We now examine the details
of the characteristic feature of the institution of Risalah outlined
above the last time it was observed: that is in the period of Muhammad
(sws), the last Rasul. However, before we embark on this, it is
to be noted that since with the Prophet Muhammad (sws) this institution
was terminated, and thereafter salvation of the whole mankind was made
to depend on professing faith in him1,
the Almighty made arrangements that the last Rasul (sws) be known
to people even before he arrived.
Suhayli has mentioned in al-Rawd al-Unuf that Ka‘ab Ibn Lu’iyy was the first person who gathered people on the day of ‘Urubah. After the advent of Islam, ‘Urubah was renamed as Jumu‘ah, and he was the first one to call it by this name. The Quraysh held a gathering around him on this day. He would address them and remind them of the advent of the Prophet Muhammad (sws). He would inform them that Muhammad (sws) would be among his progeny. He would direct them to follow him and profess faith in him. He would recite [the following couplet]: Ya Laytani shahidun fahwa’a da‘watihi(I wish I could witness the contents of his preaching when the Quraysh will vehemently deny the truth.) So Muhammad (sws) too, like the previous
Rusul,
explained the basic truths in their ultimate form through the special help
of the Almighty. When it became evident that his addressees were deliberately
denying him, they were punished in varying degrees to prove to mankind
for the last time that a similar court of justice shall be set up on the
Day of Judgement, and the reward and punishment given by the Almighty through
His Prophets (sws) to their addressees in their collective capacity in
this world shall one day be given to all people who knowingly deny such
basic truths. The believers were promised supremacy over the disbelievers
in this world and great success in the Hereafter. The Idolaters were given
the options of accepting faith or facing death, and the People of the Book
were given the options of accepting faith or remaining subservient and
paying Jizyah. As already pointed out, this difference seems to
stem from the fact that the Idolaters subscribed to polytheism even after
being convinced of its baselessness, while the People of the Book were
basically monotheistic though they were involved in certain polytheistic
practices.
1. Muhammad’s Mission a. Phase 1: The Admonition
Thus have We sent by inspiration to you an Arabic Qur’an that you may warn the mother of cities and all around her; – and warn [them] of the Day of Assembly of which there is no doubt: [when] some will be in the Garden, and some in the Blazing Fire. (42:7)In Makkah, where the Prophet (sws) spent about thirteen years of his propagational endeavour, his addressees were basically the Idolaters4 – the descendants of the Prophet’s great ancestor: the Prophet Isma’il (sws). However, the People of the Book (the Jews and the Christians) were also addressed at various instances. Besides these two distinct pockets of opponents, there were the Munafiqun (the hypocrites) who were non-existent in Makkah and emerged in Madinah as the Islamic message started to gain momentum. Muhammad (sws) bore witness to the truth before all these three groups and refuted their evil beliefs. He revived various Abrahamic practices and rituals and cleansed them of corruptions added by polytheists, and delineated the basic truths of monotheism and accountability in the Hereafter on the basis of the Shari‘ah brought by him. The real debate with the Idolaters concerned their polytheistic beliefs and religious innovations (bid‘at). They were repeatedly asked to give up their religion of idolatry since it had no grounds. It was only the Almighty who could have told them that He had associated with Him certain other deities. Without the sanction of the Almighty, they had no means to know about such details for themselves. Consequently, when they claimed that polytheism was revealed to them by the Almighty Himself, the Qur’an called this a vicious a lie: Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the disbelievers because they joined companions with Allah for which He had sent no authority; their abode will be the Fire; and evil is the home of the wrongdoers! (3:151) These are nothing but names which you have devised – you and your fathers – for which Allah has sent down no authority [whatsoever]. They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire! – even though there has already come to them guidance from their Lord! (53:23)The Idolaters were asked to believe in the Qur’an if they wanted to succeed in the Hereafter. They were directed to ask the People of the Book if they had any doubts about this Book. The righteous among them would vouch for it: Those to whom We have given the Book rejoice at what has been revealed to you: but there are among the clans those who reject a part thereof. (13:36)They were told that they have been blessed with the Qur’an lest they might present the excuse that they never received a book from the Almighty as was received by the Jews and Christians before them: And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing; so follow it and be righteous that you may receive mercy, lest you should say: ‘The Book was sent down to two peoples before us, and for our part, we remained unacquainted with all that they learned by assiduous study or lest you should say: ‘If the Book had only been sent down to us, we should have followed its guidance better than they.’ Now then has come unto you a clear [sign] from your Lord, -- and a guide and a mercy. Then who could do more wrong than one who rejected God’s signs, and turned away therefrom? (6:155-157)Similarly, the People of the Book were asked to desist from their attitude of hostility and antagonism and to honour the covenant they had made of professing belief in the final Rasul – someone whose name was mentioned in their very books: Fulfil the Covenant of Allah when you have entered into it, and break not your oaths after you have confirmed them: indeed you have made Allah your witness; for Allah knows all that you do. And be not like the woman who breaks into untwisted strands the yarn she has spun after it has become strong. Nor take your oaths to practise deception between yourselves, lest one party should be more numerous than another: for Allah will test you by this; and on the Day of Judgement He will certainly make clear to you [the truth of] that wherein you disagree. (16:91-2). He [-- the Almighty --] said: ‘With My Punishment I visit whom I will; But My mercy extends to all things. That [mercy] I shall ordain for those who do right, and practise regular charity, and those who believe in Our signs – Those who are following the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in the Torah and in the Injil – for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good [and pure] and prohibits them from what is bad [and impure]; he releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that were upon them. So those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the Light which is sent down with him – it is they who shall prosper. (7:156-7)Initially, he could muster very little support from his tribe in favour of his message. Most people of Makkah rejected his call and only a few youth of the city accepted it. The hostility shown by the chiefs of Makkah was so severe that most people reckoned that it would only be a matter of days before this newly founded faith would reach a disastrous end. The Prophet (sws) and his companions were put through severe physical torture and mental affliction. Such was the extent of the persecution suffered by the Prophet (sws) that for many years he had to confine his endeavour to his near relatives. However, after many years of persistent struggle, when it became evident that the people of Makkah were denying the Prophet (sws) due to sheer obstinacy, the Almighty asked him to dissociate himself from these people. b. Phase II: The Renunciation
Declare you [O Prophet!]: O Disbelievers! I shall worship not that which you worship. Nor will you ever worship [alone] that which I worship. Nor ever before this was I prepared to worship that which you worshipped. Nor were you ever prepared to worship that which I have been worshipping. [So, now] to you your religion and to me mine. (109:1-6)This is the only instance in the Qur’an in which the disbelievers have been directly addressed in such words5. These words are not meant to condemn or chide them; they actually convey their true behaviour. After thirteen long years of preaching and exhortation, the leaders of the Quraysh had refused the calls of sense and reason. Their denial was based on nothing but stubbornness in spite of the fact that the truth had been revealed to them in its purest form by no other personality than the Prophet (sws) himself. It was highly probable that a further insistence by the Prophet (sws) for the acceptance of the truth would have led them to harm him physically. Consequently, the Prophet (sws) at this stage addressed them by a name which aptly described their deeds, and on divine bidding, departed from them. The last verse of the surah, it must be appreciated, is not an expression of tolerance; it expresses renunciation on the part of the Prophet (sws) and a warning to the disbelievers that they must now get ready to face the judgement as a consequence of their obdurate denial. c. Phase III: The Judgement
(1) The Reward
Say to the desert Arabs who lagged behind: ‘You shall be summoned [to fight] against a people given to vehement war: then shall you fight or they shall accept Islam’. (48:16) And fight them on until there is no more persecution and there prevails the religion of God everywhere; but if they cease, verily God is seeing all that they do. (8:39)They were told that their opponents would never be able to triumph over them: If the disbelievers should fight you, they would certainly turn their backs; then would they find neither protector nor helper. Such has been the practice approved of God already in the past: no change will you find in the practice of God. (48:22-23)They were given glad tidings of success in the following words: God has promised, to those among you who professed belief and did righteous deeds that He will of a surety grant them political authority in this land as He granted it to those before them; that he will establish their religion – the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change [their state], after the fear in which they [lived], to one of security and peace. (24:55)They were told that the Almighty wants to test their commitment to faith as well as by this armed struggle: Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands, and cover them with shame, and help you [to victory] over them, and heal the breasts of the believers. (9:14) Or think you that you shall be abandoned as though Allah did not know those among you who strive with might and main, and take none for friends and protectors except Allah, His messenger, and the believers? But Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do. (9:16)The sincere among them who were guilty of some blemishes were forgiven after some punishment: [He turned in mercy also] to the three whose matter was deferred to such a degree that the earth seemed constrained to them for all its spaciousness, and their souls seemed straitened to them – and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allah but to Him. Then, He turned to them that they might repent: for Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. (9:118)The weak among them were told that if they repented and mended their ways and remained steadfast, then hopefully the Almighty will forgive them also. Others [there are who] have acknowledged their wrong-doings: they have mixed an act that was good with another that was evil. Perhaps, God will turn to them [in mercy]: for God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (9:102).(2) The Punishment After the believers had been prepared for a final onslaught against the disbelievers, the stage was set to pronounce the judgement against the addressees of the Prophet Muhammad (sws). It was the last time that such an act of retribution would take place in this world. Never again would mankind witness the application of this mighty institution. Surah Tawbah describes in detail the events which took place when the last court of justice was set up for the three major opponents: the Idolaters, the People of the Book, the Hypocrites. The surah is divided into three sections. In the first, the Idolaters of Arabia; in the second, the People of the Book, and, in the third, the Hypocrites are dealt with. (a) For the Idolaters
This is a declaration of renunciation from Allah and His Messenger to these Idolaters with whom you had made contracts. So move about in the land for four months but you should know that you are not beyond the grasp of Allah and Allah shall indeed humiliate those who reject Him. (9:1-2)In the second phase, this announcement was repeated for those people among these Idolaters who had not accepted faith until the day of Hjj-i-Akbar (9th Hijra). They were given a final extension by a proclamation made in the field of ‘Arafat on that day. According to the proclamation, this final extension would end with the last day of the month of Muharram, during which they had to accept faith and show this acceptance by offering prayers and paying Zakah or face execution at the end of that period. The Qur’an says: When the forbidden months are over, slay the Idolaters wherever you find them. Seize them, surround them and everywhere lie in ambush for them. But if they repent from their wrong beliefs and establish regular prayers and pay Zakah, then spare their lives. God is Oft-Forgiving and Ever Merciful. (9:5)There were two exceptions to this: Firstly, tribes who had honoured their contracts were provided immunity during the period of the contract. However, once the contract period ended, they would also be treated similarly: But this action shall not be taken against those Idolaters with whom you have entered into alliance and who did not breach the contract nor aided anyone against you. So fulfil your engagements with them to the end of their term, for Allah loves the pious. (9:4)Secondly, if a person asked for asylum to understand the teachings of Islam, he was to be given this asylum and no action was to be taken against him until this period was over. If anyone among the Idolaters ask you for asylum, grant it to him so that he may hear the Word of Allah and then escort him to where he can be secure. That is because they are men without knowledge. (9:6)(b) For the People of the Book After the Idolaters, the fate of the People of the Book is stated in the surah. Since it had become evident that their denial too was based on sheer obstinacy, Muslims were asked to fight them into subjugation unless they accepted the superiority of the Muslims by paying Jizyah: Fight those who believe not in Allah or the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth, from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah after being subdued and live in submission. (9:29)A final charge sheet of their crimes was presented to them in the following words: The Jews call ‘Uzayr son of God, and the Christians call Christ son of God. That is a saying from their mouth; [In this] they but imitate what the disbelievers of old used to say. Allah’s curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the truth. They take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of Allah, and [they take as their Lord] Christ, the son of Mary; yet they were commanded to worship but One God: there is no god but He. Praise and glory to Him: [far is He] from having the partners they associate [with Him]. (9:30-31)(c) For the Hypocrites In the third section of the surah, the Hypocrites are taken to task and told that if they do not desist from their hostile behaviour, they would meet their fate also: They swear by Allah that they said nothing [evil], but indeed they uttered blasphemy, and they did it after accepting Islam; and they meditated a plot which they were unable to carry out: this revenge of theirs was only because of the blessings with which Allah and His Messenger had enriched the Muslims. If they repent, it will be best for them; but if they turn back [to their evil ways], Allah will punish them with a grievous penalty in this life and in the Hereafter. (9:74) There are Hypocrites among the desert Arabs round you as well as among the Madi#nah folk; they are obstinate in hypocrisy. You do not know them: We know them. Twice shall We punish them and in addition shall they be sent to a grievous penalty. (9:101) Muhammad (sws) directly bore witness to the truth before his companions as a group. Moral concepts were personified in these companions in the ultimate degree. They were a group of noble souls who graced this world and became embodiments of moral ideals in their collective capacity. They became the representatives of the truth and were called the ‘best community’ by the Almighty Himself: You are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and truly believing in God. (3:`0)None other than the Almighty Himself selected these noble companions to carry on this task of Shaha#dah ‘ala al-na#s (bearing witness to the truth before other nations of their times): He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the religion of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims, both before and in this [Qur’an]: [He chose you so that] the Rasul may be a witness [to this religion] before you, and you be witnesses to this religion before non-Muslims [of your times]. (22:78)Such was the nature of their endeavour that the Almighty announced that He is pleased with them: Allah is well pleased with them and they with Him. (98:7)The Qur’an uses the words Ummat-i-Wasat (the intermediate community) for the Companions. This use is very meaningful since they stood as a bridge between the Prophet Muhammad (sws) and the rest of the world of their times. As a bridge, it was their duty to communicate the religion they received from the Prophet (sws) to other people of the world: Thus have We made of you an intermediate group so that you be witnesses [to this religion] before the nations, and the Rasul be such a witness before you. (2:143)Since these companions were called Shuhada ‘ala al-Nas (witnesses to other peoples) in this verse and since, as a result, the truth had become personified in them their collective capacity, they too had the authority to punish those who knowingly denied the truth. Muhammad (sws) himself initiated their mission by writing letters to the various non-Muslim states of the world. These states were required to submit to Muslim authority by paying Jizyah if they wanted to remain on their religions or face the consequences of war. However, after the departure of the Companions, since no one enjoys the status of Shuhada ‘ala al-Nas (witnesses of the truth to other peoples), the right to punish people for knowingly denying the truth can no longer be exercised. |
| 1. It must be appreciated that if
the message brought by Muhammad (sws) never reached a person or reached
him in a distorted way, then on the Day of Judgement he would be given
the allowance justice demands. So, if he is judged to have a legitimate
excuse, he will not be held accountable for not professing faith in Muhammad
(sws). In this case, he will only be held accountable on the basis of the
three things mentioned in 2:62, quoted earlier on in this article.
2. See Appendix 3. 3. Ibn Manzur, Lisan al-‘Arab, 1st ed., vol. 8, (Beirut: Dar Sadir, 1400 AH), p. 58. 4. One basic fact that needs to be understood about the Idolaters of Arabia was that in contrast to the People of the Book, who were the advocates of monotheism and who never admitted to be polytheists in spite of the fact that they had later become involved in polytheism, the Idolaters admittedly subscribed and testified to the creed of polytheism. Because of this very acceptance they were called the Mushrikin (the adherents to the creed of shirk) by the Qur’an. They strongly advocated that polytheism (shirk) was the very religion the Almighty had revealed and claimed that they were the strong adherents to this religion. They say: ‘Allah has begotten a son!’ – Glory be to Him! He is Self-Sufficient! His are all things in the heavens and on earth! No warrant have you for this! Say you about Allah what you know not? (10:68)It is not for such as join gods with Allah, to visit or maintain the mosques of Allah while they witness to disbelief against their own souls. The works of such bear no fruit: in Fire shall they dwell. (9:17) 5. They are addressed by the word: Kafirun (Disbelievers). |