Questioner: What is the meaning of Zuluman Jahula?
Huzoor (rh): That again I have explained more than once before. Hazrat Masih Maud A.S. has commented on this, Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra). has commented on this, and in the light of what was said by Hazrat Masih Maud A.S. and Musleh Maud (ra), I also spoke on this subject many a time before. “Zaluman Jahula” here has a very special meaning. You know sometimes in Arabic, a good word is used for condemnation when you want to exaggerate the point. And a bad word is used for praise, apparently a bad word, when you want to exaggerate the point there. That is called hyperbole, extreme praise. Hazrat Masih Maud A.S. has solved this dilemma for us because obviously the Holy Prophet (saw) is mentioned, he is the Al-Insan, the man, the perfect man, who bore this burden of Sharia, the Holy Qur’an, which was rejected by all others and they were afraid, they could not discharge the responsibilities attached to this.Huzoor-e-Akram (saw) came forward and accepted it. This is exactly what the Holy Qur’an wants to say. And yet the epithet following is so, you know, horrifying. “Innahu kana zaluman jahula”. Now if you read, if you recollect the Arabic poets, then you will understand the meaning of this. Some Arabic poets who want to impress upon others their grandeur and their bravery, they use similar words for themselves and for their people. That in “jahala”, nobody can escape us. We are greater “jahoo”l for others. That is to say, we do not care for the consequences of what may happen. If we are dishonoured, we will take our revenge. Whatever may happen to us. And we are so brave that we are ready to face any consequences. And “zaluman” can be used, this is without a preposition, “zaluman” can be used against himself and against others. “Zaluman” is a bad word, is a bad thing if you are “zalum” to others. But if you are “zalum” to yourself, it is a situation of extreme praise. You do not have any regard for your own comfort, your own selfish ends, as if you are ready to destroy yourself for a very noble and very high cause. So this is the meaning of “zaluman jahula” here. That look here, the perfect man came forward and accepted the responsibility. He did not care what may happen to him, what might have happened to him, what may happen to him in future. He knew all the grave consequences which may have followed. And yet he was extremely cruel to himself. And “jahula” with regard to what may come to him. So such a man was fit to discharge the responsibilities endowed upon such a man by Allah in the way of revelation of the Holy Quran.
