Page 19 - The School of Yusuf (as)

There Are Many Lessons To Be Learned From The Stories Of The Messengers

from prophets. Shu‘ayb’s (as) nation, on the other hand, was acting
like all nations throughout history, who have denied Allah’s reli-
gion. Therefore, a Muslim, who has learned these lessons from the
Qur’an, will not be taken aback, or saddened by the belligerence,
calumny, and threats of the unbelievers.

Prophet Ibrahim (as) too is portrayed in the Qur’an as a role
model, by his determination against the unbelievers. In order to
convince them not to worship idols, Ibrahim (as) told them about
Allah’s existence and unity, and demonstrated to them that the idols
they worshipped were powerless objects carved from wood.
Ibrahim’s (as) people responded by attempting to burn him in the
fire:

They said, “Build a pyre for him and fling him into the
blaze!” They tried to outwit him but We made them the low-
est. (Surat as-Saffat, 97-98)
Ibrahim (as) responded to this aggression as follows:
He said, “I am going towards my Lord; He will be my
guide.” (Surat as-Saffat, 99)
As we can discern from the accounts of the prophets related in
the Qur’an, messengers and sincere Muslims were always con-
fronted by their nation’s leaders who refused to believe. Despite the

fact that believers merely call people to do good, throughout his-
tory, such leaders have shown hostility towards the believers, and
especially to messengers, and tried to obstruct their mission. And,
despite the passage of years, their methods have not changed. They
accused these devout individuals of madness, corruption and
greed; sought to discredit them in the eye of the people; and threat-
ened them with imprisonment, exile and even death. Of the verses

relating to the stratagems of these conspirators against the devout

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