The Uniqueness of the Message of Islam

A Universal message: عَالَمِيَّةٌ

Prophets and Messengers prior to prophet Mohammad (ﷺ) were sent to certain people, tribes or nations.  For example, Moses to the Children of Israel, Allah (ﷻ) said: {Now behold! Moses said to his people: O my people! Why do you harm me, though truly you know that I am, indeed, the messenger of God (sent) to you?} 61:5. Jesus was also sent to the Children of Israel, Allah (ﷻ) said: {And behold! Jesus, son of Mary, said Children of Israel!  I am, indeed, the messenger of God (sent) to you.} 61:6.

Prophet Mohammad (ﷺ) was sent as the last prophet and messenger to humanity and till the end of time; Allah (ﷻ) said: {For We have sent you, (O Prophet,) as none other than a mercy to all the (people of the) world} 21:107. Allah (ﷻ) said: (O Mohammad,) say: O humankind! Indeed, I am the messenger of God to all of you} 7:158.

This universal message meant to invite all people regardless of their background or ethnicities or color to the themes that unite them all. The only level of preference was based on piety. The prophet (ﷺ) said: “O you people, your lord is One, your father is one, indeed no preference for an Arab over a non-Arab, or a non-Arab over an Arab, nor to a red (skin) over a black (skin), or a black (skin) over a red (skin) except in piety. Have I delivered (the message?)” They replied: “The messenger of Allah has delivered.”[1]

A God’s way message: رَبَّانِيَّةٌ

It means that all words, actions and thoughts are related to the idea of monotheism (Tawhid). It brings the existence of the humans on one idea which is to worship God in all aspects of life. Allah (ﷻ) said: {And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me} 51:56. Faith in God becomes the main factor that all actions are related to, thus driving people closer to God and changing normal actions of life to acts of worship through intentions. Allah (ﷻ) said: {Say [to them]: Indeed, my prayer and my rites [of worship] and my life and my death are for God [alone]} 6:162.

This uniqueness made the relationship directly with God among all His servants with no one in between to abuse that relationship to their favor. People need no third party to reach out to God, if it was clergy or any other entity. The role of prophets and messengers was only to guide people to God and not to declare themselves holy with God. This concept brought freedom of religion in its utmost beautiful meaning so no one will be enslaved to another except to God alone. The companion of the prophet (ﷺ) said when he met Rustom, the Persian general, answering his question of what brought them out of Arabia, he said: “God sent us to bring out whomever He wills from the worship of servants to the worship of the Lord of servants, from the narrowness of this world to its spaciousness, and from the injustice of religions to the justice of Islam”.

A human based message: إِنسَانِيَّةٌ

Basic rights of life and honor in Islam were established for all people under the concept that all are the children of Adam. Allah (ﷻ) said: {Yet very truly, We have so honored the Children of Adam: For We have carried them through the land and the sea. And We have provided them with all that is wholesome (in life). And We have favored them above most of what We have created with (such immense) favor} 17:70. A funeral passed by the prophet (ﷺ) and he stood up in respect. He was told it is a funeral of a Jew! He (ﷺ) said: “Isn’t it a soul!”[2]

When three people came to ask about the prophet’s way of life and worship, and A’esha (RAA) answered them, they considered it insignificant, and then they said: Where are we in comparison to the Messenger of Allah, when Allah has forgiven him his past and future sins? One of them said: As for me, I will fast all year long and not break my fast. The second said: I will stand in prayer at night and not sleep. The third said: I will stay away from women. When this reached the prophet (ﷺ), he explained to them their mistake and the deviation of their path away from the human based message of Islam and said to them: “I am the most knowledgeable of you about Allah and the most fearful of Him, but I stand in prayer and sleep, fast and break my fast, and marry women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me”.[3]

A balanced message: وَسَطِيَّةٌ

It is a message that served the needs of the individual, family and community. It also served the need of the body and the soul. The most important balance in this message is that it served the needs between this life and the Hereafter. Allah (ﷻ) said: {And so it is that We have (now) appointed you (Muslims) the (Chosen) Community of the Midmost Way, to stand as witnesses (to the revealed truth) before all people} 2:143.

Salman paid a visit to Abu-Darda’ and found Umm Darda’ (his wife) dressed in shabby clothes and asked her why she was in that state. She replied: Your brother Abu-Darda’ is not interested in (the luxuries of) this world. In the meantime, Abu-Darda’ came in and prepared a meal for Salman. Salman requested Abu-Darda’ to eat (with him) but Abu-Darda’ said: I am fasting. Salman said: I am not going to eat unless you eat. So, Abu-Darda’ ate (with Salman). When it was night and (a part of the night passed), Abu-Darda’ got up (to offer the night prayer) but Salman asked him to sleep, and Abu-Darda’ slept. After some time, Abu-Darda’ again got up, but Salman asked him to sleep. When it was the last hours of the night, Salman asked him to get up and both of them offered Qiyam prayer. Then Salman said: You owe a duty to your lord; you owe a duty to your body; you owe a duty to your family; so you should give to everyone his due. Abu-Darda’ came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and reported the whole story. Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Salman is right“.

A wholesome message: شَامِلَةٌ

It is a message that covers all needs and aspects of human life and its relationship with other entities. Allah (ﷻ) said: {We have not neglected anything in the [preserved] Book [of Heaven]} 6:38. Salman Al-Farisi said: The prophet (ﷺ) taught us everything, even about the proper etiquette of discharging human waste.

Basic foundations of ethics in social life, economy, politics, marital matters, inheritance, relationships among nations, rules of law and much more are all referred to in the Holy Quran and by default with more details in the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad (ﷺ).

Bring any matter to any scholar in Fiqh of Islam and he will tell you whether the ruling was obligated, preferred, neutral, not preferred or prohibited.

A protected message: محفوظة

This message is protected by the preservation of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad (ﷺ) one century after another. Allah (ﷻ) said: {Indeed, it is We (alone) who have sent down the (Quran instead as a revealed) reminder (to humanity of the way of God). And, indeed, We (alone) shall (forever) preserve it} 15:9.

This preservation first was for the script in which millions of Muslims memorize the whole Quran by heart one generation after another in the chain of Sanad to the prophet (ﷺ). Also, scholars of Hadith like Bukhari and Muslim have put an effort and a collection system for gathering the authentic Hadiths of the prophet (ﷺ) that kept it preserved to this day.

By Imam Kifah Mustapha

[1] Ahmad

[2] Bukhari

[3] Bukhari

About The Author

Imam Kifah Mustapha

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