"From the history, we come to know that in 559 B.C. the successor of the leader of the Medes Kamboucha (Kaykobar) viz., Cyrus, came to power in an unusually speedy manner and within a short time he managed to unite the land of the Medes (Northwest Iran) and Persia and they accepted him as their one emperor." said Peacock, then he continued, "He became a powerful, independent ruler. The Persians called him Irsh or Gorush but the Greeks Knew him as Cyrus, whereas in Arabic he was called Khurus. This was at the time when Babilon was ruled by one of Nebuchadnezzar's successors— viz., Belleshazzar ibn Merodakh.
This king, although he was not as brave and courageous as Nebuchadnezzar, he was even more tyrannical and unjust and addicted to pleasurable activities, so much so that his subjects themselves became dissatisfied with his ways and his injustices, being on the point of rebellion against him. Hence the subjects of Babilon sent a deputation of their officers to speak to Cyrus, inviting him to come and save them from the injustices and persecutions of their king. This delegation reached Cyrus at a time while he was preparing for an expedition against the East. He listened to their request and accepted it. Afterwards when he finished his expedition to the East, he reached Babilon and destroyed the city, ending Babilon's reign. In this way he liberated the subjects from the tyrannical rule of Nebuchadnezzar. They willingly accepted Cyrus as there new lord and master.
When Cyrus entered Babilon as a conqueror, Daniel showed him the prophecies of the Torah, which were made by Jesiah and Jeremiah, alaihimussalam, about the person who was going to be responsible for liberating the Jews from bondage. It made such an impression on him that he made a public announcement that all the Jews were hencetorth free and were permitted to return to Palestine and Syria and free to rebuiled Jerusalem and to re-errect the Holy Temple at the expense of the Government treasury. He also announced that this religion of Bani Israel was the true religion and that the God of the Jews was the true God.
In the Book of Ezra, it is stated that because of Cyrus, the Jews were set free and acquired prosperity and the erection of the Holy temple was commenced but before it could be completed Cyrus died. His successor and son Kamboucha (Kaykobar) also died soon after. Then eight years later Daraju, the cousin of Cyrus succeeded him. In his reign the temple was completed. Now once again the Jews enjoyed peace and safety. They formed their own government. But because the previous Emperor of Babilon had burnt and destroyed all copies of the Torah, Ezra or Uzair at the insistence of the Jews rewrote the Torah from memory.
The Jews had suffered a tremendous blow as was explained in the lines above.These events were a great lesson and warning for all but it seemed us if they were as the Qur'an explains,
Slowly they again made themselves guilty of injustices, wickedness and evil and soon were guilty of the same bad actions as before."وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنْسِ ۖ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ آذَانٌ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ"And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like livestock; rather, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless." - (QS.7:179)
Green Pigeon said, "Who was Daniel?" Peacock said, "Daniel or Danyal, is usually considered in general to have been a prophet, but some say that he is a saintly man. There is a narration that retained some records of the two figures name Daniel in the Hebrew Bible, the first being the sage of ancient times mentioned by Ezekiel and the second being the visionary who lived at the time of the captivity in Babylon, whose life was chronicled in the Book of Daniel, canonized in the current Hebrew Bible. The first figure is referred to as Daniel Al-Akbar or "Daniel the Elder", whilst the second figure is referred to as Daniel ibn Ezekiel Al-Ashgar.
Ibn Katheer reported that Ibn Abi Al-Dunya narrated the following, based on a chain of citations. Nabuchadnezzar captured the two lions and threw them into a pit. He then brought Daniel and threw him at them; yet they did not pounce at him; rather, he remained as Allah wished. When then he desired food and drink, Allah revealed to Jeremiah, who was in Palestine, "Prepare food and drink for Daniel." He said, "O Rabb! I am in Jerusalem while Daniel is in Babylon (Iraq)." Allah revealed to him, "Do what I have commanded you to do, and I shall send you one who will carry you and what you have prepared." Jeremiah did so and Allah sent him something that would carry him until he arrived at the brink of the pit.
Then Daniel asked, "Who is this?" He answered, "I am Jeremiah." He asked, "What brought you?" He answered, "Your Rabb sent me to you." He said, "And so my Rabb has remembered me?" He said, "Yes." Daniel said, "Praise be to Allah Who never forgets those who appeal to Him! And Praise be to Him Who compensates good with good, rewards patience with safety, dispels harm after distress, assures us when we are overwhelmed, and is our hope when skill fails us."
Ibn Abu Dunya reported from Abu Bilal that Abu Musa found with Daniel a holy script and a container in which were dirhams, his ring and ointment. He wrote to Righly Guided Caliph, Umar Ibn Khattab, radhiyallahu 'anhu, who replied, "Send the scripture to us, send some of the ointment, tell the Muslims who are with you to use it, share the dirhams among them, and leave the ring for you."
Abu Bakr Ibn Abu Dunya related without citation that when Abu Musa was told that he was Daniel, he stayed with him, embraced him, and kissed him. Then he wrote to Righly Guided Caliph, Umar Ibn Khattab, radhiyallahu 'anhu, that he found with him nearly ten thousand Dhirhams. It used to be that people came to borrow from it, and if they did not return it, they became sick. Umar ordered his burial in a grave to be kept secret and the money to be sent to the treasury, with the box and the ring a gift to Abu Musa.
It is related of Abu Musa that he told four of the captives to dam the river and dig a grave in the middle, where he buried him. Then he beheaded the four captives in order for the secret to be kept from all except himself.
Ibn Abu Dunya also reported, by a chain of citations, that a ring was seen on the hand of Ibn Abu Barda Ibn Abu Musa. The gem was carved with two lions with a man between them, whom they were licking. Abu Barda said, "This is the ring of that man whom the people of this town say is Daniel. Abu Musa took it the day he was buried. The learned people of the town told Abu Musa that soothsayers and astrologers told the king in Daniel's time that a boy would be born who would destroy him and his kingdom. So the king swore to kill all the baby boys, except that they threw Daniel in the lions' den, and the lion and lioness began to lick him and did not harm him. His mother came and took him. Abu Musa said, "And so Daniel carved his image and the image of the two lions into the gem of his ring, for him not to forget Allah's blessing upon him in this.'" This has a good citation."
Peacock then continued, "In the era of the mission of Prophet Yahya, alayhissalam, on the surface of the earth of Judea, the effect of the preaching of Prophet Yahiya, was such that peoples hearts became submissive. Wherever he went, people used to flock around him. At that time the King of Judea was Herodies, who was known for being an evil man and a tyrant. Seeing the general popularity of Prophet Yahya, he started fearing that he might lose the throne of the land, and it might land in the lap of this guide of the people.
It so happened that his step brother died, whose wife was a very beautiful woman who apart from being his sister in-law, was also his niece. Herodius was in love with her and he married her. Such a marriage was against Jewish law and as such Prophet Yahya objected to it and tried to get him to fear Allah. When the woman heard of the objections by Prophet Yahya, she became very angry and she encouraged Herodias to kill Prophet Yahya. Herodias was himself intending such a step but hesitated somewhat but at the insistence of his "wife’ he had Prophet Yahya killed and be headed, then sent the severed head to her on a tray. It is strange and surprising that in spite of the popularity of Prophet Yahya, not a single Israeli had the courage to try to stop this cursed act or to object against it. Some of them even considered it a good action.
Then come the era of Prophet 'Isa. He openly criticised their polytheistic innovations, their evil customs and irreligious attitudes. At that time, what capability was left in the Jewish nation to accept the truth? So apart from a small group of sincere ones the majority of them opposed him. At about that time the Nabaty King, Haarith, who was a relation of Herodias’s first wife and his father-in-law attacked him and after a bloody battle, defeated Herodias. This broke his power completely. The state of Judea remained alive through the strength of the Roman Empire.
Although at that time, the Jews used to say that the defeat suffered by Herodias and the Israelis was a result of the murder of Prophet Yahya, yet they did not seem to have learnt any lesson from the events and they still did not terminate their wicked ways. They continued to oppose Prophet 'Isa in all ways with the result that they went to the Governor of Judea, Pilatus to ask for permission to get rid of him. They finally surrounded him, but Allah made their effects unsuccessful and lifted him up to the heavens alive.
Finally, the retribution came along and it came in the form of civil wars among the Jews. At that time the Jewish Community consisted of three groups. One was the scholars of Jewish law who were called the Pharisees. Secondly, there were those who used to rely upon the outer meaning of revealed words. They were called the Sadducees. The third group was the congregation of ascetic priests. There was much deep differences of opinion among the Pharisees and the Sadducees that it led to heavy battles and bloodshed between them. When the ruler of Judea used to side with any one of the two groups that group used to proceed to kill the members of the other group. Finally the battles became so heavy that the ruler had to call in the help of the Romans and the Jews were then killed at the hands of polytheist idol worshippers.
It was during the period about seventy years after the lifting of Prophet 'Isa from this world when there was a great quarred between two claimants to be the rulers of Israel i.e. Yauhanan and Sham’oons while on the Throne of the Roman Empire, a Roman general was deputising. As was called Isnibanos. Yauhanan became successful in his claim to rule and did so in a blood thirsty and wicked way so much so that practically every street of Judea was flowing with the blood of his enemies. The Jewish people appealed to Isnibanos for help and he sent his son Titus with an army to conquer the Holy Land. Titus stopped near Judea and sent an envoy Nikanos to make an agreement of peace, but the Jews killed him too. This enraged Titus and he decided to proceed towards Jerusalem to take revenge upon all the Jews indiscriminately to cleanse the earth of them.
Historians relate that he attacked Jerusalem with such force that the walls of the city broke down and the walls of the temple fell down. A long period of siege followed during which many died of hunger. Many fled from the city and thousands were put to the sword. The Romans desecrated the temple and placed idols therein for worship. This was that defeat of the Jews after which they never recovered and as a result of their evil deeds and open wickedness and for killing Allah's prophets they were made to suffer everlasting humiliation.
After some time, the Romans cast aside idol-worship and embraced Christianity, and then their rise to power and their progress made the Jewish religion and their nationality appear over-powered and defeated.
Shortly before this, when Titus conquered Jerusalem, many of the Jews fled for there to go and settle in far-off places. Among them were those who came to settle in Arabia in and near Madinah. Some historians say that they had come to know that Yathrib would be the place of Hijrah for the final prophet. They had for a long time been expecting the coming of the Last Prophet. It is said that Prophet Yahiya was once addressing them and they gathered around him and told him they were awaiting three persons, firstly, Prophet 'Isa, alayhissalam, secondly Ilias, and thirdly the Prophet of the last era. This was such a well-known thing that there is not any need to mention his name. By merely referring to him every Jew knows him. In the Torah, the Injeel, in the writtings of previous prophets, it is proven beyond doubt that the Jews were awaiting the prophet who was to be the Nabi of Akhiruz Zamaan, who will be born in Hijaz. Thus whenever they were forced away from their centre, a considerable number of them went to settle in Hijaz.
How unfortunate is that nation who far before the birth of Prophet 'Isa was awaiting the appearance of a prophet whom they knew would perform Hijrat towards Yathrib and then they would follow him and through that they will again regain their national and deny dignity. In the same manner the tribes of Aws and Khazraj too were expecting his coming. And when finally he came and announced his mission, then first of all, these Jews rejected him and opposed him with enmity and hatred. They made it their main aim in life to oppose him and in the manner gathered for themselves everlasting humiliation.
From the beginning, Allah already warned them that twice they were going to be rebellious and that will be followed by punishment. Thereafter, there will once again be for them a third opportunity and if this time, they were going to be firm against wickedness and show obedience while recognizing the truth with which the messengers come to them, then He will bring back their greatness and bless, then with worldly and spiritual happiness. But if this time they threw away the chance and show to the prophet of the last era their sinful wickedness, then He will again let loose against them the law of retribution for bad deeds. Thus, when this time too the Jews did not let go of their natural temperament, Allah declared the final verdict against them, "They are struck with humiliation and poverty and they earn the wrath of Allah."
This is in fact what happened. They never attained to honour after that and they never had government as for centuries they wandered around in Europe being looked upon as being a despicable people. In Shekespeares drama "The Merchant of Venice", we see the character of Shylock. We also see what happened to them for a third time during the Second World War what Hitler did to them, killing thousands of them and they had to move to America from Europe and Germany. It is true that in the Middle East, they managed to set up government in a limited area but the government came about as an arrangement of the big powers but who knows for how long this government will remain standing? These people who have seen the fall of the socialist world will understand how soon this government can come to an end. Then also with the word "Jew" such an air of despicableness is attacked that any person of nobility now dislikes being called a Jew. Is this not the wrath of Allah?"
Peacock paused, and said, "O my brothers and sisters! Although this world is the world of deeds and not the world of rewards, Allah sometimes meet out punishment for deeds done so that they and their contemparies have to admit that such punishment were for such deeds committed. Such events then become a source of warning and admonishment for others. This is especially applicable in cases of arrogance and pride which are such mothers of sins that apart from what awaits in the hereafter, the proud and arrogant one is also made to experience the evil effects of these deeds in this world. One major difference is this that in cases of individual pride and arrogance, the retribution will also be individual, whereas in cases national and congregational arrogance and pride, their community life will be affected by the punishment. Another difference is that the individual punishment generally does not last very long whereas in the case of community arrogance the period seems so long that the wronged group is brought almost to the brink of hopelessness. However, sometimes for the sake of the warnings and lessons contained therein, the period is also shortened.
O my brothers and sisters! When the rejectors of truth and the worshippers of evil is being punished in this world for evil deeds committed, it does not mean that the punishment of the hereafter is wared from them, or that they, have been pardoned. No, that punishment will still come in its own time.
When Allah desires to punish a people because of their evil deeds and injustices or desires to let loose over them retribution for deeds committed, then His customary way of doing it is such that Heroes not immediately proceeds with the punishment, but He gives a period of respite, allowing the guides and prophets a further chance of bringing them on the right path so that Allah's argument agains them is complete. And if after that their disobedience still continues, then suddenly He will seize them in punishment and without the full punishment they will not be saved and liberated. Then the following statement of Allah will become a reality,
O my brothers and sisters! If something according to our minds appear to be wonderful or miraculous, it does not necessarily mean that that thing is in actual fact wonderful in its true reality. And even if it seems wonderful it is possible that that may only be so in our sight and not so in the sight of the Creator, who created all this universe from nothingness into existence and now keeps everything intact according to His own system, which is so astonishing to the eyes which daily observes it while the mind is forced to admit, "Verily for Allah, such a thing is not difficult at all."وَسَيَـعۡلَمُ الَّذِيۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡۤا اَىَّ مُنۡقَلَبٍ يَّـنۡقَلِبُوۡنَ"...And those who have wronged are going to know to what [kind of] return they will be returned." - (QS.26:227)
O my brothers and sisters! The Deen is the straight path of Allah. Therefore it cannot be forced into the heart of anyone by force. In fact, with its true light it enlightens the blind hearts of the people. "There is no compulsion in religion." Yet as far as falsehood is concerned, it has always been the occurrence that it tries to force itself down into the hearts of people with tyrannical and despolic unjust ways and instead of bringing forth clear, proofs and arguments in its favour. However it has always been Allah’s way to cause Deen to be victorious over falsehood. It is however Allah’s way also to take time in effecting this with the result that the people of falsehood look upon that initial successes as victory. They become unmindful of the wrath of Allah which is to follow and time and again in time we see history being repeated.
Finally o my brothers and sisters! Experience shows us that in every battle for the truth, and in fact, in every evolutionary movement, the youth are the ones most easily influenced— more so than the aged ones. Exports on psychology tell us that the reason for this is that the aged ones had spend most of their lives being used to the old ways and had become so attached to those ways, that any new movement immediately looked upon with suspicion and dislike and anything opposing those old ways brings out opposition in them. For this reason any new revolutionary movement's ideas instead of finding favour with them, causes them to be withdrawn from it. They will be prepared to give much more thought to new ideas before becoming inclined towards them and only after solid proofs and arguments. When, however, that does happen and after solid proofs and arguments they do incline towards it, such aged ones become excepted from this general rule and they become the backbone supports of the new movement. In any nation these ones form a minority.
On the other hand, unlike the aged ones, the youth, in their hearts and minds are generally neutral and they have not yet become so accustomed to the old ways. Therefore new ideas easily influence them and they do not look upon new revolutionary ideas with suspicion just because they are new. With interest they will look at them and give their thoughts out to them.
Now it is the responsibility of this revolutionary movement, that if they strive in the battle between truth and falsehood to put man on the straight path, the supervisors should assist these youths in all their numbers and support then in acquiring the best of dignity and high rank, till they are proven to be a mercy for existence in this world. However, if they strive for the opposite of that, it will mean that the leaders of such a revolutionary movement can lead these youths to destruction and they will become a calamity for man and this world. And Allah know best.
- Moshe Perlmann, The History of At-Tabari, Voume IV : The Ancient Kingdom, SUNY Press.
- Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophet, Darussalam.
- Maulana Hifzur Rahman Seoharwy, Qasasul Ambiyaa, Idara Impex.
[Part 1]
