The Prophet’s (SAAS) call to religion
Harun Yahya
The Prophet (saas) 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...
O Muadh, I forbid you: Don’t tell a truthful man liar, don’t follow any
sin, don’t disobey a just judge, and don’t create disorder in land. O
Muadh, I give you instruction: Fear Allah while passing by each stone,
tree, and heaps of earth. Make repentance anew after committing any sin.
Repent secretly for secret sin and openly for open sin.” 1That is how
the Prophet (saas) educated those close to him and Muslims, and called
on them to have good character.
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