Our Lord, Exalted He is, said in His Accurate Book:
Those who reject {Truth}, among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, were not going to depart {from their ways} until there should come to them Clear Evidence. A messenger from Allah, rehearsing scriptures kept pure and Holy (Al Bayyinah, vs. 1-2).
The Exalted Allah states that all the people of the Book (of other religions), the polytheists who worship idols and others, in addition to the materialists and atheists cannot be saved or rescued unless by means of Muhammad (PBUH), the Messenger who recited Qur”anic pure Scriptures.
We frequently read this verse, but sorrowfully enough, we exclude ourselves from this address. When we usually read it, we believe that it is directed to Jews, Christians, polytheists or atheists, and forget that for the more reason, this address should be directed to us, the people of the Islamic Ummah. When Jews, Christians, polytheists or atheists cannot attain salvation and safety except by means of Muhammad (PBUH), oh Islamic Ummah, can we attain salvation, and achieve renaissance, and civilization except by Muhammad (PBUH)?
Oh, the Ummah of Islam, oh the Ummah of the Muslims, oh the Ummah of the Qibla (direction Muslims turn to in prayer, do we live with the “clear evidence” that reveals to us the right way? Are we guided by what is revealed to us? Do we live with the Messenger who presented the Message to us so that we make it applied in our life? Do we live with the one who recited the pure Qur”anic scriptures so that they become the method we follow in our life and the guide in our behavior? When we read this Qur”anic address nowadays, do we live in a state of considering ourselves among those to whom the address is directed, and realize that the meaning of salvation from our present crisis will not be accomplished but by the “clear evidence” of Muhammad (PBUH)?
Most Muslims have changed into a delusive state of believing that they are Muslims. But in fact, they are deprived of the contents of Islam, in speech, in deed and in state. This might be one of the results put by the one who planned to destroy Islam, but, "Allah hath full power and control over his affairs" (Yusuf, v. 21).
In 1978, a conference for Christianization was held in Colorado. In its documents, issued in the conclusion of that conference, there was a recommendation of the necessity of deforming the Islamic culture so that the believer becomes an atheist but he goes on believing himself to be a Muslim. He would go on priding himself on being a Muslim, and that he does not go out of the circle of belonging to Islam, but Islam would be changed in his life into mere formal rituals and popular traditions inherited from the fathers and the forefathers, and inserted in his customs and what is familiar to him. When this practice goes into his depth, his reaction, and his state that represents his identity, a true Muslim or a true believer would be non-existing.
Any of us, who belongs to the folk of Islam, cannot have an Islamic identity, inwardly and outwardly, unless he has a close relationship with our Master, Muhammad (PBUH), until he receives the “clear evidence” of the “messenger from Allah, rehearsing scriptures kept pure and Holy”, until he continually coexists with the Muhammadan meanings, and until his heart becomes always present with the Muhammadan abstract personality.
Seest thou not how Allah sets forth a parable, a goodly Word like a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches {reach} to the heavens. It brings forth its fruit at all times, by the leave of its Lord (Ibrahim, vs. 24-25).
It is the tree of Islam whose roots are firmly established in the hearts, then it diverges into a distinguished behavior and good manners expressing that interior.
How can the tree of Islam be firmly rooted in the depth of man if the Muhammadan abstract personality is not present in his heart, and if this heart does not coexist with this Muhammadan abstract personality?
We will go on living in aberration, bewilderment, deviation, and confusion until our hearts become present with Al Mustafa (too many blessings and salutations be upon him and his family and companions), i.e., until there should come to them Clear Evidence.
Our Lord, Exalted He is, summarized the secret of turning away when He talked about the people who renounce right saying:
They say: Our hearts are under veils, from that to which thou dost invite us, and in our ears is a deafness, and between us and thee there is a screen (Fussilkat, v. 5)
Meditate upon the Exalted Allah”s speech when He describes the people who renounce faith and turn away from it, and live with veils around their hearts that distance them from our Master Muhammad (PBUH), "and between us and thee there is a screen". Thus, if you have such a veil, you will never be fully aware of the “clear evidence” in your affairs because you will be veiled from the clear evidence of Muhammad (PBUH).
"Our hearts are under veils", i.e., their hearts are concealed, " from that to which thou dost invite us", i.e., their hearts are screened from the Holy Qur”an and from you, oh Muhammad (too many blessings and salutations be you him and your family and companions).
Consequently, when the hearts are concealed from the lights of the Holy Qur”an, and from the lights of our Master, Muhammad (PBUH), man lives in a state of confusion, and he cannot get out of this state in his life, treatment, social behavior and on all levels unless he becomes tied to the two lights, the light of the Holy Qur”an, and that of our Master, Muhammad (PBUH):
"until there should come to them Clear Evidence. A messenger from Allah" is the first light, and, "rehearsing scriptures kept pure and Holy" is the second light.
The Exalted Allah describes the Book revealed by the Messenger of Allah as “light”, and He describes our Master, Muhammad (PBUH) as “light” when He said:
So it is those who believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the Light which is sent down with him, it is they who will prosper (Al “Araf, v. 157).
In another verse, the Exalted Allah said: "There hath come to you from Allah a light and a perspicuous Book" (Al Ma”idah, v. 15), i.e., Muhammad (PBUH) came to them bringing with him the Holy Book.
At one time, the Exalted Allah refers to the Holy Qur”an as “light, and at another time, He ascribes “light” to the Messenger (PBUH) who brought this Qur”an, the Qur”an that was revealed with him and to him.
The Exalted Allah said: "A book which we have revealed unto thee, in order that thou mightiest lead mankind out of the depths of darkness into light" (Ibrahim, v. 1). How can”t people get out of darkness into light when their hearts become tied to the two lights, the light of the Qur”an, and that of Muhammad (PBUH) as explained in the Qur”an?
As the light of the Holy Qur”an is the speech of the Exalted Allah, and as human beings, we are unable to be in contact directly with the Exalted Allah”s words but through a congenial person. So, the second light becomes expressive of the first one, and the Muhammadan light becomes expressive of the light of the Holy Qur”an.
Therefore, when Lady Aisha was asked about the manner of the Messenger of Allah, she said "His manner was the Qur”an", i.e., he is light upon light.
Oh youth…, oh children,…, oh elderly and aged people…, oh our maidens and women…, we cannot get out of this state of indolence, this stagnation, this dullness, this fear, this defeat, this feeling of horror, this hypocrisy, this cheating, this state of fogginess and darkness in which most of us live, unless our hearts become connected with the Muhammadan light that represents the light of Allah, i.e., the light of Qur”an.
When our hearts become in communion with the two lights, and the veil is removed from our hearts, the veil of the interest in worldly objects and self-interests that exist in our hearts, what objects and what illusions can occupy our inner thoughts?
Sorrowfully enough, our prayers have become an interest in objects, and most often, we bless the Prophet (PBUH) while our hearts are engaged in worldly affairs.
Sorrowfully enough, most of us stand in prayer before his Lord while his heart is wholly attracted to this life.
Sorrowfully enough, some of us say in his prayer “Oh Messenger, peace be upon you”, while there is a veil between him and this Prophet.
In one of the Qur”anic verses in Surat (chapter in the Qur”an) “Muhammad”, the Exalted Allah praises the believers who follow the Prophet (PBUH). He said: "But those who believe and work deeds of Righteousness, and believe in the {Revelation} sent down to Muhammad" (Muhammad, v. 2). In this verse, the Exalted Allah does not mention the word “Qur”an” or “Furqan”. He rather said, those who "believe in the {Revelation} sent down to Muhammad" to draw our attention to the fact that the Exalted Allah wants us to turn to Muhammad (PBUH), because He is the One Who revealed the Qur”an to Muhammad (PBUH), and this Qur”an appears in Muhammad (PBUH), in his speech, in his behavior, in his states, in his weeping, in his honesty, in his courage, and in his great tolerant treatment of the approver and the dissenter at certain attitudes.
We cannot hold the Holy Qur”an and recite the verses that are included between its two covers without considering the Quran that Allah reveals to us to look at, that is, Muhammad (PBUH).
The Exalted Allah said: "believe in the {Revelation} sent down to Muhammad", so that our hearts turn to the Qur”an that is present among us, the practical Qur”an, the Qur”an that is really expressive of the words of Allah, the “clear evidence” through which we can recognize truth and reach certainly.
The Exalted Allah”s words "So take what the Messenger assigns to you" (Al Hasher, v. 7) are not restricted to the companions of the Prophet (PBUH), for this is impossible, otherwise, the Ummah would be cut from our Master, Muhammad (PBUH). This verse is rather an address directed to all mankind till Doomsday. You have to be always aware inwardly that you should draw from our Master, Muhammad, at every time and instant.
Draw from the instructions of Muhammad (PBUH) when you are selling, when you are with your wife, when you are in your mosque, or in your house. "So take what the Messenger assigns to you" is a verse that indicates continuity and duration. So, in order to live this state, make sure that you draw from the instructions and guidance of Muhammad (PBUH) in every step you take. Only then you will have departed from the other misleading ways because you will have attained “clear evidence”.
"Those who reject {Truth}, among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, were not going to depart {from their ways} until there should come to them Clear Evidence. A messenger from Allah, rehearsing scriptures kept pure and Holy". If the unbelievers have no other way of salvation but by means of Muhammad (PBUH), with the more reason, we have no other way of salvation, no liberation, no renaissance, no promotion, nor solution for our problems, but by means of Muhammad (PBUH).
Go back to Muhammad (PBUH).
Allahum…, guide us favorably to Your Beloved, Muhammad (PBUH), and make us from those who listen to wisdom and follow the best of it.
I say my words and ask Allah”s forgiveness.