T h e V i s i o n o f I s l a m
56
or cancellation of national agreements were announced; it was on
the occasion of Hajj that the Prophet took the last testimony from
his people when he asked them after his
Khutba
(sermon): ‘Have
I conveyed it (i.e. the truth) to you?’ The people replied, ‘Yes, O
Prophet of God!’
The Prophet has been reported as saying: Religion will take
refuge in Hejaz (Makkah and Madinah) just as the snake returns to
the snake hole (
Mishkat
).
The Quran says that the Israelites were exalted above the
nations (2:47). Similarly, the people of Muhammad are called the
“best nation,” the Quran says: You are the best nation that has ever
been raised up for mankind.’ (3:110)
Before the Ismaelites the Israelites were chosen to inform
people of the truth. “The particular duty of the Israelites was
to call people to the Oneness of God and to carry on a crusade
against the sun, moon, and star worship of the heathens.” (
Jewish
Encyclopaedia
, VI, pp. 3-5).
When the Israelites were entrusted with this responsibility
in the time of Moses (c. 152-1400 B.C.) God also made special
provision for them in the form of mann wa salwa (manna and
quails), which they received in abundance at their halting places.
They were enjoined to fulfil their needs by means of this special
arrangement and to spend their time working as hard as they could
for the divine mission. But they failed to understand the wisdom
behind this arrangement. They started recalling the comforts of
city life, and craved delicious foods, etc. They began to prefer a
low to a high spiritual condition. At last they were deposed from
their place of eminence, for their attitude was, in the eyes of God,
synonymous with the rejection of divine signs. (Quran 2:61)
The oil wealth of the Arab world was given to it for exactly the
same purpose as the manna and quails were given to the Israelites,
i.e. for ‘bearing witness to the religion of God.’ The wealth deriving
from oil is meant to ensure the maintenance of the highest
standards in the conveying of God’s message on a universal scale.
The establishment of the Kabah in the Arab world means that
