Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
7. The Revolution of the Prophet
~ 143 ~
When their apostles brought them clear signs they
exulted in such knowledge as they had; but (soon)
the scourge at which they scoffed encompassed
them.
6
What is meant by knowledge here is the corrupted
form of religion, which people have been adhering
to for so long that they have come to think of it as
sacred. Religion which has been passed on from one
generation to the next in this manner becomes
lodged in people’s minds. When they think of it,
they think of the saints whose names are associated
with it. It becomes a part of the establishment, the
very
foundation
of
a
people’s
national
infrastructure. Enshrined in elaborate tradition, it
assumes a position of dominance in society.
When prophets visit such people as adhere to
established polytheistic religion, their teaching of
monotheism is a lone voice in that environment.
They assert the truth of their teachings, but their
claim is one, which has yet to receive the ratification
of history. They can only reason with their people,
trying to persuade them to see the light. With the
clamour of established religion on all sides, such
