The Vision of Islam

 so that He may decide the future of these nations on the basis of the witnesses’ testimony? Certainly, God’s sunnah can never be abrogated. Content of the Call What is the message we must convey to the people? In a phrase, it is ‘the oneness of God,’ that is to say, to believe in one God and make Him the centre and pivot of our lives. According to the traditions, when Makkah was conquered and all kinds of people, young and old, men and women, thronged to the Prophet, for the oath of allegiance, he accepted their oath on two counts: Islam and shahadah. (Baihaqi). Aswad relates that on the day of the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet was taking the oath of allegiance. He asked him what is meant by shahadah. The Prophet replied, ‘To bear witness that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.’ (Baihaqi) The concept of monotheism is not just a philosophical issue, but is a test paper for man. In this respect the Hereafter becomes an essential part of the call of monotheism. When a preacher tells people of the oneness of God, he also informs them that God will not always remain invisible as He is today. After death, we shall have to present ourselves before our Master to hear His judgement of our actions in this world, where we will be held accountable to God for all our actions in this world. In the matter of the call of Islam, it is vital to keep in view the delicacies of the interrelationship of the different parts of religion, otherwise we shall not be able to do it justice. Under normal circumstances, making a direct call to accept Islam would appear to be unwise. That is why those who want to work in this field have different opinions regarding the question of the method of the communication of the message: some people think that Islam could be presented to non-Muslims as a scheme of social reform, Calling People to Tread the Path of God