The Necessity of Our Distinct Nationhood

“And it is He Who has let free the two seas, one palatable and sweet, and the other salty and bitter, and He has set a barrier and a complete partition between them.” S Furqan

These are the days of Hajj when we recall and remember the first Muslim family, their trials and tribulations and how they met those with honour, patience and faith. 

Very much of what we have today emanates from that first family. 

For whatever Ibrahim (as), Abraham the intimate friend of God, supplicated and asked for, God granted (except for one).*1

From the supplication for each of his sons and their progeny:

1-Isaac (as) from whom came Yakub (as) and then the Children of Israel and a plethora of Prophets, that we homage to and correctly claim as our own. 

2-and his first born son, off the handmaiden Bibi Hagar (ra), Ismail (as) and Ibrahim’s supplication to bless his and their place of dwelling- Mecca. 

To his supplication to bless the Umiyoon (the unlettered dessert Arabs) with a messenger from amongst themselves, that laid the foundation for the coming of Muhammed (saw). A verbal message from God to the whole of the World through an unlettered Messenger. which has been kept alive 1400 years on the tongues of the Believers. 

One of his greatest other supplications was to make him not a trial for the people, and then for him also to have honourable mention on the tongues of truth. 

It is interesting then to note that the Quran is a Message from God to all of the Nations and all of the People, whilst at the same time being the foundation of our society and our faith. *2

And that in answer to that supplication of Ibrahim (as) to not be a trial for the people, that God made him a Messenger without a Nation. For a saying of Muhammed (saw) has it that Ibrahim will be raised as his own Nation. 

Then wonder at how much God honoured him. For the greatest of our worship is the Hajj, and the akham of Hajj (it’s rules and regulations) are the pinnacle of our Shariah (Law). 

So that whilst Ibrahim (as) had no Nation. God made him the father of the Nation of Muhammed (saw)- here read the last verse of Surah Hajj. And the rules that define that distinctly Muslim Nation find greatest expression in the rules of Hajj, and were the last to be made clear (during the farewell pilgrimage). 

And then in that same last verse of Surah Hajj, God talks about the characteristics of our distinctly Muslim Nation. 

So that we as a Nation are a trial to other Nations, holding them to account and exemplifying that which is better for them.  

That whilst Ibrahim (as) asked not to be a trial for the people, we who are his Nation were intended by God to be that trial for all of the Nations of this World. 

That there is something necessary in God separating us from them, even whilst we affirm the essential unity of Man. 

Then ponder at the verse in S Furqan given at the start. Look at the verse that precedes it. 

“So obey not the disbelievers but strive against them with it. (That is) a great striving.” (V52)

In former writings I have said that the Quran is replete with self reference, and that the pronoun it here is usually interpreted as the Quran. 

Suppose here that the pronoun “it” here refers to the striving itself:

“So obey not the disbelievers but strive against them with striving. A great striving.”

Directly following on from that we have the palatable sea and the unpalatable sea and the barrier that none can cross except by God’s leave. 

This sign of God in such a place means that we should seek to interpret it allegorically. Since we recall from Baqara that God disdains not to take the similitude of the gnat, it is clear that when God makes a similitude He uses things which are real and actual. 

Then the similitude of the two seas are belief and disbelief and the barrier is the Shahadah - the testimony of faith. 

We, as a Nation, recognise the ultimate unity of Man, and hold out for all Nations and all Men that goodness exists within them and only needs our help to find that expression. 

And our help is given best when we whilst recognising that all men are equal, erect a barrier between us and them. That they know that we are different, that we treat all equally and with justice and that to come within our brotherhood / sisterhood is solely one sentence that they need to declare: that there is no god except Allah, and that Muhammed (saw) is His Messenger. 

It is our society that perfectly exemplified that barrier, where we are duty bound to protect the non-believers and where the sacrifice is asked of us and not of them. That we are the ones that are expected to give to the utmost hilt, whilst they are the ones who are protected by virtue of the Jizya. A more perfect barrier there never was. 

Looking at the same sign from God is Surah Rahman, we find a different allegory waiting for us to contemplate. 

That the pearls amongst mankind can be found throughout all Nations. 

Then it is our requirement to erect that barrier, and make it both strong and yet porous. That the people might feel inclined to cross it and enter into the sweetness of true faith. 

Knowledge is sought through study and contemplation. Not talks, nor lectures, nor this above.