Don't sneer. You probably believe something like this about something, although probably not about Arabia:
If we cast a glance at the world in the atlas, we find that no other country could have been more suitable for the much-needed world religion than Arabia. It is situated right in the middle of Asia, and Europe is not far away from it. At the time of Muhammad’s appearance the central part of Europe was inhabited by civilized and culturally advanced nations; thus these people were more or less at about the same distance from Arabia as were the people of India. This fact gave Arabia a central position.
And look at the history of that era and you will find that no other people were more suited for the endowment of this prophethood than the Arabs. Great nations of the world had been struggling hard for world supremacy, and in this long struggle and incessant strife, they had exhausted all their resources and vitality. The Arabs were a fresh and virile people. The so-called social progress had produced bad habits among the advanced nations, while among the Arabs no such social organization existed, and they were, therefore, free from the inactivity, debasement, and indulgences arising out of luxury and sensual satiety.
The pagan Arabs of the fifth century had not been affected by the evil influence of the artificial systems and civilization of the great nations of the world. They processed all the good human qualities, which the people untouched by the “social progress” of the time ought to possess. They were brave, fearless, generous, faithful to their promises, lovers of freedom, and were politically independent—not subject to the hegemony of the imperial powers. They lived a very simple life and were strangers to the life of luxury and indulgence.
What's missing from all this is that Islam is derived from Judaism. So why did Islam arise in Arabia and not in other noble-savage inhabited places such as whatever New Zealand was called in the 6th Century--besides the central location, of course? It had Jewboys!
No doubt, there were certain undesirable aspects of their life as well, but the reason for the existence of such aspects was that for thousands of years no prophet had risen among them, nor had there appeared a reformer who might have civilized them and purged their moral life of all evil impurities. Centuries of free and independent life in sandy deserts had bred and nourished extreme ignorance among them. They had, therefore, become so hardhearted and firm in their traditions of ignorance that to make them human was not the task of an ordinary man.
At the same time, however, they did possess a capacity that if some person of extraordinary powers were to invite them for reform and give them a noble ideal and a complete program, they would accept his call and readily rise to act effectively for the achievement of such a goal, and spare no strife for or sacrifice in the cause.
They were waiting for Kim Jong Il? I make joke.
They would be prepared to face without the least scruple even the hostility of the entire world in the cause of their mission. And verily it was such a young, forceful, and virile people that were needed for disseminating the teachings of the World Prophet: Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
And then look to the Arabic language. If you study that language and fathom deep into its literature, you will be convinced that there is no other language than Arabic which is more suited to give expression to high ideals, to explain the most delicate and subtle problems of divine knowledge, and to impress the heart of man and mold it into God’s submission. Small phrases and brief sentences express a world of ideas, and at the same time they are so forceful that they steal into the heart, their every sound moves man to tears and ecstasy. They are so sweet that it is felt as if honey were being poured into the ears; they are so full of harmony that every fiber of the listener’s body is moved by their symphony. It is such a rich and powerful language that was needed for the Qur’an, the Great Word of God. It was, therefore, the manifestation of God’s great wisdom that He chose the land of Arabia for the birth place of the World Prophet.
Crossposted on
Soccer Dad.
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