MERCY FOR THE WORLD

Shaikh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi

(Part-I)

“We sent thee not save as a mercy for the peoples.” (XXI:107)

I have just recited before you a verse from Surah Anbiya of the holy Quraan. In it Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) addresses the holy Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) to tell him that he had been sent as a mercy for the whole world and all the peoples that might be born on this planet. This was, indeed, a unique declaration, or, if I could say so, a revolutionary proclamation for the entire humanity. And, this was put about by Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) in a Scripture which was destined to be read, after its revelation, in every age, time and clime, by billions of men in every nook and corner of the world. It was to have an unending line of exegetes, commentators and researchers who were to scan every word of it, evaluate its revelations and scrutinize the truth of its contents in the light of past and coming events. Whenever a man makes any statement or a writer comes out with a report in an article to be published in some newspaper or a journal, he has to think a hundred times lest he should be controverted by somebody. If he happens to make any unusual claim, he is extra-cautious for the fear that he might be challenged by another person or proved to be a fibster. As every one of us knows, books last longer than the journals; they continue to be read for years together and some even live for hundreds of years. Thus, anyone putting forth an annunciation in a book has to be overcautious; he has to make sure that the reaction of his readers is not adverse and that his claim is accepted. Now, you see, the Knower of all secretsAllah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has made this declaration in a book about which He Himself says: 

“Falsehood cannot come at it from before it or behind it. (It is) a revelation from the Wise, the Owner of Praise.” (XLI:42)

His edict about this book runs:
“Lo ! We, even We, reveal the Reminder, and Lo We verily are its Guardian.” (XV:9)

Since these declarations cover both time and space, they cannot be taken lightly.

The announcement made by Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) covers all the ages and the whole of human race that would make its debut in this world after the prophethood of Muhammad (peace and blessing, of God be upon him) was announced: it encompasses all the periods of history, past and present, that this world may see after the Last and final Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) was raised as the harbinger of peace for all peoples.

This pronouncement does not exclude any corner of the world from its ambit Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) did not proclaim Muhammad (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) as a mercy for Arabia, for the East or for the continent of Asia alone. He has made an unequivocal declaration that His Prophet, Muhammad (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam), is to be the peace unto the whole World till the end of time.

This unique proclamation was, in truth and reality, so marvelously wonderful, so extensive in its scope and so far- reaching in its effect, and so majestic in issuing the Divine command that all the philosophers, thinkers, writers, schoolmen or rather every man should have rubbed his eyes in amazement. Of a fact, it would have not at all been surprising if every man of learning had applied himself to explore the veracity of this unprecedented statement. You can scan the history of the world but you would not find such a lucid and clear-cut declaration, so confidently made in such an unconditional language, either in the historical records of the world religions or in the annals of reformatory and revolutionary movements; nay, not even in the histories of the nations and countries and civilisations, nor yet in the entire literature of the human race.

Judaism is one of the oldest world religions. Yet, the concept of God, the Lord of the entire universe and all the nations, is at best a notion of the Lord of Israel according to Judaism. The concept of a Lord of the worlds is not to be found in most of the Old Testament books nor is it present in the hagiographical literature of the Hebrews. It would be futile to search for an announcement declaring anybody as the mercy for all nations in the biographies of the great Hebrew Prophets like Moses and Aaron, or, their Kings, such as, Prophets David and Solomon. Judaism had never been a world religion in the sense that it had never endeavored to spread the glad tidings of Divine mercy and blessings to the whole of humanity without any distinction of blood and race. It actually never did encourage the conversion of non-Jewish people to Judaism.

Christianity is rightly noted for its evangelism and preaching the message of love and compassion to the whole of human race but we find Jesus Christ telling his disciples:

“I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Mt:15:24)

Nobody has ever upheld the distinctions of blood and race in the healing of the sick but when Jesus Christ was asked to restore an afflicted child to health, his reply was:

“It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to dogs.” (Mt:15:15-16

When Jesus Christ sent forth his disciples to preach the Gospel he instructed them thus:

“Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter not ye: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”(Mt:10:5-6)

The attitude of other religions like Hinduism is not different from that of Judaism or Christianity. As a matter of fact, we find it glorifying class distinctions and upholding a heartless caste system forbidding social inter-course between different sections of its own followers. In ancient India the untouchables were deprived of their basic rights; they could neither acquire knowledge nor teach others, nor could they apply themselves to the noble pursuit of elevating themselves spiritually. Teaching of the Vedas and performance of the sacred rites before the deities, on their own behalf and on behalf of others, was a privilege enjoyed by the Brahmins alone. (Manu shastra, Chap. 1, p. 88). Vedas could be learnt only by the Kshtrias and Vaishas besides the Brahmins.(Ibid. pp. 88-89). The Sudras had but one duty according to Manu and that was to serve the three higher castes. (Manu shastra, Chap. 1, p. 89) The people of the ancient India neither had hardly any concept of the world beyond the Himalayas nor were they interested in the peoples and countries living outside India. It would be a labor in vain to make a search for any declaration of universal character in respect of any reformer, Rishi or a prophet, whose appearance in India cannot be ruled out according to the teachings of the Quraan. For there was absolutely no concept of a Lord of the whole universe in the ancient India, it would rather be illogical to expect any man of God having been recognized as a mercy for all the nations of the world.

We normally determine the worth and merit, significance and greatness of a thing by its quantity and quality. The first denotes the property of the thing to be judged by some sort of measure while the other reflects its spirit or excellence. The Writ of God revealed in the Quraan about the holy Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam), covers both these aspects. The benefits and blessings this world has had through his prophethood and his teachings, and the lease of new life it got through him are not only manifold in number and excellent in character but also unique and unprecedented in the annals of the world. Mercy is a word commonly used by us for every act of compassion or kindness shown by one man to another, but it has various degrees determining the inter-se value and merit of different merciful acts. It is mercy if a traveler is told about the way he should go or is given some water to quench his thirst. If a man fans another fellow during the hot season, it is mercy; likewise, the affection of a father towards his son and the arrangements made by a man for the education of his ward, teaching of the students by a pedagogue, feeding of the poor and hungry and clothing of the naked are all different aspects of mercy. They all flow from the same noble desire to be compassionate and benevolent to others and each one of these acts deserves to be gratefully acknowledged by the beneficiary.

But, of all these manifestations of mercy, the greatest in merit would be the saving of a human life. Imagine a child on his death-bed, his unfortunate mother wailing and weeping for him and his helpless father running to the physicians who seem to have lost all hope of the child’s recovery. Suddenly, a doctor arrives as an angel of mercy. He comforts the parents with his kind words and administers medicine to the ailing child who slowly regains his health and strength. This man would undoubtedly be revered as a God-send benefactor of the child and his parents. All other types of merciful acts I have enumerated earlier would fade into insignificance before this act of supreme mercy. This doctor would be hailed as a savior not by the parents of the child alone, but by his whole family who would ever remember him as a benefactor. Take another example. A blind man is going on a path which has a deep ditch a few steps ahead. The blind man is sure to fall into it and lose his life in a couple of seconds. Now, a man rushes up to catch hold of this poor blind man by his waist and thus saves his life. Or, suppose, there is a boy, the only child of his parents, being carried away by the swift current of a river. The boy is about to be submerged forever but a courageous young man saves him by putting his own life at stake. The parents of this boy, nay, all those who have held him dear, would express their heartfelt gratitude to the brave man and remember his kindness throughout their lives.

There is, however, a still higher degree of mercy, and it consists of the saving of entire humanity from death and destruction. But, even the destruction of humanity can be of varying degrees. It may be a temporary debacle or total annihilation. The benevolence of the prophets of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) is infinitely superior to the altruism of other human beings inasmuch as the former leave indelible imprints of their mercy on their fellow beings. Time, whose tooth bites away everything else, is like turbulent waves of the surging ocean which wipes out not only individuals but nations also. Many a nation, country and civilization lies buried beneath its dark waters. Its treacherous waves are ever intent to devour an erring people and, therefore, the question that has ever vexed the minds of human beings is how to cross this roaring sea to reach the shore of safety. Thus, anybody who could safely pilot the sinking ship of humanity would unquestionably, be the true benefactor of humanity. The entire progeny of Adam is, in very truth, indebted to those savants and servants of humanity who have bequeathed to it the treasures of knowledge and learning and made its life easier and richer. But, at a time when the life itself is in danger, only that man can be called a true savior, who saves the life of human beings from the cruel jaws of death and complete annihilation.

What really was this circling wave of death and destruction threatening the existence of man? It was, as it has ever been, the ignorance of the Lord and Master of the world, of His nature and attributes, raising of the partakers of divinity with Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), forgetfulness of man’s obligations to his Creator, failings of human desire and betaking the path of wickedness and iniquity. For this is the time when man insists on his rights but forgets his obligations to others, closes his eyes towards the dignity of his fellow beings and begins to behave like a monster who is at perfect liberty to devour those who are weaker than him. When man forgets these fundamental facts, the prop which supports the structure of human life on earth, he becomes a wolf, a scorpion, and a snake. Then one does not need panthers and lions for man excels every wild beast in ferocity, cruelty. He becomes a devil, the supreme spirit of evil, the enemy of God and man, a Satan incarnate in the human form. Then his fellow beings are consumed by the fire ignited by their own species. No outside agency is then needed for the extirpation of man from the face of the earth.

Such are the times when the infinite mercy of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) is set afoot to succor suffering humanity from the evil of his own doings. For in such times of strain and stress only the teachers of humanity sent by Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) can rescue man from the destruction wrought by his own hands. Humanity is once more brought back to the path of virtue and goodness through the efforts of these guides of mankind. The world then again becomes a place to live for and die for.

Before I tell you about the supreme benevolence of the prophets of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) and the extensive scope of the task allotted to them, I would like to put before you a parable which alludes to the nature and significance of the prophets’ work. Once a few students on a pleasure trip were enjoying boating in a river with an illiterate old oarsman. The boys, in a jovial mood, thought of making merry with the poor old man, and one of them came out with the question:

“Uncle, have you received some education too ?”

“No, I have not read anything,” replied the boatman. “Plying of boats has been my ancestral profession and this is the only art I know to earn a living for my family.”

Another boy promptly rejoined, “But you must have learnt some grammar or read a bit of literature, my dear?”

“It is for the first time,” replied the boatman, “that I have heard of these things.”

“But,” insisted the third boy, “you must be knowing something of geometry for it is essential for propelling boats in a correct manner. Surely, you can’t do without it?”

The boys continued to make fun of the poor man by asking about each branch of arts and sciences they had been studying at their college. Ultimately, they asked about the age of the boatman who informed them that he had crossed his fortieth year. The boys lost no time in giving their verdict:

“Alas! You have wasted half of your precious life-time for nothing.”

The old man had no explanation to offer but perhaps, Providence intended to teach a lesson to these young chaps. The cool and clear water of the river had been flowing calmly so long but suddenly a violent wind arose, as if from nowhere, causing a stir in the river. The surging waves now threatened the safety of the boat which, it seemed would capsize in a few minutes. All the boys were seared to death, and it was now the turn of the boatman to pose a question to the boys about their knowledge and learning.

“Boys,” addressed the boatman inviting their attention, “have you also learnt swimming.”

Terror stricken, all the boys replied in a chorus, “No, we have not learnt it.”

“Well”, retorted the old man, “I had wasted only half of my life-time, but you have lost the whole of it. If this boat capsizes, all the sciences you have been talking about would go down to the bottom of the river with you. Would that you had learnt swimming also which would have saved your life as well your knowledge.”

The record of human life on this earth tells us that whenever the “ship” of humanity has capsized owing to man’s own failings, hardly anything was left to be salvaged. All the treasures of arts and learning, palatial buildings and developmental works, philosophy and literature, in short, all that had been produced, by labor of man over thousands of years was lost with the debacle of an erring people. We also know that no civilization has ever been destroyed because of .the lack of poetic genius of its people, or the poor standard of literature it had produced, nor yet did it go down owing to inadequate number of its educational institutions, low standards of living or lack of capital for its trade and industry. The one cause of its collapse was that man himself wanted to commit suicide. You may believe it or not, but the history of bygone civilizations tells us that there had been many an occasion when man had directed his efforts to destructive pursuits with such a zest and enthusiasm as if he were performing a constructive task beneficial to humanity. At times he had joyfully insisted on going to the gallows as it he were tired of life and its extinction was a great blessing to be sought for at all costs.

The world was passing through a state of hysterics at the close of the sixth century of the Christian era. The entire human race had, it seems, taken a pledge to commit suicide. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has portrayed, in the Quraan, the condition then obtaining in the world so graphically that no artist can draw such a true-to-life picture of the then situation.

“And remember Allah’s favor unto you: how ye were enemies and He made friendship between your hearts so that ye became as brothers by His grace; and (how) ye were upon the brink of an abyss of fire, and He did save you from it.” (III:103)

If our historians and litterateurs have not been able to preserve the heart-rending account of the pagan past, they need not be blamed for it because limitations of human language and forms of expression would not have allowed them to capture in words the dreadful situation of the then world. The shape of things was so horrible, so critical that not the best word painter could have succeeded in its faithful depiction. How could have any historian drawn a picture of that horrible situation? Did the age of Ignorance mean merely moral corruption of the Arabs and a few other nations? Did it pose the problem of idolatry, depravity or decadence or else self-indulgence, inequity and exploitation of the poor or criminal behavior of the then stronger nations? Was it similarly the question of the burial of innocent new-born daughters by their heartless fathers? It was all this and much more. It was as though the earth wanted to swallow the entire hamanity. I have no words to describe the terrifying conditions through which the whole world was passing in those days. Only those can understand it who had themselves lived in that horrible age.

It was thus not a problem confronting any single nation or country but the destiny of the whole human race was at stake. If any artist capable of converting a vision into eternity were to paint the portrait of a good-looking young man in a fine fettle, a soul shining through its crystal covering, and could somehow show him to be the vicegerent of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) on earth who was ready to take a leap in the abyss of fire, then he would perhaps succeed in portraying the situation thus depicted in the Quraan:

“(How) ye were upon the brink of an abyss of fire, He did save you from it.”

The holy Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) has also illustrated this critical situation through a simile. He says:

“The mission and guidance I have been vouchsafed to deliver to this world is like this:

A man made a bonfire and when it illuminated the surroundings, insects began to jump over it. You also want to take a leap into the fire in a like manner but I am holding you by your waists to save you from falling into the eternal fire.”

The whole problem was how to lead the caravan of humanity to its safe destination. All the social and developmental endeavors, educational and literary efforts were possible only after man had been brought back to a normal, sensible frame of mind. There is the least doubt that the greatest good the prophets have done to the humanity consists of saving it from the unknown, imminent dangers threatening to destroy it forever. No literature or philosophy, reformatory or constructive effort, not even the survival of man on this planet could have been possible without the merciful endeavors of the prophets of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa). But, so ungrateful is man that he has announced with the flourish of trumpets, time and again, that the prophets of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) had had their time, and that the world no longer needed them. Its seers and guides have repeatedly declared that the prophets had nothing new to offer, no benefits to confer on humanity. Man has, in this way, really deposed over and over again against his own existence in this world.

When any civilization becomes over-sophisticated it closes its eyes to the ethical precepts. Man forgets everything save the satisfaction of his desires and replaces his loving, merciful heart by a selfish and ferocious disposition. His covetous greed takes the shape of an aching void which can never be filled in. This is the time when man becomes mad after the world and all that it stands for and, then, Providence moves to chasten him and give him his deserts.

During the era we speak of as the Age of Ignorance the entire human race had become so depraved, so cruel-hearted that it took pleasure in the suffering of man. This is not poetry but supported by hard facts of history: man had turned a demon who was most enthusiastic to witness the death and suffering of his own species. He prized the spectacle of the pangs of death suffered by human beings more than the pleasure he derived from merry-making, eating and drinking.

Gladiatorial sports involving combats between men and wild beasts under the Romans displayed more vividly than any other crime against humanity, the abyss for human nature to sink. But this was not an enormity that had captured the imagination of a few guilty conscience. Writing about the immense popularity of these shows Lecky says in his History of European Morals that the magnificent circus, the gorgeous dresses of the assembled Court, the contagion of a passionate enthusiasm thrilling almost visibly through the mighty throng, the breathless silence of expectation, the wild cheers bursting simultaneously from eighty thousand tongues, and echoing to the farthest outskirts of the city, the rapid alternation of the fray, the deeds of splendid courage that were manifes-ted were all fitted to entrance the imagination.? (W.E.H. Lecky: History of European Morals, Vol. l, p.119.)

The interest and enthusiasm that attended these games of inconceivable atrocity was so intense that special laws were found necessary, and sometimes insufficient, to check them.

Thus, the beast in man had taken hold of him during the Age of Ignorance. He had, by his deeds, furnished the proof that he had forfeited the right to live in this world, or, rather, he had himself lost every desire to remain in this world any more. Yet, his Lord and Master, the Most Compassionate and the Most Merciful had decided otherwise. He wanted to save the world and the progeny of Adam from death and destruction through a Messenger who was told that:

“And (O Muhammad!) We sent thee not save as a mercy for the peoples.”

It is plain as day that the entire duration of the world’s existence since the debut of the holy Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) stems from his merciful deeds. First of all he removed the Sword of Damocles hanging over the head of humanity by giving it a new ideal to live for and a new zest and confidence to work for it. A new age of culture and civilization, arts and learning, material and spiritual progress - a new brave world - came into existence through his efforts.

The first and foremost service that he rendered to the humanity consisted of the faith in the Oneness of God. No other creed more revolutionary, more life-giving and more profitable could have been vouchsafed to the humanity. Man had been proud and presumptuous, boastful of his creations, the philosophy and poetry and the art of government; he took pride in enslaving other countries and nations; often arrogated himself even to the position of God; but he also demeaned himself by bowing his head before inanimate, lifeless objects, things of his own creation and the mountains, rivers, trees and animals; and harbored credulous beliefs and irrational fear of the demons and devils. He spent his life in the fear of the unknown and the hope from non-existent powers which could not but foster mental confusion, cowardice, doubtfulness and indecision in him. The Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam), made him self-reliant, courageous, rational and undoubting by removing the fear of everything else save that of his real Master and the Lord. It was because of him that man came to recognize his Creator as the Supreme Power, the Enricher and Destroyer. This new discovery meant a world of change for him as he cut himself adrift from all superstitious beliefs, irrational fears, dubiousness and misgivings. He could now see the unity of cause in the manifoldness of phenomena, was reassured of his pivotal position in the scheme of creation, became aware of his worth and dignity, in short, his acceptance of the serfdom of the One and only God, Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), made him the master of every other created being and object. It was, thus, for the first time that man became aware of the exalted position allotted to him by Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa).

Unity of God came to be recognized, thank to the last Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam), as the guiding principle for all schools of thought, philosophies and creeds. Even polytheistic religions were so powerfully influenced by it that their votaries began to fight shy of their creeds and started putting up constructions to explain away their rites and observances demanding devotion to gods and demi-gods. The heathen belief in the worship of numerous deities began to suffer from a sense of inferiority from which it has still not recovered. This was the greatest gift bestowed on humanity by the holy Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam). 

(Continued)

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