Chief of the Prophets — Page 51
Chapter Four 51 Were the religious practices taught by Muḥammad sa taking them away from the true God? If the answer to all of the above questions was negative, then what was the cause of such vigorous opposition to Muḥammad sa ? In reality, prophets are raised at those times when the world has turned away from God. The darkness of sin had prevailed, and the light of goodness had weakened. Ignorant and mischievous people unaware of the Divine realities assume the leadership of religion, 1 and the humiliation and mockery of nobles is their lifeblood. When a new guide or messenger comes to them with guidance, they consider the acceptance of his message by people a threat to their own authority and honour; and become the messenger’s sworn enemies. They brand the virtuous and profound message as misleading, and reject the messenger’s signs because of their exceeding hostility and enmity. They say: (Al-An‘ām 6:38) Why has not a Sign been sent to him from his Lord? The majority of the general public is usually on the side of the so- called religious scholars, who greatly incite them. Sometimes they say to them that the messenger wants to turn them away from the religion of their ancestors. 2 Sometimes they provoke masses by saying that the messenger defiles their esteemed gods, 3 or that if he were truthful it would prove that their ancestors were misguided. 4 In essence, the opposition and denial faced by Muḥammad sa reminds 1 Al-An’ām 6:123–130 2 Al-Baqarah 2:1–287 3 Al-Anbiyā 21:95–113 4 Al-Baqarah 2:165–68