Islam and Peace
The Importance of Studying the Life of the Prophet Muhammad and its
Application to Our Lives
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dominating position-without doing battle-solely on
the strength of their greater numbers.
The success, in this instance, of the Prophet’s
methods lends conviction to the view that if the
believers are repeatedly thwarted in bringing their
missionary struggle to fruition, it is only proper that
their efforts should be redeployed in some other
field of action where more positive results may be
expected.
THE PRINCIPLE OF GRADUALISM
According to a tradition related by Aishah, and
recorded in the writings of Bukhari, when Qur’anic
revelations began, the first verses to be
communicated were those which mentioned hell
and heaven. It was not until fifteen years later,
when people’s hearts had softened, that specific
commands to desist from adultery and drinking
were revealed in the Qur’an. Aisha makes the point
that if these commands had been revealed in the
beginning, the Arabs would have stoutly refused to
give up either adultery or drinking.
