THE CHANGING ERA

It is mentioned in a Hadith: “Indeed, the Prophets used to govern the religious affairs of the Children of Israel.” (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 7960).

This was not exclusive to the Children of Israel; in ancient times, this was the case with all nations. The Prophets of each nation were responsible for overseeing and managing their affairs. Consequently, Prophets were sent continuously in those times (Quran, 23:44), until the appearance of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), after whom the chain of Prophethood was brought to an end.

Now the question arises: who is responsible for the supervision and guidance of the vast Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad, spread across the world? The answer is that this responsibility does not lie with political rulers but with the scholars of the Ummah. This is articulated in another Hadith: “Indeed, the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets.” (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 243). Another narration states: “The scholars of my Ummah are like the Prophets of the Children of Israel.” Although this Hadith is weak in terms of its chain of transmission, its meaning is strengthened by other narrations.

It is now the responsibility of the Ulama to perform the same work for which earlier prophets were sent. Broadly speaking, this entails two primary responsibilities: guiding the people in the light of the Quran and the Sunnah, and introducing Islam to the world at large.

A question arises here: this is a monumental responsibility. When Prophets fulfilled this role, they were aided by the divine assistance of angels, which guaranteed their success. Now that such assistance is no longer forthcoming, how can this immense responsibility be carried out?

The answer was provided in advance by the Quran: “So do not fear them, but fear Me.” (Quran, 5:3)

This verse signifies that the revolution brought about by the Prophet Muhammad and his Companions has initiated a new era in world history. According to the Quran, the era of fearing humans has ended. Now, it is no longer possible for anyone to obstruct the path of God’s religion. All avenues have been fully opened, and any hindrance will arise only due to the internal shortcomings of Muslims, not external oppression.

In the age of monarchies, proclaiming the oneness of God could cost one their life (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 3612). However, God has now replaced the old autocratic political systems with democratic governance, granting every individual complete freedom to adopt and propagate any belief they choose.

In ancient times, ordinary people lacked resources for significant endeavours. The economy was predominantly agrarian, with the king as the sole owner of arable land. As a result, ordinary people had no means for religious work. In the modern era, God has unleashed an “industrial explosion,” flooding the world with economic resources. Today, even without government support, individuals can acquire significant wealth and undertake monumental projects. For example, in India, large religious institutions akin to universities now operate entirely on private funding, a rarity in the past.

In the past, communication was constrained by the limits of transportation—travel depended on animals, which could cover only short distances, and messages faced the same delays. Today, a communication revolution has transformed this reality: you can cross the globe in hours and send a message anywhere in minutes. Thanks to the printing press, millions of book copies can be produced and distributed, reaching countless homes.

These modern tools and platforms are now being widely used to dispel the misunderstandings that have spread in the name of religion, and to make people aware of the true message of God. Most of those directly or indirectly involved in this mission come from religious madrasas. I, too, consider myself a part of this caravan of madrasas.

Most of these significant changes have come about through non-Muslim nations. It would not be wrong to say that God has indirectly utilized these nations for the service of His religion. Perhaps this is the truth hinted at by the Prophet Muhammad in this Hadith: “Indeed, God will support this religion even through secular people.” (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 6232).

The flood of opportunities and resources available today is undoubtedly a great blessing for the Islamic scholars. By God’s grace, many among the scholars have understood this divine plan and, utilizing modern resources, have strived to fulfill the duties of renewing and reviving Islam.

I consider myself among those working to promote intellectual growth and spirituality through the lens of religion. By the grace of God, I have utilized all modern means—press conferences, radio, television, the internet, and more—to spread the message of peace, spirituality, and intellectual development. I am, in every sense, a product of a traditional religious madrasa. In that regard, I can say that my work—centered on peace and spirituality—is a natural extension of the mission carried out through the madrasa system. The primary credit for this belongs to the religious madrasas, and secondarily, to myself and my companions.