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The Prophet (S) of Islam was sent for all peoples of the world, and his Shari `ah was universal. It was not meant for a particular race or nation or any specific linguistic or regional group. The Quran declares:
Say: `O people! Surely I am the Apostle of Allah to you all, of Him Whose is the kingdom of heavens arid the earth; there is no god but He; He brings to life and causes to die; therefore, believe in Allah and His Apostle, the ummi prophet who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him so that you may walk on the right path.' (7:158)
And We have not sent you but to all men, as a bearer o f good news and as a warner, but most men do not know. (34:28)
These two verses clearly state that the Prophet (S) was sent to guide the whole humanity and was designated as a bearer of good tidings (bashir) and as a Warner (nadhir) as well. In some verses, it is said that Islam is a Din for the whole world, and shall ultimately prevail over all other religions. The Quran declares:
He it is who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of the Truth, that He may cause it to prevail over all religions, though the polytheists may be averse. (9:33)
And it further says:
He it is who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the religion of the Truth that He may make it prevail over all the religions; and Allah is enough for a witness. (48:28)
In some verses God promised to ultimately entrust the believers with the job of ruling the earth and that power would fall into the hands of Islam. The Quran makes this promise in these words:
Allah has promised those of you who believe and do good that He will most certainly make them rulers in the earth, as He made rulers those before them, and that He will most certainly establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them, and that He will most certainly, after their fear, give them security in exchange. They shall serve Me, not associating anything with Me; and whoever is ungrateful after this‑those are the transgressors. (24:55)
It is again asserted:
And We desire to favour those who were oppressed in the earth, and to make them the imams, and to make them the heirs. (28:5)
These verses indicate that a bright future awaits the true believers and the righteous, who would rule the world, and Islam would be the ruling force. The believers would be free of fear in the matter of worship and polytheism would be uprooted completely.
Dissemination of Islamic Teachings:
Of course, Islam did not and cannot spread on its own, it requires effective propagation and armed struggle (jihad). This responsibility was entrusted to the Prophet (S) and he strived to fulfil it to his best. God, in the Quran, says:
Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and debate with them in the best manner .... (16:125)
To this (the Islamic message) then go on inviting, and be as steadfast as you were commanded, and do not follow their caprices .... (42:15)
According to these verses, the Prophet (S) is asked to invite people to embrace Islam with wise and appropriate methods of persuasion. Even in polemical debates he is advised to observe the best manners. In fulfilling this great responsibility he should be firm and not yield to the people's desires. The Quran says:
O Apostle, deliver what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, ‑then you have not delivered His message, and Allah will protect you from the people .... (5:67)
O thou shrouded (in thy mantle), arise, and warn. Thy Lord magnify, thy robes purify. And defilement shun. (74:1‑5)
And let them not turn you aside from communicating the signs of Allah revealed to you. And invite [the people] to your Lord and be not of the polytheists. (28:87)
These verses impel the Prophet (S) to communicate the Words of God without any fear, as God will protect him. A glance into the books of history and biographies of the Prophet (S) (Sirah) reveals what endeavours the Prophet (S) undertook in propagating Islam and guiding the people and fighting the polytheists and idol worshippers for the sake of spreading the belief in Unity of God (tawhid). On every opportunity he addressed the people, individually and collectively, and invited them to Islam with the force of his argument and exhortation.
Occasionally he visited cities and towns with this purpose. He sent some of his Companions to recite the Quran to the people and to guide them properly. He wrote letters to the rulers of many countries and invited them to embrace Islam.' It was through preaching and invitation that Islam gradually spread. Not only the Prophet (S) was made responsible for spreading and propagating Islam, but also all the believers were held responsible for the propagation of its message. and teachings. God says in the Quran:
Say: `This is my way; I call to Allah with sure knowledge, I and those who follow me. To Allah be glory! And I am not one of the polytheists. (12:108)
It is emphasized in this verse that the followers of the Prophet (S) would continue his mission, irrespective of the fact that they belong to the age of the Prophet (S) or any later age. The committed Muslims in the course of performing this Divine mission had to suffer all kinds of hardships; they were tortured, imprisoned and even assassinated, but never gave up. Without such effort of Muslims, Islam would not have emerged victorious.
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