God’s Succour

God’s Succour

1990 6 June 8 God’s Succour (260) Much has been written by historians to explain the extraordinary Arab conquests during the life of the Prophet and later in the early period of Islam. The Encyclopaedia Britannica says: “At Least three aspects of the contemporary situation of Byzantium and Persia account for the phenomenal ease with which the Arab overcame their enemies: first, both empires, exhausted by wars had demobilized before 632 A.D. (Vol. III, p. 557). This is only partially true from the historical standpoint, for both of these superpowers still had considerable military forces with which to resist the Muslim onslaught.

It is with this first aspect that we are concerned, for this blood confrontation between these superpowers was surely direct succour from God in favour of Islam. In the present world, God’s help comes to mankind in the veil of cause and effect. Therefore, so that these powers should not be in a position to pose a powerful threat to Islam, God weakened them before the Muslim attack.

Even today, God’s succour can take material shape on this earth, provided the believers can, by their actions, make themselves deserving of it, just as the Muslims of the early period proved themselves deserving candidates for God’s assistance.

Divine succour can take innumerable forms. But only God knows in which form and for whom he will send it. It is a certainty, however, that for those who are unswerving in their faith in God and who act as God commands, divine succour will descend in one or other of the myriad forms conceived of by the Almighty.

The greatest work is that which requires the greatest effort on one’s own part

1990 6 June 8 The greatest work is that which requires the greatest effort on one’s own part (32) The Prophet mentioned three of the most difficult actions; to be just with people in matters concerning oneself; to help one’s brethren with one’s wealth; and to remember God in all circumstances.