The Battle Between Truth & Evil | چراغِ مصطفوی سے شرارِ بو لہبی

The verse of Allama Iqbal is not merely a literary passage, but a mirror of the eternal reality of human history and the cosmos:

Satiaza kaar raha hai azal se ta amrooz Chiragh-e Mustafavi se shrar-e Abu Lahabi

This verse tells us that the struggle of truth and falsehood, light and darkness is not a matter of today. This has been going on from eternity and will continue until the Day of Judgment.

When did this war begin?

The Noble Qur'an tells us that this struggle began with the creation of man. When Allah the Exalted sent Adam to the earth then Satan rebelled against him and tried to mislead him. This was the first war of darkness against light.

Allah the Exalted says:

اللہُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ (Al-Baqarah: 257)

That is, Allah is the protector of those who believe, He takes them out from darknesses into light.

This was the case with every prophet. Noah peace be upon him gave the call of truth to his people then they denied. Abraham peace be upon him raised the voice of monotheism then the people put him in the furnace of tests or tried to throw him in fire. Against Moses peace be upon him stood Pharaoh. In every era when the lamp was lit then sparks were also produced.

The Lamp of Mustafa

Then came the time when Allah sent His final Messenger Muhammad peace be upon him. You were not merely a bearer of a message, but yourself were a bright lamp. The Qur'an calls you Sirajam Munira (Chapter Al-Ahzab: 46)—a shining lamp.

You did not only say that Allah is one, but under the call of "Allah is Greatest" You gave a complete system of life. You presented a practical example of justice, mercy, equality and the service of humanity. Through you the light that spread, challenged the darknesses of the entire world.

The Sparks of Abu Lahab

Abu Lahab was the uncle of the Prophet peace be upon him, but he became the fiercest enemy of this light. His wife Umm Jamil also remained engaged in this opposition. The Qur'an mentioned both of them in a complete chapter:

تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ (Al-Masad: 1)

That is, the hands of Abu Lahab are destroyed and he himself is destroyed. This chapter bears witness that kinship and family ties have no standing against truth. Whoever stands against the Lamp of Mustafa, even if he is the uncle of the Messenger Muhammad peace be upon him, is a loser in the sight of Allah.

Iqbal has contained this reality in the words "the sparks of Abu Lahab." These sparks are not limited to Abu Lahab alone. In every era such people will continue to be produced who will try to extinguish the light of truth.

Now the question arises that what is the role of the believer in this eternal struggle?

Allah the Exalted has said:

وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ (Al-Insan: 30 and At-Takwir: 29)

You cannot will anything unless Allah wills. This verse states the reality of the believer. A believer is one who annihilates his will before the will of Allah. Whoever receives a command, he says without condition and without question "We heard and we obeyed."

In the Qur'an while describing the quality of believers it is said:

إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن يَقُولُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا (An-Nur: 51)

When they are called towards Allah and His Messenger to judge between them then their only answer is: We heard and we obeyed.

This is not a war to abandon

Some people think that if this war will continue forever then what is the benefit of striving? Iqbal teaches us this that this struggle itself is life. The nation that withdraws from this struggle dies. The task of the believer is to keep the Lamp of Mustafa lit—through his action, through his role, and through his submission and acceptance.

When Hazrat Abraham peace be upon him bowed his head to Allah's command he said:

أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (Al-Baqarah: 131)

I have submitted to the Lord of all worlds. This is true servitude.

For the believer the path is completely clear. No ambiguity, no confusion. Whatever Allah says, that is what must be done. In this is success, in this is peace, and in this is the victory of light.

Because the reality is this:

وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا (Bani Isra'il: 81)

Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Surely falsehood is bound to vanish.

This war will continue, but the final decision is in the hands of Allah. And the one who is with Allah, his lamp will never go out.