THE MANAGEMENT OF TIME (4)

By
Ustaz Syed Hassan Alatas

Translation by Zasnoni 

The Prophet S.A.W. started his missionary (dakwah) work after the revelation of the first surah (Al Alaq 1-5). He quietly carried out his dakwah convincing man to follow the path of the truth, which Allah Demands. At that time man was widely deviated from the path of  "Tauhid" (oneness of Allah). Instead of worshipping Allah alone man was then worshipping idols, man himself, the sun, the moon, the stars, the trees, stones and many others. Man's humane characteristics have changed to animalism where the weak were oppressed and squeezed by the rich and powerful.  Such behavior was becoming normal. Man's moral was so low then that he would even marry his mother in law if his father in law dies.

Murder, burglary, theft and sex were rampant on land and at sea.  Man was split into many factions and clans where each of them was claiming to be superior to the others. As a consequence there were fights, wars and bitter feuds from time to time. The prophet S.A.W. was trying to correct this scenario. He was quietly persuading man to be at peace with one and another. However no one paid any attention and the chaotic situation lasted for 3 years.

 In spite of all the odds the Prophet quietly carried out his dakwah and slowly gained about 40 followers.   At the end of the 3 years of his prophethood the Prophet S.A.W was carrying out his dakwah openly and from this time onwards he faced many challenges. Leaders from the Kurish clan were constantly obstructing and pressuring the Prophet S.A.W. They even approached Abu Talib, the Prophet's uncle, with objections and threats from time to time. Many of his followers were threatened, tortured and killed in tragic and inhumane manners. 

When the Prophet could no longer bear to hear the groans and moans of his faithful followers he instructed them to migrate ( hijrah) and find shelter in  Habsyah. The Prophet S.A.W. on the other hand did not follow and instead stayed back in Mecca to face the threats, cruelties and tortures of the Kurish clan. He was willing to suffer for the sake of his "dakwah" in persuading man to the path of the truth, which Allah has commanded. He did not expect any thing in return for  his sacrifices. He continued and persevered in his dakwah works in helping and freeing the weak and the oppressed. The Kurish  clan failed to stop him. Help also came from many directions and from many people especially the weak and the poor.

Consequently, the Kurish clan met Abu Talib, the Prophet's S.A.W. uncle to whom they tried to influence and bribe the Prophet S.A.W. Among  the offers were  for unlimited wealth, the power and authority to be their leader and the offer of beautiful women. Unlike normal leaders the Prophet S.A.W. was however, not attracted by any of these offers. On the contrary, most normal leaders will abandon noble struggle if offered wealth, power and women. They are ever willing to trade or even to stop their missions and goals for the sake of these wordly gains. There are also leaders who double-crossed their own friends and colleagues in order to maintain power, wealth and women.  

(To be continued)