Their Messengers said, 'Can there be any doubt about God, the Initiator of the heavens and earth? He only calls you that He may grant you the protection of His forgiveness for your trailing behind in humanity and to postpone your end until an appointed time.' They said, 'Ah, you are but mortals like us! You want to bar us from what our ancestors used to worship. Then bring us a clear authority.' [God is far too Glorious from feeling offended by idol worship in any form. But submitting to false deities and 'authorities' is the root cause of inequities in any society, such as superstition, exploitation, ritualism and division of humanity into castes and sects, and the resulting violation of human rights. That is why all Messengers of God began their mission by calling people to the service, and obedience of the One True God]