Professor Nightingale stepped onto the stage. After greeting with a salaam and delivering the opening kalimah, he conveyed, "O my brothers and sisters! Allah, Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, glorifies His Noble Self and informs that the dominion is in His Hand. This means that, He deals with all of His creatures, however He wishes, and there is none who can reverse His decree. He is not questioned concerning what He does because of His force, His wisdom and His justice. For this, Allah says,تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ"Blessed is He in Whose Hand (Power) is the Dominion, and He is Omnipotent." [QS. Al-Mulk (67):1]Then Allah says,الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ"It is He Who has created death and life that He may try you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving." [QS. Al-Mulk (67):2]Allah brought creation into existence, from nothing in order to test the creatures. Allah named the first stage, which is non-existence, “mawt.” Then He named the origin or beginning of existence, “hayaah.” He examines them to see which of them will be best in deeds. It should be noted that, Allah did not say 'which of you does the most deeds,' yet 'best in deeds.'Allah then says, He is the Almighty, the Most Great, the Most Powerful and the Most Honorable. However, along with this, He is Most Forgiving to whoever turns to Him in repentance and seeks His pardon after having disobeyed Him and opposed His commandment. Even though Allah is Almighty, He also forgives, shows mercy, pardons and excuses.From time to time, in all ages, men inspired, or gifted with a superior degree of intellectual power, have appeared upon the stage of life, in order—by enlightening others—to fulfil the designs of Omnipotent, in uniting the world in a state of civilized society. Patriarchs, or heads of families, at first directed or governed those who were immediately dependent upon them: these in time increased, and became clans; these again, by their quarrels, and their wars, were induced to elect chieftains or kings over a number of united clans,–from which were formed the various nations and kingdoms of the earth. In this early stage of the world, when men were ignorant and uncivilized, the chase and war seem almost wholly to have occupied their time and attention. Their kings ruled over them with despotic sway, and the will of the prince was the only law: and thus the barbarism of the subject and the tyranny of the ruler went hand in hand together.Then in modern times, various dominion diseases appeared, such as, Authoritarianism, principle of blind submission to authority, as opposed to individual freedom of thought and action. In government, authoritarianism denoted any political system that concentrated power in the hands of a leader or a small elite that was not constitutionally responsible to the body of the people.Fascism, a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalted nation and raced above the individual and that stood for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcibled suppression of opposition.Totalitarianism, a form of government that attempted to assert total control over the lives of its citizens. It was characterized by strong central rule attempted to control and directed all aspects of individual life through coercion and repression. It didn't permit individual freedom. Totalitarian regimes often used violent repression and propaganda campaigns. There are traits of Totalitarianism: Elaborate guiding ideology; Single mass party, typically led by a dictator; System of terror, using such instruments as violence and secret police; Monopoly on weapons; Monopoly on the means of communication; Central direction and control of the economy through state planning.Those over-swollen pride, which seems the natural accompaniment of despotic power, blinds the understandings of its possessors, and renders them wholly regardless of the important trust reposed in them. The evils arising out of their bad government, are felt, more or less, by the whole people over whom they preside; and pride and arrogance prevent the approach of sincerity and truth. The sycophant and the slave then only find admission, and all other men are kept at a distance.O my brothers and sisters! They who generously shower benefits on their fellow-creatures, seldom fail of inspiring the great bulk of them with a benevolent regard for their benefactors, and often receive returns of kindness which they never expected. Mercy is of all other virtues the most likely to kindle gratitude in those to whom it is extended, and it is difficult to find an instance of a conqueror who ever had occasion to repent of his humanity and clemency. There is no person in the world so little, but even the greatest, may at some time or other, stand in need of his assistance; and consequently, it is good to shew favour, when there is room for it, towards those who fall into our power. As the lowest people in life may, upon occasion, be able either to serve or hurt us, it is as much our interest as our duty to behave with good-nature and lenity towards all with whom we have any intercourse. A great soul is never so much delighted as when an opportunity offers of making a return for favours received; and a sensible man, however exalted his station, will never consider himself secure from the necessity of accepting a service from the poorest.Listen to this apologue,Mr Leo, the lion, having laid down to take his repose under the spreading boughs of a shady tree, a little Marmot scampered over his back and waked him. Upon which, starting up, he clapped his paw upon the little creature, and was just going to put him to death, when the little suppliant implored his mercy, begging him not to stain his noble character with the blood of so small and insignificant a creature.“Pardon, O Master King,” cried the little creature, “Forgive me this time, I shall never forget it: and, insha Allah, I may be able to do you a favor in the future.” The Lion was so taken at the idea of the Marmot being able to help him. The poor little one begged. “Please let me go and some day I will surely repay you.” The Lion, touched with compassion, instantly released his little trembling captive.Not long after, traversing the forest in search of his prey, he chanced to run into the toils of the hunters, and not being able to disengage himself, he set up a loud roar.The Marmot, hearing the voice, and knowing it to be Mr Leo's, immediately repaired to the place, and bade him fear nothing, for that he was his friend. Instantly he fell to smart-work, and with his little sharp teeth gnawed asunder the knots and fastenings of the toils, and set the royal big one at liberty.“You laughed when I said I would repay you,” said the little Marmot. “Now you see, even a small creature can help the big Lion.” Mr Leo smiled, moved his head, motioned for the little one to climb on his back, and said, "Let's sing and go home!" Then they sang a song from the Land of Fujiyama, the land with the tallest mountain and known for its graceful conical form,繰り返すあやまちの そのたびひとは[Everytime we fall down to the ground we look up to the sky above]ただ青い空の 青さを知る[We wake to it's blueness, as if for the first time]果てしなく 道は続いて見えるけれど[Though the road is long, lonely and the end far away, out of sight]この両手は 光を抱ける[I can, with these arms, embrace the light]さよならのときの 静かな胸[As I bid farewell my heart stops, tenderly I feel]ゼロになるからだが 耳をすませる[My silent empty soul begins to listen to what is real]生きている不思議 死んでいく不思議[The wonder of living, the wonder of dying]花も風も街も みんなおなじ[The wind, town, and flowers, we all dance in unity]ラララララララララ・・・・・・・・・[La la la la la la la la la la... ] *)As a closing words, Professor Nightingale summed up, "O my brothers and sisters! We, are all the same. Everyone has need of another. Few are so small, or weak, but may assist us in distress. Nor shall we ever, if we’re wise, suppress and repress. And Allah knows best."
References :
- Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri, Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) Volume 10, Darussalam
- Thomas Bewick, Bewick's Select Fables, Bickers & Sons
*) "Itsumo Nando Demo (Always With Me)" written by Youmi Kimura & Wakako Kaku
