The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page 475
The Holy Qur'an 475 for a people who were henceforth to become one. Now means have become available which are bestowing a unity upon different peoples. Mutual intercourse which is at the root of converting mankind into one people has become so easy that a journey that used to take years can now be accomplished within a few days, and such facili- ties have become available for communication that news that took a year to travel from one far country to another can now be transmitted within an hour. So great a revolu- tion is in progress, and the river of culture is flowing in such manner, that it appears obvious that God Almighty has determined that all the peoples who are scattered in the earth should be made into one people and that those who had been separated over thousands of years might now come together. This is intimated in the Holy Qur'an and the Holy Qur'ān alone claims that it has come for all the peoples of the world, as it is said: قلْ يَايُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا 280 Proclaim to the people: "I am Allah's Messenger to you all". Again it is said: وما ارسلتك الَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَلَمِينَ 281 I have sent thee as a mercy for all the peoples. And it is said: ليكونَ لِلْعَلَمِينَ نَذِيرًا 282 We have sent thee so that thou shouldst be a Warner for all peoples. 280 al-A'raf, 7:159 [Publisher] 281 al-Anbiyā', 21:108 [Publisher] 282 al-Furqan, 25:2 [Publisher]