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 27 ii. The Acquittal Phase After thirteen long years of calling people to the truth, the Almighty told Muhammad (sws) that the truth had been unveiled to the Idolaters of Makkah. They had deliberately denied it, and therefore were now liable for punishment. In the meantime, the city of Mad ī nah had come under t he i nfluence of the Divine message and its chiefs readi ly acce pted Islam. Muhammad (sws) was directed to migrate to Mad ī nah and leave his people. S ū rah K ā fir ū n records this declaration of acquittal in the following words: !@ ! 1 6 - < 1 2 - H J ? H @ H @ ? - +WI@ - +J H ? e I@ - H @ ? - +WI@ - 4 - + !K + F!K ) &Es : &t'( Declare [O Prophet!]: “O you Disbelievers! I shall worship not that which you worship. Nor will you ever worship [alone] that which I worship. Nor ever before this was I prepared to worship that which you worshipped. Nor were you ever prepared to worship that which I have been worshipping. [So, now] to you your religion and to me mine.” (109:1-6) These words, it needs to be appreciated, are not meant to condemn or chide them; they actually convey their true behaviour. After thirteen long years of propagation and exhortation, the leaders of the Quraysh had refused the calls of sense and reason. Their denial was based on nothing but stubbornness in spite of the fact that the truth had been revealed to them in its purest form. The last www.javedahmadghamidi.com www.al-mawrid.org