Examples From Lives Of Prophets Ismail And Yusuf

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan speech
Published in Muslim Murasu, December 2011

Islam is the religion that has been sent to all the prophets from the first prophet to the last prophet. Islam was not protected during the times of earlier prophets. In the time of our Prophet, Islam got documented and guarded.
Islam is not the superior religion. Islam is a preserved religion. This is God’s authentic scheme. Islam has two aspects – ideology and practical implementation. Ideology, principle, is very noble. But it is not possible to implement ideal ideas. Ideology is perfect and hundred percent correct. But a team is needed to practically implement it. Then a method is needed to take it to the people.
Islam is the approved religion in the view of Allah. Only authentic source to understand this is Quran. One has to read Quran to understand death, creation, God and next life.
All the creations are obedient to God. Man has been given liberty. This is the test. Other creations have not been given liberty. Man has two options – he can either accept or reject. His natural inclination is towards accepting. This raises man higher than other creations. Quran can be explained in one line as creation plan of God.
How can we implement it? Allah has enacted role models for us in the form of Messengers and Prophets. “Fabihuda humukthadhi” – Follow the guidance that they followed. Surah 6, Al anaam, verse 90. Our faith is that we have guidance in each Messenger of God.
However lofty be your ideals, if you don’t have a team, you won’t see success. This is the truth we find from Prophet Ibrahim. Prophet Ibrahim, Hajira and Ismail are the main characters here. Prophet Ibrahim was born in Iraq. He did missionary works there. But a team did not form. Allah told, “Leave your son in a desert”. Surah 14, Ibrahim, verse 37.
How should we form a team? Its foundations are explained in this verse. You should find men prepared to live in a desert. Cities are full of glamor and distractions. They removed themselves from this and moved to a desert. Men spirited enough to move away from temptations and material comforts need to be identified.
This is age of media. Photographs and videos are proving to be mighty distractions. Cravings have increased for popularity, money and influence. One should shun petty desires while preparing youngsters. People removed from material attractions are needed.
It took many years for Prophet Ibrahim to form a team in desert. It took many generations. But in today’s world, such long troubles and durations are not needed. With swift transportation and communication that are available today, huge changes can come in a generation’s time. Earlier mail communication can take from 3 days to a whole month. Now we hear responses instantly without any delay. Today means and equipments have increased. But it has become difficult to find people who can rise above narrow ideas.
“Provide them with fruits”, continues verse 37. Allah will start showering His Blessings on them. Such crusaders will find Rizk flowing towards them from all corners and directions. There is no history of such people left famished to death. The petrodollar prosperity that we see today is a return for the sacrifice of Prophet Ismail.
Crowds won’t gather, nor will there be coverage in media. But Allah will not leave the people struggling in His cause to languish in their conditions. He will glorify them. We can take inspiration from Prophet Ismail’s life to form team. First we have to prepare ourselves. Mission can’t reach people without a team.
Ideology of people we come face to face is different from our ideology. We face obstacles and hindrances at each step. The solution to this problem is in Surah Yusuf, twelfth Surah. It is described as beautiful history, “hasanal kasas”. This terminology, ‘beautiful story’, has not been used for anyone else in Quran. A full Surah has been sent down illustrating the life of a Prophet.
He was born in a rural area in Palestine. Allah brought Yusuf to a city in Egypt. This was where government was operating. Usually resistance and disagreements rise from government and political quarters. How can we undertake missionary works without getting into confrontational mode with powers that be?
An example for this is found in Prophet Yusuf. The king got a dream for which no one knew to explain. Prophet Yusuf explained the dream, which pleased the king. Yusuf was given a very powerful position in the ministry. He got hold of full power. Yusuf made use of the political powers that he got. He did not confront with the government’s supremacy. “I will sit on the throne. Then I will establish my religion”. He did not fathom such stupid theories. He accepted the supremacy of the government and polity and all opportunities become available for him.
We do not need ministerial berths. We only need infrastructure and opportunities. This is the lesson we get from Prophet Yusuf. This has become thousand times more important in the state of confusion that is prevalent today. King had all the powers in those days. But today, government is only for managing and administration. American government is rightly called as American Administration. Government is only for administration. This is a favorable situation for us. We can print Quran, do translations, arrange meetings, distribute magazines. Earlier government had control over everything. Allah has made Yusuf’s example an authentic role model. Otherwise some people will be arguing that first we go after power. Till then there won’t be any missionary work.
Islam has been preserved because of our Prophet’s sacrifice and efforts. The intention behind reciting Salawath is to acknowledge his mercy. Prophet Ibrahim’s two descendants have given us two valuable lessons on how to form a team and methodology to take it forward.