To beautify the world, once Allah (SWT) infused the spirit into the image of Adam (AS) and commanded the angels to bow down before him, at once they followed the commandment, while the accursed Satan denied the order only to express his superiority. Not only denying was adequate, but he also got ready to argue with Him. Due to his defiance, Allah (SWT) drove him out from His court and declared Paradise prohibited for him forever. After Allah expelled him out, he challenged he would use all his approaches to mislead the coming slaves in the world till the Day of Judgement. The Almighty Allah has described his challenge to inform His slaves in the following words: “(Iblis) said: Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (Human beings) on your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to you.)” (Surah A’araf: 07, verse: 16-17)
The Supreme Lord showing the kindness and pity on human beings sent down countless messengers and prophets at different times and at different places in order to guide them from being misled by Iblis. The series of prophet-hood continued for a long time. At last the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was sent down to take out the humanity, absorbed in wrongdoings and worshiping the idols, from darkness to light. He was the last and final messenger of Allah. The prophet-hood was sealed on him and after him no other prophet of any kind will come to the world.
Last and Final Messenger:
The series of the prophet-hood came to an end after the last and final messenger Muhammad (SAWS). The Holy Qur’an says: “Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the Prophets” (Surah Ahzab: 33, Verse: 40). And the Holy Prophet was not meant for a region, or a nation, but he was for the whole humanity. Allah says: “Say (O Muhammad) O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah….” (Surah A’araf: 07, Verse: 158). The Prophet (SAWS) fulfilled his job and the responsibility honestly. He invited the whole humankind towards the oneness of Allah and enlightened the hearts of a good number of people, thus, they entered the fold of Islam in crowd wholeheartedly.
Ummah and Invitation:
After the Prophet (SAW) left for heavenly abode, the same duty was laid down on the shoulders of his Ummah. It must be noticed that the Ummah is not like grass grows itself on the earth, but Allah, the Almighty, bestowed them the human entity to safeguard Islam till the Day of Judgement. It, therefore, is the obligation of the Ummah to convey the message of Allah towards the common folks and to enjoin the right and forbid the wrong. Therefore, the title of Khaire- Ummah (the best of people) has been conferred on them. The Glorious Qur’an says: “You (true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of ProphetMuhammad and his Sunnah) are the best of people ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma’ruf (Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al- Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah…” (Surah Aal- Imran: 03, verse: 110)
Under the commentary of this verse, Allama Shabbir Ahmad Usmani (RA) writes: “O Muslims! Allah the Almighty has admired you as the best nation among all what was already in His eternal knowledge. The news had been given to the former prophets that the Last Messenger Muhammad (SAWS) would be more prominent than others. Similarly his Ummah would be more prominent than others. Therefore, it would be blessed with the highest honour and the nobility. It would find the perfect and complete Shariah. The door of education and knowledge would open for them. All branches of belief, deed and piety would be refreshed with their efforts and sacrifices. It would not be restricted to a particular nation, state or country, but the circle of its activity would enclose the whole world and all branches of human life.”(Tafsire-Usmani Page: 82)
Today, when we analyse the present circumstances of the society, we conclude that the every steps of human beings is going from bad to worst. Every kind of illness has taken root in it. People are indulged in infidelity, paganism, polytheism and innovation. Bribery, deception, forgery and embezzlement have become the integral part of human society. They are chained with fetters of the customs and rituals. They have taken fancy to crimes of all classes. The most regrettable aspect is that the best Ummah, the bearer of prophetic job, the accountable to the mission of showing the straight path to the common people, is suffering from lots of practical, mental and spiritual disorders. It is, therefore, essential for this ailing Ummah to recover from it. When it recovers and understands the importance and necessity of Allah’s mission, it shall stand up to guide the people, from idol worshiping, paganism, infidelity and polytheism, towards Allah’s commandment as the companions of the prophet and our pious forefathers did. Being the best of people, it should teach the people the message of a true religion- Islam, the natural way of life. It must inspire them to the grand palace of Paradise against the worldly narrow huts. In such case, the Ummah would appropriately deserve the title, ‘the best of people”.
Dawah Mission and Ulama:
The holy Prophet (SAWS) said regarding Ulama: “Verily the Ulama (scholars) are the heirs of the Prophets, verily the Prophets do not leave behind gold nor silver (wealth), they only leave behind religious knowledge” (Mishkat Vol: 1, Page: 34) The Hadith means Ulama are the scholarly inheritors of the prophets. And if it is so, the responsibility of propagation of Islam, the guidance of the people to virtuous deeds, prohibition from misdeeds, compliance with commandments of Allah, the Almighty, and inspiring others to its compliance, lies on the shoulders of Ulama. Indeed, it’s Ulama’s responsibility, till the doomsday, to educate the Ummah, be it is Ummate-Ijabat (Those accepting Islam) or Ummat-e-Da’wah (Those rejecting Islam) and quench the thirst of those thirsty for Islamic teachings.
Code of Da’wah:
The work of Islamic invitation is as much important and significant as it requires the wisdom, beautiful preaching and heedful attention. And some so-called preachers commit grave mistakes in this respect. Therefore, there arises a question- “what kind of method should be adopted while preaching Islam? What kind of principles should be enforced? How to call people towards Islam?” Allah, the Almighty, taught its rules and regulations to His messengers and prophets when they needed. So, the preachers must follow it at the time of Da’wah and preaching. The Holy Qur’an says: “Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching and argue with them in a way that is better”. (Surah Nahl: 16, verse: 125)
A prominent and well-known Mufassir Mufti Muhammad Shafi Sb Usmani (RH) writes in the commentary of this verse:
“There have been described three points in the verse above: (1) Wisdom (2) Beautiful preaching (3) Argument in a better way. Some commentators of Hadith say, “These three points are based on three kinds of people. Invitation with ‘wisdom’ is for scholars, call with ‘beautiful preaching’ is for general people and call with ‘argument’ is for those, doubtful or denying to accept the invitation only because of their enmity and stubbornness.” He further writes: “To invite the folks to the way of Allah, the Almighty, is indeed the responsibility of messengers. Ulama of this Ummah fulfil the responsibility of dawah as their representatives. It is, therefore, obligatory upon them to learn Da’wah techniques from the prophets themselves. Da’wah, deviating from the way mentioned, causes enmity and conflict.” (Ma’ariful Qur’an, volume: 5, P: 409-410)
When Allah sent His Prophet Moosa (AS) for Da’wah to Pharaoh, He taught him the following method described in the Glorious Qur’an: “And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allah).”(Surah Taha: 20, Verse: 44) In this verse, the lesson of mild and soft speaking and good manner has been given to exercise at the time of invitation to Pharaoh, the cruel and tyrant king. It demands that the above mentioned manner adopted by the prophets must be kept in mind while preaching occasions. And preaching must be performed according to the addressee and time as well. If it is connived in, the invitation shall end in fruitless and the preacher will fail.
Giving Up Dawah (Invitation):
At present time, we experience most of the Muslims are in miserable conditions, even for trifle things of life; like bread and butter. They are beaten and oppressed, are being tortured, terrorized and killed world over. The respected ones are humiliated, be in their homeland or out of it. Cruel and blood-shedding rulers are set upon them. The Muslim countries are being captured and vandalised now and then. The glorious places as mosques, shrines, cemeteries, graveyards and Madrasas are targeted and destroyed. The chain of these problems and issues is endless and knows no ending. Let alone Muslim enemies be overthrown, Muslims have no powerful means for their defence against them. Of all these, the basic reason is that Muslim Ummah has relinquished the mission of Islam.
Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi (RA) writes here: “When the Ummah of the prophet gives up Islamic Mission, it will suffer from many severe disasters and disgraces. It will be deprived of all kinds of heavenly help, and all these will be only because of not fulfilling its duty and not showing respect to the mission. And their activity will involve neglecting that noble obligation. The carelessness shall be widespread due to the forgetfulness of the duty. The main route of misleading shall open on them. They would be divided among various sects and groups. The people will be destroyed. And (as we see) these are happening, but they will learn the loss on “Day of Resurrection”. Ummah shall be asked and reckoned in front of Allah, the Almighty.” (Qur’aniIfadat, Page: 93)
Whatever has been described in this piece of writing is reflecting the necessity of Dawah for this Ummah to adopt it strictly, seeking the help and aid of the Supreme Lord. It should try its level best to preach and protect the mission- Allah’s beloved and chosen religion. Or else, it is not hard and difficult for Him to ruin this creation as former ones, and make a new entity on the surface of the earth, that will follow the commands. Therefore, the Ummah is much needy, before Allah, and He is Eternal, Carefree, Unconcerned and Non-needy among all. The Glorious Qur’an describes this fact in these verses: “O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allah. But Allah is Rich (Free of all needs), Worthy of all praise. If He willed, He could destroy you and bring about new creation. And that is not hard for Allah.” (Surah Fatir: 35, Verse: 15, 16, 17)