This is a brief account of some of the conditions of the Arabs before sending down the Noble Quran. Then, Allah, The Almighty, conferred a great favor upon them by sending it down to save them from the darkness of ignorance, disbelief and disobedience, and guide them to the light of faith, obedience, and worship. It surely has guided them to the right path.

Rather, it changed them from camel shepherds to leaders of nations and peoples and from fighting tribes among themselves to a loving nation whose motto became: "And Allaah will help His slave so long as His slave helps his brother.” (1).

They also adopted another great motto: “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (2).

Allah, The Almighty, promised them also with honor and glory in this life and the Hereafter.

With regard to the glory in the worldly life, it is the leadership of the nations and empowerment in the earth, great provisions and blessings. Allah, The Almighty, Says (what means) reminding them what they was and how they became:

•   {And remember when you were few and oppressed in the land, fearing that people might abduct you, but He sheltered you, supported you with His victory, and provided you with good things - that you might be grateful.} [Quran 8: 26]

•   {And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah , We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth…} [Quran 7: 96] 

•   {And [ Allah revealed] that if they had remained straight on the way, We would have given them abundant provision} [Quran 72: 16]

Qataadah said referring to such meanings that we have mentioned: "Arabs were the weakest of the weak, had the toughest life, the emptiest stomachs, the barest skin and the most obvious misguidance. Those who lived among them lived in misery; those who died went to the Hellfire. They were being eaten up, but unable to eat up others! By Allah! We do not know of a people on the face of the earth at that time who had a worse life than them. When Allah brought Islam, He made it dominant on the earth, thus bringing provisions and leadership for them over the necks of people. It is through Islam that Allah granted all what you see, so thank Him for His favors, for your Lord is One Who bestows favors and likes praise. Verily, those who thank Allah enjoy even more bounties from Him.'' (3)

Wither regard to honor and glory in the Hereafter:

They will get the pleasure of Allah, The Almighty, and high ranks in the Gardens of Pleasures (Paradise). Allah, The Almighty, Says (what means): {Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allah " and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. We [angels] were your allies in worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter. And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request [or wish]. As accommodation from a [Lord who is] Forgiving and Merciful."} [Quran 41: 30-32]

Earlier generations of Muslims, may Allaah be pleased with them, knew the true status of the Noble Quran and the aim for which it was sent down. Thus, they applied it in their life and gave up their previous traditions and customs. Therefore, Allah, The Almighty, honored them with the Noble Quran and thus they dominated the whole words to the extent that their dominance reached the Indian Ocean from the East and the Atlantic Ocean from the West and even became the best nation produced as an example for mankind.

The Islamic Nation in our present time became amongst the weakest nation and of worst conditions. The worst nations summoned one another to attack it as people when eating invite others to share their dish. It became scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent because of neglecting and turning away from its religion and leaving the guidance of the Noble Quran and its approach in their life. No reform to it or to its conditions except by returning to the Book of its Lord, act upon it and referring to it in all cases and making it a constitution for the whole life. That is because the affairs of the later generations of this nation will never corrected except by that by which the affairs of the earlier generations were corrected i.e. only with the Noble Book of Allah, The Almighty, and the Sunnah of His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him." (4).

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(1) It was reported by Imam Muslim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, in the book pertaining to the remembrance of Allah, The Almighty, and supplication, the chapter of the virtue of gathering to read Quran and to remember Allah, The Almighty (2699).

(2) It was reported by Imam Al-Bukhaari, may Allaah have mercy upon him, in the book of Emaan (faith), the chapter of liking for one's (Muslim's) brother what one likes for himself is a part of faith (13).

(3) Tafseer Ibn Jareer 9/220.

(4) Refer to ‘Athamat Al-Qur'aan Al-Kareem, p. 568-571 with modification.

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