( قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا) (Say, [O Muhammad], “O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you all): The Message of the Prophet (saws) is for all times and places; it is eternal throughout the ages. He (saws) is a Messenger for all of humanity, not for specific people. Therefore, this is a Message for humanity collectively. The Prophet (saws) said:
“I have been given five things which were not given to anyone else before me: -1. Allah made me victorious by awe, (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month’s journey. -2. The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for praying and a thing to perform Tayammum, therefore anyone of my followers can pray wherever the time of a prayer is due. -3. The booty has been made Halal (lawful) for me yet it was not lawful for anyone else before me. -4. I have been given the right of intercession (on the Day of Resurrection). -5. Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only but I have been sent to all mankind.”[1]
( الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ) ([from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth): Allah (swt) is the Sovereign of the heavens and earth. He (swt) is the One Who sends Messengers to specific nations or to all people.
( لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ) (There is no deity except Him): This is the pinnacle of faith. The Prophet (saws) said:
“Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from the path.”[2]
( يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ) (He gives life and causes death): Life and death is in Allah’s (swt) Hands. Allah (swt) says:
( 1 ) تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ( 2 ) الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ
(( 1 ) Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent ( 2 ) [He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed – and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving ) (Al-Mulk)
Death is mentioned before life to remind us that this life leads to death. Death does not mean extinction, nor is it the end; rather, it is a bridge to the eternal and everlasting life.
( فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ) (So believe in Allah and His Messenger): This command is for all of humanity to believe in this Messenger (saws). Complete faith in Allah (saws) is not fulfilled without following the Messenger of Allah (saws). Believing in Allah (swt) means to be obedient to Him (swt), and it is through His (swt) Messenger (saws) that we know what Allah (swt) requires from us.
( النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ ) (the unlettered prophet): The description of Prophet Muhammad (saws) as unlettered is repeatedly emphasized by Allah (swt). Illiteracy is a deficiency for any human being except for the Messenger (saws) of Allah (swt), for in his (saws) case it is a sign of perfection. No one might say that the Prophet (saws) acquired knowledge from another human being. Instead, Allah (swt) is the One Who taught him (saws). Thus, he is unlettered among the people but at the same time, he (saws) is the master of scholars because he acquired his knowledge from Allah (swt).
( الَّذِي يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَكَلِمَاتِهِ ) (who believes in Allah and His words): It is not just a matter of believing in Allah (swt), for belief alone is not enough; we must also believe in His (swt) words.
(وَاتَّبِعُوهُ ) (and follow him): It is an order to follow the Prophet (swt). The path which leads to Allah (swt) and to attain His (swt) love, so that He (swt) is pleased with us, is through the Messenger of Allah (saws). Allah (swt) says:
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ
(Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you) (Aal-Imraan: 31)
This is why Allah (swt) also says:
لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا
(There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often) (Al-Ahzaab: 21)
If we seek Allah’s (swt) satisfaction, then we must follow His (swt) Messenger (saws).
( لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ) (that you may be guided): The path to guidance lies in following the Messenger of Allah (saws) and emulating him, adhering to his commands, avoiding his prohibitions, and adopting his Sunnah and his way of life (saws).
[1] Sahih Al-Bukhari, the Book of Rubbing Hands and Feet with Dust (Tayammum), no. 328.
[2] Sahih Muslim, the Book of Faith, no. 35.