An Example of Noble Character

MERCY TO THE WORLDS reach. Guided by God, the Prophet set aside what was impossible and began Islamic work by focusing on what was possible. There is a well-known saying in English: “Politics is the art of the possible.” I would say that the Islamic approach to action is to begin with what is non-confrontational: “The prophetic way of beginning is to begin from the possible.” Ease Within Hardship When the Prophet of Islam and his early companions initiated a revival of Prophet Abraham’s mission in Makkah, they encountered intense opposition from the people of Makkah—who were themselves descendants of Abraham. It seemed as though Makkah had become a place of constant hardship for Islam. At that time, the law of nature established by God in this world was conveyed to them through the Quran: “So, surely with every hardship there is ease; surely, with every hardship there is ease.” (Quran, 94:5–6) This highlights a crucial aspect of the Prophet’s method for achieving success. It shows that God’s law of nature in this world is such that it is never solely a place of hardship. Alongside every difficulty, there is always ease. In other words, even where there appears to be a disadvantage, opportunities are also present. One example of this “ease within hardship” is that although there were opponents like Abu Jahl in Makkah, there were also individuals like Umar (the 2nd Caliph) who accepted the truth. If changing the external conditions of the Kaaba was difficult at that time, it was still possible to bring