No two ways about preaching
Al-Risala (English), April 1985, p. 17
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
No two ways about preaching
1985 4 April 17 No two ways about preaching (264) What makes the task of preaching unadulterated religion so exacting? It is because people are loath to accept the proclamation of true, unadulterated religion. Having built an edifice of national pride on the basis of religion, they cannot abide the message of pure humility and total submission to the will of God that true religion conveys. They view it as a challenge to their worldly honour and status. This is more than they can bear; therefore, they turn hostile to it and exert all their might to thwart its progress. But God did not allow the making of concessions in order to make the message acceptable to them:
“Follow then the right path as you are bidden, together with those who have repented with you, and do not transgress. He is aware of what you do.
And put no trust in the wrong doers, lest you get touched by the fire. You have no protectors besides Allah. Then you will not be helped (11: 112-13).
“They sought to entice you from Our revelations, hoping that you might invent something else in Our name, and thus become their trusted friend. Indeed had We not strengthened your faith you might have made some compromise with them, and thus tasted a punishment in this life and in the next. Then you should have found none to protect you (from Our wrath)” (17:75).
The hardest job is, indeed, to preach an unadulterated version of religion, whereas preaching a religion which seeks compromise and takes into account the worldly interests of the people is the simplest thing to do.
