Every religion has an institutional place of worship. The Kabah was built by the Prophet Abraham for the worship of One God (monotheism). Neither Abraham nor his followers ever placed an idol inside the Kabah. In later times, since it was open for all, some visitors placed idols inside the Kabah, thereby causing intrusion or unauthorized trespassing.

When the whole of Makkah came within the fold of Islam, the presence of these idols became irrelevant and therefore they were removed. This was not done as a mark of disrespect. Had there still been worshippers of these idols, they would not have been destroyed but simply relocated to their rightful temples.

Source: The Seeker’s Guide   

Addressing the Prophet Muhammad, God says in the Quran: “We have sent you forth as a mercy to all mankind.” (The Quran, 21:107)

The advent of the Prophet was an expression of God’s mercy for the whole of humankind. Through him, God informed us about the principles on the basis of which human beings can come to inhabit what the Quran (10: 25) refers to as Dar us-Salam or ‘the Home of Peace’, an abode of peace and security for its inhabitants. Through the Prophet, God conveyed to us teachings that can make for a peaceful society. The Prophet presented humankind with a complete ideology of peace. He provided us with a formula that can enable us to abstain from hatred and violence and lead a healthy life. He ushered in a revolution that made it possible for humanity to avoid confrontation and war and nurture a peaceful society.

Because of certain compelling circumstances, the Prophet had to fight some battles, but these were so minor that they can be more appropriately called skirmishes, rather than wars. The great revolution that the Prophet wrought can, therefore, definitely be termed a bloodless revolution.

The Prophet gave peace the status of a complete and comprehensive way of life. He taught us that violence leads to destruction, while peace leads to construction. He termed patience as the highest form of worship, which means remaining fully established on the way of peace. He termed strife, the disruption of the peaceful system of Nature, as the biggest crime. He gave complete importance to peace in accordance with the Quranic teaching that equated the killing of a single individual with the slaying of the whole of mankind.

Source: Spirit of Islam October 2014

After the final prophet, Prophet Muhammad, the role of the dayee is transferred to his people, that is, those who believe in the Quran, the book of God, and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Thus, they come to acquire the position of dayees and their contemporary nations have the position of madus. Thus, being dayees, it is their responsibility, to convey the religion of God to people of all ages. They become God’s witnesses, so that those who want to accept God’s guidance may accept it, while those who knowingly deny the religion of God, when the case of such people (deniers) is presented in the court of the Hereafter, then the dayees will perform their duty in the court of the Hereafter as being God’s witnesses.

Source: Calling People to God in the Modern Age

Ibn Ishaq (the Prophet’s earliest biographer) said that when Prophet Muhammad came to the Companions and reminded them of the dawah work, he said: ‘God has sent me to the entire world as a blessing, so you should carry out this responsibility on my behalf. God will show His mercy to you.’ (Seerah Ibn Hisham, Vol. 4, pp. 278-79)

Muslims, as the followers of Prophet Muhammad, have the primary duty to convey the divine message to their contemporaries in every age, generation after generation. That is why the Muslim community has been called ‘The Middle Nation’ (ummat-e-wasat) in the Quran in the following verse of the second chapter, which states: “We have made you a middle nation, so that you may act as witnesses for mankind, and the Messenger may be a witness for you.” (2:143)

This verse speaks of the role of Muslims as dayees. It explains that they have received the divine religion through God’s Messenger. Therefore, they now must communicate God’s message to every generation in every age.

It was the responsibility of the followers of Prophet Muhammad to pass on the truth they had received from the Prophet to others. The same responsibility devolved upon the ancient people of the Book.  That is, making the message of God clear to people. (The Quran, 3:187)

The Call to God is to acquaint man with the creation plan of God. It is to tell man what his relationship with God is and how God will deal with him after death. In other words, this is like introducing a man to God. Its objective is to awaken man from his slumber, to make him realize his servitude, and incline him to turn towards God.

Source: Calling People to God in the Modern Age