Let me begin by clarifying that Islam is not the name of some unique faith presented for the first time by Muhummed (peace be upon him) who should, on that account be called the founder of Islam. The Qur’an makes it abundantly clears that Islam—the complete submission of man before God—is the one and only faith consistently revealed by God to mankind from the very beginning. Noah, Abraham, Moses and Christ—prophets who appeared at different times and places—all propagated the same faith. They were not founders of faiths to be named after them. They were each reiterating the faith of their predecessors.'

Allah swt says in the Quran

“Deen(Religion) with Allah is (only)Islam”

What distinguishes message of Islam/Muhummed saw from the other Prophets?

-He was the last Prophet of God.   

-God revived through him the same genuine faith, which had been conveyed by all the    Prophets.  

-This original message was corrupted, and split into various religions by people of different ages, who indulged in interpolations and admixture. God eliminated these alien elements and Islam, in its pure and original form, was transmitted to mankind through Muhummed saw.  

-Since there was to be no messenger after Muhummed saw, the Book revealed to him was preserved word for word so that it should be a source of guidance for all times.

Thus we have the most reliable source of knowing what is Islam, what it stands for, what guidance it provides, and what obligations it places upon us.

As Muslims, we believe in all the Prophets who preceded Muhummed saw— not only those who are mentioned in the Qur’an, but also those who are not so mentioned and this is such an integral part of our faith that if we were to abandon it we should cease to be Muslims. But for instruction we turn to Prophet Muhummed alone not on account of any prejudice, but because

 As the last of God's Prophets he brought us the latest divine dis­pensation,

The Word of God which reached us through Muhummed saw is pure divine language, free of human admixtures, and preserved in its original form Its language is a living language, spoken, written and understood by millions of people, and whose grammar, vocabulary, idiom, pronunciation, and script have remained unchanged from the          time of revelation till today

Prophet Muhummed's saw mission was for the world as a whole and for all times, for whole of mankind thus making it the most universal message of all times.     

God has provided through him a complete code which man needs to follow the right path. Islam teaches and guides us in every field of life-individual as well as collective.

Islam did not transmit merely a code of rituals commonly regarded as 'religion'. Instead it blessed the mankind with a whole system of thought and action, which is called Al-Deen (a complete way of life) in Islamic terminology.

Islam gives training to the individuals and the Muslim society as a whole to prepare them for practical participation in the evolution of Islamic culture and civilization. The believers must grow under this guidance into an organized community engaged in establishing the Islamic system of life so that God's word should prevail upon all other words.

The audience of the Qur’an and the Prophet Mohammad was the whole of mankind from the very outset, and those who accepted the Word acquired the status of believers without any distinction. At no time was the invitation of the Qur’an addressed to the people of any particular area, race, tribe, colour or language .The Qur’an always calls upon the "progeny of Adam” or "the mankind” to accept Islam.

Allah swt mentions is Surah Al Imran 3:110 about the Ummah or the custodians of this message as: 

“You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men, you enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah”.

Khayra Ummatin - the best of nations. Allah swt granted this honor to Muslims – the honor of being the best of nations, the best of the community, and the best group of people. Allah (swt) in this Ayah of Quran has outlined the position of the Ummah that the Muslims are the best nation brought forward from mankind.

This Ummah is the best Ummah. The distinction of this Ummah is the perception of the creator of all the worlds, Allah swt.  It is the perception of reality and the perception of the purpose of creation, which makes this Ummah the best Ummah. This Ummah is the best as Allah swt blessed it with the wisdom of the perfect Sharia.

It is the Ummah when practiced as the Prophet Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam exemplified guarantees happiness, comfort, and peace of mind in this Duniya and the eternal joy in the Hereafter. History teaches us that in less than 50 years from the start of the final divine revelation – Al-Quran- this Ummah dominated the majority of world with justice, mercy and humility. In every city the Muslims entered, the slogan they lifted high and preached was: “worship Allah that you have no god but Him” “Ubud Ullaha Malakum Min Ilahin Ghairuh”

My brothers and sisters in Islam, this Ummah is the owner of the best thoughts and achievement in the world and the hereafter. This Ummah promotes goodness, justice and truth.  It is in concordance with true human nature.  In this Ayah there is no ambiguity, nothing vagueness. But rather a clear simple statement that Muslims are the best of people, who do good and forbid evil and believe in Allah.  No exceptions here, there is no time frame here- just Muslims, you and I included.  Khayra Ummatin – this includes us as well by virtue of being Muslims, doing right and forbidding evil and believing in Allah. But can we identify our deeds and ourselves with this Ayah. Can we internalize this statement that we are the best of nations. Are we carrying this responsibility of being witnesses to mankind as the best of people?

Many of us have forgotten ourselves, our purpose in life and our entity. We have forgotten ourselves not only at an individual level but also collectively as an Ummah.  Allah swt created us for one purpose – His Ubudiya. He created us so that we worship Him and Him alone without partners.