If the Prophet Comes To India Today

Had a question for long in mind, namely, what would he advise us to do if the Prophet of Islam (pbuh) were to come to India today? How will he look at the Indian society? How will he look at the Indian masses? How will he look at the opportunities and openness offered by the modern institutions and tools of communication? How will he look at the upholders of the Book? What would be his priorities?

But then it is a wishful thinking (question). He will not come. Why? Because he does not need to. Why he does not need to? He does not need to because a time came during his lifetime when he forbade the Companions from asking questions. (Sunan ad-Daarimee) He appreciated Mu‘adh ibn Jabal for saying that he will exercise Ijtihaad during his own (Prophet’s) lifetime!

Hence, we don’t have the luxury of asking anyone for readymade answers. We have to carry out the most difficult job on earth (thinking) ourselves. I wish we had an alternative. (Un)fortunately we don’t.