God Will Reward the Thankful
Al-Risala (English), December 1988, p. 6
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.
God Will Reward the Thankful
1988 12 December 6 God Will Reward the Thankful (360) “Mohammad is no more than an apostle: other apostles have passed away before him. If he dies or be slain, will you recant? He that recants will do no harm to God. But God will reward the thankful” (Quran 3:144).
Historians tend to stress the role of the Prophet Muhammad as a conqueror, but the true believer thinks of him as a preacher of faith – one who called mankind to God. One of the historic occasions on which his mission was placed in its true perspective was the Battle or Uhud, when the tide had turned against the Muslims. A crucial mistake had been made, the greater part of the army had dispersed, but the Prophet, along with fifteen staunch followers held grimly to their positions, unmindful of the hail of arrows when fell on them, and the slashing of swords all around them. In the thick of the fighting, one of the idolators, one Abdullah ibn Qumayya, threw a stone at the Prophet, but was fought off by Mas’ab ibn Umair, one of the Prophet’s companions. In the ensuing duel, Mas’ab ibn Umair was slain. Abdullah ibn Qumayya, thinking that it was the Prophet himself he had killed, set up a great hue and cry: “Mohammad has been slain! Mohammad has been slain!”
This news had the most devastating effect on the Muslims, even those who had retreated from the field of battle. It has been recorded in Bukhari that “some hypocrites said: ‘If Mohammad has been killed, then you might as well revert to your former religion.’ But Anas ibn Nadhr said: ‘Mohammad may have been killed, but his Lord has not.” (Tafseer Mazhari).
By another account, related by Ibn Kathir, one of the Ansar observed: “Mohammad may have been killed, but he has communicated his message; now is the time to fight for your faith.”
The following verse from the Quran is the best commentary on this incident:
“Mohammad is no more than an apostle: other apostles have passed away before him. If he die or be slain, will you recant? He that recants will do no harm to God. But God will reward the thankful” (3:144).
