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Islam is Allah's final
Message in its most perfect form to mankind. This is proclaimed in the
following verse:
"Today I have perfected your religion for you
and I have completed thus My favours upon you and I have chosen for you
Islam as your religion." (Al Qur'an 5: 3)
Furthermore, Islam is the only 'religion accepted by Allah'. Says the Holy
Qur'an: "And whoever chooses a way of life other
than Islam, this will not be accepted from him. And in the Hereafter he
will be among the losers." (Al-Qur'an 3:85)
Thus Islam, stands as the only hope for the salvation of all nations:
Nations who are in conflict with themselves and with each other; people
who have lost faith and confidence in themselves and in others; states
which are building their welfare at the expense of others lives;
communities who have reached the fathomless depth of moral degradation.
Humanity stands today on the brinks of destruction. And it is our moral
duty to extend to them Islam's brotherly love and compassion so that they
experience the community of faith and righteousness brought up by the best
of educators, Muhammad, peace be upon him, who said: "I have been sent to
perfect the beauties of moral conduct." And, "I have been sent to the
'red' and the 'black' alike".
Allah, Most High declares: "And verily We have
sent your as a mercy to the entire mankind." (Al-Qur'an 21: 107)
"O Prophet, Truly We have sent you as a witness,
a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner. And as one who invites to Allah by
His leave and as a lamp spreading light. Then give the glad tidings to the
believers, that they shall have from Allah a very great bounty."
(Al-Qur'an 33: 45-47)
The challenge is clear. It is now our turn to take up the responsibility
of spreading Allah's Message after the Prophet (peace be upon him).
The Noblest Example Provided by the Messenger of Allah:
Muhammad (peace be upon him) received the Divine Message willingly and
took upon himself the greatest responsibilities ever conceivable.
Undoubtedly, the prophethood posed the heaviest and most troublesome
burden on the shoulders of Muhammad (peace be upon him).
For, Prophethood entails courage, boldness, steadfastness, wisdom,
intelligence personality, judgement and caution coupled with compassion,
mercy love, magnanimity, selflessness, generosity, humility, justice,
loyalty and countless other qualities of excellence and perfection. He
faced hardships, persecution, torture, and death, and put up with stubborn
ignorance, relentless enmities and treacherous tribes, to endure
insolence, ill-treatment and oppressions. The Messenger of Allah carried
out Allah's orders inspite of the tremendous opposition and ill-treatment.
He was commanded by his Lord to call people to piety, modesty and
submission to the Sustainer of the universe to warn those who rejected the
message and give glad tidings to those who believed. To fight those who
obstructed the path to the truth of Allah's guidance.
The prophet of Allah, is solemnly reminded on a number of occasions
throughout the Qur'an that he is to preach and spread Allah's Message.
Allah, Most High says: "O Messenger verily We
have sent you as a witness, one giving glad tidings and a warner and as
one who invites (people) to Allah by His permission, and an illuminating
light." (Al-Qur'an 33: 45-46)
The very word Messenger implies that the person to whom this name is
attributed carries a message, which invariably concerns everybody
according to his frame of mind, inquisitiveness and thirst for truth.
Allah's address to His Messenger recurs time and again to remind him that
it is his duty to invite people to Allah, to be steadfast in conveying
Allah's message to mankind and not to lose for any moment the sight of
this sublime goal. Allah the Most glorious and the Most High addresses His
Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him), thus:
"…And do invite (them) to your Lord, for your are assuredly on the
Right
Way." (Al-Qur'an
22:67)
Here are some more injunctions to the same effect:
"And let nothing keep you back from the signs of
Allah after they have been revealed to you. And invite (men) to your Lord,
and be not of the company of polytheists." (Al-Qur'an 23: 87)
"... Say: I am commanded to worship Allah, and
not to joint partners with Him. Unto Him, do I call, and unto Him is my
return." (Al-Qur'an 13: 36)
It is a fact that Allah, out of His mercy sent great number of Prophets at
different times and places. Their mission was the same. All of them,
without exception, invited the people to believe in Allah and worship him
alone. Allah, the Most Exalted says: "And verily
We have sent to every nation a Prophet so that they worship Allah and shun
the idols." (Al-Qur'an 16: 36) And again He says:
"O Messenger, proclaim (to them) what has been
sent down to you from your Lord." (Al-Qur'an 5: 6 |