The dwellers of Al-Hijr known as the Thamud also refuted the Messengers^-AS of Allah^-SWT , who had been blessed with clear miracles. The Thamud did not pay any attention to the words of wisdom and their vision remained restricted to worldly means. They hewed houses out of huge mountains, hoping these strongholds will provide them protection and safety. Yet they too were overtaken by an awful cry at dawn. All the material means they were relying on for their protection were gone with the wind. This universe and its entire system has been created with wisdom, and according to a deliberate plan. No matter how infallible human endeavours and measures may apparently seem, it is His^-SWT Law that evil always begets punishment and invokes destruction. The only route to peace and salvation is through His^-SWT obedience. And the Day of Judgement will most certainly be, to properly requite the wrongdoers, because the worldly punishment is only the milder aftermath of sin. So the Holy Prophet^-SW must gracefully bear with the crimes of the infidels.

 

One must bear with Unpleasant Situations while Preaching

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The aforesaid Command to the Holy Prophet^-SW explains the way to propagate the faith. It highlights the importance of facing unpleasant situations with tolerance and grace. A person engaged in the service of faith must never act emotionally but remain cool and composed. The Holy Prophet^-SW is being reassured that his^-SW Rabb^-SWT is the Creator of everything and Aware of everyone’s actions and thoughts.

 

The Distinction of Surah Al-Fatihah

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And We^-SWT have blessed you with seven Ayat which speak on the greatness of the entire Quran and are repeated in every cycle of Salat. According to the Commentators all the basic principles of Islam have been embedded in this Surah. The Quran elaborates and the Ahadith interpret the same very principles. Besides, no other nation before was blessed with such a comprehensive prayer. If only the Muslims could recite this Surah alone, with sincerity! But unfortunately majority of them are unacquainted even with its literal meanings.

 

The Holy Prophet^-SW is being instructed to ignore the fact that some amongst the infidels and polytheists possess wealth and other worldly resources. He^-SW must not grieve at their affluence, for the preceding condemned nations were also rich in material resources. Yet these were of no avail to them except for a while. Nor should he grieve by thinking that had these people not been affluent, they might have embraced Islam. Certainly not! For they are evil by character. Even if they were to be broke, their nature would still be the same. So the Holy Prophet^-SW must focus all his gracious attention on those who have embraced Islam.

 

Faith itself is a Blessing

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What a blessing indeed that the gracious attention of the Holy Prophet^-SW is being diverted to the believers. He^-SW, who already is the Mercy for the whole of mankind in general, the intensity of his^-SW grace upon the believers after this Divine Command, may well be imagined. He^-SW is being asked to declare that he^-SW is a warner manifest against the punishments of Allah^-SWT . Prior to this, Islam was being propagated secretly. Now that Allah^-SWT had Commanded to overtly proclaim the Message, he^-SW and his^-SW Companions went all out with their campaign. He^-SW was also advised to warn the people against calamities befalling the nations guilty of fragmenting the Divine Scriptures in the past. This they had done by accepting what pleased them and rejecting what went against their inclinations. By the Rabb^-SWT of the Holy Prophet^-SW, it is the dictate of His^-SWT Providence that each individual shall be held accountable for all his deeds. It is the perfection of His^-SWT Providence that every seed bears a fruit and every act produces a result, an evidence to the fact that the results borne by deeds will certainly be brought out in due time. So the Holy Prophet^-SW must convey explicitly what has been revealed unto him. He^-SW must not pay any heed to the polytheists nor bother about their mockery, for Allah^-SWT Alone is sufficient to take them to task. Those who mock him^-SW and ascribe partners to Allah^-SWT shall soon meet their end for He^-SWT Knows that as a human being, the Holy Prophet^-SW is saddened by what the infidels say. However, there is a remedy for it.

 

Zikr is a Remedy for Apprehensions

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The Holy Prophet^-SW must glorify his^-SW Rabb^-SWT and remember Him^-SWT . He^-SW must exert in worshipping Allah^-SWT and must continue until his worldly life comes to an end. The real cure to the hurt caused by the hostility of enemies is Allah^-SWT's Zikr, which also facilitates the acquisition of higher levels in worship and keeps one's attention focused on Allah^-SWT completely.