Malfuzat – Volume I — Page 221
Malfuzat - Volume I 221 account of which Allah the Exalted has always raised the Prophets, peace be upon them, and maintained the institution of Reformers (Mujaddidin) after the Seal of the Prophets, because along with their own practical example, these personages command a spiritual attraction and influence, and virtue of the highest degree can be observed in their persons. This is because a human being inherently seeks to follow perfection. If the nature of human beings had not possessed this faculty, there would be no need for the institution of Prophets, peace be upon them. What Causes the Divinely Commissioned to Be Opposed? There is the question as to why the Prophets, peace be upon them, and those who are commissioned by God Almighty, are opposed, and why people disregard their teaching? This is caused by the state of people themselves—a state which becomes the very reason for the advent of these holy personages in the first place. An ocean of sin and impiety rages on amidst the people, while they indulge in all forms of malefaction and wickedness, distancing them and depriving them of God Almighty; and it is this that suppresses their fine and virtuous essence. Since evil actions are at their pinnacle, the essence of human nature, which drives to- wards every form of perfection or uppermost limit, is diverted to follow a course of evil. It is this very hidden reality, which causes people to initially oppose the Prophets, peace be upon them, and those who are divinely commissioned by God, and to neglect their teaching. Ultimately, a time comes when people begin to turn towards these paradigms of virtue and the masses are once again attracted to perfection in goodness. This is why God Almighty states: وَالْآخِرَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ And the Hereafter with thy Lord is for the righteous. The Effect of Apparent Grace In short, human nature has been instilled with the characteristic that it desires to pursue every form of perfection. You may observe how in the case of modern British craftsmanship, for example, even things like the needle and knife, etc. , are held in high regard. These items are preferred immensely over domestic prod- ucts, even though not few, rather most of these foreign products, are artificially glossed. But even so, their apparent splendour and sheen is so alluring that they az-Zukhruf, 43:36 1