The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page 300
300 Essence of Islam-1 or suspend any of His attributes of beneficence. Every one of His attributes manifests itself on its proper occa- sion. As it is established by sane reason, that to overcome every calamity, the relevant attribute of God Almighty manifests itself and it has been established by history, and by the confession of opponents, and by the clear af- firmation of the Holy Qur'an, that at the time of the advent of the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allāh be on him] this calamity was at its height, that all the peoples of the world had abandoned the straight path of the Unity of God and all sincerity, and of Divine wor- ship, and it is known to everyone that it was the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him] alone and no one else, who reformed that corruption and rescu- ing a world from the darkness of paganism and creature worship, established it on the Unity of God, then it fol- lows inevitably that he was a true Guide from God Almighty. Almighty Allah has set forth this argument in His Holy Book in the following verses: تا للهِ لَقَدْ أَرْ سَلْنَا إِلَى أُمَمٍ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَنُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمُ الْيَوْمَ وَ لَهُمْ عَذَابَ آلِيمَ وَ مَا انْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَبَ إِلَّا لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ الَّذِي اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ، وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَاللَّهُ انْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَاحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ 0 184 184 'Allah, Who is the Fountainhead of grace, guidance and provi- dence bears witness: We did send Messengers to the tribes and nations before thee; but they were corrupted because of the misguid- ance of Satan; so the same Satan is their partner this day. This Book has been revealed so that it may settle their differences and the truth may be declared manifestly. The fact is that the whole earth had died; Allah sent down water from heaven and brought this dead to life. This is a sign of the truthfulness of the Book, but it will benefit only those who would listen, i. e. , are seekers after truth. '-al-Nahl,