Universal Invitation to Islam

The Holy Prophet’s Universal Mission

Although the faith of Islam appeared in the Arabian peninsula among the Arab nation and the Holy Prophet was an Arab, Islam was not a local faith that is restricted to the Arab nation. To prove, the Holy Qur'¡n addressed neither Quraysh nor the Arab nation; Rather, it addresses all people. In some verses that order Muslims to perform certain tasks and responsibilities, the Holy Qur'¡n addresses them as believers. From the very beginning of his mission throughout his invitation to Islam in Mecca, the Holy Prophet declared that his mission was a universal issue. Besides, the Holy Qur'¡n is dealing with universal issues on many occasions, such as the following:

Say: O people! Surly I am the Apostle of Allah to you all. (7:158)

And We have not sent you but to all the men as a bearer of good news. (34:28)

And it is naught but a reminder to the nations. (68:52)

It is nothing but a reminder and a plain Qur'¡n that it may warn him who is alive. (36:69-70)

He it is Who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of truth, that he might cause it to prevail over all religions. (9:33)

And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds. (21:107)

All these holy verses were revealed in Mecca; a fact demonstrating that the general invitation to Islam took place from the very initial stages. However, despite these authentic reasons, some European scholars, such as Goldziher, have claimed that Mu¦ammad’s widespread faith only took place later on and that his very initial instructions did not go farther than the needs of the ignorant Arabs of his time.[1] This claim is too worthless to require evidence.

The Start of the Universal Invitation

If the Holy Prophet did not take any step for the spread of Islam outside the Arabian Peninsula during his stay in Mecca and several years after his Hegira, this was due to the enmity and aggression leveled at him by Meccan unbelievers, the Jews and other enemies. However, after the convention of °udaybiyah Truce that brought about a temporary relief from the aggressions of Quraysh and a relative calm over Mecca, the Holy Prophet wrote several letters to the kings and governors of different countries inviting them to his Faith. In one day only, he wrote six letters to al-Naj¡sh¢, the king of Abyssinia, Caesar of Rome; Khosrow Parviz of Iran, al-Muqawqas of Egypt, °¡rith ibn Ab¢-Shimr al-Ghass¡n¢ of Damascus, and Hawdhah Ibn `Al¢ of Yam¡mah, as well as many other kings and governors.[2] These letters were written in Dh£’l-°ijjah of the sixth year of Hegira or Mu¦arram of the seventh. Of course, this was just the beginning of the universal invitation to Islam. Moreover, from that day on and up to his last day of life, the Holy Prophet continued writing letters to the different countries of the world.[3] The content of all these letters was identical and all of them were written in a simple, explicit and decisive style. However, reactions of the world leaders were not identical.