Correspondence with Maulana Abul Lais Islahi Nadwi

DISCUSSION AND CORRESPONDENCE does not address the numerous other verses. But this argument is unnecessary concerning the matter, so I leave it. instead, I would ask, how was the stubbornness of the rejectors determined—was it divinely revealed, or was it known only after an invitation was extended? After all, what were the acts of making them accept the Truth which established that they were not going to take that? And, that the role of the prophet has ended as far as his responsibility of conveying the message to them was concerned. And they cannot claim on the Day of Resurrection that why are they being punished for the crimes that were not explained to them. In other words, the responsibility that was on the addresser has gone on to the addressee now. So, what was that effort of conveying the message or establishing the truth which made the above situation possible? It is clear that this was not a practical shahadah of any “system of life,” because no such system had yet been established. Instead, it was precisely what Maulana Sadruddin himself characterized elsewhere as ‘missionary efforts.” Now, if in his view this appears to be “merely an initial shahadah,” I have no objection— because, by his own words, this initial shahadah was regarded by God Almighty as the “ultimate shahadah.” Based on that, it was declared that the proof of shahadat al-haqq had been fulfilled against them, and