The Ninth Sign

The Question: Why do the people of guidance, who follow the cause of Allah—foremost among them the prophets, and at their head the Pride of the Worlds (saw)—often suffer defeat at the hands of the people of misguidance, who follow Satan, despite receiving such abundant Divine favour, mercy, and assistance?

And why did the hypocrites in Madinah persist in misguidance and not enter guidance, although they were in the very neighbourhood and nearness of the Seal of the Prophets (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him), whose prophethood and messengership shone like the sun, whose guidance through the miraculousness of the Qur’an was as effective as the supreme elixir, and whose Qur’anic truths possessed an attraction stronger than the universal attraction of the cosmos? What is the wisdom behind this?

The Answer: In order to resolve these two formidable questions, it is necessary to set forth a profound principle.

Since the Creator of this universe possesses two kinds of Names—Names of Jamāl, which reflect the manifestations of His beauty, and Names of Jalāl, which display the manifestations of His majesty—and since these Names of Jamāl and Jalāl require distinct manifestations in order to display their rulings, the Majestic Creator has mingled opposites in the universe, placed them face to face, and set them in positions of mutual aggression and defence. In this way, He has brought about a wise and beneficial form of struggle. By causing opposites to overstep one another’s bounds and thereby giving rise to differences and transformations, He has subjected the universe to the law of change and transformation, and to the principle of progress and perfection.

And in mankind, the comprehensive fruit of the tree of creation, He has given this law of struggle a still more wondrous form. He has opened a door of striving that becomes the means for all human progress, and He has given the followers of Satan certain means by which they may come forth against those who follow Allah’s cause.

It is because of this subtle mystery that the prophets often suffer defeat against the people of misguidance. That is, the people of misguidance, who are extremely weak and powerless, temporarily overcome and resist the people of truth, who are spiritually very strong. The wisdom behind this remarkable resistance is as follows:

In misguidance and unbelief there is negligence and disbelief in what truly exists; this is extremely easy, for it requires no active deed. There is also destruction, which is very easy, for a slight movement is enough. And there is transgression, by which, through a small act, they harm many people, spread fear among them, and thereby gain a certain standing in their eyes through a kind of pharaonic self-assertion.

Furthermore, the vegetative and animal powers within the human being, which do not see the final outcome and are attached to present pleasure, find satisfaction, enjoyment, and freedom in that path; and these divert the subtle human faculties, such as the intellect and heart, from their humane and future-looking duties.