Malfuzat - Volume IV — Page 167
167 Malfuzat – Volume IV of Allah himself, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Even if the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had not explicitly spoken of the Era of the Misguided, we have at our disposal the Holy Quran which states: 1 ْ ُم ِِهِ َب ُْوْا ْق َـ ْح ْ ُل َ ُي َا َم َ ْل ْ ُم ُ ِه ِْنْ َم َ ُن ْ ُي ِ َر َوَٰاَخَ And among others from among them who have not yet joined them. This verse clearly shows that there is necessarily an era that is opposed to the way of the companions, and the events show as well that during this thousand year period, Islam was subject to countless challenges and misfortunes. Except for a select few, the vast majority abandoned Islam and many sects were formed like the Mutazilites and those who taught freedom from divine law. I do accept, however, that not a single era has passed in which we do not find an example of the blessings of Islam. However, the holy people and saints of Allah who were present in this middle-age were so few and far between that in compari - son to the millions of people who had deviated from the straight path and who had become distanced from Islam, their number was insignificant. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saw this era with his eye of prophethood and named it the Era of the Misguided. But now it is the will of Allah Almighty to give birth to another vast group of people that will be called the community of the companions. However, since the law of nature as instituted by God Almighty dictates that divinely established communities pro - gress in stages, so too, my community will grow in stages, and as the Quran states it will do so: ٍٍْع َر َ ِز َکَ (like a tilth). The aims and objectives are like a seed that is sown in the earth. The higher stations and higher objectives to which Allah Almighty wishes to exalt this community are still very far off. They cannot be attained until the distinctive quality that forms the basis for the establishment of this commu - nity is developed. There must be a distinct nature even in our expression of God’s Oneness. There must be a distinct nature in our complete devotion to God. There must be a distinct nature in our remembrance of Allah. There must be a distinct nature in which we fulfil the rights owed to our brethren. The Purpose of the Advent of Prophets The common purpose in the advent of all the Prophets, peace be upon them, is to nurture a true and sincere love for God Almighty, to foster the distinct quality 1 al-Jumu’ah , 62:4 p. 533