The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 113
The Need for Prophets 113 happenings are witnessed, which reveal the countenance of God and the world bears witness that God exists. Had the Holy Prophetsa not turned to God with so much supplication, entreaty and earnestness, and had he not offered the sacrifice of his self and accepted a hundred deaths at every step, Divine countenance would never have been revealed to the world, because God Almighty, due to His Self-Sufficiency, is completely independent. He says: انَّ اللهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَلَمِينَ 93 94 وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِ يَنْهُم سُبُلَنَا ". That is: 'Allah is independent of all the worlds;' and 'It is Our eternal law that those who strive after Us and seek Us with the utmost effort, We show them Our way. '. The first and foremost in offering sacrifices in the cause of Allah, are the Prophets. Everyone strives for himself but Prophets strive for others. People sleep, but the. Prophets stay awake on their behalf. People laugh and the Prophets weep for them. They willingly bear hardship for the deliverance of mankind. They do this so that God may so manifest Himself that people should be convinced that He exists, and His existence and Unity may be clearly perceived by them and through such perception mankind might attain salvation. Thus the Prophets suffer death out of their sympathy for their enemies. And when their agony reaches its climax and heaven is filled with their tormented supplications, God Almighty exhibits the brightness of His countenance and manifests His 93 Al-e-'Imran, 3:98 [Publisher] 94 Al-'Ankabūt, 29:70 [Publisher]