Malfuzat – Volume I — Page 123
Malfuzat - Volume I 123 in that era there was a dire need for God's mercy and this is why the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was addressed in the following terms: وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَلَمِينَ And We have sent thee not but as a mercy for all peoples. A person who is in a pitiable state and deserving of mercy is the one who is ordered to traverse a snake-infested land, in other words he is faced with grave dangers and severe calamities. And so, this nation was described as a 'community blessed with divine mercy' because it was in a difficult state. When someone is assigned a difficult task, their challenging situation arouses pity and they become deserving of mercy. The Holy Prophets was confronted by a people who were experienced in the ways of mischief, were malevolent and hardened in evil. But the Holy Propheta, as he stated himself, was unlettered and was untaught in the secular sciences. And so, those who were unlettered contended with those who were seasoned in scheming and mischief. This is why Islam has been referred to as marhumah (blessed with divine mercy). How pleased should the Muslims be, for Allah the Exalted has deemed them worthy of receiving His blessings and mercy. Previously, Prophets and other preachers appeared in times when the people were not experienced in plotting schemes. Some of these guides came to their own people. But in today's age the people are seasoned experts in fraud, and in secular knowledge and skill, as well as in philosophy and science. However, the righteous are scarcely involved in the field of secular knowledge; they have no interest in worldly mindsets, or its intricacies and artifices. It has been related in a Hadith that Allah Almighty said: 'O Jesus! I shall create a community after you who will be both devoid of sense and bereft of knowledge, i. e. they will be ignorant. Jesus responded: i. e. ‘O Allah! When they shall be deprived of knowledge and sense, how then shall they recognise you?' Allah the Exalted responded: 'I shall confer upon them knowledge and sense. The Affinity of Muslims with Heavenly Knowledge This is a great glad tiding. For just as our opponents have a special relationship with secular knowledge, the Muslims have an affinity with heavenly knowledge. 1 al-Anbiya, 21:108