“And from the outskirts of the city there came a man running, he said: O my people! follow the messengers; Follow him who does not ask you for reward, and they are the followers of the right course.” (36:20-21)
The two apostles (messengers) were strengthened by an ordinary man from the outskirts of the city, from the farthest part of the city, a man who was held in low esteem by the arrogant and the influential ones residing in the city.
This ordinary man recognised the truth and testified it openly, he gave dawah, he was able to see the truth which the wealthy and influential people of the city were unable to recognise, in addition to this open denial, they were even threatening and persecuting the messengers of truth.
The tafseer of further ayat tells that this ordinary man was martyred because of his extraordinary stand!
It was said: Enter the garden. He said: O would that my people had known; Of that on account of which my Lord has forgiven me and made me of the honored ones! (36:26-27)
He was forgiven, and was made among those held in honour!
Lesson for us – Truth is for all, sometimes the message is supported and strengthened by the ones who appear “apparently” weak.
Though, he was held in low esteem but he was the courageous one to testify the truth as truth and he invited people to accept it and believe in the apostles but he was martyred because of it.
It may happen that we may feel weak or may be we feel too inferior to have a say and become the victims of the society generated opinion based on standards that we are good for nothing but even if we don’t have wealth, resources at our personal disposal to influence, then too we should not feel like unworthy of the truth propagation.
Wealth, influence are not the pre – requisite to stand for truth, sometimes the weakest of people have more courage to take the right stand!
So, never let Shaitan deceive you that you are weak and incapable to influence and hence unworthy to take the stand.
In this incident, perhaps no one reflected on the ordinary man’s dawah but he did what he was supposed to do, he was even martyred and the reward was so big that he wanted his people should have seen what he has been blessed with!
Nodoubt! We should try to work in a way that brings fruits but even if it is not bringing any apparent results then we should remember this incident and the spectacular ayat which says –
It was said: Enter the garden. He said: O would that my people had known; Of that on account of which my Lord has forgiven me and made me of the honored ones! (36:26-27)