Another characteristic of jaahiliyyah that they use as evidence for determining the falsehood of a matter the fact that only the weak ones follow it. This is found in Allaah's saying that:
"They said: Shall we follow you, when the lowliest of people follow you?" (26:111)
They thought that the notable ones in the society" the leaders and the rich were people of intelligence and were more qualified to discover, know and more able to establish the truth than the weak, poor and the wretched. Therefore, if what the Prophets brought was the truth their followers would have been the highly placed in the society and not the weak. This reasoning is correct but it is against them. It is true that only people of knowledge, intelligence and understanding will recognise the truth. Allaah says:
"And these similitudes We put forward for mankind, but none will understand them except those who have knowledge (of Allaah and His Signs,)" (Q29: 43)
Also, He says:
" ... But none remember (will receive admonition) except men of understanding." (2: 269).
Therefore, those who recognise the truth brought by the Prophets are the people of knowledge, intelligence and understanding even if those who were blinded to the truth considered them to be the weak. And Allaah says (relating the statements of the disbeliever):
"Is it these (poor believers) whom Allaah has favoured from amongst us?" (Q6: 53).
So Allaah refuted this claim, saying:
"Should not Allaah know best those who are grateful?" (Q6:53)
Does it mean that the disbelievers were not given intelligence to recognise the truth? They were given intelligence but has been sealed from recognizing the truth as a result of some factors among which are: Selfish Desire. Allaah says:
"Have you seen him who takes his own lust (vain desires) as his ilaah (god), and Allaah knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart, and put a cover on his sight. Who then will guide him after Allaah? Will you not then remember?" (Q45:23)
Also, Allaah says:
"And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allaah? Verily! Allaah guides not the people who are Zaalimuun (wrong-doers, disobedient to Allaah, and polytheists)."(Q28: 50)
Arrogance. Allaah says:
"And they belied them (those ayaat) wrongfully and arrogantly, though their ownselves were convinced thereof [i.e. those (ayaat) are from Allaah ... " (Q27: 14)
Since the disbelievers had allowed the above to block their gifted senses and faculties they could not recognise the truth when it came to them. Allaah says:
" ...And We had assigned them the (faculties of) hearing (ears), seeing (eyes), and hearts, but their hearing (ears), seeing (eyes), and their hearts availed them nothing since they used to deny the ayaat (Allaahs Prophets and their Prophethood, proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allaah ..." (Q46:26).
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited