The truth meets resistance when it clashes with desire. Reflections from Surat al Qasas
When Allah sent the truth to the people of Makkah and the cities surrounding it, the Prophet (peace be on him) was delivering the message to everyone. There had been no prophet or messenger in Makkah since the time of Ismail (peace be on him) which had been a very long time. Therefore the Arabs would go to the People of the Book to find out if he was telling the truth. The Jews and Christians were their point of reference but they denied that he was the prophet.
Allah Almighty addresses the Jews in the verses of Surat al Qasas and says that He sent them the truth through Musa and now He has sent the Quran through Muhammad (peace be on them), but they said both were magic:
But when the truth (i.e. Muhammad with his Message) has come to them from Us, they say: “Why is he not given the like of what was given to Musa (Moses)? Did they not disbelieve in that which was given to Musa (Moses) of old? They say: “Two kinds of magic [the Taurat (Torah) and the Qur’an] each helping the other!” And they say: “Verily! In both we are disbelievers.” (28:48)
Allah Almighty instructed the Prophet (peace be on him) to reply to their accusations by saying bring something better and then he will follow it:
Say (to them, O Muhammad ): “Then bring a Book from Allah, which is a better guide than these two [the Taurat (Torah) and the Qur’an], that I may follow it, if you are truthful.” (28:49)
The core of the issue is that they prefer to pursue their own desires.
The real reason they reject the message is not the message. Or that the message is not clear, but that they do not want to follow it. They would rather follow their own desires:
But if they answer you not (i.e. do not believe in your doctrine of Islamic Monotheism, nor follow you), then know that they only follow their own lusts. And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allah? Verily! Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (wrong-doers, disobedient to Allah, and polytheists). (28:50)
The revelation is above desire
You cannot reason with anyone who is following their whims and desires because they use what they like as their point of reference. Not what is right. The truth does not follow desire. It is above that.
No matter what you say to them, what proof or research or evidence you put before them, they will not accept it, because they are blinded by their desire.
Allah refers to those who believed in both messages, like Abdullah bin Salam and Salman Farsi and says that their reward will be multiplied because of their belief and the patience they had towards their people.
Guidance is not in our hands
Verily! You (O Muhammad ) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided. (28:56)
Ibn Abbas narrated that this ayah was revealed in relation to Abu Talib, as the Prophet (peace be on him) was so sad that his uncle would not accept Islam. Allah Almighty told him that guidance was not in his hands.
Allah Almighty guides those who intentions are sincere and who are seeking Him. If they are not interested, then they will not be guided.
Try your best to guide others using different techniques, but your mission is not to convert people, but to convey the message.
We ask Allah to guide us and keep us on the straight path. Ameen
Shaykh Haytham Tamim
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Shaykh Haytham Tamim
Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.
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