03- The Ummah of Muhammad (ﷺ) includes Both the Worlds of Humans and Jinn
Q: What is exactly meant by the Ummah of Muhammad (ﷺ)? Does it mean all the generations since the coming of the Prophet (ﷺ) and until Doomsday? or does it specifically refer to all those who believed in his message and followed him?
A: The Ummah of Muhammad (ﷺ) includes both the worlds of humans and that of the jinn. They are referred to as Ummat-ul-Da`wah (the nation that is called to Islam) in the sense that they are all called to Islam and shall be accountable for their deeds. The two realms are commanded to believe in the Oneness of Allah, to obey Him, to follow His Messenger (ﷺ) and to shun all that He prohibited for them. In general, the command applies to all humans and jinn. In this regard, Allah (Exalted be He) says: Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger ﷺ ) also says: And We have not sent you (O Muhammad ﷺ ) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind To the same effect, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: All Prophets were sent only to their particular people, whereas I have been sent to all mankind.) However, there is another type of Ummah, namely Ummat-ul-Ijabah (the nation that accepted the Prophet's call to Islam). This term stands for those who received the Prophet's (ﷺ) call and followed him. This Ummah was praised by Allah (Exalted be He) for accepting the Prophet (ﷺ) and following his Shariah (Islamic law). Allah (Glorified be He) spoke of them, saying: You [true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) and his Sunnah] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma`ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah. Those who believed in him shall be gracefully rewarded by Allah (Exalted be He). But those who reject his message are called Ummat-ul-Da`wah, and they shall be the inhabitants of Hellfire on the Day of Resurrection if they did not believe in the Prophet (ﷺ). However, this does not apply to Ahl-ul-Fatrah (people having no access to Divine Messages), who had not received the Prophet's call and thus known nothing about his message (ﷺ), such as those living in very remote parts of the globe. Such people shall be tested on the Day of Resurrection, and if they accept what they are asked to do will enter Jannah (Paradise), but those who disobey shall enter the Hellfire. However, those who knew about the Prophet's mission and yet rejected him will be among the dwellers of the Hellfire. To this effect, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! There is no one of this Ummah, a Jew or a Christian, who hears of me and does not believe in me, except that he will enter the Hellfire. (Related by Imam Muslim in his Sahih [Authentic Collection of Hadith]). Also, Allah (Exalted be He) said: but those of the sects (Jews, Christians and all the other non-Muslim nations) that reject it (the Qur`an), the Fire will be their promised meeting- place.) Accordingly, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon) is Allah's Messenger to all mankind. Those who follow his guidance, believing in the Oneness of Allah and obeying Him, belong to Ummat-ul-Ijabah and they shall enter Jannah on the Day of Resurrection. But those who reject him, of the Jews, Christians, Communists, idolaters and all other atheists, shall be among the inhabitants of the Hellfire. The only exception, as we indicated above, are the people whom the Prophet's call did not reach, i.e., Ahl-ul-Fatrah, who will be tested on the Day of Resurrection. Allah (Glorified be He) ordered His Prophet (ﷺ) to convey the Message to all mankind in His saying: this Qur`an has been revealed to me that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach.} He (Glorified be He) also said: This (Qur`an) is a Message for mankind (and a clear proof against them), in order that they may be warned thereby Thus, Allah described the Holy Qur`an as a Message. Likewise, everything the Prophet (ﷺ) said besides the Qur`an, i.e., his Sunnah, is part of this Message. Accordingly, those who follow the Qur`an and Sunnah, believe in the Oneness of Allah and internalize the laws of the Shariah are the true believers and hence shall enter Jannah. These people, and all who follow in their footsteps until the Day of Resurrection, are called Ummat-ul-Ijabah. As for those who deviate from the right path and reject the call, of the Jews, the Christians and others, they shall be among the people of the Hellfire on the Day of Resurrection. But those living in far off areas of the world, Ahl-ul-Fatrah, who did not know about the Holy Qur`an or Muhammad (ﷺ), they will be tested on the Day of Resurrection. The authentic Hadiths tell us that they will be tested by giving them a command to enter the fire. If they conformed...