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her lot. All the world’s glories and luxuries were at her feet. Yet when the innermost depths of her soul were stirred by the Divine call of Moses she did not give a thought to what her husband would do to her or how her life of cloudless bliss would change into one of colossal distress and misery. Regardless of the consequences she proclaimed her faith and once she had done so she flinched not from the path of duty towards Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) and religion although the torture she was subjected to be truly barbarous, the very idea of which is enough to make our flesh creep even today.

In return for it, such a unique honor was conferred on her by Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) that her name has been mentioned reverentially in the Quran and the patient perseverance displayed by her and her sacrifice have been held forth as an example to all Muslims.

“And Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) sets forth, as an example to those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh: behold, she said! “Build for me in nearness to Thee, a mansion in the Garden, and save me from Pharaoh and his doings, and save me from those that do wrong.”

Glory be! What rare honor, what matchless distinction, really, that Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) has chosen the constancy of faith of that blessed lady to serve as an example to the entire Ummat. From Hazrat Abu Bakr down to the last generation of Muslims before the Last Day.

It is related that when the atrocities perpetrated by the Polytheists of Mecca on Muslims exceeded all limits and the Companion approached the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) to pray to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) for mercy and protection, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) remarked, “You have become disheartened so soon! Men of Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) before you were subjected to such brutal torture that combs of red hot iron were driven into their heads and the skulls of some of them were sawed off into two and yet they remained steadfast and did not abandon their faith.”

Jihad

The believers are required emphatically to do whatever they can towards popularizing, defending and keeping alive and flourishing, as the best and the truest way of life, the way of Islam and servility to Allah (Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa) they have chosen for themselves. This, in Islam, is called Jihad. It can take many forms depending on the circumstances varying from time to time and place to place.

Suppose there arises a situation in which it becomes difficult or even dangerous for a person or his family or community to profess Islam and to remain true to it. To be a Muslim may become the hardest thing to do in the world. In that case Jihad will lie in doing one’s best for oneself, one’s family or community to stay firmly devoted to Islam. It would, certainly, be a most splendid Jihad in those circumstances. Similarly, should Muslims, through their own folly or negligence, start drifting away from the faith, then, at such a time, to devote one’s time and energy to their religious revival and reform, too, would constitute a kind of Jihad.

To carry the Divine guidance to those that are ignorant of it and to make an earnest effort to persuade them wisely and sympathetically to accept it is yet another form of Jihad.