The Difference Between Us and Them - Lessons From History

The Difference Between Us and Them

There are two important features which not only distinguish  the  Muslims  from  the  Jews  but  also  prove  the former’s clear superiority over the latter. The first is related to the fact that the present Muslim Ummah is collectively responsible to preach and spread the Message of Almighty Allah (SWT), and to try her utmost for establishing the domination of Islam over the entire globe. This stupendous duty is, in fact, a logical corollary of the culmination of Prophethood.

The most outstanding characteristic of the advent of Prophet Muhammad   (SAW)   is   that   the   institution   of prophethood has reached its acme of perfection with his advent. Since the ultimate echelon of prophetic evolution has been reached, it follows that there shall be no more prophets. But the world has not yet ended, and the humanity is still thirsty for the knowledge of the Real and still yearning for a just social system. This  can  only mean  one  thing:  The  Muslim Ummah is now responsible, as a whole, to continue the work of the prophets.

The  Qur’an  proclaims  that  the  purpose  behind  the advent of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the establishment of the ascendancy and domination of Islam over all aspects of life, all over the world. The following words appear thrice in the Holy Qur’an, defining the manifesto for a global Islamic Revolution:

It is He who sent His Messenger with The Guidance (Al-Qur’an) and the true way of life (Deen-al-Haq), in order to make it prevail over the entire mode of living. 
(Al-Taubah 9:33; Al-Fath 48:28; & Al-Saff 61:9)

Unlike previous messengers of God, the advent of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was not just for his own nation, the people of Arabia, but it was also directed towards all mankind in general, for all times to come. Again, unlike the Jews, who were asked  only  to  act  in  accordance  with  the  Mosaic  law,  the Muslims have a much extensive and arduous responsibility on their shoulders, that is, they are obliged to guide and lead the entire humanity. Muslims are required to obey the commands of God in their own lives, to preach God’s Message worldwide and in every generation till the end of the world, and to struggle tirelessly  with  the  objective  of  making  Islam  dominant  as  a socio-political order. The previous Muslim Ummah, in contrast, was never required to perform all these duties.

The second point of difference between the Jews and the Muslims is that, in contrast to the former who were a uniracial community (being composed of only the “Children of Israel,” i.e., the descendants of Prophet Yaqoob), the present Muslim Ummah is a multiracial and multinational community. The Jews themselves, or any other nation for that matter, can join the Muslim Ummah  anytime  they want  —  by accepting Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as the final Messenger of God; their race, color, language, or previous creed not withstanding.

The Muslim Ummah is basically a diverse group of people belonging to all kinds of different national, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds. In general, however, the Muslim Ummah can be seen as being composed of two distinct components: the descendants of Prophet Isma‘el (AS), referred to in the Qur’an as ummiyean (the unlettered people), as well as all other peoples and nations, referred to in the Qur’an as aakhereen (those of later time).

In other words, the Muslim Ummah is made up of a nucleus or a core of Arabs, surrounded by non-Arab nations, whether they be Kurds or Turks, Persians or Indian, Afghans or Muhgals,  Black  of  African  origin  or  Whites  of  European descent. The common element or the binding force that brings all of them together and keeps them united — at least in theory — is obviously their faith and ideology, that is, Islam.

It is rather gratifying to learn that we Muslims enjoy a two-fold superiority over the Jews. But it doesn’t take a genius to realize that being superior also means that we have to fulfill many more responsibilities and obligations. The Jews were repeatedly punished for their collective crimes, but if we were to follow in their footsteps then this would make us liable to a chastisement much more severe than what they received.

Similarly,  the  most  prominent  part  of  the  Muslim Ummah — the Arabs — also enjoy a form of superiority vis-à- vis other Muslims; this is because Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was one of them, and because God’s final Message was revealed in their own language. But, as we have described above, the fact is that the more privileged you are, the greater is your responsibility. The Arab Muslims have, in general, failed to live up to their exceptionally privileged position as the primary custodians of Divine Message, thereby making themselves liable to Divine retribution. It follows that the main impact of any major episode of Divine punishment, that might befall the Muslims,  will  have  to  be  endured  by  the  Arabs.  This  was foretold by Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as we shall see later on.

Source:Lesson from History (Book) by Dr. Israr Ahmad