Da'wah & Tabligh - The Work of Acceptance

We must understand what Da'wah and Tabligh is. The Ulama of Haqq who carry this work as the mission of their lives have studied this work based on evidences from the Qur'an, the Ahadith and the lives of the Sahabah RA. In this day and age people carelessly say that there are so many ways or preferences. How is it such a high work has no standard? or tertib? or methodology? Yet it is not so sophisticated or complex to understand, or require rgeat ability and skill.

The thing is, this work is the work of Allah SWT. And in this work, it does not depend on how talented a person is. Rather, in this work, the most important thing is that how can a person be accepted by Allah SWT.

Acceptance is the criteria for this work, not the talents and not the abilities. And because we do not have this in our environment, so what we think is:

"...let's bring people i.e. the people who are talented to do this work."

But the reality is, this work is for those people who are accepted by Allah. It happens to that point, that a person who does not have any qualities or any abilities or any talents, so what? When he comes through the way of acceptance of Allah, he becomes so talented and Allah gives him so much that he exceeds those people who have talent. And if Allah wishes - those who have talent cannot even utilise or take benefit from their own talents. This is the way of acceptance of Allah; this is how Allah Ta'ala accepts a person. And it happens that when Allah Ta'ala desires to accept a person, this person has to go through different tests and trials. Different decisions and circumstances are put on this person. This person has to go through these circumstances and conditions. And while passing through these different tests, trials, and conditions, this person reaches a level that he becomes acceptable to Allah Ta'ala.

Because Allah Ta'ala chooses; He says:

"[...from the people he wants to do the work."

So when Allah Ta'ala chooses a person, that person has to go through various tests and trials, so that different benefits can enter the person. He goes through all that, so that through that, different qualities become embedded in the person. And because of these qualities, this person becomes accepted by Allah.

Allah Ta'ala mentions about the Prophet Ibrahim AS that he underwent so many tests, and Ibrahim AS passed all those tests. And when he passed all those tests, Allah Ta'ala chose him as Imam, as Imam of the
Millat (belief), and Imam of the Deen. Allah Ta'ala chose him. This is what the acceptance of Allah Ta'ala is; that when a person goes through this process, then Allah chooses him and selects him. And this is the most important thing - i.e. how can a person get accepted by Allah Ta'ala?

First of all, every worker of Deen must assess his personal life. This is very essential and very important. Shaykha Muhammad Ilyas Khandalwi RahA used to say that Allah Ta'ala will protect this work with such people that have the qualities to carry out this work. The people with such qualities and such attributes that they will carryout this work, then through them, Allah will protect the effort.

As such, there are four things that must come in the life of a human being;

the first is 'Ibadah,

then Akhlaaq,

then Mu'amalat, and

then Mu'asharat.

Ibadah is between a person and Allah.

The rest - Akhlaaq, Mu'amalat and Mu'asharat- i.e. the character of a person, the dealings of a person, the social life of a person; this is between a person and other people. Between a person andAllah, there is just one aspect; between a person and other people, thereare three aspects.

That's why, Shaykh Muhammad Yusuf Khandalwi RahA, in Hayatus Sahabah, has written a chapter where he has written how through the Akhlaaq of the Sahabah RA, Allah SWT gave Hidayah to other people. Their Akhlaaq, their character, their dealings and their Mu'amalat became a means of Hidayah for other people. The first thing which a person is tested is in his patience.

One Jewish scholar once came to Rasulullah SAW, and he wanted to test Rasulullah SAW in his patience, to see if he was really a nabi, and to see the dealings of Rasulullah SAW. And he dealt with Rasulullah SAW very harshly, and very rudely. But as harshly as he dealt with Rasulullah SAW, Rasulullah SAW showed even more patience. Patience and forbearance are signs of prophethood. He showed more patience, because Ambiya AS are given this quality of patience. They had so much patience, that whatever conditions come upon them, they would make Sabr and have patience on those conditions, until the decision of Allah Ta'ala comes forth. They tolerated those conditions and had patience so that Allah Ta'ala can open the doors of Hidayah for them.

The temperament of a Da'iee is one of patience and tolerance, and thus these must be adopted in the lives of every worker of Da'wah and Tabligh. The life of Rasulullah SAW before Prophethood was such that he was considered "Sadiqul Ameen", that he was truthful, pure, and trustworthy. Rasulullah SAW had all these qualities, even before prophethood, because he was in a position where he frequently had to deal with people. That is why we are told again and again that we should read Hayatus Sahabah, and we should carry out this effort according to the temperament and the methodology that is shown through the lives of the Sahabah. If we carry it out in this manner, then our efforts will be accepted. But if we do not read it, or keep these examples in front of us, and the life of Rasulullah SAW is not in front of us, then we will deviate from that path.

So if we are not guided, then how will we carry out this work with what? With cheating with one another, lying with one another, betraying one another, hating one another. And we will carry out the work in this manner. And what will happen next is that the work will be destroyed. People leave the work because of the lack of example they see around them, and the worst thing happen - they don't get involved in the work. They only become Abids, in their own spiritual comfort zone, which is also wrong and sinful, because this work is the work of all - scholars or non-scholars.

That is why it is very necessary to recognise that the first quality that the Ambiya AS developed was the quality of patience, and we have to bring this quality inside ourselves. And the more a person has patience, the more Allah SWT will use him as a means of Hidayah. There is a chapter in Hayatus Sahabah which mentions those qualities of Rasulullah SAW which were linked to the Hidayah of other people; among those, the first quality mentioned was that of patience. So we must bring this quality inside us. If we spend three days with full tertib, InshaAllah we will gain guidance.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW's Journey To Taif

For nine years, since his selection by Allah for His mission, the Prophet Muhammad SAW had been delivering the message of Allah in Makkah and making all-out efforts to guide and reform his community. Excepting a few persons who had either embraced Islam or who helped him though not accepting his creed, all the rest in Mecca left no stone unturned in persecuting and deriding him and his followers.

His uncle Abu Talib was one of those good-hearted people who helped him, in spite of his not entering into the fold of Islam. The following year, on the death of Abu Talib, the Quraish got a free hand and therefore accelerated their sinister pursuits without check and hindrance.

At Taif, the second biggest town of Hijaz, there lived Banu Thaqif, a clan strong in number. The Prophet SAW left for Taif with the hope of winning them over to Islam, thus giving quarter to Muslims from the persecution of the Quraish, and also establishing a base for the future propagation of Islam. On reaching Taif he visited the three chieftains of the clan separately, and placed before each of them the message of Allah, and called upon them to stand by his Prophet's SAW side.

Instead of accepting his message, they refused even to listen to him and, notwithstanding the proverbial Arab hospitality, each of them treated him most contemptuously and rudely. They plainly told him that they did not like his stay in their town. The Prophet SAW had expected a civil, even a cordial treatment and due courtesy in speech from them, as they were the heads of the clan.

But one of them sneered: "Hey, Allah has made you a Prophet!"

The other exclaimed with derision: "Could Allah not lay His hand on anyone else, beside you to make him His Prophet?"

The third one gibed at him: "I do not want to talk to you, for if you are in fact a Prophet, then to oppose you is to invite trouble, and if you only pretend to be one, why should I talk with an impostor?"

The Prophet SAW, who was a rock of steadfastness and perseverance, did not lose heart over this check from the chieftains, and tried to approach the common people; but nobody would listen to him. Instead they asked him to clear off from their own town and go wherever else he liked. When he realised that further efforts were in vain, he decided to leave the town. But they would not let him depart in peace, and set the street urchins after him to hiss, to hoot, to jeer at, and to stone him. He was so much pelted at with stones that his whole body was covered with blood, and his shoes were clogged to his feet. He left the town in this woeful plight.

When he was far out of the town, and safe from the rabble, he prayed to Allah thus:

"O, my Allah! To Thee I complain of the feebleness of my strength, of my lack of resources and my being unimportant in the eyes of people. O, Most Merciful of all those capable of showing Mercy! Thou art the Lord of the weak, and Thou art my own Lord. To whom art Thou to entrust me; to an unsympathetic foe who would sullenly frown at me, or to an alien to whom Thou hast given control over my affairs? Not in the least do I care for anything except that I may have Thy protection for myself. I seek shelter in Your light-the light which illuminates the Heavens and dispels all sorts of darkness, and which controls all affairs in this world as well as in the Hereafter. May it never be that I should incur Thy wrath, or that Thou should be displeased with me. I must remove the cause of Thy displeasure till Thou art pleased. There is no strength nor power but through Thee."

The Heavens were moved by the prayer, and Jibril AS appeared before the Prophet SAW, greeting him with Assalaamu'alaikum and said:

"Allah knows all that has passed between you and these people. He has deputed an angel in charge of the mountains to be at your command."

Saying this, Jibril AS ushered the angel before the Prophet SAW.

The angel greeted the Prophet SAW and said:

"O, Prophet of Allah! I am at your service. If you wish, I can cause the mountains overlooking this town on both sides to collide with each other, so that all the people therein would be crushed to death, or you may suggest any other punishment for them."

The merciful and noble Prophet SAW said:

"Even if these people do not accept Islam, I do hope from Allah that there will be persons from among their progeny who would worship Allah and serve His cause."


Behold the conduct of our noble Prophet SAW, whom we profess to follow! We get so much irritated over a little trouble or a mere abuse from somebody that we keep on torturing and taking our revenge throughout our lives in every possible manner. Does it become people who claim to follow the magnanimous Prophet SAW? Look, even after so much suffering at the hands of the Taif mob, he neither curses them nor does he work for any revenge, even when he has the full opportunity to do so.

(based on the treatise of Sheikhul Hadith Muhammad Zakariyya Khandalwi RA)

The Importance of Da'wah & Tabligh

Allah Ta'ala says in the Noble Qur'an:

"You are the best of nations sent to mankind. You command good and forbid evil and you believe in Allah." (Surah Al-Imraan)

Allah Ta'ala states that one reason for this Ummah being titled as the best of Ummah, is the practice of commanding good and preventing evil.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

"Whosoever from among you witnesses evil, he should change it with his hands. And if he is unable to do so then he should change it with his tongue. And if he is unable to do so with his tongue, then he should at least consider it to be wrong. And this is the weakest stage of Imaan." (Mishkaat)

Nu'maan bin Basheer RA says that Rasulullah SAW gave an example of people sailing on a boat having an upper deck and a lower deck. The people from the lower deck required water and requested water from the people of the upper deck. The people from the upper deck refused to give water so the people from the lower deck decided to make a hole through the floor of the ship and get water from the sea.

Rasulullah SAW explained:

"If the people from the upper deck do not stop the people at the bottom from making a hole, the ship will sink and all the people travelling will drown." (Mishkaat)

Similarly, if people do not prohibit evil and sin in the society, the entire society - innocent and evil - will equally suffer.

Abu Hurairah RA states that Rasulullah SAW said:

"Command good and prohibit evil or else Allah will send such a punishment that will destroy everyone." (Ibid)

The above quotations from the Qur'an and Ahaadith are clear that commanding good and prohibiting evil is an emphasised injunction of Allah and His Rasul, and every Muslim person must carry out this injunction.

All the Prophets AS followed the footsteps of their respective Prophets and after the demise of their Prophet, they carried out the same mission. The Companions of Rasulullah SAW spent their entire lives in commanding good and prohibiting evil.

Since there will be no Prophet to come, every Ummati of Rasulullah SAW is the deputy of the Prophet SAW and he / she has to carry on the mission of the Prophet SAW.

Thus it is imperative for all Muslim to sacrifice their time, wealth and comforts to undergo difficulty and hardships in the path of Allah - to carry out this Sunnah of the Prophets - commanding good and prohibiting evil.

Nevertheless, one must be aware that the purpose of performing da'wah and tabligh is firstly to reform oneself and dutifully save mankind from the fire of Hell.

Imaan 107

THE BASIS OF A MUSLIM'S FAITH

Life After Death

Death is merely a doorway to a perpetual life. After the last day, wherein the existence and system of the universe will be brought to an end, the earth, moon, stars etc. will be crushed and reduced to atoms. Mankind will be resurrected and will be asked to give an account of their deeds. Those who believed and did righteous deeds would be blessed with the perpetual life of Paradise, whilst those who rejected the truth and lived wicked lives will be cast into the fire of Hell, therein they shall dwell forever.

The Qur'an states:

"Those who reject the truth among the people of the Book and among the polytheist will be in the fire of hell to dwell therein forever. They are the worst of creatures. Those who have faith and do righteous deeds, they are the best of creatures - their reward is with Allah - gardens of eternity beneath which rivers flow. They will dwell therein forever."

Imaan 106

THE BASIS OF A MUSLIM'S FAITH


Destiny

The power of good and bad lies in the domain of Allah Almighty. Man is exhorted to think, plan and make sound decisions. If after striving he does not succeed, he should not loose faith and become despondent, nor should he become arrogant and haughty if he succeeds and attribute success to his acumen and intelligence.

The Holy Qur'an states:

"No misfortune happens on earth or in your souls, but is recorded in a book (long) before We bring it into existence. That is truly easy for Allâh. In order that you may not despair over matters that miss you, nor become arrogant over favours bestowed upon you. For Allah loveth not the vain-glorious."

The Holy Prophet SAW said:

"Know that, that which afflicted you was never meant to miss you and that which missed you was never meant for you."

Belief in destiny, implies that whatever happens (be it good or bad) takes place with the command, will and wisdom of Almighty Allah. We must accept this willingly with our hearts, without doubt nor complaint. Allah owns and controls everything.

Imaan 105

THE BASIS OF A MUSLIM'S FAITH


The Last Day - Qiyamah

This world will ultimately come to an end one day and the dead will rise to stand trial before Almighty Allah.

This world is an abode of trial, some people are tested with wealth, whilst others are tested through poverty. Some have been given health whilst others have been subjected to sickness. Belief in the last day answers many complicated questions. There are people who commit sins and indulge in immoral activities, yet they seem to prosper, while the innocent and meek are sometimes exploited and oppressed.

The Holy Qur'an states:

"Let not the arrogant strutting of the unbelievers through the land deceive you, it is but enjoyment for a little while. Their ultimate abode is hell- what an evil abode!"

All deeds of mankind are known to Almighty Allah and are recorded by His angels. Mankind will have to answer for his / her deeds, and everyone will be held accountable and will either be rewarded or punished for his / her conduct and deeds. Justice and equality are the hallmarks of the hereafter.

The Holy Qur'an states:

"When the great overwhelming (event) comes to pass, man shall remember (all) that he strove for and hell-fire shall be placed in full view, for him who sees - then for such as had transgressed all bounds and had preferred the life of this world, the abode will be the fire of hell and for such as had entertained the fear of standing before the Lord, and had restrained their souls from lower desires, their abode will be the Garden of Bliss."

Imaan 104

THE BASIS OF A MUSLIM'S FAITH


The Prophets

Prophets are men of great piety chosen by Allah Almighty to deliver His message to mankind. They were sent at various times of history to various nations. They were all human beings, who were protected from sin and falling prey to their lust.

The Holy Qur'an states:

"We (Muslims) believe in the Almighty and the revelation given to us and to Ibrahim, Ishaq, Yaqub and the tribes ...we make no distinction between any of them."

Some of the Prophets mentioned in the Qur'an are: Adam AS, Nuh AS (Noah), Lut AS (Lot), Ibrahim AS (Abraham), Isma'il AS(Ishmael), Dawud AS (David), Musa AS (Moses), Yunus AS (Jonah), Îsa AS (Jesus) and Muhammad SAW.

Muhammad SAW was the Last Prophet, who is regarded as the "Seal of Prophethood". The details of his life are carefully preserved in what is known as "Hadith".

The Qur'an states:

"We did not send you (Muhammad), but as a mercy unto mankind."

The Prophethood of Isa AS (Jesus)

Muslims do not believe that Isa AS (Jesus) was the begotten son of Allah Almighty, nor that he died for the sins of mankind. In fact he is a chosen messenger of Allah and he was born miraculously. He was bestowed with super natural powers and was not crucified but physically lifted to the heavens. He will return to this world once again by permission and order of Allah Almighty.

The Holy Qur'an mentions:

"Behold the angel said: "O, Maryam - Allah gives you glad tidings of a word from Him, His name will be Masih - Isa the son of Maryam, held in honour in this World and the Hereafter ..... and Allah will teach him the book of wisdom - the Taurat and the Injil and appoint him messenger to the children of Israel. His message will be: "I have come to you with a sign from the Lord. In that I make for you - out of clay - as if it were the figure of a bird, I breath into it and it becomes a bird, by Allah’s permission, and I heal those born blind and the lepers - and I bring the dead to life - by Allah’s permission, and I will inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses - therein is a sign for you - if you believe."

Imaan 103

THE BASIS OF A MUSLIM'S FAITH


The Divine Scriptures

A Muslim believes in all the previous Divine scriptures.

The Holy Qur'an states:

"...(Muslims are those) who believe in revelation sent to thee and before thy time."

Some of the known Divine Scriptures are:

The Taurat - given to Musa AS (Moses)
The Zabur - given to Dawud AS (David)
The Injil - given to Isa AS (Jesus)
The Qur'an - given to Muhammad SAW


The Qur'an

The Qur'an is the speech of Allah, revealed in its precise wording and meaning and protected by Allah Himself.

Allah states in the Qur'an:

"We have sent down the Qur'an and We will certainly preserve it (from corruption)."

The Qur'an is the last and final scripture of Allah Almighty sent to humankind.


The Qur'an and Contemporary Scriptures

The Holy Qur'an states:

"It is He who has sent down to thee in truth, the book confirming what went before it. And He sent down the Torah and the Injil before this, as a guide to mankind. And He (ultimately) sent the criterion (of Judgment between right and wrong i.e. the Qur'an)."

Thus the Qur'an is the standard or criterion by which all other books are judged. Aspects of the bible that conform to the Qur'anic precepts Muslims accept as Divine truth, while those that go against the criterion Muslims regard as human interpolation.

Imaan 102

THE BASIS OF A MUSLIM'S FAITH


The Angels

Almighty Allah is beyond physical perception and beyond direct physical contact with Insaan.
The Qur'an states:

"(He is) nearer to man than his jugular vein"

Yet no physical contact is possible. Thus, the angels are celestial message bearers, who serve as intermediaries between Allah Almighty and His Prophet AS.

The Holy Qur'an states:

"Praise be to Allah - originator of the heavens and earth, who made the angels, messengers with pairs of two, three, or four wings."

Angels are created from light. They are purely spiritual beings, whose nature requires no food, drink nor sleep. They are neither male nor female, nor do they have physical desires of any kind. They have been allocated various duties and are constantly in the service of Allah Almighty. No one knows the exact number of angels, except Allah.

The four well-known angels are:

Jibra'il - the angel of revelation
Mika'il - the angel of provision
Israfil - the angel who will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgement.
Izra'il - the angel of death

Also, every individual is attended by two angels who record his / her activities. They are known as Kiraman Katibin i.e. "The Noble Scribes".

The Holy Qur'an states:

"Indeed over you are guardian (angels) "Noble Scribes". They know (all) that you do."

Imaan 101

THE BASIS OF A MUSLIM'S FAITH

Only Allah Is Worshipped

Every family has a head, every school has a principal, every province has a premier, moreover we know that every product is the work of a certain producer. In the like manner there is a Creator and Originator of life and the universe. There is a Supreme Being who controls the movement of the sun and the moon, who causes life and death. The Maker and Sustainer of the world is the Almighty, the Eternal and the Compassionate - ALLAH. This what all Muslims believe.

Evidence of Allah's existence is stated in the Holy Qur'an:

"Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the day and night, there are indeed signs for men of intellect."

The Qur'an informs:

"Among His signs, is (that) He created you from dust and behold! You are men scattered (far and wide)."

The Qur'an further states:

"Who is it that created the heavens and the earth, who sends rain down to you from the sky and with it He causes well planted orchards to grow - full of beauty and delight. It is not in your power to cause the growth of trees. (Can there be another ) deity besides Allah?"


UNITY OF ALLAH ALMIGHTY

The Holy Qur'an states:

"Say He Allah - the one and only. Allah the eternal and absolute. He begetteth not, nor is He begotten. (i.e. He was not born from anybody nor has He any children). And there is none like unto Him." (Surah Al-Ikhlas)


A MUSLIM BELIEVES THAT:

Allah Almighty is one, who has no partner nor son. He has no beginning nor end. He is beyond human comprehension. He is without needs and thus independent and He alone is the originator of the entire creation. Whatever He has commanded us to do, it is for our own benefit and good.

The Holy Qur'an states:

"The originator of the heavens and earth - How can He have a son, when He has no spouse? He created all things and He has knowledge of all things."

The Holy Qur'an informs:

"That is Allah - your Lord, There is no diety but He, The Creator of all things, Therefore worship Him..."

Wisdom In Performing Da'wah

A person must understand that the purpose of giving da'wah is just to say what a person says.

There are two things:

- One is I'elaam (to inform)
- and the other is I'emaal (to make others practice).

Informing is merely a means of making others practice. The
purpose (to make others practice) should be placed first and then wisdom should be applied in trying to achieve the purpose.

Also, continuous effort will InshaAllah make a person obtain wisdom in performing da'wah. Merely by reading and theory will not acquaint a person with the true spirit of da'wah. A person must make sacrifice.