Risaalat in Islâm

Our era is that of anguish and trouble.  And the whole world is struggling with tension and nothing is taken or accepted as common currency without "trust" as the password.
 
Trust is an exceptional asset.  Normally, a patient accepts the diagnosis and prescriptions of the doctor due to the trust the patient placed in him.  In the same way, the world evolves through confidence placed in technology and science.
 
Similarly, a Muslim must have a strong faith and conviction in all aspects of his religion (Deen).  He must believe and have faith in Al-Islam, as was taught by Allah Ta'aala and practised by the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) and all the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam  (Radiyallahu anhum).  This is Imaan.  In fact, Imaan (faith) is based on 3 important pillars which are known as "Usoul-e-Deen", namely:
 
Tauhîd - Faith in Allah
Risaalat - Faith in Prophecy
Aakhirah - Faith in the Hereafter.
 
Here, we will suffice ourselves with addressing the second pillar i.e. the Risaalat (Prophecy) of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam).  If we reject the Risaalat of Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam), the last Prophet in the long line of the Prophets of Allah (Alaihimus Salaam), the gate of Najaat (salvation) will be closed for us in the Aakhirah.  To have faith in Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) and in his Risaalat (his mission as Prophet) is also to accept all the details of his life and work.  To renounce one of his practices or one of his teachings is to deny the Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) and his prophecy.  This leads to the elimination of Imaan.  His statements, his way of life and his habits are all commendable, approved by Allah Ta'aala Himself.  So Risaalat is an important factor in Islam.  It is a distinction of nobility that is out of the ordinary!
 
A person can become a doctor or engineer by putting in effort and studying at a university.  In short, all mundane qualifications can be acquired in one way or another by adopting the appropriate procedures.  But as far as the Risaalat is concerned, it is a qualification that cannot be acquired by any material or physical means.  It is conferred only by Allah Rabb-ul-Aalameen.  The beneficiary of this divine gift is none other than a Prophet.  And the last beneficiary of this august gift is Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) whom Allah Ta'aala sent as the benefactor of humanity.
 
Being a Prophet, Muhammad (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) was therefore inspired, received revelations (Wahî) and was guided by the Omnipotent and the Omniscient, Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala.  All his deeds and declarations were dictated to him by Allah, Al-Haadi (the guide).  As a result, his behaviour, declarations and approvals are correct.  The Qur'aan-e-Majid says this clearly and sublimely:
 
"By the star when it goes down to set, your fellow (the Holy Prophet) has neither missed the way, nor did he deviate. He does not speak out of (his own) desire. It is but revelation revealed (to him).  It is taught to him by one (angel) of strong faculties." (53: 1-5)
 
It is really difficult for the mind that is conditioned by rationalism or modernism to understand Risaalat as conceived by Islam.  Human reasoning changes over time because it is shaped by its environment and its means.  If man is given the freedom to accept or affirm Risaalat based on statements or behaviours of a Prophet, it is very likely that one will rise in the morning as a believer and go to sleep in the evening as a non-believer or vice versa.  In fact, it will become a dilemma that a believer is not supposed to go through.
 
We unanimously agree that it is really ridiculous to try to illuminate the sun with a candle.  In fact, reasoning or logic is like a candle in front of the Prophecy of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam), which in itself is an infallible light and brighter than the sun.  So it is really childish to use ridiculous means to prove the truthfulness of Rasulullah's Prophecy (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam).  
 
This difference of thought existed among the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu anhoum) and the Kuffaar of Makkah.  The Sahaabah (Radiyallahu anhoum) accepted and practiced the teachings of the Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) because they emanated from him and no one else. On the other hand, the Kuffaar tried to justify the actions or statements of the Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) in the light of their thoughts or discredited him when they believed that one of his actions or statements was contrary to the status of a Prophet.  
 
For example, during the incident when the Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) married Hazrat Zainab Bint Jahsh (Radiyallahu anha).  She was divorced by Hazrat Zaid bin Haritha (Radiyallahu anhou), his (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) adopted son (his adoption dated before the advent of 'Islam). The Kuffaar, Mushrikeen and Munaafiqeen made a big fuss of this matter by crying out loud: "Muhammad (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) married the wife of his son!"  They sought to exploit this incident to reject him as a Prophet because they believed that such an act was contrary to Prophecy.  But the following verses were revealed and used to approve the action of the beloved of Allah Ta'aala.
 
"Call them by (the name of) their (real) fathers; It is more equitable in the sight of Allah.  And if you do not know their fathers, then they are your brothers in faith and your friends." (33: 5)
 
"So, when Zaid finished his desire for her (Zainab (Radiyallahu anha)), We gave her into your marriage Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) ..." (33: 37)
 
Similarly when the Qiblah was changed, that is, when the order to face towards the Ka'bah instead of Bait-ul-Muqaddas was received, the Kuffaar were dissatisfied and raised the usual objections in regards to the Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam).  But Allah Ta'aala called them fools because they tried to justify Muhammad's prophecy (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) in the light of his action and not vice versa.  In all these incidents, the moral of the Sahaabah (Radiyallahu anhum) was firm and unwavering, and at no time did they doubt the Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam).  All this was the result of their belief in Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) and in his Prophecy.

Now, us Muslims of the 21st century must endeavour to follow personalities like Hazrat Abu Bakr, the Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiyallahu anhu).  Today, the world with its economic prowess, sees advantages and benefits in the transaction of Ribaa (interest) despite the fact that Allah Ta'aala and his Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) declared it unlawful (Haraam).  This must be our point of view even if it seems like we have no valid argument to refute it.
 
Nikaah, Talaaq, the rights of succession, Pardah etc. must be accepted and practiced as advocated by Islam and taught by the Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) even if the world "sees" them inconceivable or discriminatory to one of the two sexes.  As Muslims, our life must be lived according to the precepts of Islam.  So we have no choice.
 
"It is not open for a believing man or a believing woman, once Allah and His messenger have decided a matter, that they should have a choice about their matter; and whoever disobeys Allah and His messenger, he indeed gets off the track, falling into an open error." (33:36)
 
This verse brings out three fundamental points:
 
1) The decision of Allah Ta'aala and His Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) on a matter is final.  We have no right to make a choice.
 
2) To make a choice after the choice and verdict of Allah Ta'aala and His Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) has been passed is to disobey Allah and His Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) .
 
3) The disobedience of Allah and His Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) is total misguidance.
 
“You may have an aversion to one thing, and it is good for you, you may love one thing, and it is evil for you. Allah knows and you do not know." (2:216)
 
Allah Ta'aala is our Creator and who other than Him can be truly aware of our nature?  And He Himself told us that we do not know and still He draws our attention to our ignorance.  Glory be to Allah!
 
So, it is incumbent on all those who believe in the truthfulness of Hazrat Muhammad's prophecy (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) and the message revealed to him in the form of the Qur'aan-e-Karim to submit totally to the precepts that He taught - the Deen Al-Islam - even if the whole world puts forward a thousand and one reasons to prove that they are supposedly, obstacles for the good social and economic development or that they are not applicable in this "evolved" era.
 
It is inadmissible to qualify the commandments of Allah Al A'lîm (the one who knows everything) to be discriminatory or outdated.
 
Islam is a living religion and it is not dictated in any way by the passion of man.  It is valid and will remain valid until the last day because it is the religion of Allah Ta'aala.   We should know that there is no truer and nobler word than that of Allah Ta'aala and Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam).  Is one not a real imbecile to deny the most beautiful and the truest word in order to follow that which is false and ephemeral?
 
"Who can be more truthful than Allah in speech?" (Al Qur'aan)

Unfortunately, today we tend to accept, believe and practice the word of Allah Ta'aala and the practices of the Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) in the light of scientific confirmations.  This erroneous attitude is really dangerous for our Imaan.  We must never wait for science to establish and affirm for us the benefits which are contained in the practices of the Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) before putting them into practice, for example:
 
1)      Eating with the hand helps digestion,
2)      Sleeping on the right side facilitates the heart rate, or
3)      Honey and Miswaak are beneficial for health.
 
The Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) told us to eat with the right hand, sleep on the right side and that there is cure in honey.  Therefore, we who have accepted him (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) as the messenger of Allah, must follow his advice meticulously without seeking explanations.  The Prophet's (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) practices need no evidence to be substantiated because he (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) himself is the criterion of complete acceptance - which is guaranteed by the Supreme Creator.
 
"There is indeed a good model for you in the Messenger of Allah ..." (33:21).
 
"And you are surely on an excellent standard of character." (68: 4)
 
So accepting the practice of the Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) because it is approved by science is an attitude that can lead us to misguidance and thereafter to apostasy or doubt.
 
Now, having the slightest doubt in one of the practices of the Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) is Kufr.
 
In short, the Imaan of a Muslim vis-à-vis to the word of Allah and His Prophet (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) must be unshakeable and stronger than his own observations, deductions or scientific data.  If we have succeeded in developing such an Imaan, then Inshaa Allah, it will be difficult to divert us from the Haqq.  For us Muslims, the prophecy of Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) remains the light that does not deserve to be illuminated further.  And now it is for us to enlighten ourselves with this light.
 
"O you who believe, fear Allah, and believe in His Messenger, and He will give you two shares (of reward) out of His mercy, and will make for you a light whereby you will walk, and will forgive you. And Allah is All Forgiving, Most Merciful." (57:28)
 
"A messenger who recites to you the verses of Allah, making (the truth) clear, so that He may bring forth those who believe and do righteous deeds from the layers of darkness into the light.  And whoever believes in Allah, and acts righteously, He will admit him to the gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein such people will live forever.  Allah has made for him a good provision" (65:11)
 
 (Aameen)

[English version of "Le Riçaalat en Islâm" - AL HAADÎ Vol.2 No.5]