Page 51 - Beauties for Life in the Qur'an

QUR'ANIC METHODS FOR COMMUNICATING ISLAM 49

And to 'Ad We sent their brother Hud, who said: "My people,
worship Allah! You have no other god than Him. So will you not
have fear of Allah?" (Surat al-A'raf: 65)
People generally find it humiliating to be influenced by some-
one who holds contrary views. Alternatively, although they
may be convinced of the correctness of those views, they tend to
reject them outright because of personal prejudice. This is why
people who hold such an outlook might achieve better results
by addressing the general public rather than talking to individ-
uals, since the positive reaction of some people may have a fa-
vorable effect upon others. In brief, considering the
community's general attitude, this method may prove to be
more effective.

"Mother-towns"
Never did your Lord destroy the cities until He had raised up in
their mother (-town) a messenger reciting unto them Our revela-
tions... (Surat al-Qasas: 59)
Throughout history, Allah has sent His messengers to
"mother-towns" to tell people about His ways. This serves as a
guide for believers, for as a general rule it is more effective first
to focus upon principle places and then to expand upon them.
Indeed, the Qur'an relates that believers first spread Islam to
their relatives. Once their relatives grasped its beauties, the be-
lievers targeted a larger group. This way, they made the most ef-
fective use of their talents.
As the Qur'an indicates, messengers generally are sent to
densely populated areas where "the chiefs of the nation," those
who are the most insolent, live. Allah's messengers summon
such people first to the fear of Allah and Islam's moral excel-
lence, for they are aware that such people's tendency toward