An Example of Noble Character

MERCY TO THE WORLDS communist revolutions only changed those in power but never fulfilled the ideological vision in its entirety. In contrast, Islam achieved full ideological realization within its first generation—the era of the Prophet of Islam, Abu Bakr, and Umar. Had the Arab conquests occurred during the Umayyad caliphate, or if the expansion into Iran and Rome had happened under the Abbasids, Islamic history could not have produced the remarkable model of human society seen in its earliest phase. That early model remains an enduring example for all of humanity. By the time the next generation arrived, the original spirit of Islam had already begun to weaken. What allowed the Islamic revolution to reach completion in its first generation, while other ideologies required several generations? One key reason is the availability of highly committed individuals. Most other ideologies lacked sufficient dedicated followers in their formative stages. In contrast, the Islamic ideology from the very beginning had a strong core group of capable and devoted individuals. Through their extraordinary effort and sacrifice, they brought the ideology to full realization within their own lifetimes. The Quranic verse, “God knows best where to place His message” (6:124), contains another layer of meaning. It suggests that the place of the Prophet’s birth and the center of his activity were chosen with exceptional care to ensure the presence of such capable individuals from the outset. From the outside, the Arabian Peninsula may have seemed the least likely place for such a mission. The historical