the responsibility of the ummah

8/8/2019 The Responsibility of the Ummah

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Once the Quranic discourse in this respect is fully understood, it should not be difficult to see

how the Muslim Ummah as the successor to the Last Prophet, blessings and peace be on him,now bears the responsibility of witness before all mankind for all times to come.

Firstly:

All the Messengers of God discharged this duty during their lifetime, the last of them being the

Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be on him. The Quran addresses him thus, defining allthe duties entrusted to him:

"O Prophet, We have sent you as a witness [to the Truth], and as a herald of glad tidings and a

warner, and as one who calls to God, by His leave, and as a light-giving lamp". (al-Ahzab 33:

45-6)

Secondly:

The Prophet, blessings and peace be on him, was the Messenger to all mankind, and not merelyto the Arabs, and for all times to come, by virtue of being the Last Prophet.

"We have not sent you [O Prophet] but to the entire mankind, to be a herald of glad tidings and

a warner; however most people do not understand". (Saba 34: 28)

"Say (O Prophet): O mankind, surely I am the Messenger of God to all of you, of Him to whom

belongs the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth. There is no god but He. He gives life, andmakes to die. Believe then in God, and in His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, who believes inGod and His words, and follow him, so that you might find guidance". (al-Araf 7: 158)

"Muhammad is not the father of anyone of your men, but the Messenger of God, and the Seal of

all Prophets; God has knowledge of everything". (al-Ahzab 33: 40)


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Thirdly:

Though the Prophet has died, the Book that he was given by God and that he delivered, the

Quran, continues to live exactly as he delivered it. On this point there is no disagreement, evenby those who do not believe in his prophethood. This is a result of Gods promise.

"Indeed, it is We who have sent down the reminder; and, indeed, it is We who shall truly guard

it". (al-Hijr 15: 9)

Fourthly:

The need to witness Gods guidance before mankind remains as necessary and as urgent as ever.

Therefore, being in possession of the last Book of God, free from any corruption, the Muslimsstand charged with fulfilling this need. Their duty to witness is a corollary to the Prophets duty

to witness, as the Quran explains. That is why the duty of Jihad has been enjoined upon them,and has been made the measure and criterion of true Iman. Jihad does not amount only to waging


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war, but is primarily intended to discharge this duty of witness. Moreover, it has been made clearin the Quran that this Ummah does not exist for its own self-interest or its own self-salvation,

but that it has been brought into existence for the good of all mankind.

"O believers, bow down and prostrate yourselves, and serve only your Lord, and do good, so

that you might attain well-being. And struggle in the way of God as ought to be struggled in Hisway. He has chosen you, and He has not laid on you in your Din any constriction. Follow theway of your father, Abraham. He has named you Muslims, before and in this, so that the

Messenger would be a witness before you, and you would be witnesses before all mankind. Soestablish the Prayer, give the Alms, and hold fast unto God. He is your Master. How excellent

the Master, and how excellent the Helper". (al-Hajj 22: 77-8)

"Believers are those who [truly] believe in God and His Messenger, then hesitate not, and whostrive hard with their possessions and their selves in the way of God; it is they who are the

truthful ones". (al-Hujurat 49: 15)

"You are the best community brought forth for mankind: you enjoin the right and forbid thewrong, and you believe in God". (Al Imran 3: 110)

The Call:

It is important to remember that this duty has been laid down upon the whole Ummah, and isobligatory on every one of its members. But it is so important that, if every member of the

Ummah does not perform this duty, it has been laid down that there must at least be one groupamong them who should take upon itself this task.

"There must be one group among you, who invites to good, and enjoins the right and forbids the

wrong". (Al Imran 3: 104)


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the responsibility of the ummah

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