Walk Upon the Earth Modestly

Walk Upon the Earth Modestly

1989 1 January 3 Walk Upon the Earth Modestly (361) “The faithful servants of God are they who walk upon the earth modestly and, when the foolish ones address them, answer: Peace.” (Quran, 25:63)

What an excellent formula the Quran offers for good human relationships and social stability. Our walking “modestly” ensures that we do not, either physically or mentally, ruffle the sensibilities of our fellow-men. And when we answer, “Peace” in the face of provocation by “the foolish ones,” our action surely has a calming effect upon would-be wrongdoers. But how many present-day Muslims recognise this formula and actually act upon it? Obviously, too few, considering the frequency with which riots break out on occasions which certainly do not call for any kind of violent disturbance. This is in large measure due to their dwelling unduly upon the notion that they are the chosen people of God. This causes them to feel proud and haughty, at which point their attachment to their religion is reduced to mere lip-service. It exists for them in form but not in spirit, for when they make reference to their religion only in order to display their superiority over others, their entire moral code becomes distorted. Wrong thinking about their religion, far from inspiring virtuous conduct, causes a moral decline to set in.

They may hold their heads high when they make it known that they are the upholders of the purest and most original form of monotheism. But they do their faith a great disservice when they persist in revering human personalities instead of God Almighty. They take a pride in saying that Islam teaches total equality, but, ironically, continue to discriminate between individuals, allowing themselves to be influenced by purely material considerations. They are the first to make public capital out of Islam’s exhortations to do good and shun evil, but in private they pay little heed to these precepts. If anyone dares to point out these contradictions, they immediately turn hostile.

The greatest paradox is that they pride themselves on the sublime character of their Prophet, in particular, his refusal to be provoked, while they themselves flare up over trivialities, even asking why they should not react in the face of provocation.