One Hundred And Fifty Lessons For Life

Lesson One Hundred Forty One: Only A Name From Islam

Imam ‘Ali (a.s.) said:

يَاْتِى عَلَى النّاسِ زَمانٌ لا يَبْقى فِيهِمْ مِنَ الْقُرآنِ اِلاّ رَسْمُهُ وَ مِنَ الاِسْلامِ اِلاّ اِسْمُهُ، مَساجِدُهُم، يَوْمَئِذ عامَرَةٌ مِنَ البِناءِ، خَرابٌ مِنَ الْهُدى

Translation

A day will come for people when only letters and drawings from the Holy Qur’an and Islam in name only will remain among them. Muslims' mosques will be improved in building structure and ruined as regards the guidance they provide. [^1]

Brief Description

We cannot say whether this interesting prediction has already materialized fully in this present time or is yet to happen in future. But surely we are witnessing some examples of it here and there. It is surprising that in such cases the Muslims complain about their backwardness when they themselves have caused it by their mistaken notion that it is sufficient to adopt Muslim names and pay a nominal lip service to Islam, and that Qur’an is there only for decorative purposes.

They have not accepted Qur’an’s real role as a “book” of unbeatable value for education , training and application in day to day life. Nor have they accepted Islam as a “school” that must engage and permeate their practical and intellectual lives. Can you find a real Islamic society (which follows Islam in substance , not just in form), which has been backward or has not enjoyed an honorable status in the world ?

[^1]: Nahajul Balagha