Noble Quran and History

[Zainab_M]

 


By G.A. Parwez
(Edited slightly by MV for clarification and convenience of readers)


The Quran has, time and again, directed man’s attention to the phenomena of nature and the events of history, and has exhorted him to reflect and ponder over them.   These two fields, so apart from each other, are fundamentally alike, as both reflect the same Divine purpose.  The working of law is discernible in both.   It's vital to know what makes the history of the Quran different compared to the common history outside the Quran compiled by people.  The primary concern of history compiled by regular historians is to identify the laws that govern the rise and fall of nations.   No doubt ths is useful information but none of these historians have so far been able to give an intelligible account of the course of human history.  And, none of the concepts put forward has held the field for long. The result is that such history still appears to be a disorderly succession of causeless events.   The Quran invites a look into history from a fresh angle which deserves attention.  According to the Quran, the Divine purpose is at work in human affairs as it is in nature but with a difference. In nature, the Divine purpose is progressively accomplished through laws from which there is no escape.  In history, on the other hand, the purpose is to be worked out through the willing and active co-operation of free finite beings. The Divine Will, by a self-imposed restraint, permits them to act and choose for themselves. The human beings who play their part on the stage of history, have, sometimes, lived and acted in harmony with God’s purpose and, sometimes, against it.  In the former case they have prospered, progressed and taken their rightful place in the vanguard of civilisation; in the latter case, they have fallen behind other people, have decayed and ultimately have been displaced by others.  Each way of life produces its own consequences.  The set of regulations that governs these results is the Law of Requital.  As you sow, so shall you reap.  The Quran has repeatedly affirmed this law and, drawing upon human history, has provided plenty of illustrations of its working.  A nation which adopts a way of life that accords with the moral order of the universe, achieves success in every field of activity. It wins both wisdom and material prosperity. A nation whose way of life is opposed to this order, inevitably decays and disintegrates.

History is a record of the rise and fall of nations. It tells us about the nations that flourished in the past—their way of life, the goals they pursued, the values around which their culture was organised, their actions and the consequences of those actions. History taken not merely as a chronicle of events but as assessment of working of values can help us solve our own problems. This assessment would give us power—power of prediction and power of control—in the sphere of collective affairs. We can avoid pitfalls. If we find ourselves following a course that has brought nations to a calamitous end, we can check ourselves in time, retrace our steps back to the crossroad and choose a better path, if not the right one. We can thus have not only a guiding light to judge our own way of life, our thinking and our actions, but also an insight into the future of other nations from the ideals pursued by them. In short, if we wish to make the best of life, there is no escape from a study of history relating the conduct of the people with the fate that befell them. That is why the Quran exhorts us to go round the world and see for ourselves "the fate of those who defied God", i.e., His Laws. Wealth, power, numbers, nothing could save them when they ran afoul of the higher values. History has judged them, as it will, in time, judge us. The prognosis is within our grasp:

"And verily We have sent down for you revelations that make plain, and the example of those who passed away before you. An admonition unto those who ward off (evil)."  (24:34)

The method of the Quran is, first to state the laws that govern the fate of nations and then to cite instances from history to illustrate the working of those laws. The purpose of the Quran is not to record past events in all their details but to give sufficient reference to make its own point and leave out the rest. Thus the Quran imparts such a deep insight into the nature of the life process that it inspires unquestioning faith in its pronouncement when it says:

"Have they not travelled in the land to see the nature of the consequence for those before them ? They were more numerous than these, and mightier in power and (in the) traces (which they left behind them) in the earth. But all that they used to earn availed them not. And when their messengers brought them clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) they exulted in the knowledge they (themselves) possessed. And that which they were wont to mock befell them."
(40:82-83) 

These nations enjoyed many advantages. They possessed power, wealth, technical knowledge and a rich material culture. In prosperity they had multiplied and spread over the earth. But when they chose to defy the moral order of the universe, all their efforts to ward off the blow of fate were of no avail. They fell into decay and dwindled away. They could not plead ignorance as they had been warned time and again by Anbia from among themselves. These Anbia had admonished them to recognise their mistakes and mend their ways. They, however, chose to ignore the warnings and persisted in treading a dangerous path. Vanity and pride ruled their hearts and, elated by temporary successes, they failed to foresee the long-term results of their actions. At last, they reached the limit that the Laws of God have set to everything. When they crossed it, their fate was sealed. They had reached the point of no return. Remorse and repentance could not save them thereafter:

"But their faith could not avail them when they saw Our doom. This is Allah's law which hath ever taken course for His bondmen. And then the disbelievers will be ruined."  (40:85)

A prominent aspect of the eternal, the unalterable, law is that there are limits within which possibilities of change and recovery are available. Beyond those limits, nothing avails and all attempts to save oneself run into sands.

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Span of time
It must be kept in mind that according to human calculation, every era of history is a long time.  When nations begin to turn arrogant and tyrannical, that culture could evolve and prolong for as long as several hundreds of years.  Allah Almighty tolerates them for long, but when He decides to draw the line, there's no turning back for those communities after that.  Such downfalls are sometimes gradual and sometimes more abrupt. 

While a few hundred years or a thousand years would be a very long span of time from the human perspective, in the ordnance of Allah Almighty it is a very short time. 

The Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt for several hundreds of years or more.  The Roman Empire lasted for approximately 700 years. The rule of the Catholic Church in Europe and the period of the Inquisition stretched for over 600 years.   In America slavery lasted for 250 years.  Similarly, there are plenty of historical eras with different dynasties, laws and rules around the world that came and went.  Humans born in the midst of an era would seldom be perceptive enough to gauge its temporary existence.  Most of us take the chronological period we are living in for granted that it will never end ... at least not during our lifetime.  That's because human life is so short.  Even if an individual lives for a hundred years (which would be a very, very long life for any human being), would be only a fraction of the length of time of most historical eras. 

Considering the above, it's important to know that the Almighty Allah bears with the violations of communities for a long time before sending His final warning.  However, a 'long time' from the human perspective would be a very short while from the perspective of Allah.  Thus, Allah says in the Noble Quraan that "A day with Allah is as a thousand years of what ye reckon." 

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[N. Truth Seeker]

A dynamic piece by G.A. Parwez.  It has now made me understand clearly and perfectly the purpose of Quranic history and how it connects human morality with history to display Allah's law of consequences.  Alhumdulilah. [/font]

 However, a 'long time' from the human perspective would be a very short while from the perspective of Allah.  Thus, Allah says in the Noble Quraan that "A day with Allah is as a thousand years of what ye reckon."  [/color]

Absolutely.  Your interpretation is right on. 

Once I was talking to a revert brother at the masjid and he couldn't understand the expression applied in the Quran that says about Allah creating the universe in Six Days.  he was taking this in the literal sense.  I explained that same point to him which you've mentioned.  Calculation of the duration of time is very different as felt my humans and other living beings compared to its reality with Allah.  This concept has been beautifully explained in the following verses.

Allah it is Who created the heavens and the earth, and that which is between them, in six Days. Then He mounted the Throne. Ye have not, beside Him, a protecting friend or mediator. Will ye not then remember ?  32:4

He directeth the ordinance from the heaven unto the earth; then it ascendeth unto Him in a Day, whereof the measure is a thousand years of that ye reckon. 32:5

So, the rules and regulations of Allah that are sent from the heaven to the earth and then ascend to Him, is one day for Him but 1,000 years as per our calculation.  Therefore when Allah says that He created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, only Allah knows the exact duration of these Six Days, but I am sure it's not the same six days which we would calculate by counting the dates of our calendar.  It's surely much much more than that.

And Allah knows best.

Thanks for this posting sister.  assalaam alaikum.[/size]

[Ruhi_Rose]

Fantastic thread.  thanks to both of u for bringing out such excellent points, and thanks to GA Parwez for the brilliant piece.  MashAllah and praise be to Allah.