Quality Versus Quantity...

Quality Versus Quantity: Muslims at the beginning of the Hijrah were a very small minority compared to the rest of the Arab forces which stood against them. They were overwhelmingly outnumbered and poorly equipped . For the Faith of Islam to triumph and establish a state it had to have one of the two following methods: A Divine intervention through which the evil forces would be miraculously destroyed. God is able to do that and nothing is beyond His power.

Whenever He wants to do anything He only says: "Be and it is." However it is evident that this was not to happen. The Almighty runs the events of the world through the natural courses. He tests the believers and they do not pass the test unless they try to fulfill what He commands them to do offering in His way what they possess of resourcefulness and power.

The other way by which the small Islamic minority could obtain victory was to have a superior quality which enabled it to prevail against opponents with quantitative superiority. This is what took place. The Unique Hero Here we find Ali Ibn Abu Talib next to the Messenger .

He proved to be a unique hero and a giant; mankind had never witnessed his equal in the history of "Jihad." The reader may remember that the Messenger of God gathered his close relatives after the commencement of his Prophethood seeking from among them a minister to assist him in his difficult mission. None of the Hashimites other than Ali responded to his call.

"Prophet of God " he said "I shall be your minister." The Prophet upon hearing this told the Hashimites: "This (Ali) is my pother executor and successor.". This event took place ten years before the Hijrah when Ali was thirteen years old. During the ten years which followed the event Ali's manhood reached its unequalled strength. This became crystal clear at the night of Hijrah when he lay on the bed of the Messenger giving the highest example in the history of Islamic redemption.

This manhood was destined to be transformed into a unique heroism when the Messenger and his followers accepted the challenge of their enemies and went on defending their sacred freedom trying to ping about the birth of the Islamic State which was conceived to carry the torch of guidance for mankind . No one other than the Messenger expected the word "Wazeeruk" (your minister) which Ali uttered at the historical conference to be so full of its meaning and flowing with so much of heroism.