Welcome to the 11th weekly episode of the series Mohammad, Radiant Sun of Guidance. One of the main goals of divine prophets was to shape a cultural and social development or revolution.

The Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny), like other divine prophets, prioritized these goals on his agenda. Today, we become familiar with the measures that the Prophet of Islam took to this end.

As we said, one of the major goals of divine prophets has been to stage a cultural and social development or revolution. Prophets, in accordance to a clear and purposeful plan, made utmost efforts to establish values that are based on ethical and humane ideals and rooted in monotheistic ideology. The Prophet of Islam, like other divine prophets, took strides to this end and granted top priority to formation of a cultural and social revolution. The importance and significance of this fateful movement becomes clear when we become familiar with the culture of Age of Ignorance. In this manner, the comprehensive and novel plan that the Prophet of Islam shaped and established within the community in the advent of Islam becomes perfectly clear.

Holy Quran refers to the deviation of people from the righteous path in the Age of Ignorance.

The 164^th ayah of Surat Al-I’Imran notes: “… and earlier they had indeed been in manifest error.”

Holy Quran also speaks of the dangerous conditions of the people in the Age of Ignorance.

The 102^nd ayah of Surat Al-I’Imran notes: “…And you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, whereat He saved you from it.”

In order to further clarify this matter, Holy Quran presents prime examples of the immoralities, and ideological and social deviations from the righteous path in the Age of Ignorance. Ideological-wise, Holy        Quran refers to distancing of people from monotheism and calls into question their baseless and false notions.

The 154^th ayah of Surat Al-I’Imran notes: “… while another group, anxious only about themselves, entertained false notions about Allah, notions of pagan ignorance.”

The polytheists of Mecca, in order to derail the public opinion from the righteous path; to cement their power; and to maintain their personal interests built inanimate idols to occupy people and to plunder people’s wealth and belongings.

Upon the glorious and historical conquest of Mecca without bloodshed, the Prophet of Islam entered Ka’ba, shattering idols and putting an end to idolatry of the Age of Ignorance, while instructing one of his disciples, the Abyssinian Belal to recite the Call for Prayers. In these heavenly moments, the Prophet of Islam whispered the 81^st ayah of Surat al-Isra, which noted: And say, ‘The truth has come, and falsehood has vanished. Indeed falsehood is bound to vanish.’

While everyone remained silent, the Prophet of Islam ordered a public clemency and delivered keynote remarks, negating the traditions of the Age of Ignorance, and shaping a major and profound development in the community.

Boasting and bragging about one’s family and tribe, was one of the main challenges that the Arab community faced. Their biggest honor was to be the head of, and/or be affiliated to a well-known tribe such as Qoraish.

Meanwhile, the Prophet of Islam tried to uproot such a baseless and unfounded view, while noting that the best of people are those, who avoid commitment of sins and who adopt piety.

One of the other characteristic features of the Age of Ignorance was the prevalent racial discriminations. On this basis, ample personal and social concessions were granted to aristocrats, and a group ruled, while another group was mired in poverty and was forced to submit to all manifestations of power and wealth. The Prophet of Islam strongly condemned this wrong and groundless view.

War, bloodshed, massacres and pillage were the other important challenges of the Age of Ignorance. Wars were waged under baseless pretexts, killing hundreds of innocent people. In order to end such appalling conditions, the Prophet of Islam called on people and all Arab tribes to end bloodshed so that order, calm, and security would be restored and the community would not descend into chaos.

One of the key strategies of the Prophet of Islam for ending all cultural and social crises, and for shaping a cultural and social development and revolution was to establish fraternal Islamic bonds, while led to formation of humane and ethical relations. The Prophet of Islam, in order to further cement these humane relations, and to institutionalize and perpetuate fraternal and humane ties, drew its outlines and noted that Muslims maintain fraternal ties with each other, and are united against foreign powers.

In the light of this cultural and social revolution, the people of the Age of Ignorance were empowered to an extent that they stood up against powerful Roman and Persian states. God, in order to make Muslims always remember their past, and to realize that thanks to divine blessings bestowed upon them, they conquered the pinnacles of glory and grandeur, addresses Muslims in the 26^th ayah of Surat al-Anfal, noting: “Remember when you were few, abased in the land, and feared lest the people should despoil you, and He gave you refuge, and strengthened you with His help, and provided you will all the good things so that you may give thanks.”

However, unfortunately, in a phase in time, Muslims forgot their past and the divine blessings which were bestowed upon them and thus gradually lost their age-old grandeur and glory, while falling into the trap of discord. Upon the plots of enemies of Islam, the vast Islamic land, which stretched from East to West was disintegrated. Today, Muslims realize that the only way to reestablish the previous civilization, glory, and grandeur of the World of Islam is to return to the tradition of Prophet of Islam; to set hope on the divine power; and to liberate from the yoke of Global Arrogance, via resorting to the unity and solidarity of Muslims and resolutely negating Americanized Islam. Meanwhile, the wave of awakening which has swept the World of Islam heralds a bright future for Muslims, especially given that God Almighty has pledged the ultimate victory of the divine religion of Islam to Prophet Mohammad, in the beginning of the Prophet’s divine appointment to prophet hood.

In the 28^th ayah of Surat al-Fath, God notes: “It is He who has sent His Apostle with guidance and the true religion, that He may make it prevail over all religions, and Allah suffices as witness.”

MR/ME