Acceptance & Rejection of the Divine Message
The Holy Quran makes religious progress dependent upon revolution. It says: And in no way do We send the Messengers except as bearers of glad tidings and as Warners. So those who believe and reform themselves, upon them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve. But as for those who reject Our signs, punishment will touch them for their defiant disobedience. (Al-Anam 6: 49-50).
That is, whenever We send a Messenger, he always
proclaims two things: (i) he condemns the existing order to death; (ii) and in regard to the system he originates himself he proclaims, without ambiguity that it would be established in the world in its purity, without change or adjustment under any pressure to make it acceptable to this or that people. Those who submit to the system, and mould themselves in conformity with its requirements, survive and prosper, but those who do not do so, they gradually fade out of existence.
When a revolution occurs in the religious sphere, in
Islamic terminology it is called 'Qiyamah'. Another expression used for
it is Khalq-us-Samawat-i-wal-Ardh, i.e. the creation of a new earth and
a new heaven. Still another name for it in the language of the Holy Quran is Al-Sa'ah.
The word 'revolution' which is roughly translated from
the Arabic term 'Inquilab' and described in the context which I just
mentioned, refers primarily to the moral and spiritual reformation of oneself,
not a political revolution to overthrow a government as may be popularly
thought these days by the use of the word.
Hence, when a group of individuals or a society have
reformed themselves, a revolution in the noble character of man and his
dealings with other people and with God is observed. Thus, a condition in the
world existed in which the reformation of oneself was demanded to set things
right in the affairs of man.
