The Fitnah of the Majority and the Criterion of Truth in the Balance of Revelation

Among the greatest trials facing the Muslim in this era is the trial of distorted terminology and the inversion of truths; bribery has come to be called 'hospitality,' free mixing is termed 'civilization,' immodesty is labeled 'elegance,' and exposure is called 'freedom.' Conversely, commanding the right is described as 'extremism,' and forbidding the wrong is branded as 'backwardness.'

Iblis was explicit in his enmity from the beginning, when he swore to mislead the children of Adam in this world and abandon them in the Hereafter. Yet, as the Holy Qur'an describes the state of the heedless: "Deaf, dumb, and blind - so they will not understand,".

The Illusion of the Majority in the Holy Qur'an

Often, when advised to abandon a sin, some argue by saying: 'Most people do this, I am not alone!' This is a frail deduction that does not withstand a Qur'anic survey of the term 'majority.' If we were to trace the mention of 'most people' in the Book of Allah, we would find it coupled with attributes of deficiency:

• They do not know.

• They do not give thanks.

• They do not believe.

The same applies to the term 'most of them,' where we find it associated with (defiance, ignorance, aversion, lack of reason, and lack of hearing).

The Methodology of the Believing Minority

In contrast, Allah has elevated the status of the minority that remains steadfast upon the truth, making them the saved and praised group in the Precise Revelation:

"And few of My servants are grateful."

"And none believed with him, except a few."

Therefore, the believer must strive to be among this minority that Allah has excepted, and should not be deceived by the multitude of those perishing nor by the glitter of false labels; for the criterion is alignment with the Truth, not merely the number of wayfarers.