Muslim Sunni scholars agree that the verse of the Quran (5:3) was revealed to the Prophet of Islam in Mecca, while giving his last sermon called the Farewell Sermon, on Mount Arafa during his last pilgrimage on March 6, 632 AD (the 9^th of Dhu al-Hijjah, according to the Muslim lunar calendar) and 81 days before his death on June 8^th, 632 (12^th of Rabi’ al-Awwal according to the Muslim lunar calendar) on the 11^th year of his immigration (Hijrah) to Madina. The Prophet said at the end of his sermon:

“Allah, be my witness, that I have conveyed your message to Your people.” Hadith.

And recited verse 5:3 that was revealed to him that day:

“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam (submission to the will of God) as religion” Quran 5:3

Both the Hadith and a verse of the Quran speak of the end of revelation and the end of the Prophet’s mission on earth, which is to spread the word of God and invite people to believe in it and follow it. The word da’wa in the Arabic language means invitation. You send a da’wa to invite someone to your wedding or a special occasion or celebration.

In theology, da’wa is communicating God’s message to people and inviting them to believe in it and live by it. The teachings of the prophets, from Adam to Noah, to Abraham, to Moses, to Jesus, to Mohammad, are meant to explain the word of God to people, to proselytize from polytheism or atheism to the monotheistic faith, to carry out missionary work, and to invite to the light and the truth. Whether Mohammad on Mount Arafa or Jesus on the Mount of Beatitudes or the Mount of Olives, or Moses on Mount Sinai, the message of God is the same.

 “We have revealed to you as we revealed to Noah and the Prophets after him,and we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the offspring of Jacob, and Jesus and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron and Solomon, and we gave to David Psalms.” Quran 4-163

“We believe in God and which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and to the Tribes and which has been given to Moses and Jesus and that which has been given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to him we have submitted.”  Quran. 2:136

The invitation to the path of God has been completed by His Prophets and Messengers. The duty of the believers is to remain in the path of God, follow the teachings of Moses, Jesus, and Mohammad, and teach them to their children. If they need help understanding the message, the scripture and the biographies of the prophets are both enormously helpful. To guide prayers and teach the scripture, we have rabbis, priests, ministers, and Imams who are devoted to God.

Since both the Hadith of the Prophet and verse 5:3 say the Prophet conveyed the message of God, why do we still hear the word Da’wa in mosques, the Media, and on social media so often? We know from the Quran that God calls all the prophets Muslims, meaning “those who submit to God”: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ismael, Jesus, Moses, and Mohammad.

 “And his submission to God was enjoined by Abraham upon his sons and by Jacob saying, “My sons, God has chosen for you the true religion; die not except in the faith of submission.” Quran 2: 132

“When death approached Jacob, he said to his sons: “Who will you worship after me? They said we shall worship your God, the God of your fathers Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, One God and to him we submit.”  Quran 2: 133  

“Do not argue with the people of the book unless in the better way and say: we believe in what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to you. Our God and yours is one, and to him we have submitted.”  Quran 29:46   

The word Islam means submission to God and belief in the only God. Islam is based on monotheism, and Jews, Christians, and Muslims are believers in the same unique God. The word Islam, meaning submission, is, according to the Quran, common to the three religions of God. It was adopted by the followers of the Prophet Mohammad after they were called “believers”. The Quran addressed them as “the ones who believed”, or “the believers” (Quran 4:59).

The Torah and the Gospel are guidance for the People of the Book; they do not need to be converted to be saved, as some Muslims say.

 “And we did certainly give Moses the Torah and followed up after him with messengers. And we gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Holy Spirit” Quran 2:87

“We did send the Torah; therein was guidance and light, by which the prophets who submitted themselves to God’s will, judged for the Jews, and the Rabbis and the Priests for them was entrusted the protection of Allah’s book.” Quran 5:44

“O people of the scripture, you have nothing until you act according to the Torah, the Gospel   and what has been sent to you from your Lord.”  Quran 5: 68

“Surely those who believe and those who are the Jews and the Sabians and the Christians who ever believed in Allah and the last day and worked righteousness, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” Quran 5:69

“How do they come to you for decision while they have the Torah?”  Quran 5:43.

“Who believes in God and his words, the Torah and the Gospel and also God’s word: “Be” and he was, son of Mary, follow him so you may be guided.” Quran 7: 158

“It is God who sent down the Book to you with truth, confirming what came before it, and he sent down the Torah and the Gospel.” Quran 3:3.

According to these verses of the Quran, Muslims, Jews, and Christians are believers who submit to God and seek guidance from their scriptures. So why the da’wa?

Is this “Da’wa” an invitation to the message of God that was revealed and taught by his prophets and messengers, that Jews, Christians, and Muslims know, believe in, and do not need an invitation to anymore, or is it an invitation to an ideology?

Is it a man-made philosophy or set of ideas and interpretations to dictate a new view of society, politics, control, and restraints regarding individual freedom and human rights? Is it a justification for abuse of women, misogyny, and extremism?

Is it an invitation to the ignorance of the scripture, to listen to new fake clerics, brainwashing and indoctrinating people, especially the youth, with sermons spreading hate and violence? We see it happening in the three religions, with people using the name of God to spread their ideology that is opposed to the scripture and twist the meaning of the verses to make them fit their ideology of hate.

We obviously, as Jews, Christians, or Muslims, do have to negatively RSVP to the invitation to this ideology because it contradicts the content of the scripture categorically.