The Da’wah To Islam by Sheikh Ahmad Mahmoud

There are some Muslims who suggest that the Islamic movement should be universal, because Islam is a universal deen, and Muhammad 􀁕 was sent to the whole of mankind. Besides that, in reality the Islamic movement faces universal movements. Moreover the enormity of the tasks required by the Islamic change imposes the need for universality.

People who hold this view cite the following Qur’anic proofs; 2 0 6 u T h e D a ’ w a h t o I s l a m “Thus We have made you a just nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger 􀁕 be a witness over you.”[TMQ 2:143]. And “Say:(O Muhammad 􀁕 ): ‘O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah.’” [TMQ 7:158]. And also “And We have not sent you (O Muhammad 􀁕) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind, but most men know not.” [TMQ 34:28]. Hence we find the Messenger 􀁕 directed his da’wah to the whole world, to every force, camp or King. Thus, he wrote to Najashi (the King of Abysinnia), Heraclius (the emperor of Rome), Muqawqis (the emperor of the Copts)

and Kisra (the emperor of Persia). It is not allowed for the Islamic work to remain isolated like the work in a single shop or a single field and to let the Islamic effort remain a cry coming from only one valley.

Indeed, Islam as a deen is universal in its ‘Aqeedah and system.

Allah 􀀬 is the Creator of everything, the Manager of affairs, the Most Knowledgeable and Most Informed, to whom the weak and needy human being, who has been created from a worthless fluid (semen), must turn. Thus, Allah 􀀬 is the Creator of man and he is the Rabb (Lord) of every human being. Man’s existence is linked to the purpose of his creation, which is worship. His existence is also linked with that which comes after life, the Resurrection, Paradise, Hellfire, requital for Iman, Kufr, obedience and disobedience. The truth of the ‘Aqeedah must be transmitted and conveyed to everyone; “So that those who were destroyed (for their rejection of Iman) might be destroyed after a clear evidence, and thsoe who were to live (believers) might live after a clear evidence.” [TMQ 8:42] The system that Allah 􀀬 revealed to His Messenger that emanates from the Islamic ‘Aqeedah, is the system for man as a man, irrespective of his colour, race or position.

Indeed, Islam is a universal deen. It obliges that the seed of establishing the Islamic State be a universal seed. Consequently, Islam obliges the group to prepare itself to take up this task. That is why, in origin, the group must not look at its work in a narrow manner or restrict itself to the country in which it works. It must not accept patchwork or gradual proposals, which accept the truth in parts only and deprive the truth of its radicalism. Rather, the group should see that it must save mankind from the stupidity of kufr, and the falsehood of shirk, whatever forms they may take to the truth, which can only be one. In the past people used to look upon idols as benefiting them and that benefit and harm was in their hands. Today people look upon certain thoughts as bringing benefit and containing good, while seeing others as causing harm. The group should look at the matter and adopt its culture on this basis. Its work and path are drawn on this basis, so if it followed it without deviation and remained patient on what may confront it and did not falter, compromise or be pliant, then Allah 􀀬 will have prepared it (practically and theoretically) to undertake this task universally, which will be after establishing the Islamic State. The group, in terms of thought, is universal, and in terms of work, it cannot go beyond the fact that it is a group that works in a particular place to establish the Khilafah State.

Consequently, it is the Khilafah State that will undertake this great task.

One point remains to be mentioned. It is the fact that the Muslim lands are intentionally divided into many states and the Muslims in these lands generally live in similar atmospheres, though there are differences in some partial issues that do not change the method or prevent the expansion of one organised work to more than one country. This expansion gives strength to the group and increases its awareness and more effective. It also makes the establishment of the Khilafah State in one area liable to expansion and spread. This helps the group to undertake the task that will follow the establishment of the State. It will prepare the State to enter the stage of global struggle. In both these situations, the group would rely on the Help of Allah 􀀬.