The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 211
VII - Days of Struggle 211 “ Nothing of this narration is correct, neither in the aspect of narration nor in the aspect of common sense. ” 1 On the other hand, many A ’i mmah-e-Ḥadīth have not even made mention of this occurrence. For example, the Ṣiḥāḥ Ṣittah has not even hinted towards it, though mention of the recitation of Sūrah An-Najm and the prostration of the Quraish is present in it. It is apparent that this narration passed the eyes of the Muhaddithīn , who rejected it with belief of its forgery and unreliability. In the same manner, many great Mufassirīn 2 , such as Imam Rāzī have declared this instance vain and devoid of truth. 3 Moreover, among the mystics, sagacious ones, the like of Ibni ‘Arabī, have stated, لَا اَصْل َ لَھَا meaning, “There exists no truth in this occurrence”. 4 Furthermore, if the verses of Sūrah An-Najm are analysed from beginning to end, which are replete with teachings against the concept of polytheism, the falsehood of this instance is conclusively established. One cannot entertain the belief that in a monotheistic message, which emphasises the oneness of God with such fervour, a clear verse of polytheistic nature could find way of inclusion, and that almost simultaneously the same tongue could utter two extraordinarily conflicting statements. In addition to this, the life of the Holy Prophet sa , compels common sense to fend off this tale. Prior to his prophethood, he was a man who, all his life, did not indulge in idol worship, despite the fact that his entire nation was idolatrous. Can the common sense of any individual entertain the belief that when a clear order from God Almighty was present, instructing him to raise a voice against idolatry, and enjoin the people to the worship of one God, and the foundation stone of his religion rests upon the unity of God the Almighty, for which he disputes with others, day in and day out, that merely to please the Quraish, upon this instance, he bowed his head towards idolatry? After all, is common sense nothing? Simply cast a glance upon the life of the Holy Prophet sa. For the pleasure of the infidels, did the Holy Prophet sa ever abandon any of his religious principles? In order to prompt the infidels to join forces with him did the Holy 1 Al-Minhāju bi-Sharḥi Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim bin Al-Ḥajjāj, p. 533, Kitābul-Masājid wa Mawāḍi‘iṣ-Ṣalāh, Bābu Sujūdit-Tilāwah, Dāru Ibni Hazam, First Edition (2002) 2 Commentators of the Holy Qur’ān (Publishers) 3 At- Tafsīrul-Kabīr, By Imām Muḥammad bin ‘Umar bin Al-Ḥusain Fakhr-ud-Dīn Ar-Rāzī, Volume 23, pp. 44-48, Tafsīru Sūratil-Ḥajj, Verse 53, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2004) 4 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Volume 2, p. 25, Bābu Dukhūlish-Sha‘bi wa Khabriṣ-Ṣaḥīfah, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebehon, First Edition (1996)