Authored by: Sheikh al-Islam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab (رحمه الله), Translated by: Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi (حفظه الله)
The people of ignorance would reject something as false simply because its followers were weak and poor. An example of this can be seen in the response of the people of Prophet Noah (عليه السلام), as mentioned in the Quran:
"The people of Noah denied the messengers. When their brother Noah said to them, 'Will you not fear Allah? Indeed, I am a trustworthy messenger to you. So fear Allah and obey me. And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds. So fear Allah and obey me.' They said, 'Shall we believe in you while the lowest people follow you?' He said, 'What knowledge do I have of what they used to do? Their account is only upon my Lord, if you could perceive. And I am not one to drive away the believers. I am only a clear warner.'"
(Surah Ash-Shu'ara, 26:105-115)
Reflect on this: the people of Noah rejected their prophet simply because those who followed him were weak and poor. Their focus was solely on worldly matters. If they had been concerned with the afterlife, they would have accepted the truth wherever they found it. However, their ignorance led them to turn away from the truth and follow their own desires.
In contrast, consider the example of Heraclius, who possessed great intellect and insight. He understood that the truth was often followed by the weak and considered this as evidence of the truth. When he inquired from Abu Sufyan about the followers of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), asking whether they were the nobility or the weak, Abu Sufyan responded that it was the weak. Heraclius then remarked, "The weak have always been the followers of the prophets."
This same notion is mentioned regarding the people of Noah in Surah Hud:
"And We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, 'Indeed, I am to you a clear warner that you not worship except Allah. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a painful day.' But the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people said, 'We do not see you but as a man like ourselves, and we do not see you followed except by those who are the lowest of us, at first suggestion. And we do not see in you over us any merit; rather, we think you are liars.'"
(Surah Hud, 11:25-27)
This shows that the people of Noah dismissed the truth simply because its followers were weak and of a lower social standing, a clear indication of their worldly focus and lack of concern for the truth and the afterlife.
The people of ignorance would reject something as false simply because its followers were weak and poor. An example of this can be seen in the response of the people of Prophet Noah (عليه السلام), as mentioned in the Quran:
"The people of Noah denied the messengers. When their brother Noah said to them, 'Will you not fear Allah? Indeed, I am a trustworthy messenger to you. So fear Allah and obey me. And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds. So fear Allah and obey me.' They said, 'Shall we believe in you while the lowest people follow you?' He said, 'What knowledge do I have of what they used to do? Their account is only upon my Lord, if you could perceive. And I am not one to drive away the believers. I am only a clear warner.'"
(Surah Ash-Shu'ara, 26:105-115)
Reflect on this: the people of Noah rejected their prophet simply because those who followed him were weak and poor. Their focus was solely on worldly matters. If they had been concerned with the afterlife, they would have accepted the truth wherever they found it. However, their ignorance led them to turn away from the truth and follow their own desires.
In contrast, consider the example of Heraclius, who possessed great intellect and insight. He understood that the truth was often followed by the weak and considered this as evidence of the truth. When he inquired from Abu Sufyan about the followers of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), asking whether they were the nobility or the weak, Abu Sufyan responded that it was the weak. Heraclius then remarked, "The weak have always been the followers of the prophets."
This same notion is mentioned regarding the people of Noah in Surah Hud:
"And We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, 'Indeed, I am to you a clear warner that you not worship except Allah. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a painful day.' But the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people said, 'We do not see you but as a man like ourselves, and we do not see you followed except by those who are the lowest of us, at first suggestion. And we do not see in you over us any merit; rather, we think you are liars.'"
(Surah Hud, 11:25-27)
This shows that the people of Noah dismissed the truth simply because its followers were weak and of a lower social standing, a clear indication of their worldly focus and lack of concern for the truth and the afterlife.
