By Rana Rais Khan – Founder, “Hiba” Family Resource Centre
“It is He, Who has sent among the unlettered (Arabs) a messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them, and teaching them the book (i.e., the Quran) and wisdom (i.e., the Sunnah). Although they were before in clear error.” (Al-Jumu’ah 62:2)
The beloved Prophet Muhammad (sa) recited Surah Al-Jumu’ah in the first Rakah of Jumuah Salah. It is known that after migrating from Makkah to Madinah, the Messenger (sa) established the Salat-e-Jumu’ah on the fifth day of his arrival. This Surah was intended to unite Muslims for worship, learning, socialization and renewal of relationships.
The Knowledge Revolution Stirred up by the Unlettered Arabs
Jews insulted Arabs by calling them Ummi (unlettered), as the Arabs neither knew how to read or write, nor did they ever produce works of scholarship. Jews, on the contrary, carried the title of Al-Ahbaar (people of the ink) due to their stained finger tips, as a result of turning the pages of their books. They took pride in their scholarly works and being the chosen ones. However, their actions were not in accordance with Allah’s (swt) commands at all.
The above verse was the last and final address by Allah (swt) to Jews, after their defeat at the battle of Khaibar. Allah (swt) has called Arabs as Ummi but in an honourable way. It was His divine plan to send Rasool Allah (sa) as an Ummi to this nation, too. For the past six hundred years, both Christians and Jews had been awaiting the arrival of their imminent prophet. Allah (swt) sent him to the unlettered Arabs, instead of Bani Israel.
The knowledge that was produced and spread after the revelation of the glorious Quran changed the human history. Sciences, libraries and inventions followed.
In times of imperialism, kings used to assume themselves as gods. They imprisoned thinkers, philosophers and scientists. Anyone who dared to think and question was punished. The Prophet (sa) was the one to unlock this prison. The Quran invited man to observe and discover Allah’s (swt) universe. Today’s science owes a great part of its success to Islam.
Jaffar (rta) Explains the Condition of the Arabs Before Islam
Undoubtedly, before the advent of Prophet (sa), Arabs were absolutely misguided. Jaffar bin abi Talib (rtam) in the fifth year of Muhammad’s (sa) prophethood, in his eloquent speech at the court of the Christian king Negus, drew a vivid comparison of the state of Arabs before and after the arrival of the Messenger (sa).
He said: “O king! We were plunged in the depth of ignorance and barbarism; we adored idols, we lived in unchastity, we ate the dead bodies, and we spoke abominations, we disregarded every feeling of humanity, and the duties of hospitality and neighborhood were neglected; we knew no law but that of the strong, when Allah (swt) raised among us a man, of whose birth, truthfulness, honesty, and purity we were aware; and he called to the oneness of Allah (swt) and taught us not to associate anything with Him.
He forbade us the worship of idols, and he enjoined us to speak the truth, to be faithful to our trusts, to be merciful and to regard the rights of the neighbours and kith and kin; he forbade us to speak evil of women, or to eat the substance of orphans; he ordered us to flee from the vices and to abstain from evil; to offer prayers, to render alms, and to observe fast.
We have believed in him, we have accepted his teachings and his injunctions to worship Allah (swt), and not to associate anything with Him, and we have allowed what He has allowed, and prohibited what He has prohibited.” (“Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum”)
The purpose and principles Prophet (sa) instilled in the unlettered Arabs created the best of people in the worst of circumstances. Allah (swt) appointed the Messenger (sa) with four tasks to deliver. Today, every Islamic curriculum must include these for personal or societal reform.
Task 1: Recited to Them the Verses
As the Quran revealed upon the heart of the Messenger (sa), he was trained by Allah (swt) to carry out the noble responsibility of enforcing Islam’s message. Likewise, the Prophet (sa) taught his companions, firstly, to recite correctly the Ayahs of the Quran and, secondly, understand the signs around them in Allah’s (swt) vast universe.
There were three types of signs around them, that the Prophet (sa) taught the Sahabah to decode:
- Ayat il Mashhoodah – signs that could be observed;
- Ayat il Masmooaah – signs that could be heard;
- Ayat il Maaqoolah – signs that could be understood.
The alternation of night and day, the arrival and departure of seasons, the growth and harvest of our food, the eco systems, and the like. He would draw their attention even to the flapping of the birds in the wind for a meaningful lesson. The seen creation is a wonderful and amazing evidence of the magnificence and might of the unseen Creator.
The Prophet (sa) also taught the companions how to deliver the correct recitation of the word of Allah (swt), the Quran, with Tajweed.
The Ummi learnt to decode the Ayahs of the Quran and the creation in Allah’s (swt) universe in order to form their own divine connection with Allah (swt) and became a nation of heroes.
Task 2: Purified Them
Allah (swt) originally created every person with goodness (Khair). However, for the sake of trial and tests in Dunya, Allah (swt) placed Fujoor (evil) within us, too. But Allah (swt) did not leave us misguided with our Fujoor. Instead, He guided all through the Prophet (sa) to eradicate that Fujoor.
The Prophet (sa) purified the companion’s thoughts and beliefs. He cleaned them of Shirk and established their thinking upon the worship of one true Lord from Whom everyone receives the chain of commands and is rewarded abundantly.
Man has no other master. What a liberating thought! It was enough to develop self-belief and noble etiquettes.
Once the minds were corruption free, the Prophet (sa) removed the moral diseases of the heart that had regressed the Arabs for years. He cleaned them inside out and taught them to be compassionate with themselves and others. Mercy is the root of lofty mannerisms.
This self-evaluation led to the internal growth of the Sahabahs. Growth is a sign of progress. The result of the Messenger’s (sa) purification plan was forming a team, which would spread all across the globe taking the message of Islam along.
The dark and medieval Europe was lightened up years later by the next generation of Muslims. Omar’s (rtam) state welfare plan was adopted and is in place to this day in many countries.
Task 3: Taught Them the Book (Quran)
The success of any society depends upon the effectiveness of its laws and the enforcement of those laws.
Prophet (sa) taught to Sahabahs the laws of the Quran. They witnessed the benefits it brought and how the Quranic injunctions turned their status around. They became a just and disciplined society that was respected and held in high esteem. Their enemies took them as a formidable force. They truly proved themselves to be the people of the book, following it in letter and spirit.
Task 4: Taught Them Wisdom (Sunnah)
Wisdom is Al-Hikmah – to know the difference between right and wrong for deciding and acting accordingly. Wisdom cannot be gauged, as it is not a law. It surfaces in our behaviour and mannerisms.
For example, in the Quran we are told that Luqman Hakeem instructed his son not to walk with pride. This was not a law but a wise advice to nurture him. Similarly, the Prophet (sa) gave to his companions a roadmap to human excellence by teaching them the Sunnah full of wisdom.
But later Muslims focused more on the permissible and the forbidden only, instead of balancing with Hikmah; hence, they lost their way. Try to understand this by the example of someone, who might be following the traffic rules as a law-abiding citizen but could be mean to his parents.
Allah’s (swt) Beautiful Names and Divine Attributes are the Root of the Four Assigned Tasks
“Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth is exalting Allah, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” (Al-Jumu’ah 62:1)
The above Ayah of Surah Al-Jumu’ah has corresponding names and attributes of Allah (swt) with the four tasks assigned to the Prophet (sa). This is a linguistic miracle of the Quran. Look at the amazing placement of both.
- Al-Malik – The Sovereign. Allah (swt) is the True King. Allah (swt) commanded the Prophet (sa) to introduce the believers to the wondrous creations and miracles as well as instruct them on how to decode the signs of the Quran and the universe for our guidance.
- Al-Quddoos – The Perfectly Pure. Allah (swt) is Holy. He is free of any imperfection. No evil can be attributed to Him. All sublime attributes belong to Him only. Hence, Allah (swt) enabled the Prophet (sa) to purify the believers for ensuring their spiritual, mental, psychological and emotional growth.
- Al-Aziz – The All Mighty. Allah (swt) is the All-Strong and the All-Dominant, Who reigns supreme over His creation. All have submitted to His authority. Hence, He commanded the Prophet (sa) to teach and enforce the law of Allah’s (swt) book, the Quran, so His creation knows how to humble itself and follow the divine scripture.
- Al-Hakeem – The All Wise. Allah (swt) has supreme wisdom in everything, in whatever He has decreed, in His legislation and reward and punishment on the Day of Judgement. Allah (swt) instructed the Prophet (sa) to instill wisdom also in the believers by his own honourable life and traditions. No one can learn complete and right wisdom otherwise.
Had the Prophet (sa) not carried out this noteworthy task, humanity would have been left misguided in utter darkness, bringing destruction and devastation everywhere.
All glory and praise to Allah (swt) for His beautiful and perfect creation plan!
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