Prophets of old
Al-Risala (English), July-August 1993, p. 24
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.
Prophets of old
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1993 7-8 July-August 24-25 Prophets of old (359)
‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abbas tells of how the Prophet, on reaching Medina after his emigration from Mecca, found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura – the tenth day of the month of Muharram. He asked them what the special significance of that day was that they should make it a day of fasting. “This is a day of the greatest importance,” they replied. “It was on this day that God rescued Moses and his people, at the same time drowning their enemies. Moses, in thanksgiving, fasted on this day, and we follow his example.’’’ “We are more worthy, and we are closer to Moses than you,” the Prophet replied, and he thereupon declared that day a day of fasting, exhorting his followers to do likewise.
It is clear from this incident that the practices of the ancient prophets are to be followed by Muslims, as was done in pre-Islamic times. Bearing this in mind, we should give our attention to another aspect of Moses’ mission which sets an important example for the Muslims of today.
When Moses began his mission to Egypt, he came into contact with two separate groups of people – the Pharaoh’s clan, known as Qabtaeans, and the Children of Israel. The latter were the Muslims of their day, but, like the Qabtaeans, had strayed far away from divine guidance. The Qabtaeans’ transgression took the form of idolatry and paganism and while the Children of Israel professed true religion, their religious practices were, in fact, a crude distortion of the teachings of their Prophets. Moses, born amongst the Children of Israel, was charged with the task of reforming his peoples. He did not, however, wait until his own people had mended their ways before he conveyed the message of God to Pharaoh. He carried out both tasks simultaneously, addressing himself both to the Qabtaeans and to the Children of Israel.
The example of Moses clearly shows what a Muslim’s course of action ought to be. That is, even where Muslims themselves are in need of reform, the task of communicating the message of Islam to non-Muslims should not be delayed until Muslim reform has been accomplished.
