Al-Risala (English), September 1993
Al-Risala (English), September 1993, p. 2
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.
Prejudice, past and present
533
1993 9 September 2 Prejudice, past and present (282)
At the time when the Prophet of Islam migrated from Mecca to Medina, there was a sizeable number of Jews living in the city. One day one of their renowned religious scholars came to see the Prophet and put to him a question of considerable difficulty. The Prophet’s ability to answer it with ease made it clear to him that he was a true Prophet of God, and he thereupon accepted Islam.
Some time later, some other Jews came to meet the Prophet, ignorant of the fact that this former member of their community had accepted Islam, and now went by the name of Abduallah ibn Salam. These Jews were asked by the Prophet what they thought of him. They replied that he was their leader and the son of their leader, that he was a great religious scholar among them and the son of a great religious scholar. Then the Prophet asked them what they would think of him if he were to accept Islam. They said, “God forbid! he could never do such a thing! Abdullah ibn Salam, who was present at that time inside the Prophet’s dwelling, came out and said to the Jews, “Fear God! By God, he is God’s messenger. He has been sent with the truth, and I have believed in him, You should do likewise.”
On hearing this, the Jews’ tone changed, and they told him that he was lying. According to another tradition, they insulted him by telling him that he was the worst person among them, and the son of the worst person.
It is regrettable that this form of prejudice is found today just as much as it was in the past.
