Volume 18 Surah 78 - 114 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Ghāshiyah (The Enveloper)win victory for the truth and to get people to benefit from its absolute goodness is sokeen that such repetition is required to make the advocates of this messagedistinguish their own desires and ambitions from their mission. When thisdistinction is clear, they proceed in fulfilment of their duty, regardless of theresponse and consequence. Thus advocates of Islam do not worry themselves overwho has accepted the faith and who has not. They are not charged with this burden,which becomes particularly heavy at times of adversity, when a favourable responsebecomes a rarity and enemies abound.But the delivery of the message, which is the limit of the Prophet’s task, is not theend of the matter. The unbelievers are not to be left alone. They cannot deny God andbe safe. “But he who turns his back and disbelieves, God shall inflict on him the greatestsuffering.” (Verses 23-24) They will no doubt return to God, and He will inevitablyadminister their retribution. Such is the final and decisive note on which the sūrahends: “To Us they shall surely return, when We shall bring them to account.” (Verses 25-26)The definition of the Prophet’s role and the role of every subsequent advocate ofIslam is thus completed. They have only to remind and the reckoning will be madeby God. It must be stressed, however, that the process of reminding includes theremoval of hindrances so that people are free to listen to the divine message. This isthe aim of jihād as it is understood from the Qur’ān and the Prophet’s history. It is aprocess which neither admits negligence nor permits aggression.144