Separating Truth From Glory

Separating Truth From Glory

1986 11 November 19 Separating Truth From Glory (278) “Whenever Our revelations are recited to them, they say: “We have heard them. If we wished, we could speak the like. They are but fables of the ancients.”

These words refer particularly to a man, Nazar ibn Harith who was a contemporary of the Prophet. He conducted business in Persia where he would hear grand stories about kings and commanders, and on returning home would give highly exaggerated versions of them to his countrymen in order to mock the contents of the Quran. After narrating his stories with great relish he would boast to his friends: “Whose stories are better, mine or Muhammad’s.” Later, this man came to fight the Muslims in the battle of Badr and was slain.

Today, no one in Mecca would think of uttering such words. Then how was it that fourteen hundred years before one could dare to do so? The reason is the difference of the times. Fourteen hundred years ago, both the Quran and Muhammad were objects of controversy. But today, as a matter of ancient history, the divine origin of the Quran and the Prophethood of Muhammad have come to be acknowledged as established facts.

The historical standing of the companions of the Prophet remains undiminished, for they attached themselves to Islam, judging the Quran and the Prophet purely on merit, at a time when Islam had yet to establish its glory. Today it is regrettable that many of those who wax eloquent on the subject of Islam do no more than recognise the glory that is Islam, forgetting that, whether or not it has fourteen hundred years of history to back it, Islam has to be accepted as truth.

The Inevitability of the Grave

1986 11 November 19 The Inevitability of the Grave (72) One day, when Umar came to see Abu Ubaidah, he found him lying on apiece of sacking used to saddle camels, with a bundle serving as a pillow. “So you have not done as our companions did?” Umar remarked, meaning that he had still not adopted the more prosperous ways of the times. Abu Ubaidah replied: “Commander of the faithful, this is enough to take me to my final resting-place.”

(Hilyatul Auliya)