The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 162
PREFACE ESSENCE OF ISLAM 161 concept of [abd-slave]. This is why the first verse contains not only the promise of forgiveness but also the glad tidings of becoming the beloved of Allah. Essentially, the verse, [Say, ‘O my serv- ants'], in effect means, J; that is, 'Say O my followers who are beset by numerous sins, despair not of the mercy of Allah'; for Allah, glorified be His eminence, through the blessing of your following me, will forgive all your sins. If [ibād] is taken to mean only the crea- tures of Allah, the meaning becomes flawed; for, it is absolutely incor- rect to say that God Almighty would just forgive all idol worshippers and disbelievers without the condition of faith being fulfilled and the requirement of obedience being met. Such an interpretation would be clearly contrary to the explicit text of the Holy Quran. Remember here that the essence of this verse is that, 'O Messenger of Allah, those who wholeheartedly become your servants shall be granted the light of faith, love, and devotion that will liberate them from all that is besides Allah. They will be freed from sins, and a pure life will be granted to them in this very world. They will be brought out of the dark and confining graves of carnal desires and passions. The ,That is أَنَا الْحَاشِرُ الَّذِي يُحْشَرُ النَّاسُ عَلَى قَدَمِي. :same is indicated by the hadith I am that raiser of the dead at whose footsteps the dead are raised. Let it be clear that the Noble Holy Quran is filled with the expres- sion that the world had died, and Allah Almighty revived it anew by sending His Prophet, Khātamul-Anbiya' [the Seal of the Prophets], may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, as is said: اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُحْيِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا Meaning that: Take heed that Allah Almighty revives the earth after its death. 1. Şahih al-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Manāqib, Bāb Mā Jā’a fi Asmā' Rasūlullāh⁹as, Hadith 3532 [Publisher] 2. Surah al-Hadid, 57:18 [Publisher]