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As Allah Almighty has endowed humankind with the vital energy that drives them to satisfy their instincts and physical needs. This leads to intellectual creativity, constant activity, and the exertion of maximum physical effort to achieve fulfillment in the best and most complete way. Similarly, He has established a principle for nations regarding their advancement and progress: the existence of a mission in this worldly life, a purpose for which they live and by which they strive. This mission unleashes their potential, awakens their genius, and becomes the source of their advancement and renaissance. Therefore, a nation must have a mission for which it lives and for which it is willing to die, even as a martyr, in its defense. No nation has ever risen up and progressed except by adopting a mission (risaalah).
While the missions of different nations differ in their source—divine revelation or human reason—which affects their validity or corruption, their permanence or demise, and their suitability for the entire world and all nations, or their suitability only for their own people at a specific time and under particular circumstances, nonetheless influences the nations that embraced them to the extent that their message possesses both validity and enduring value.
It is well known that the message is the Deen, or, in modern terms, the Ideology. This message must be a fundamental idea that defines humanity’s perspective on what precedes life, what follows life, and life itself, including its ever-evolving problems. It also encompasses the relationship between life and what precedes and follows it, in terms of connection and separation, and the systems of life built upon this fundamental idea. Furthermore, it clarifies the viewpoint on life in a way that guarantees happiness for the individual and society, without contradicting its guarantee for another individual, another society, or other societies. Rather, it strives to guarantee happiness for all when it is adopted and acted upon.
Looking at the world today, we find that the messages carried by nations have died and disappeared, or that their people have abandoned them. In the arena of international life, only the message of the West remains: the capitalist ideology, which advocates democracy, public freedoms, and a free market economy. However, Western nations understand and implement this principle differently within their own borders than they do with others. The West has adopted the capitalist ideology as a colonial message, seeking to exploit nations and drain the lifeblood of peoples for the sake of its own prosperity. It considers the world its own private farm. This message has become outdated; its corruption has become apparent, and it has undergone phases that reveal its impending demise. Its survival depends solely on the continued military power and political and economic dominance of Western nations over the world’s peoples. Nothing demonstrates the corruption of the capitalist system more clearly than the reality of our societies. In Muslim countries, societies now live according to the Western message—that is, according to the capitalist system in economics, governance, culture, and media—yet they live in a dire situation, enslaved to the West, in a state of unparalleled fragmentation and loss, stripped of their will, their sanctities violated, and powerless on every level.
This message has become obsolete. The time has come for the Muslim nation to return to its distinct message, separate from the West and its ideology. This message has proven to its people, who were deceived by the West’s allure of civilization, that the message and ideology of others are unsuitable for them. They have come to realize that their distinct message is the Islamic message in its true sense, the general, fundamental concept. This message possesses a philosophy—a core idea—that defines the perspective on life before, after, and within life itself. This philosophy becomes a creed upon which the acceptance or rejection of its adherents depends. All systems of life are built upon this philosophy, and the constitution is derived from it. It is not a purely spiritual philosophy based solely on spiritual surrender, nor is it a materialistic or economic philosophy based solely on material things or economics.
In its view, humanity is not an angel possessing only virtues or sublimity, nor an inanimate object like a spoke in a wheel or a machine performing its function mechanically. Rather, humanity possesses spirit, intellect, feelings, and emotions, and simultaneously, a body with organic needs and instincts. Based on this understanding of humanity’s true nature, its philosophy is founded on the integration of matter and spirit. A complete and inseparable integration, such that separating them would lead to each contradicting the authentic philosophy of Islam. Therefore, neither the spiritual aspect alone nor the material aspect alone is called Islam; rather, it is only called Islam when the two aspects are completely integrated, appearing as a single unity in which one aspect is indistinguishable from the other. Thus, the Islamic message, upon which its civilization was founded and continues to be founded, does not align with other philosophies that consider matter alone as the ideal or spirit alone as the ideal; rather, the integration of matter and spirit is essential.
Therefore, the philosophy of the Islamic message is entirely distinct from the philosophy of the Christian message, which is purely spiritual, and from the philosophies of communism and capitalism, which are materialistic.
The Islamic message is distinguished by its capacity for expansion (tawassu’), influence (ta’theer), and dissemination (intishaar). Its expansion stems from its ability to address every problem by deriving its rulings from the Quran and Sunnah, applicable in any era. Its influence arises from Islam’s appeal to reason and its alignment with human nature. Its dissemination stems from its treatment of human problems as problems inherent to humanity, not merely problems of a specific environment. This ensures that the passage of time does not erode its features, contradict its aspects, or obliterate its meanings, and that it does not become stagnant in the face of evolving events, changing times, and diverse environments.
The message of Islam is characterized by its capacity for expansion, influence, and dissemination. At the same time, the Islamic message is characterized by its stability and comprehensiveness, providing general, universal principles applicable regardless of the passage of time, the multiplicity of events, the diversity of human nature, or the variations in circumstances. These principles serve as constitutional articles, enabling the enactment of laws suitable for every situation that arises in human life. While the message also provides details, these details pertain to general matters that do not change with time, place, or people. This ensures that these specific details do not leave room for erroneous interpretations that could lead to alteration rather than expansion. Furthermore, the purpose of providing these details is to offer a model of the principle by which people should apply the general principles to specific events, and to clarify the methodology that scholars should follow when enacting laws and legislating systems based on the texts of this message.
The Islamic creed, which is the foundation of the message, it had a profound and significant impact on the human soul, transforming it completely and elevating it from the depths of despair to the highest realms. It broadened horizons, enabling it to perceive the universe and discern the most minute details of life, its purpose, and its value. It gave rise to a new generation of Arabs, instilling in them a spirit that transformed them into a new creation, and granting them immense spiritual strength. They then spread throughout the land, carrying the message of Islam, disseminating its guidance among humanity until the earth submitted to them and Islam spread from east to west.
Carrying the message of Islam is not merely an obligation imposed by Allah Almighty upon this nation, but rather its primary mission in this life and the very essence of its existence. Allah Almighty says,
وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدً
“And thus We have made you a middle nation, that you may be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger a witness over you.” (Surah Baqarah 2:143)
He also says,
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ
“You are the best nation produced for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.” (Surah Ale Imraan 3:110)
Indeed, this nation was created for humanity to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and to guide them to the path of faith in Allah, thus becoming a witness over them on the Day of Judgment. This is the message and mission that Allah entrusted to this middle (wasat) nation, which, by fulfilling this duty, becomes the best and most just of nations.
Today, the Muslim nation has no choice but to embark on the clear and truthful path leading to its revival and liberation from the control of disbelief and the domination of disbelievers. This path is the conveyance of the Islamic message to all of humanity, to deliver people from the worship of other people and from the injustice of capitalism to the justice of Islam—that is, to the only true human civilization.
Some may ask: Does this nation now possess the capacity to undertake this arduous task and bear this great trust? The answer to this question is undoubtedly yes. This nation:
Firstly, it has already borne this message. Indeed, it was born and unified when Allah Almighty sent our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, with the message of Islam in the sixth century CE in Mecca and its surrounding areas. They embraced this message and created an unparalleled renaissance, unmatched by any other global movement, not only in terms of human progress but also in its application to themselves and to others who did not embrace this message, even when they found refuge under its shade.
If Muslims in the past were able to bear a message when they had no prior message, then they are undoubtedly capable of bearing the message and rising to its heights today, just as they rose to its heights in the past, especially since they have inherited from this message an unparalleled cultural and legal wealth.
Secondly, the Quran’s approach to thinking has endowed the Muslim community with the capacity for profound and enlightened thought, making creativity and innovation inherent traits of this nation. Even during periods of decline and the fall of the Islamic state, the members of this community distinguished themselves through brilliant intelligence, genius, purity of heart, and a love and zeal for truth. This is coupled with sound innate disposition and a refined intellect, unified by the concepts of Islam when they are understood and adhered to.
Thirdly, our lands enjoy a distinguished position in terms of its geographical location, natural resources, agricultural and mineral production, and the vast wealth possessed by its people, estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars. Furthermore, the fact that these lands are almost entirely concentrated in one area, considered among the best locations across three continents, further enhances this advantage.
Fourth: There is no country in the world where Muslims do not hold prominent positions in various fields of science and industry. The West itself is replete with thousands of Muslims working in all sectors of industry, agriculture, research centers, laboratories, and universities, as well as hundreds of top-tier business leaders. Anyone who has studied at Western universities is aware of the excellence achieved by Muslim students and witnesses their superiority over their peers, despite the language barrier and the challenges Muslims face in life.
If we know, moreover, that this is Allah’s message and His word, which He has perfected with truth and justice, and which He has obligated humanity to uphold, and which He has truthfully and rightfully declared He will make prevail over all other religions, even if the disbelievers detest it, and that it is the enduring word and the eternal message, then can any doubt remain about the ability of the Muslim Ummah to bear this message? Allah Almighty says,
هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ
“It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all other religions, even if the polytheists detest it.” [Surah Saff 61:9]
And He, the Exalted, says,
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ
“Indeed, We will give victory to Our messengers and to those who believe during this worldly life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth.” [Surah Gaafir 40:51]
These truths must be an incentive and a driving force for us to embrace the message of guidance for all of humanity.
وَلَيَنْصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
“And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.” [Surah Hajj: 40]
