Through Force or Faith? — Page 91
Chapter 1 — Analysis of the Papal Lecture 91 lying about humans but would fabricate a lie about God. And I had asked you if powerful people have become his followers or the weak, and you had said that the weak among you have become his followers; and such people become the followers of prophets. And I had asked you if they are growing or shrinking, and you stated that they are increasing; and that is exactly what happens with faith till it reaches its pinnacle. And I had asked you if anyone after joining his faith left it after becoming disillusioned and you stated No. And faith is exactly like this that its succour permeates the hearts. And I had asked does he renege on his pledges, and you said, No. Messengers are exactly such. They do not break a pledge. And I had asked you what does he enjoin you? You stated that he enjoins you to worship Allah, and not to set up any partners with Him and he prohibits you from worshipping idols, and he enjoins you Prayer, truthfulness, chastity. Therefore, if what you say is true, then soon he will become the master of where I stand. And I already know he was soon to appear but I did not imagine that he would be from among you (Arabs). If I knew I could reach him safely, I would accept hardship to get his audience and if I was in his attendance, I would wash his feet. (Bukh ā rī, Book on the Beginning of Revelation) Similarly, Naj ā shī (A sh amah) of Abyssinia was the ruler of the state of Aksum. The title of the ruler of Aksum was Naj ā shī ( The Encyclopedia of Islam, New Addition vol. VII, Leiden, 1993). In the time of the Naj ā shī, some Muslims migrated to Abyssinia to escape persecution by the Quraish of Makkah. Quraish sent ‘Abdull a h bin Rab i ‘ah and Amr bin al-‘ Ā s with gifts to A sh amah to have him expel the Muslims from Abyssinia. Instead of forming