From the beginning of the history of man, God sent a series of Prophets to the world. The Prophets were a human agency by which knowledge of truth was communicated to man:

We have revealed Our will to you as We revealed it to Noah and to the prophets who came after him; as We revealed it to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes; to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, Solomon and David, to whom We gave the Psalms. Of some apostles We have already told you; but there are others of whom We have not yet spoken—and God spoke directly to Moses—apostles who brought good news to mankind and admonished them, that they might have no plea against God after their coming. God is Mighty and Wise. (Quran, 4:165)

Adam was not only the first man; he was the first prophet too. Prophets continued to be sent until, in the 7th century of the Christian era, it was God’s will that the chain of prophethood be terminated. The Prophet Mohammad (570-632 A.D) was the final Messenger of God. But as God’s message is concerned, it still has to be communicated to man, just as it had to be communicated in the time of the prophets. The followers of the Prophet Mohammad have been chosen for this task. God’s final Messenger proclaimed the whole truth to us; it is now our duty to follow his example and proclaim it to mankind until the Last Day:

In this as in former scriptures He has given you the name of Muslims, so that His apostle may testify against you, and that you yourselves may testify against your fellowmen.(Quran, 22:78)

This is no collateral task; it is the very purpose of the Muslim community’s existence. According to the Quran, the Prophets only proved themselves when they communicated their message in full form to their peoples; in the same way, Muslims can only prove themselves by communicating it to the rest of mankind:

Apostle, convey what is revealed to you from your Lord; if you do not, you will not have conveyed His message. (Quran, 5:67)

Just as the Prophets’ right to be called prophets is dependent on them conveying the message of God, so the Muslims’ right to be called Muslims is dependent on their communication of that same message:

Say: ‘This is my path. With sure knowledge, I call on you to have faith in God, I and all my followers.’ (Quran, 12:108)

The Muslims have been called the “best nation” in the Quran. This is due to the fact that the mission, which previously was entrusted to prophets has now been entrusted to them:

You are the best nation that has ever been raised up for mankind. You enjoin justice and forbid evil. (Quran, 3:110)

Clearly, if the Muslims fail to carry out this mission, then they forfeit their right to be called the ‘best nation.’ What is worse, they lose the right to be called followers of Mohammad (may peace be upon him), for they failed to communicate the message of truth with which He entrusted them, for it to be handed over to the rest of mankind. □