Chapter 33

WILLPOWER

Willpowerandself-determinationareprimaryintendmentsofIslamic
mental education. First, Islam has been concerned with establishing a
firmwill,aconstantdetermination,andafixedspiritinthemindsinor-
dertosavefromdrifting withthe trendsof occurrences,andchallenge
the seditious events. Islam has scornedextremely the languid andde-
scribed them as dead. God says:
You donot makethe deadhear,and donot makethe deafhear the
call.
Islam bestows manwith huge powers of determination and will to
protectagainsttheelements ofweaknessandfear. TheProphet (s)was
thetrueexemplarofwillpowerandimmensedetermination.Hestoodin
firmness during struggling and resistingfor the sake of his principals
andgoals.HebehavedaccordingtotheLord’sinstructions,ignoringthe
problemsandcatastrophes.Onehandwasholdingfastonthepennonof
monotheism,whiletheotherheldtheaxeofdestroyingandruiningthe
ideas,customs,andtraditionsofJahilism.Meanwhile,hewascallingout
toman’sdignityandrights.Atthesametime,allofthepowersofpoly-
theismandatheismwerestandingagainsthiminonehand.Hehadno
single supporter except Abu Talib his uncle —the believer of Quraish
andtheprotectorofIslam.TheQuraishichiefsthreatenedandmenaced
Abu Talib if the Prophet would not stop his advocacy. The Prophet
answered hisuncle who carriedthe chiefs’words to him,“O uncle! If
theypositionthesuninmyrighthandandthemoonintheleftforlead-
ingmetoleavethisadvocacy,IwillnotrespondtillIperishorGodwill
triumph.”
By such a giant willpower and greatdetermination, the Prophet (s)
overcamealloftheproblems.Hedemolishedthepagans,endedthepo-
tentialsofpolytheism,andblastedthecellsofJahilism,andraisedGod’s