T h e V i s i o n o f I s l a m
24
concerned, it is still as essential to do so as before. For this task now
the followers ofMuhammad on himbe peace, have been chosen.As
the Quran says, “He has chosen you… He has given you the name
of Muslims so that His Messenger may testify you, and that you
yourselves may testify your fellowmen” (22:78). The final prophet
has borne full witness to the Truth, and now it is our responsibility
to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet, in testifying to the Truth
to the nations of the world, until the Day of Judgement.
This is not a subsidiary task but the very raison d’etre of the
Muslim
Ummah
. According to the Quran, the establishment of
Muhammad’s prophethood rested in the eyes of God on the fact
that he scrupulously fulfilled his duty, i.e., he conveyed the message
of God to his hearers. Had the prophet failed to perform this task,
the duty of prophethood would have been left incomplete.
“OMessenger, proclaimwhat is revealed to you from your Lord;
if you do not, you will not have conveyed His message” (5:67). This
responsibility which the Prophet bore, is also the responsibility of
his followers (12:108).
Just as the establishment of Muhammad’s prophethood
rested on his conveying God’s guidance to the people, similarly
the followers of Muhammad are entitled to be called
Ummah
of
the Prophet Muhammad only if they continue to pass on God’s
message to posterity. So we shall deserve the title of being the
Prophet’s
Ummah
only if we continue to perform his task, i.e. carry
his message from generation to generation till the Last Day. A
believer must follow Islam (submission to God) till his last breath.
Failing to do so tantamounts to risking hellfire. This not only
compels one to follow the true religion oneself, but also gives one
the zeal to struggle to save other human beings from this danger.
Ibn Abd Al-Bar relates that, according to Muawiyah ibn Heeda
Qushayri, when the Prophet invited the latter to Islam, he also said:
“Why should I have held you by the waist to save you from the
fire if not that my God will call me and will surely ask me, ‘Did
you convey My message to My servants? Then I shall be able to
say, ‘Yes, my God, I conveyed it to them.’ Listen, those of you who
