Introduction

Doomsday would bring the human history to an end. It will mark the end of one period of history and beginning of another. There are several indicative Hadith traditions which predict the instances that would come to pass in present times. One such Hadith can be understood by an incident that caught headlines of the newspapers recently. The headline read, ‘American journalist suspended for plagiarism.’ The suspended Indo-American journalist was the editor-at-large of the TIME magazine and CNN host. He was suspended from both the places on account of plagiarism. Plagiarism refers to imitation of another author’s language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions and the representation of them as one’s own work. The suspended journalist had lifted several passages from a historian’s article published by the New Yorker magazine. This act of lifting someone’s idea without acknowledging the original author is considered a crime in the literary world. Upon reading this, I realized that our entire civilization is doing exactly what the American journalist did.

Not acknowledging the Creator

Nature follows the divine laws ordained by its Creator. For instance, upon reaching boiling temperature, water produces steam, which is a source of energy. This energy is put to various uses. It is important to understand that steam energy was always present in nature. Man did not invent it; he only discovered this law of nature and used it to his advantage. Similarly, all technical developments (steam ship, car, airplane, mobile, camera etc) were actually a case of discovering and applying the laws of nature. In other words, the human civilization used divine ideas, without duly acknowledging their Creator! In fact whenever a law of nature was discovered, it was attributed to the scientist who discovered it. For example, if Newton discovered a law, it came to be known as the Newtonian law. But the question is: Did these scientists create these laws? No, they merely discovered their existence in nature. Given this, it was mandatory for scientists to acknowledge that the law they discovered was a divine principle. Since they failed to do so, the entire history of modern technical developments was reduced to being a case of super plagiarism.

Plagiarism in intellectual circles

Man discovered the laws present in nature. These discoveries and inventions ushered in a civilization full of technological developments. But in doing so, man committed a great form of plagiarism – he attributed greatest technological feats to himself and did not acknowledge God’s blessings.

Modern science discovered a world which was referred to as the ‘intelligent universe’. The notion of mechanical model of universe, prevalent at the time of Newton, is no longer endorsed in scientific circles. The model that gained acceptance was that universe has an intelligent design. (For more details, please refer to Fred Hoyle’s book, ‘The Intelligent Universe’). When intelligent design was established, it proved the existence of an intelligent Designer. The scientific fraternity came so close to discovering God! But when a scientist at NASA gave a statement referring to ‘Intelligent Design’ publicly, he was sacked!

While thinking how the Theory of Evolution, seeks to explain the phenomena of life without God, is a clear act of plagiarism, I remembered a verse of the Quran and a related Hadith

Quran ke maane kabhi khatm nahin honge; naye naye mane dariyaaft hote rahenge

[The wonders of the Quran will not end; newer meanings will keep getting discovered.]

(Mishkat)

According to the Quran

No just estimate have they made of God, such as is due to Him. But on the Day of Resurrection the whole Earth would lie in his grasp, while heaven will be folded up in His right hand. Glory be to Him! Exalted is He above all that they associate with Him. (39:67)

The commentators interpreted the above verse of the Quran in the context of those who worship idols.

Upon thinking, I understood that this verse refers to shirk, not in the sense of idol worship, but as an act of attributing to human beings what was to be attributed to God. This phenomenon is referred to as humanism (transfer of seat from God to man). This is what man has been doing and this is an extreme case of plagiarism.

Thinking that God will let man continue this act of plagiarism is an underestimation of the power of God. Soon, God will take away the charge of Earth from man and the above verse metaphorically describes this event when God will encompass the entire galaxy on one side and the universe on the other.

That is, man would discover divine laws, achieve great progress, discover a civilization and take the credit for everything, without acknowledging God. Thus a time shall come to pass when God will take away the charge of Earth from man. On that day, God Himself will assume all charge. According to a tradition, Prophet Muhammad, while explaining a verse of the Quran said

Us dine Allah zameen aur asmaan ko apne qabze mein le kar kahega, woh sab kahan hain jinhone apni azaadi ko misuse kiya, meri niyamaton ko acknowledge kiye baghair istemaal kiya. Main hun who hasti jisne is kainat ko banaya.

[On the Day of Resurrection Allah will hold the whole earth and fold the heaven with His right hand and say, 'I am the King: where are the kings of the earth?] (Tafseer Ibn Kathir)

The companion who related this tradition also reported that while explaining the above, the Prophet Muhammad was so shaken that the companions apprehended that he would fall down.

Man seems to live as if he shall live in this world forever. The Quran repeatedly says

Do you imagine that We created you without any purpose and that you would not be brought back to Us? (23:115)

The phrase ‘brought back’ refers to accountability. Those who misused their freedom and failed to acknowledge God’s beneficence would be called to account before their Lord. The entire human civilization is guilty of not acknowledging God despite availing divine blessings. Such an act of ingratitude will not last forever.

Nearing the end of history

The life support system in this world is fast depleting and scientists purport that we are heading towards the end of history. Stephen Hawking was reported to have said that if man does not abandon Earth, he would face extinction. All these claims prove the veracity of Quranic prediction that implores man to reflect before doom strikes as he shall be held accountable for his deeds.

Plagiarism is a common malady that plagues the literary world. The recent case was shot to limelight because it involved a renowned journalist. Had it been the case of a struggling journalist, it would not have made headlines. It seems like God brought about this situation so that man reflects and realizes that humanity itself is a grave case of plagiarism and soon He shall take them to account for it.

As a result of this realization, man must undertake two-fold activities. On one hand, man must lead an alert and introspective life and course correct so that on the day when He is called to account before God, he is pardoned. The other is that he must make dawah work a mission of his life and spread the Creation Plan of God. In other words, man must become conscious on both fronts - in correcting himself and in dawah work.

An incident to learn from

Mr. Sajid Anwar told me the following incident this morning. In a gathering of Muslims, the topic of distributing the Quran to non-Muslims was being discussed. One of the attendees was vehemently opposing the idea of distributing the Quran to non-Muslims. His contention was that if the recipients disrespect the Quran and throw the copy in a litter bin, who would be responsible for this act? In all certainty, the person who would have given the Quran to the non-Muslim would bear the sin of this despicable act!

In response to the above contention, another Muslim who was also present in the gathering told the following illustrative incident. The Prophet Muhammad sent a letter to his contemporary Sassanid King conveying the message of God. This letter had a verse of the Quran. The arrogant king was so furious that he tore the letter and threw it in the bin! The Muslim who narrated this incident asked the fellow Muslims that when the king threw that letter bearing the Quranic verse in the bin, will it be said that the Prophet would be held accountable for this act? Everyone present at the gathering became silent and no further contentions were expressed.

To my mind, the silence of the arguing Muslim was the most painful aspect of this episode! He should have cried out saying, I committed an evil. Unfortunately, Muslims have become so hard-hearted and insensitive that they no longer realize the sensitivity of a matter. History is in its final phase and we should multiply our efforts to spread the Quran to people but Muslims are not able to detach themselves from provocative matters and focus on dawah work. The incident involving the Sassanid King and Prophet Muhammad is highly illustrative; an eye-opener.

A believer will have to do dawah work even though he would be surrounded by insensitive Muslims who would arouse provocation on the topic of disrespect of the Quran. A believer must always remember that his responsibility is to ensure that the Quran reaches the madu (addressee), what the madu does afterwards is madu’s responsibility.

It is sad to note that excess of resources, consumerism and material culture has made people, transgressors. Why God would let this world, so full of insensitive people and transgressors continue? According to a Hadith, when doomsday will come close it will be recognized because

Honesty aur amaanat uth jayegi

[Honesty will disappear.] (Al Bukhari)

This Hadith to my mind is a proof of Prophet Muhammad’s prophethood. When dishonesty prevails, what would follow would be doom!

Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Destiny)

The Night of Destiny falls in one of the nights towards the end of the month of Ramadan. Hazrat Ayesha asked Prophet Muhammad what she should do if she finds the Night. Prophet Muhammad said that she should pray,

O God! Certainly You are the One who grants forgiveness for sins. You love to forgive, so forgive me. (Bukhari)

The act of seeking forgiveness is so significant because in doing so a believer realizes the minuteness of his being and the greatness of God. He realizes that God alone has the power to forgive, and no one else except God can forgive man.

I am reminded of an instance where a person, in an attempt to belittle said to a scientist that the discoveries scientists make are chance occurrences, caused by serendipity. The scientist replied, ‘such accidents happen to scientists only!’ This is so because ‘finding’ is an outcome of long preparation and search. A scientist spends years, reads, spends time in the laboratory and after a long, grueling effort, he makes that one discovery! It is commonly believed that Night of Destiny can be found on one of the nights in the final phase of Ramadan. But I would say that this is merely wishful thinking! It must be understood that in order to find the Night of Destiny, man must become a prepared mind. This preparation entails years of effort and dua, after which a believer is able to realize the insignificance of his existence and the supreme greatness of God.

The prayer that Prophet Muhammad advised Hazrat Ayesha represents the gist of life. Muslims think that staying awake an entire night would ensure that they have found the Night of Destiny but this is not true. The Night will not be had by staying awake on one night; this is ridiculous idea. A believer is required to spend a lifetime so that such a prepared mind comes into being, which when lets this prayer can be hopeful of it being accepted before God.

According to another Hadith, Prophet was in aetkaaf (seclusion practiced in the final phase of Ramadan) and he came out of Masjid e Nabvi but he went back again. He later told the companions that an angel had come and passed on the knowledge about the Night of Destiny but when the Prophet came out to inform the believers, he saw two Ansaars fighting amongst each other. Instantly, the knowledge of the Night was taken away from the Prophet’s mind.

his incident has a great lesson! The Ansaars were not fighting an armed battle, they were arguing but even fighting with words is so injurious that divine knowledge is taken away. It is for this reason that those who adopt the path of suicide bombing and violence can never become the recipients of divine blessings.

Therefore, in order to receive the blessing or knowledge from God, a believer must become a positive personality in the ultimate sense of the word. Otherwise, the blessing may come but not to him! Positivity is the most important trait that makes a man worthy of receiving God’s blessings. This is because only a positive mind will not engage in conflicts and would remain free of revenge, hatred, lust and negative thoughts. (Al Bukhari)

Conclusion

The world is nearing its end. The American journalist was suspended for plagiarism whereas much greater evil is being propagated by man – he explored the world of God, discovered the laws of nature, invented technology and invented countless items for his comfort, from needle to plane, all of them being an application of divine laws. However, despite drawing on divine blessings, he failed to acknowledge God. This act of plagiarism is so great that it is not worthy of being forgiven!

The first verse of the Quran is

All Praise is due to God, the Lord of the Universe (1:2)

This verse means that God, the Creator must be thanked and acknowledged for creating everything that man derived comfort from. This requires man to be a deep thinker.

God established an example through the instance of the American journalist that the entire mankind is doing this mistake of discovering the divine laws and giving it their name! That time has come when charge of this world would be taken away from man and a world where God’s order shall prevail would be established. This world is a selection ground, where those individuals are being selected who would fit the criterion of God – who did not misuse their freedom and acknowledged the blessings of God. Those who fulfill the criterion would be selected to inhabit the world of God, eternally. According to a verse of the Quran

It is for the like of this that all should strive. (37:61)

Each one of us must become very conscious as far as self-correction and dawah work are concerned.

I will not give you a programme, each one of you must become a programme maker yourself. Just like you feel hungry and thirsty and make provision for yourself, similarly you have to discharge the responsibility of dawah work as if it were your own, personal work. You have to make a programme, implement it and that would be rewardable. If you get a programme, there can’t be a reward. Prophet Muhammad did not give any programme to Companions; he only helped foster their faith, companions devised programme themselves.

Dawah work is a tempest which arouses from within. It cannot be underestimated as being a programme. It is a strong emotion, which awakens in man, the will to act and perform dawah work. A believer must undertake self-evaluation to know where he spends his time, energy and money. According to a Hadith,

Apne aap ko taul lo, is se pehle ki tum ko taula jaye (Tirmidhi)

[Weigh yourself before you are weighed.]

This is an extremely important Hadith. A believer must evaluate himself before he dies because the evaluation carried out by angels would be unforgiving.

I pray that God grants us the ability to traverse on the straight path and forgive us and inhabit us in His eternal world of paradise!