A Historical Lesson: The Difference Between Then and Now
At the beginning of the second century Hijri, an incident occurred: the ruler of Sijistan and Rukhkhaj (present-day Afghanistan), whose hereditary title was Rutbil, stopped paying tribute to the Umayyad authorities. Repeated campaigns were launched against him, but he did not submit. During the reign of Yazid ibn ‘Abd al-Malik, when a delegation was sent to demand tribute, he asked the Muslim envoys where those people had gone who used to come before. He described them as having stomachs drawn in like those of the hungry, dark marks on their foreheads, and sandals made of date-palm leaves.
He was told that those people had passed away. Rutbil replied that although the present Muslims appeared more impressive, the earlier ones were more faithful to their commitments and stronger. The historian writes that after saying this, Rutbil refused to pay tribute and remained independent of Islamic rule for nearly half a century.
This was an era when the Successors and their followers were still numerous. It was the age of the great jurists. Only about a century had passed since the passing of the Prophet, peace be upon him. Muslims were spreading across the world as a living and powerful nation. They had inherited Persia, Rome, Egypt, Africa, Spain, and many other lands. In terms of resources, splendor, and wealth, no nation at that time could match them. All of this existed. Faith was still present in their hearts. Observance of religious law was far greater than it is today. A system of obedience and discipline prevailed across the community. Yet those who had once faced the Companions—the poor, worn, desert-dwelling people—felt a difference like that between the heavens and the earth between those earlier Muslims and these later ones.
What was this difference? Some historians attribute it merely to the difference between a simple, desert lifestyle and a settled, urban one. They say the earlier people were more hardy, while later wealth and civilization made people comfort-loving. But the reality is that this difference was one of faith, sincerity, moral character, and obedience to God and His Messenger. The real strength of Muslims lay in these qualities. Their power was not based on numbers, nor on weapons, nor on wealth, nor on technical skill, nor on civilization. They rose purely through faith and righteous action. This is what gave them honor and established their awe in the hearts of nations. When this inner strength was present, they were powerful despite small numbers and limited means. When it diminished, they became weak and insignificant despite abundance.
Moral Strength vs Material Power
What Rutbil said as an enemy carries more weight than the sermons of many well-wishers. He pointed to a truth: the real strength of a nation does not lie in its armies, its weapons, its impressive soldiers, or its vast resources. Rather, it lies in its moral character, its firm conduct, its honest dealings, and its elevated ideals. This is a spiritual strength that can establish dominance even without material means. It can elevate those who appear insignificant and make them prevail over those who seem powerful. It can win not only lands but hearts as well.
With this strength, people wearing simple sandals, with thin bodies and unadorned appearances, carrying worn-out weapons, can create such awe, authority, and respect in the world that those with splendid clothing, powerful physiques, grand courts, and terrifying weaponry cannot achieve without it. Moral strength can compensate for the absence of material resources, but material abundance can never compensate for the absence of moral strength. Without it, even if dominance is achieved, it will be incomplete and temporary. Hearts will never truly submit. Only outward compliance will exist, always ready to break at the first opportunity.
A building does not stand firm because of its decoration, its outward beauty, or the abundance of its occupants and possessions. If its foundations are weak, its walls hollow, its pillars decayed, and its structure unsound, nothing can prevent it from collapsing, no matter how impressive it appears. The same is true of nations. What makes a nation alive, powerful, and honored is not its houses, clothing, vehicles, luxuries, arts, industries, or educational institutions. Rather, it is the principles upon which its civilization is built, the firm belief in those principles, and their complete dominance over practical life. These are like the foundations, walls, and pillars of a building. If they are strong, the nation will prevail, its word will rise, its authority will be established, and its honor will endure, even if it lives in poverty and lacks material development. If they are weak, then outward development is nothing more than decoration on a collapsing structure.
The Foundation of Nations and the Qur’anic Principle
The Qur’an repeatedly emphasizes that the principles of Islam are in complete harmony with the natural order created by God, and that this is the true and upright way of life:
“So set your face firmly toward the religion… the nature upon which Allah has created mankind…” (30:30)
It then calls people to remain firmly established upon this way, to believe in it, and to act according to it. The natural result of this is that they will become dominant in the world, inherit the earth, and be granted leadership. It is declared that the earth will be inherited by the righteous servants of God, that believers will be superior if they truly believe, that God has promised to grant authority in the land to those who believe and do righteous deeds, and that the party of God alone will prevail.
In contrast, those who appear to belong to the faith outwardly but do not have it rooted in their hearts, nor have they made it the law of their lives, are described as impressive in form yet empty within. Their appearance may attract admiration, and their speech may sound appealing, but in reality they are like lifeless logs. They fear people more than they fear God. Their deeds are like a mirage in the desert that appears to be water but proves to be nothing. Such people can never gain true collective strength, because their hearts are divided and they cannot act together with sincerity. They will never attain the strength reserved for true believers. They will never be entrusted with leadership in the world. Their outcome can be nothing but humiliation in this world and punishment in the next.
What Defines a Muslim and the Limits of Material Progress
A Muslim is defined only by Islam. His reality as a Muslim exists solely through his faith in the message brought by the Prophet, peace be upon him, and his adherence to the laws revealed through him. If this faith and obedience are present, then his Islam is real, regardless of what else he may or may not possess. But if these are absent, then even if he is adorned with all the achievements of worldly life, he may be educated, wealthy, powerful, or influential, yet he cannot be called a Muslim.
Therefore, no progress can be considered the progress of Muslims unless it is built upon true Islamic faith and practice. Without this foundation, such progress may be progress in some worldly sense, but it is not Islamic progress and cannot be the goal of Islam.
It is possible for a nation that is not founded upon Islam to rise and progress according to its own principles. But for a nation whose identity is based upon Islam, if its faith and moral system become weak, then no amount of material development can make it a strong and honored nation. When the foundation is weak, corruption spreads in morals, character deteriorates, dealings become dishonest, social systems weaken, and collective strength is lost. The inevitable result is decline, and eventually other nations gain dominance over it. In such a condition, the abundance of material means, the presence of educated individuals, and the outward display of progress cannot save it.
The Power and Transformation of True Faith
The Qur’an declares with certainty that believers will be superior, that the party of God will prevail, and that those who possess faith and righteous action will inherit the earth. This certainty is based on a clear reality: those who rely on material forces alone are in fact relying on weakness. Their condition is like that of a spider that builds a house, even though the weakest of all houses is the spider’s web. Those who take such supports can never truly stand against those who rely on God, the One who possesses real power and honor. Whoever rejects false authorities and believes in God has grasped a firm and unbreakable support.
The Qur’an further states that whenever believers and disbelievers confront one another, the ultimate victory belongs to the believers. This is because God casts fear into the hearts of those who deny the truth, while believers are supported by divine power. When a person fights in the path of God, it is not merely his own strength at work, but the strength of God supporting him.
On the other hand, it is also a law of God that a person who truly possesses faith, whose character is pure, whose actions are free from selfish motives, and who follows divine guidance sincerely, gains acceptance in the hearts of people. Love for him is placed in hearts. Trust is established in his dealings. Even his enemies recognize his honesty, justice, and integrity.
But all of this is not the result of merely uttering words or adopting outward labels. It is the result of true faith and righteous action. The declaration of “There is no god but God” must penetrate deeply into a person’s heart and soul until it governs his thoughts, his actions, his desires, and his entire way of life. It must transform him completely, so that he fears none but God, seeks help from none but God, and submits to no law except the law of God. His love and his hatred must be for the sake of God alone. He must be ready at all times to sacrifice his desires for the pleasure of God. His response to divine commands must be nothing but “We hear and we obey.”
When this transformation occurs, his strength is no longer merely human. It becomes a reflection of divine strength. His being becomes illuminated by the light of the One who is the source of all existence.
This was the condition of the Muslims during the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the rightly guided Caliphs. When they embraced faith, they were completely transformed. A person who accepted this truth was changed from base metal into pure gold. Such individuals possessed a magnetic character that drew hearts toward them. Even though they were poor, unrefined, and materially weak, they inspired awe greater than that of kings. Each one of them was like a lamp whose light spread wherever he went, lighting countless other lamps.
If someone accepted this light, he was transformed by it. If someone opposed it, it had the power to overcome and destroy opposition. When they were only a few hundred, they challenged the entire Arabian Peninsula. When they grew to a few hundred thousand, they rose with the determination to conquer the world, and the powers that stood against them were shattered.
This was the result of true faith and righteous character. But if the declaration of faith remains only on the tongue, without transforming the heart and life, then no real difference remains between a believer and one who denies faith. In that case, people continue to bow before worldly powers, fear others besides God, seek the approval of others, and follow their own desires instead of divine guidance. Their thoughts, intentions, and actions remain no different from those of others. In such a situation, there is no basis for superiority.
Then the competition between people becomes purely material, and whoever possesses greater physical strength and resources will dominate.
History presents this contrast very clearly. At one time, a small number of believers overturned great empires and spread across vast regions. Today, millions exist, yet they remain under the domination of others. Even in lands where Muslims have lived for centuries in large numbers, disbelief and polytheism continue to persist.
(Tarjuman al-Qur’an, Shawwal 1353 AH — December 1934)