Episode 14

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah. Dear brothers, in a previous episode, we mentioned that one of the methods used by the deniers in their arguments against the people of truth is to mock them by saying that their followers are weak, poor, and have simple professions. On the other hand, you find the deniers proving the correctness of their methodology with what? With the worldly blessings that Allah has given them! Even though this blessing has nothing to do with the correctness of the methodology. Allah the Almighty says: ((And when Our clear verses are recited to them, the disbelievers say to the believers, 'Which of the two groups is better in position and better in company?' (Maryam: 73)). Clear verses are recited to them, containing arguments and proofs... they hear them, and the believers among them wait for their response... so what is their reaction? ((Which of the two groups is better in position and better in company?))! Meaning, which of us has better gatherings and meetings, we or you, O followers of Muhammad? Who has higher homes and gatherings for men with dignity and adornment? We who have our forums openly, or you who hide in the house of Arqam bin Abi Al-Arqam and similar simple houses, fearing that someone might attack you? It is – as said by Sayyid Qutb, may Allah have mercy on him – (it is the logic of the earth, the logic of those who are veiled from the higher horizons in every time and place. And it is the wisdom of Allah that the creed is stripped of adornment and varnish, devoid of the factors of allurement, so that it may be accepted by those who want it for its own sake, purely for Allah, without people, and without the values and temptations they have humbled themselves to; and those who seek interests and benefits, and those who desire adornment and embellishment, and those who seek wealth and comfort may turn away from it).

This argument, brothers, is mentioned in the Quran in many places, including His saying, the Almighty: ((And Pharaoh called out to his people, saying, 'O my people, is not mine the kingdom of Egypt, and these rivers flowing beneath me? Then do you not see?')) As if this blessing is proof of the correctness of his claims.

And His saying, the Almighty: ((And they said, 'We are more in wealth and children, and we will not be punished.'))... Does it make sense that we are on falsehood and Allah will punish us as Muhammad says, while we have more wealth and children than his followers? A twisted, strange logic. Allah responded to them that worldly blessings do not mean the honor of their owner with Allah unless he is a believer and uses the blessings to please Allah. He said: ((And your wealth and your children are not the things that bring you nearer to Us in position, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds; those will have a double portion of that which they have done, and they will be in the chambers safe (37)). (Saba).

Rather, they considered their wealth and abundance of money a reason for Allah to choose them for what He loves of religion. Allah said: ((And the disbelievers said to the believers, 'If it were good, we would have preceded them to it.')). Meaning, if Muhammad's religion were good, these weak and poor followers of Muhammad would have preceded us to it, and we would have been prevented from it, we the nobles. While our Prophet, peace be upon him, teaches us that there is no connection, but the matter is with faith. He, peace be upon him, said: ((And Allah gives the world to whom He wills and whom He wills, and He does not give faith except to whom He wills)).

So worldly blessings are not proof of Allah's love for the servant nor of the correctness of his religion and methodology. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.