|
THE METHOD OF CONVEYING THE MESSAGE
Constant, continual striving is not only
an essential feature of the delivering of the Message but
it is actually an important element of the Prophetic
method.
A Prophet is, so to speak, obsessed with
how he is to perform his duty. To this end, he considers
all the circumstances and does everything permitted,
without concerning himself with God’s do-main, never
worrying about the results. He knows that it is not in his
power to make anyone accept the Message, that his duty is
only to convey the Message and to do everything possible
and permissible by God so that people become convinced of
its truth. On this point, the Qur’an declares:
Assuredly, you [O Muhammad] guide not
whom you like but God guides whom He wills. And He knows
best those who receive guidance. (al-Qasas, 28.56)
Many Prophets lived with no one
accepting their Message. However, they did not lose heart,
weaken in resolve, or resort to means not permitted by
God, like violence, terror or deception, de-spite having
to suffer every kind of hardship and tortures of the most
pitiless sort. When the Last Prophet – Muhammad – upon
him be peace and blessings, was severely wounded in the
Battle of Uhud, some of his Companions requested him to
invoke God’s curse on the enemy, but he prayed for them
instead, saying:
O God, forgive my people and guide them
to truth, because they do not know.1
He made this supplication with his face
bleeding profusely, since he had once said:
I am now as if I was seeing a Prophet
who, while his face was bleeding prayed for his people:
‘O God, forgive my people, because they do not know.’
All the Prophets reacted in the same way
to the torments and false accusations they suffered from
their people. For example:
The leaders of the people of Noah said:
‘Verily, we see you in clear deviation.’ He said: ‘O
my people! There is no deviation in me, but I am a
Messenger from the Lord of the Worlds! I convey unto you
the messages of my Lord and give sincere advice to you.
And I know from God what you know not.’ (al-A’raf,
7.60–2)
The leaders of Hud’s people, who were
unbelievers, said: ‘We see you surely in foolishness;
and we think you are among the liars.’ He said: ‘O my
people! There is no foolishness in me, but I am a
Messenger from the Lord of the Worlds. I convey unto you
the messages of my Lord and I am a trustworthy adviser to
you’. (al-A’raf, 7.66–8)
Nothing changed during the history of
Prophethood. The Prophets conveyed the messages of their
Lord without thinking of any return other than God’s
pleasure. There is no people to whom a Messenger was not
sent, as explicitly affirmed in the Qur’an:
Whoever goes right, then he goes right
only for his own soul’s benefit. And whoever goes
astray, then he goes astray only to his own loss. No laden
soul can bear another’s load. And We never punish until
We have sent a Messenger. (al-Isra’, 17.15)
And verily We have sent among every
people a Messenger (saying): ‘Worship God (alone), and
shun all false deities’. (al-Nahl, 16.36)
After he received the first Revelation
in the cave, Hira, God’s Messenger, upon him be peace
and blessings, returned home in a great excitement.
Wrapped up in his vestment, God ordered him:
O you who wrapped up in your vestment,
arise and give warning! Magnify your Lord! Cleanse your
garments, and keep away from all pollution. Do not show
favour, seeking worldly gain! Be patient for the sake of
your Lord! (al-Muddaththir, 74.1-7)
Again, he received the following order:
O you folded in garments! Keep vigil the
night long, except a little; half of it, or a little less,
or a little more, and recite the Qur’an in slow,
measured rhythmic tones. We are about to address to you
words of great gravity. (al-Muzzammil, 73.1-5)
Every Prophet conveyed God’s Message
to his people without becoming wearied or daunted. The
harsh reactions of people could not hinder a Prophet from
his duty. For example,
[Noah] said: ‘O my Lord! Day and night
I have called my people. But my call has only added to
their aversion. Each time I call on them to seek Your
pardon, they thrust their fingers in their ears and cover
themselves with their garments, persisting in sin and
magnifying themselves in insolent pride. Further, I have
called to them aloud. Further, I have spoken to them in
public and in private, saying: “Ask forgiveness from
your Lord: for He is Oft-Forgiving.”’ (Nuh, 71.5-10)
When a people rejected the call of a
Prophet and persisted in unbelief and corruption on earth,
God’s wrath usually fell upon them. We read in the
Qur’an the story of several devastated peoples, and we
see their ruins all over the world.
1.Qadi Iyad, Shifa’ al-Sharif, 1.105;
Bukhari, Anbiya’, 54; Muslim, Jihad, 105.
|
