The Islamic revolution is unique in another respect in that its sponsor, in spite of its accomplishment with innumerable sacrifices, did not take any compensation or reward for it. He sacrificed everything for the good of humanity but did not take in return even as much as was rationally, legally, and conventionally, permissible and just. Not the slightest stain of selfishness or avarice is found in this great triumph. Can one find any other example to equal that?
From the economic point of view, Rasulullahﷺ sacrificed his successful trade, a gave away all his earnings for the mission and when its success was assured, he distributed all his wealth with his own hands; he preferred a life of extremely modest and simple living for his own. Rasulullahﷺ did not leave behind any money for his family nor acquire any property or establish any financial rights for his household during his lifetime nor did leave behind any hereditary office of succession. Rasulullahﷺ did not recruit any guards or servants or acquire conveyance and did not like to have any furnishings in his home.
From the political point of view, Rasulullahﷺ did not claim any prerogative for himself and never used his authority against anyone beyond that prescribed by God. He did not issue any arbitrary law to exalt his political position. Although a serious state of emergency persisted in Madinah, and he had to face ever-increasing intrigues and conspiracies of the Jews and hypocrites, he never interned anyone or imposed any restrictions issued any conscience-killing orders, or established any emergency courts, or ordered flogging.
On the other hand, he gave perfect liberty for criticism, advice, and difference of opinion. He also allowed people to reject his personal suggestions. These rights and privileges were not merely on paper but were actually practiced. Occasionally, Rasulullahﷺ discarded his own valuable opinion and accepted other's points of view.
If he wanted to give some concession to someone he obtained permission from his companions. For instance, once when Abul Aas (Husband of Saidatuna Zainab who is yet a Muslim) came as a prisoner and Saidatuna Zainab sent a necklace as his ransom, which was a gift from Saidatuna Khadijah (Rasulullahﷺ's first consort), Rasulullahﷺ appealed at a public meeting for the return of that necklace. Similarly, when the property of Abul Aas came as a booty he returned it but only after taking permission from the public (companions). Once, a deputation arrived at Jaarana for the release of prisoners of the Battle of Hunain appealing to Rasulullahﷺ in the name of his foster mother(Saidatuna Halimatuh Saadiah).
The prisoners had already been distributed and when Rasulullahﷺ released prisoners attached to the Quraish on his own initiative, he appealed to others at a public meeting when the people, found that Rasulullahﷺ had released prisoners allotted to his relatives, all of them released those given to them. In such cases, Rasulullahﷺ never used any pressure.
From the social point of view, Rasulullahﷺ preferred equal status for himself and never claimed any preferential treatment, nor did he adopt any higher standard in the matter of food or dress, nor did he like a distinctive place at public gatherings. Rasulullahﷺ would not see people standing before him as a mark of respect or encourage others to address him with the title of master or chief.
On the battlefield or while traveling, digging the ditch, or building mosques, Rasulullahﷺ worked with his companions in carrying building materials, breaking stones, and collecting wood with his own hands. Rasulullahﷺ allowed the people to make a stern demand from him for the recovery of a loan and he offered himself to the public for taking revenge if he had done any wrong to anyone.
It was this lofty ideal of the redeemer of humanity which was entrusted to us, and it was to popularize this message that we were raised to the high position of "witnesses over men" and the "balanced community". This slogan of truth was given to us as a trust so that as successors of Rasulullahﷺ we play the role of the redeemer of humanity and whenever mankind is in difficulties and society is involved in a crisis, we rush to their rescue. But we failed to keep aloft this banner of truth, rather we destroyed it with our own hands.
The result was that when the modern age took a turn towards materialism, we were unable to check it. It is the bitter fruit of our failure that the entire human life is now facing a crisis, world leadership is in ungodly hands, conflicting materialistic ideologies clashing with one another are disturbing the peace of mind, and we ourselves have become their slaves. No amount of misfortunes instills in us a sense of shame, and neither the disorders in Islamic society nor the crisis in human ranks infuses in us a sense of duty.
Behind the deceptive curtains of modern materialistic civilization, let us survey the conditions of humanity and a distressing spectacle will be before our eyes. Mankind is caught in the clutches of strange values and everywhere there is a struggle for wealth and power. The light of moral consciousness in man has been extinguished, crimes are increasing with the advance of civilization and as psychological perplexities prevail, mental peace is altogether gone. Confusion prevails in the human mind and character. No sector of human life is uncontaminated.
The spirit of truth has gone out of philosophy and science and there is no sincerity in beliefs and ideas. Spiritual values have declined while the law has become devoid of the spirit of justice, and self-seeking mentally has replaced the deep urge for service in politics. In the social sphere, groups of oppressors and the oppressed have emerged. Sex dominates the fine arts and contradictions are found in every part of social life. Rival forces are at war and the whole history is turned into a dreadful drama. Learning has advanced but its follies continue to pester us. Fountains of knowledge are there but these very fountains foster misconceptions that enslave humanity.
Piles of wealth lie scattered all over but a vast majority still lives in abject poverty, penury, and want. Thousands of organizations, political groups, ideological parties, and contradicted relationships exist but there is no brotherly attachment between man and man. There is talk of the development of rational, political, moral, and social consciousness, but the most hateful weapons of oppression and violence are still being used against humanity. History is a vast battleground in which there are horrifying clashes between imperialism and freedom, Communism and capitalism, democracy and dictatorship, individualism and collectivism, and the Orient and the Occident.
This is the world in which we live. We are facing the challenge of global crisis. Modern materialistic civilization or the man fostered by it is incapable of taking up the challenge. There is no new philosophy that can provide even momentary relief. Nowhere can salvation be found. In this perplexing period when darkness is enveloping man from all sides, there is only one light that can be seen, far off, fourteen hundred years away. This is the light of the greatest benefactor of humanity, the light of Rasulullahﷺ, which we claim to be the followers of Rasulullahﷺ, has eclipsed by our confused thinking and unprincipled conduct.
