Chapter
Three: Al - Ameen The Trustworthy
The Golden Mean
Islam is not directly concerned with political and economic systems, but
indirectly and, in so far as political and economic affairs influence man's
conduct, it does lay down some very important principles of economic life.
According to Prof. Massignon, Islam maintains the balance between
exaggerated opposites and has always in view the building of character which is
the basis civilization. This is secured by its law of inheritance; by an
organized, and not an optional, system of charity known as Zakat; and by
regarding as illegal all anti-social practices in the economic field like
monopoly, usury, securing of predetermined unearned incomes and increments,
cornering markets, hoarding and creating artificial scarcity of any commodity
in order to force the price to rise. Gambling is illegal. Contributions to
schools, to places of worship, hospitals, digging of wells, opening of
orphanages are the highest acts of virtue. Orphanages have sprung for the first
time, it is said, under the teaching of the Prophet of Islam. The world owes
its orphanages to this Prophet who was himself born an orphan. " Good
all this", says Carlyle about Muhammad. " The natural voice of
humanity, of piety and equity, dwelling in the heart of this wild son of
nature, speaks".
The Test
A historian once said, a great man should be judged by three tests:
●
Was he found to be of true mettle by his contemporaries?
●
Was he great enough to rise above the standards of his age?
●
Did he leave anything as permanent legacy to the world at large?
This list may be further extended, but all these three tests of
greatness are eminently satisfied to the highest degree in the case of Prophet
Muhammad. Some illustrations of the last two have already been mentioned.
The first of the three is; was the prophet of Islam found to be of true
mettle by his contemporaries?
Impeccable Character
Historical records show that all contemporaries of Muhammad, both
friends and foes, acknowledged the sterling qualities, the spotless honesty,
the noble virtues, the absolute sincerity and the absolute trustworthiness of
the apostle of Islam in all walks of life and in every sphere of human
activity. Even the Jews and those who did not believe in his message accepted
him as arbitrator in their personal disputes on account of his scrupulous
impartiality. Even those who did not believe in his message were forced to say:"
O Muhammad we do not call you a liar, but we deny Him who has given you a Book
and inspired you with a Message".
They thought he was one
possessed. They tried violence to cure him. But the best of them saw that a new
light had dawned on him and they hastened to seek that enlightenment. It is a
notable feature in the history of the Prophet of Islam that his nearest
relation, his beloved cousin and his bosom friends, who knew him most
intimately, were thoroughly imbued with the truth of his mission and convinced
of the genuineness of his divine inspiration." If these men and women,
noble, intelligent, and certainly not less educated than the fishermen of
Galilee, had perceived, the slightest sign of earthliness, deception, or want
of faith in the Teacher himself, Muhammad's hopes of moral regeneration and
social reform, would all have been crumbled to dust in a moment" From "
The Spirit of Islam" by Sayed Ameer Ali.
On the contrary we find, that the devotion of his followers was such
that he was voluntarily acknowledged leader of their lives. They braved for
this sake, persecutions and danger; they believed, trusted, obeyed and honored
him even in the most excruciating torture and severest mental agony caused by
excommunication; even unto death. Would this have been so had they noticed the
slightest backsliding in their leader?
Undying Love For The Holy
Prophet
Read the history of the early converts to Islam and every heart would
melt at the sight of the brutal treatment of innocent men and women. Sumayya,
an innocent woman, is cruelty torn into pieces by piercing through with spears.
An example is made of Yasir whose legs are tied to two camels and the beasts
are driven in the opposite direction. Khabbab Bin Arth is made to lie down on a
bed of burning coal with the brutal legs of the merciless tyrant of his breast
so that he may not move and this makes even the fat beneath his skin melt.
Khabbab Bin Adi is put to death in a cruel manner by mutilation and cutting off
his flesh piecemeal. In the midst of his tortures, when asked whether he did
not wish Muhammad in his place while he was in his house with this family, the
sufferer cried out that he was gladly prepared to sacrifice himself, his family
and children and all to save Muhammad from the prick of a thorn. Scores of
heart-rending incidents of this type may be narrated. But what do all these
incidents show? Why was it that these sons and daughters of Islam not only
surrendered to their Prophet, their allegiance but made a gift of their bodies,
hearts and souls? Is not the intense faith and conviction on the part of the
immediate followers of Muhammad, the noblest testimony to his sincerity and to
his utter self-absorption in the task assigned to him?
Followers Of Best Calibre
And these men were not of low station or of an inferior mental caliber.
Around him, in quite early days, gathered what was best and noblest in Mecca,
its flower and cream, men of position, rank, wealth and culture, and from his
own kith and kin, those who knew the ins and outs of his life. All the first
four Caliphs, with their towering personalities, were converts of this early
period.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica says that:" Muhammad is the most
successful of all Prophets and religious personalities". But this
success was not the result of a mere accident. It was not a windfall. It was a
recognition of the fact that he was found to be of true mettle by his
contemporaries. It was the result of his admirable and all-compelling
personality.
to be continued . . . .
No comments:
Post a Comment