Bismillah.
قَالُوا يَا صَالِحُ قَدْ كُنتَ فِينَا مَرْجُوًّا قَبْلَ هَٰذَا أَتَنْهَانَا أَن نَّعْبُدَ مَا يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا وَإِنَّنَا لَفِي شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَا إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ
They said, ‘O Salih! You were a source of hope to us before this. Do you forbid us to worship what our fathers have been worshiping? Indeed, we have grave doubts concerning that to which you invite us.
(Sūrat al-Hūd, No.11, Āyat 62)
One of the Arab prophets frequently mentioned in the Noble Qur’an is Prophet Sālih ‘alayhis-salām, who was both a native of the Thamūd people and sent by Allah as their prophet. In the verse above, even from a young age, Sālih (a) displayed remarkable qualities that inspired hope in his community. They saw in him the potential to lead and elevate their society. This hope was nurtured early on, as narrations indicate that Sālih (a) was only sixteen years old when Allah appointed him as a prophet.
The recognition of Sālih’s unique qualities at such a young age serves as a reminder of the inherent potential that children possess. Every child is born with unique abilities and capacities that must be cultivated and developed. Some children may be quick thinkers with strong intellectual abilities, while others may be slower yet exhibit meticulousness and persistence. Both traits have strengths and weaknesses. This diversity may reflect what Imam al-Sādiq (peace be upon him) meant when he said: People are like mines, as mines of gold and silver. The essential point is that these abilities reach their full potential when nurtured by the teachings of Islam. Obedience to God acts as the elixir that refines and perfects individuals, channeling their unique potentials in positive and meaningful directions.
A remarkable example of an influential leader in the modern Muslim community who exhibited outstanding qualities from a young age, is the martyred scholar Sayyid Muhammad Bāqir al-Sadr. At just 21 years of age, he authored a treatise on usūl al-fiqh (the principles of Islamic jurisprudence) titled Ghāyat al-Fikr. In the introduction, al-Sadr notes that he began writing this work three years earlier, meaning he was only 18 at the time. Despite his youth, his humility is evident in his words, as he writes:
If you find that the discussions in this book contradict what is commonly heard from established words, it is not due to a lack of guidance from the esteemed teachers and great scholars. Rather, it stems from my inability to rise to their intellectual heights and match their precise insights. My sole hope is that Allah, the Exalted, will encompass me in His care and kindness, and that He will grant me the success to aspire toward their refinement. May He grant me the honor of following in their blessed footsteps, for He is capable of all things.
This passage reflects al-Sadr’s profound humility and respect for his teachers and mentors, despite his own intellectual brilliance.
We pray to Allah to help us unlock the potential within our children, guiding them foremost to be pious servants of Allah. In these challenging times for the Muslim community, and amid the ongoing bloodshed in the Middle East, we remember and mourn the exemplary individuals martyred. May Allah elevate their ranks and strengthen their legacy.
Sources: Rizwan Arastu, God’s Emissaries Adam to Jesus; Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabātabā’ī, Tafsīr al-Mīzān.Resources: Āyatullāh Nāsir Makārim Shirāzī (Ed.), Tafsīr-e Namūneh. Majlisi, Hayāt al-Qulūb, v. 1, pg. 99, Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, Tafsīr al-Kabīr.