Passing on the Islamic Legacy
Al-Risala (English), April 1989, p. 4
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
Passing on the Islamic Legacy
1989 4 April 4 Passing on the Islamic Legacy (198) The principal object of the divine message is to save man from eternal doom by showing him the straight path which will make him worthy of paradise. A truly divine mission covers all communities, deriving its inspiration from God and not just from the community of its origin. But in this day and age, Islamic movements and institutions tend to derive their inspiration not from the Almighty, but from the immediate issues confronting the Muslim world. This being so, their outlook and activities have severe limitations, one of them being their remissness in passing on the message of Islam to non-Muslims. This neglect of their bounden duty is all the more damaging to the cause of Islam because Muhammad, may peace be upon him, was the last of the prophets, so that is only the succeeding generations of Muslims who can continue to convey God’s message to mankind. Muslims must see themselves, not just as individuals living for their own satisfaction, but as trustees of the divine mission. It is for them to perform the task for which God sent the prophets to the world. Failure to perform this task is certain to incur the wrath of God.
