The Forgotten Duty

Allah Almighty says in Surah Al-Ahzab (33:72):

"Indeed, We offered the trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to bear it and feared it; but man undertook to bear it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant."

This verse highlights how Allah offered His trust (amanah) to the heavens, earth, and mountains, but they refused to bear it and feared not being able to fulfill it, for they weren't equipped for it. Yet, humanity, with the abilities it was given, accepted it. However, most humans, by nature, are inclined toward oppression and ignorance of this trust.

What is the Greatest Trust of Allah to Humanity?

In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:30), Allah states:

"And [remember] when your Lord said to the angels, 'Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority (khalifah).'"

Before creating Adam (peace be upon him), Allah had already informed that the purpose of creating humans was to act as His vicegerent (khalifah) on earth.

What is the meaning of "khalifah"? Khalifah means "successor" or "representative." This is why Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was called "khalifah," as he was a successor to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Scholars explain that if humans are khalifah, they bear the responsibility of fulfilling Allah's commands on earth by managing themselves, society, and humanity in accordance with Allah's will. This is the meaning of "khalifah."

How Many Truly Understand This Responsibility?

How many of us understand that our primary responsibility is to be a khalifah—managing ourselves, our families, and our societies, leading others according to Allah's guidance, and filling the earth with Allah's law? Not many, and that's why Allah says that most people are ignorant.

Many believe that their responsibility as Muslims is to declare the Shahadah, perform prayers, fast, pay zakat, and, if possible, perform Hajj. But they forget their greater responsibility as khalifah. For this reason, the first revelation didn't command prayer, fasting, or zakat; rather, it was "Iqra'" (Read). The second revelation commanded waking at night.

"O you who wraps himself [in clothing], arise [to pray] the night, except for a little — Half of it or subtract from it a little." (Al-Muzzammil 73:1-4)

Why wake at night?

"Or add to it, and recite the Qur'an with measured recitation." (Al-Muzzammil 73:4)

Read the Qur'an with true tartil, with reflection.

Then Allah says:

"Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word." (Al-Muzzammil 73:5)

That is the trust, a heavy trust. But the process to prepare for it is waking at night.

What process is this?

First, iqra'—reading the Qur'an with understanding. Second, waking at night and reciting the Qur'an in the quiet hours. And what was the third revelation?

"O you who covers himself [with a garment], arise and warn." (Al-Muddathir 74:1-2)

There was still no command for prayer.

This is the amanah. This is khalifah. Once you receive the Qur'an, don't sleep or stray, but rise and warn others! When did the command for prayer come? After the Prophet had spent 11 years fulfilling his duty as khalifah. This is the great trust that the heavens and mountains declined. After this came the command for fasting and zakat, only after what? After the da'wah process.

So which is more important: da'wah or prayer?

Da'wah first!

Many people who don't pray lack it because they haven't been invited to Islam properly. Many who pray without focus or understanding do so because they haven't been taught the true spirit of prayer.This is why, when the Prophet ﷺ delivered the Qur'an, his companions truly came to know Allah, loved Allah, and performed their prayers with true devotion, preventing them from committing evil deeds. However, how many people today pray and still commit sins? And when they see wrongdoing, they don't stop it. Isn't that true?

Why is this?

Because humanity wrongs itself by being ignorant of its true responsibility. Some people think that as long as they pray, fast, and perform umrah, they have done enough.But no! Even Abdullah bin Ubayy, the chief hypocrite, attended prayers at the Prophet's mosque, yet he will be in the lowest depths of Hell. Why?

Because he didn't fulfill his responsibility as a khalifah. He wronged himself by being ignorant of the consequences of neglecting this duty.

If we look at the companions, most didn't die in Makkah or Madinah, though Makkah and Madinah are the best places for worship with multiplied rewards. Why? Because the primary duty is to be a khalifah, not merely to pray in Makkah or Madinah!

Imagine if all the companions had only sought reward by staying in Makkah and Madinah. What would have happened?

Islam wouldn't have reached us.

The Prophet ﷺ instilled in his companions an understanding of their duty as khalifah. This removed their ignorance, and so they didn't stay in Makkah and Madinah. Instead, they spread Islam far and wide.

Allah instructed them to migrate, and they did so. When Madinah became safe, they spread Islam further. Companions went to Sham, Persia, Rome, and beyond.They weren't ignorant of their duties, and that's why Islam spread.Today, many people fail to realize this responsibility. We feel guilty if we don't pray, right?But few feel guilty if they don't engage in da'wah. It doesn't bother them, and they come up with countless excuses:

"I'm not a scholar. I'm not a teacher. I'm not learned."

What's the requirement for da'wah? Knowing just one verse!

"Convey from me, even if it's one verse."

The Prophet ﷺ was in Makkah, under the rule of the Quraysh, without a mosque or a center, under strict control. Yet, he managed to spread the message of Islam to all of Makkah.Under such pressure, he didn't just educate his companions but produced an exceptional da'i like Mus'ab bin Umair, whom he then sent to Madinah.Despite the Quraysh's restrictions, the Prophet ﷺ educated and sent a da'i to another city.

Mus'ab carried only Qur'anic verses, but with them, he reached everyone in Madinah. He would visit homes, gardens, and reach every household. So, we feel humbled by Mus'ab. He reached all of Madinah without a center, just on his own, spreading the message to everyone.

The Prophet ﷺ produced Mus'ab under the rule of the Quraysh. Today, we have better resources but less impactful da'wah. Why? We have many classes and growing numbers in Islamic learning, yet the spread of knowledge is minimal. Why? Because people keep learning without passing on the knowledge. They complete one surah, one chapter, one book, and continue learning.

Why isn't knowledge being spread? Why isn't the knowledge being taught also shared? Because people are unjust to themselves and ignorant. It's unjust to see people around us who don't understand the Qur'an while we continue only to study. Isn't that unjust? Imagine if the Prophet ﷺ had received a verse and kept it to himself, holding tajweed classes or home study circles. What would have happened?

The Prophet ﷺ would be wronging others by prioritizing himself. Consider if you saw someone fall by the roadside and didn't help. Wouldn't that be unjust?But when we see people not praying, it doesn't stir our emotions.

Which is worse, a broken leg or missing prayer? Not praying, right? Yet, which do we care more about? The injured person. Because we are ignorant of our responsibility.

Why are you willing to help with a worldly injury but unwilling to help save someone in the hereafter? Wouldn't it be more merciful to help them avoid Hellfire? This is why humanity often wrongs itself by ignoring this responsibility.