The Detroit Address — Page 10
10 once were slaves? Even at that time, powerful and wealthy nations had slaves which included not only blacks but also all other races. N uh as told his people that in their eyes those who have neither wealth, worldly status, nor national supe- riority are a despicable lot and should be ignored. He fur- ther told his people that they were wrong in asking him to adopt their criteria before they agreed to listen to him. This dialogue between N uh as and his people also indicates that N uh as himself belonged to an elite ruling class, which held a high status and authority, and people of his class felt embar- rassed and disgraced when N uh as started embracing the low and the poor. Therefore, the elite wanted nothing to do with him. They would have gladly accepted him if N uh as had con- fined his work to the elite group and excluded the poor and the lowly. By not adopting their course, they claimed that N uh as had disgraced his class of people. In response to this, Hadrat N uh as said: 1 ْنِا َيِرْجَا اَّلِا ىَلَع ِهّٰللا َو ۤاَم اَنَا ِدِراَطِب َنْيِذَّلا اْوُنَمٰا١ؕ You are unaware of the greatness granted to my followers by God. My reward is due from Allah alone. In no case will I reject, or drive away, those who believe in God. 2 ْمُهَّنِا اْوُقٰلُّم ْمِهِّبَر 1. Sūrah H u d, 11:30 [Publisher] 2. Sūrah H u d, 11:30 [Publisher]