Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) call to religion
Harun Yahya
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) spent all his life, once the Qur’an had been
revealed to him, calling people to the religion and guiding them to the
true path. In one verse, Allah tells the Prophet (saas) how he should
address people: Say: “This is my way. I call to Allah with inner sight,
I and all who follow me. Glory be to Allah! I am not one of those who
associate others with Him.” (Surah Yusuf: 108). The Prophet (saas)
encountered a number of difficulties when warning people and teaching
them about the Qur’an and true morality. Since not everyone was on the
true path, people made life difficult for the Prophet (saas), out of
jealousy, hatred and envy. Some were slow to understand his words and
dragged their feet when they did so, some behaved hypocritically, saying
that they believed his words when they really did not.
The Prophet (saas) continued to explain the religion with great
determination, paying no heed to all those obstacles. Such people’s
attitudes are revealed in a verse: You believe in all the Books. When
they meet you, they say, “We believe.” But when they leave they bite
their fingers out of rage against you. Say, “Die in your rage.” Allah
knows what your hearts contain. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 119). Another verse
discusses the Prophet (saas)’s determination in the face of those who
opposed him: Those to whom We gave the Book rejoice at what has been
sent down to you but some of the parties refuse to acknowledge part of
it. Say: “I have only been ordered to worship Allah and not to associate
anything with Him. I summon to Him and to Him I will return.” (Surat
ar-Ra‘d: 36)
The Prophet (saas) continued to warn those who would not believe, and to
use the most effective way of talking about the religion, in the hope
they would find faith and abandon their hatred of him and his religion.
Allah describes the attitude displayed by those people in the face of
what he had to say in Surat an-Nisa’: Do you not see those who claim
that they believe in what has been sent down to you and what was sent
down before you, still desiring to turn to a satanic source for
judgement in spite of being ordered to reject it? Satan wants to
misguide them far away. When they are told, “Come to what Allah has sent
down and to the Messenger,” you see the hypocrites turning away from you
completely. (Surat an-Nisa’: 60-61)
Despite the two-faced behavior of those who opposed him, the Prophet (saas)
spoke to them in terms that would enable them to see the truth and which
would work on their consciences. One verse reads: Allah knows what is in
such people’s hearts so turn away from them and warn them and speak to
them with words that take effect. (Surat an-Nisa’: 63) It was of course
a heavy responsibility to give advice to his enemies, to show them the
error of their ways and to call them to the true path. Yet, for someone
who, like the Prophet (saas), has put his trust in Allah, who knows that
faith is a gift from Him, and fears Allah alone, and not anyone else,
Allah will provide assistance and support.
In several verses of the Qur’an, Allah reveals that He has sent
messengers in order to turn those who have strayed back to the true
path, to purify them, and to teach them the holy verses. As we have seen
above, throughout his life, the Prophet (saas) persevered in the
responsibility that Allah had laid on him with great patience, fortitude
and determination. Even in the final sermon that he gave, very shortly
before dying, he continued to teach and instruct Muslims. Allah sets out
these beautiful responsibilities in a number of verses: For this We sent
a Messenger to you from among you to recite Our Signs to you and purify
you and teach you the Book and Wisdom and teach you things you did not
know before. (Surat al-Baqara: 151)
Allah showed great kindness to the believers when He sent a Messenger to
them from among themselves to recite His Signs to them and purify them
and teach them the Book and Wisdom, even though before that they were
clearly misguided. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 164) In one verse, Allah describes
the Prophet (saas)’s advice and warnings as “things that will bring one
to life”:
You who believe! Respond to Allah and to the Messenger when He calls you
to what will bring you to life! Know that Allah intervenes between a man
and his heart and that you will be gathered to Him. (Surat al-Anfal: 24)
That is why the Prophet (saas)’s advice and exhortations are unlike
those of anyone else. Abiding by these warnings is a means of salvation
in this world and the next. Each of the Prophet (saas)’s exhortations
are founded on wisdom that will save people from evil, cruelty,
pessimism and suffering. Since all his advice is inspired and assured by
Allah, a sincere Muslim will surrender himself to them and find faith.
The words of the Prophet (saas) that have come down to us contain the
excellent advice he gave to the faithful. One example is the advice he
gave to his companion Muadh. It is reported that he spoke thus: “O Muadh,
I advise you: fear Allah, speak the truth, fulfil promise, pay up trust,
give up breach of trust, save your neighbour, show kindness to orphans,
be modest in talk, spread peace, do good deeds, stick to faith, earn
knowledge about the Qur’an, love the next world, fear rendering of
accounts... |
