The British Government and Jihad — Page 12
12 trampled underfoot but did not utter a sound. Their children were cut to pieces before their very eyes. They were tortured with fire and water but, like innocent children, did not retaliate against this evil. Can anyone show that the people of any of the Prophets—despite possessing the ability to retaliate—heard God’s command and exercised similar restraint? Who can demonstrate that there has ever been another group like this? For these were a people who possessed bravery, unity in numbers, strength, ability to fight and all masculine qualities, and yet repeatedly restrained themselves for thirteen years in the face of a merciless and bloodthirsty enemy. The patience shown by our Lord and Master sa and his Companions ra was not due to their powerlessness. In fact, the hands and arms of the devoted Companions ra who exercised restraint at this time of patience were no different after the permission for jihad was granted. On occasion only one thousand young Muslims defeated one hundred thousand enemy soldiers. Events transpired in this way so that people would know that the patience demonstrated in Mecca was not due to any weakness or frailty; Muslims laid down their weapons upon hearing God’s command and were prepared to be slaughtered like goats and lambs. This type of patience is certainly beyond human capacity. Even if one studies the history of the whole world and all the Prophets, one cannot find such an abundance of virtues in any other commu- nity or in the followers of any other Prophet. If we listen to stories about patience from the past, then immediately it crosses one’s mind that the conditions of the time indicate that the reason for this patience was in fact cowardice or lack of power to retaliate. But the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of