Playing God

"All rights of this book are reserved for the publisher and the author. This copy is for reading purpose only. This copy cannot be uploaded on any website except those of the publisher and the author." Playing God: Misreading a Divine Practice 9 if people do not accept the truth, they shall be doomed in this world and in the Hereafter. In this phase, the messengers of Allah never use force or retaliate against any oppression or persecution encountered. They spend all their time and energy in earnestly urging people to mend their ways. During this time , the addressees of a messenger are the influential p eople of the society. The political and social leaders and intellectuals are earnestly called upon. While explaining this aspe c t, Am ī n Ahsan Isl ā h ī , writes: … Abraham ( sws) at t he very outset called to the truth his family and clan who held the reins of religious leadership. He then called to the truth the king who had the reins of political authority and who thought that he had powe r o ver the life and death of his people … The Almight y had directed Moses (sws) to first of all address the Pharaoh … Jesus (sws) first called upon the scholars of the Jews. Similarly, the preaching endeavours of the Prophets Noah (sws), H ū d (sws) and S ā lih (sws) are all mentioned in the Qur’ ā n. All these prophets began their preaching by calling upon the people who were in authority in their times. They tried to awaken those in authority and the arrogant people of their times from their deep slumber and vehemently criticized their views. Finally, Muhammad (sws) was sent and asked to warn his immediate relatives. person will one day be held accountable before God on the basis of his deeds. www.javedahmadghamidi.com www.al- ma rid.org