Islam Rediscovered
18. Islamic Activism
~ 315 ~
scholars
engaged
themselves
in
political
confrontations with the rulers, all the treasures of
Islamic thought and practice would have been
buried along with them.
In social matters, positive status quoism is thus an
unalterable policy of Islam. It was by opting for this
policy that the Prophet and his companions forged
the great history of Islam which heralded a new era
in all the religious and secular fields of human
civilization.
UNLIMITED SCOPE OF PATIENCE
When the Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon
him, began his mission of
tawhid
(unity of God) in
ancient Makkah, there existed as usual a status quo.
The Quraysh had assumed the leadership of the
town, and according to their beliefs, they had
established an idolatrous system. Now the question
arose as to how Prophet Muhammad, may peace be
upon him, should begin his work. It appeared that
the status quo under the hegemony of the Quraysh
would have to be abolished and only then would
the path be cleared for Prophet’s mission. At that
