Beginning
of History
Roman and Greek eras, particularly
from the conquests of Alexander, start that part of history which has presented
before us the states and conditions of most of the countries of the world that
there is far less chances of the chains being snapped in the middle. And it is
from here that history is generally considered to take a start. As the study of
histories of Greece, Egypt and Iran fills its readers with joys, they are
equally enraged against the Indians, for even in that historical age, India
seems to be engulfed in darkness. This utter carelessness of the people living
here has always made the historians of the world to shed tears of blood that
they always cast fictitious stories in the mould of truth and never allowed
truth to take its course. As against the green country India, there is another
desert country Arabia, which is contrary to India with respect to authenticity,
power of memory, preservation of table of genealogy and narration of events
exactly as they occurred. And, hence, even the historical assets of those
religions of the Age of Ignorance are reckoned as something valuable.
Real
Beginning of History
Now, the Noble Quran is sent down.
Arabia overcasts the entire world. All the societies appear to be (according to
the Quran) "...scattered floating particles of dust." (25:23)
before Arab society. History, in fact, starts from here. Apart from magnificent
task of arranging and compiling Ahadith and Asma’-ur-Rijâl, thousands of Muslim
historians are there who have worked such wonders in this field that one is
filled with amazement. There is no branch of society or human living which has
been left unnoticed or untouched by the Muslims. Authenticity of narration is
the life and running spirit behind all historical activities. And the Muslims
have taken this aspect into consideration in such magnitude that none except
the Muslims as a nation may be cited as an example. The Muslims have devoted
their supreme abilities in compiling histories even of other nations and
countries. It is the Muslim nation alone which has taken the art of writing
history to the level of a science, and the name of Ibn Khaldûn, the originator
of the principles of history, will keep receiving laurels till the end of this
world. From the time the Muslims have been overcast by clouds of decline and
ill-luck as a nation, and lost much of their promptitude in their endeavors in
this field, their pupils, i.e., the European historians have picked up from
there to some extent.
History
of Sultanate
The distinctive feature of man as
against other animals is that while the animals have been kept within limits
and their required provisions are within their reach without endeavor, humans
have been given opportunity to get according to their efforts and struggle.
This object may also be described in the manner that man is constantly in a
state of travel and is being created to go from lower to higher ranks. Among
men one makes more travel or reaches greater heights, looks upon others who are
lower or lagging behind, but as he is never to attain perfection, he being
higher than others, is also inferior to those above him. He by nature is endowed
with the sense of devotion and obedience as has been said:
"And
I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me
(Alone)." (51:56)
Thus, the man who is ahead of others
is forced by his very nature to obey some power greater than and superior to
him. This explains the existence of kingdom and rule. A king or ruler is only
lawfully perfect, and not in real terms, for real perfection is found in the
one who is absolute and not limited, immortal and not mortal, one and not
numerous.
And that One Self-Existent is Allâh
the Almighty Who is free from every flaw, defect and evil and is the Possessor
of all attributes in their perfection. And thus, He is the real King, real
Ruler and real Authority. Since man is obeying by nature, hence, he is to obey
and follow others as a part of his very nature. And his real Ruler has
prevented him from doing so, as has been said:
"Obey
Allâh and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), and those of you who are in authority." (4:59)
Shadow law-enforcing authority or
king may be only one who is more perfect than others. Hence, it is the demand
of human nature to keep under sway whoever appears lesser in position, status
and rank. But since, man against his nature, has also the capability of moving
towards his downfall instead of rising up, it is the logical aspect of mental
attitude to develop a desire for something he doesn’t deserve. This is the
reason why constant conflict is a common spectacle in the world of rules and
kingdoms. Enforcing authorities may be kept in two different categories —
spiritual and physical, or to say Prophethood and Sultanate.
The skills required for
materialistic rule have been stated in regard to kingdom of Tâlut (Goliath) and
Dâwud (David) in these words:
"And
their Prophet (Samuel) said to them: 'Indeed Allâh has appointed Tâlut (Saul)
as a king over you'." (2:247)
When the people heard of the
kingship of Tâlut, they objected to it and got the reply:
"Verily,
Allâh has chosen him above you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge
and stature." (2:247)
It was further said about Dâwud:
"...
and Dâwud killed Jâlut, and Allâh gave him the kingdom and Al-Hikmah
(Prophethood), and taught him of that which He willed." (2:251)
Now, from the study of histories, it
comes to light that whoever got an opportunity to become the center of the
support of his people and got superiority over others in respect of learning
and physical power, he was at once accepted as their ruler and sultan.
Three thousand years ago only
physical power, wrestling and bravery added by mental power were considered as
essential assets for ruling over others. But when human race gradually
developed other qualities, conditions and qualities for kingship were also
added. In short, the best and the most valuable person has always been a man to
rule. And mischief and trial, conflict and disruption, bloodshed and plunder
came to surface only when the undeserving got the throne. And you will find no
exception to this rule. Since every man is equal with respect to his nature and
rights, hence the acquired qualities and skills alone could lead one to have
power and throne, as the Quran says:
"And
that man can have nothing but what he does." (53:39)
Every head of the family who becomes
the ruler or king is so because of his fine qualities of head and heart. Every
village headman is the ruler and king of his village. And this is the model of
the rule or government of early ages of humankind which is still existing and
we cannot pick holes in this system. Nevertheless, if any flaw or defect is to
be found out, it is solely on the basis that any undeserving and incapable
person in the family has captured power by foul means, or if the headman of the
village, or head of the locality happens to be an undeserving person.
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