The Message That Represents the Truth, Adil Salahi

The Message That Represents the Truth

Adil Salahi

Arab News, 6/22/04

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was keen that people should accept his message and believe in God as the only deity who has no partners. It is He who has created the universe and only He conducts all its affairs. Should they believe, associating no partners with God, then they stand to earn admittance into heaven. Because the Prophet was keenly aware that his message represented the truth in its total purity, he wanted all people to benefit by this truth, so that they would be free from error in their beliefs and practices. Because he knew that his is the true faith and the Qur’an is God’s word, Muhammad never despaired of persuading people to believe. A man might be hardened in his opposition to Islam, but that did not prevent the Prophet from assuring him that Islam was the faith God wants people to follow. He would read to him some verses from the Qur’an, hoping that his receptive faculties would be responsive, enabling him to see the truth and act on its basis.

The Prophet took every opportunity to make the basic Islamic beliefs known to people, because he was aware that human nature responds positively to them when it is freed from the shackles imposed on it. There are many examples in the Prophet’s life showing him addressing people and making use of the opening any opportunity provides.

One such opportunity offered itself at the time when Abu Talib, the Prophet’s uncle who gave him support and protection against any harm the unbelievers might have wanted to cause him, was taken ill and it was clear that he was about to die. Abu Talib was a distinguished figure among the Arabs, leading the Hashimite branch of the Quraysh tribe. He was very kind to the Prophet, as he looked after him since Muhammad was an 8-year-old boy. Although he loved the Prophet and realized that Muhammad never told a lie, Abu Talib did not believe in Islam. As his death seemed approaching, the Quraysh leaders conferred among themselves on what his death might signify in their relations with Muhammad. Some of them suggested: “Let us go to Abu Talib so that he may work out some sort of accommodation between us and his nephew. Unless we do so, his followers may someday try to take power in this city of ours.”

A strong delegation, including the most distinguished among them such as Utbah, Shaybah, Abu Jahl, Umayyah ibn Khalaf and Abu Sufyan, went to Abu Talib, enquiring after his health. They said to him: “You know how distinguished your position is among us, and how much we respect you. In your present condition we candidly say that we fear the worst for you. You are aware of the strained relations between your nephew and ourselves. We suggest that you call him and let both him and us give you some form of pledges so that each party will leave the other alone and we establish a peaceful relationship between him and us.”

Abu Talib sent a word to the Prophet and he came in and entered the room. Between the delegation and Abu Talib there was room for one man only. Abu Jahl feared that should Muhammad sit next to his uncle, Abu Talib might be more lenient with him. Therefore, he hurriedly moved to sit in that place. Finding no other place vacant, the Prophet sat near the door.

Abu Talib said to the Prophet: “My nephew! These are the leaders of your people. They have asked to see you for an arrangement of give and take.” Addressing the delegation, the Prophet said: “All I ask you is one word. Should you give me that, your authority over all the Arabs will be strengthened. The non-Arabs will also submit to you.”

Said they: “All you ask is one word! Yes, indeed. We will give you that, and ten words like it. What is it you ask of us?”

God’s Messenger, the advocate of truth and the herald of every good thing, put his request clearly: “You declare that you believe in God’s oneness and renounce the worship of any deity besides Him.”

They rose, realizing that there could be no compromise on Muhammad’s part, and said: “Do you, Muhammad, want to have only one God instead of all those deities? That is very strange indeed.” They then left feeling disappointed.

Yet why should they feel any disappointment? They had tried compromise before and they found the Prophet holding on to the basics of his message. They tried to tempt him with a variety of offers, but he always showed unwavering trust that his message will be triumphant because it was the message of the truth. He sought no gains for himself or his followers. He made it clear to friend and enemy alike that he coveted no wealth, position or power. He only wanted what is best for all mankind, namely, belief in God’s oneness and following His laws. This is the reason why he seized every opportunity to speak to people about his faith, calling on them to believe in God’s oneness.

We see him speaking to his uncle Abu Talib, when the latter was on his deathbed, with the end certain to be near. A longer version of the above report mentions that when those people departed, Abu Talib said to the Prophet: “My nephew! I do not think you asked them too much.” Encouraged, the Prophet said: “Then you, Uncle, say that word. It will earn you the right to benefit by my intercession on the Day of Judgment.” Abu Talib realized that his nephew, who loved him dearly, was keen that he should declare his belief by saying this declaration. So he made his position clear: “Nephew! If it was not for fear of abuse being hurled against you and your clan after I had gone, and for fear that the Quraysh would think that I said it because I was afraid of death, I would have certainly said it to please you.”

The Prophet’s keen desire that his uncle, and his people should accept Islam was motivated only by his love and care. He wanted them to be the first to benefit by accepting the faith. This was his motive and it remains the motive of all advocates of the truth in all generations. No advocate of Islam seeks gain for himself through such advocacy. If he was after such personal gain, then he is not included among the true advocates of Islam.

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