كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّـهِ
You are the best Ummah ever raised for mankind; you enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. (Surah Aal ‘Imraan v110)
From every Ummah that set foot on earth, it is the Ummah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that is the best. There are numerous reasons due to which our Ummah is the best Ummah, and these have been mentioned in various verses of the Quraan Majeed.
In this verse, Allah Ta‘ala mentions one very important reason for our Ummah being the best – the reason of our Ummah being raised for mankind. In other words, one special quality of our Ummah, due to which they are distinguished, is that they always try to be of benefit and assistance to others.
Thereafter, it is not just any effort of benefit and assistance that brings us distinction, rather it is the greatest effort of benefiting people – the effort of bringing people closer to Deen.
In this regard, it should be borne in mind that every person, in their own way, can try to bring people closer to Deen. In the case of non-Muslims, we can attract them towards Deen by showing them the akhlaaq (good and kind character) of Islam, e.g. sending some baking to non-Muslim neighbours, etc. In the case of Muslims, we can bring them closer to Deen by advising them in a kind, loving manner, and also through leading by example. Sometimes, a person is more affected by the example they see in others than through the words we speak to them.
May Allah Ta‘ala make us worthy of being from the best Ummah, aameen.