Page 124 - The Vision of Islam

Calling People to Tre ad the Path of God

in principle, may be presented as the essential element in the call
to accept the Truth. According to the creation plan of God, man
shall have to give an account of himself ‘whether you disclose what
is in your minds or keep it hidden.’ (2:284), when ‘men’s hearts will
leap up the throats and choke them,’ (40:18). This day has also been
referred to in the Quran as ‘the Day of Gathering’ (42:7), and ‘the
Day of Meeting.’ (40:13). This is the subject that dominated the
verses revealed in Makkah, that is, during the dawah period.
1. We cite below some examples to show the difference between
calling people to accept the essence of a religion and inviting them
to join an organized religion. Chapter 102 of the Quran revealed
in Makkah reads: ‘Greed for more and more distracted you [from
God] till you reached the grave. But you will soon come to know.
But you will soon come to know. Indeed, were you to know the
truth with certainty, you would see the fire of Hell. You would see it
with the eye of certainty. Then on that Day you shall be questioned
about your worldly favours.’ It was this chapter which had initially
made an impact on the German neo-convert Leopold Asad.
2. When the Prophet was ordained by God to invite people
to accept Islam, according to the Arab custom, he climbed the
Mount Safa and addressed those who had assembled there.
According to Ibn Abbas, the speech was as follows: “Tell me, would
you believe me if I were to say to you that there is an army behind
this mountain, heading towards you to destroy you?’ The people
gathered there exclaimed, ‘Yes!’ Then the Prophet said, ‘I warn
you of the imminence of a severe punishment.’” (Al-Bidayah wan-
Nihayah, Vol. III, p. 38)
Once the Prophet conveyed the message of Islam to Abu Sufyan
ibn Harb and Hind bint Utba in the following words: “By God,
there will come a day when you shall die. You will be thereafter
raised from your graves: the virtuous will then enter heaven and the
evil will go to hell. What I have said is the truth, and you two are
the first among those I am warning.” (Ibn Asakir, from Muawiyah)
3. Umar Farooq once said: “Woe to the ruler on earth on the day
he meets the Ruler in heaven. Only he shall be spared who decides
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