day - A Contradiction in the Qur'an? Question: My question relates to so-called contradictions or errors in the Holy Quran. I have been presented with a number of them, and woudl be grateful if you can shed some light on some. Please review the following verses; 7: 7 And WE will certainly question those to whom the Messengers were sent and WE will certainly question the Messengers. 55: 40 On that day neither man nor jinn will be asked about his sin. Can you please explain why in chapter 7 everyone will be questioned, while in chapter 55 no one will be? Jazak Allah Mashhood United Kingdom Answer: The belief of accountability is the basic tenet of the Islamic faith. Not only the verse 7:7 the whole of the Holy Qur'an maintains that the man's life in this world is a test. After its set duration this world will necessarily cease to exist following which the Day of Judgment will be held. The Almighty will summon all of the human beings for accountability. Consequently the righteous will be rewarded with everlasting bliss and the wrong doers will be punished with eternal doom. The verse 55:40, which has been pointed out to be in contradiction to this belief actually communicates another fact. We need to study the verses following it in order to get to the correct meaning. What follows is a simple translation of the verses 55: 39 - 42: On that day [the sinners will be easily recognizable by their looks, so] neither man nor jinn will [need to] be questioned for his sin. Which is it, of the favors of your Lord that you deny? The guilty will be known by their marks, and will he taken by the forelocks and the feet. (55: 39 - 41) Verse 55: 41 makes it clear that on that day the status of the guilty will become so manifest that there will be no need of further probe to find how did they spend their lives in this world. Their very appearance will reflect their guilt and the different parts of their bodies, which they have been using for carrying out their mischief, will bear witness against them. At another place this reality has been referred to in these words: On the day when their tongues and their hands and their feet will testify against them as to what they used to do. (24: 24) Keeping the foregoing explanation in perspective, we see that in 7: 7, the word 'question' is used to imply accountability. Thus, the sentence 'We will certainly question those' actually means 'We will certainly hold them accountable'. On the other hand, in 55: 39, the word 'question' is used to imply 'investigation' carried out for the purpose of recognition. Thus, the sentence 'Neither man nor Jinn shall have to be questioned about his sins' actually implies that there shall be no need to carry out an investigation to distinguish between the pious and the sinner. I hope this helps. Tariq Mahmood Hashmi January 27, 2003