Active Spoken Or Written Da’wah

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In our present time, the means for active spoken or written Da’wah (invitation to Allah) are numerous, from writing books; and pamphlets, giving lectures, to recording educational videos and spreading them on various social media. The scope of possibilities is very wide and evolving.

Before entering that field of work as mentioned by all the scholars, it is essential to have a strong understanding of Islam gained from reputable Sunni (The followers of the Prophetic tradition) scholars. Many brothers and sisters have entered that field but not everyone that acquired knowledge is blessed with proper understanding and not everyone with proper understanding are able to effectively convey that knowledge.

However if we have gained some sound knowledge for which clear evidence has been established, it is our duty to transmit that knowledge and, if needed, to also inform the person(s) we are advising that this is the extent of what we know as granted by Allah. And if our invitee would like to have more detailed information, we would be glad to put him or her in contact with a more educated person. Demonstrating humility and sincerity can help build trust in relationships.

Let us always remember that the essence of the message is to revive in the hearts of men, the understanding of the Greatness of Allah and His Unity.

Allah holds complete sovereignty and possesses an all-encompassing understanding of all that is seen or unseen, spanning across time – from the past to the present and the future.

Realization of Tawheed is the journey of the soul and the means to achieve it is complex but simple.

Then you will ask what does it mean ? There is a concept in Islam that is called Fitrah. In short it means that human beings are born with a good nature predisposed to realize Tawheed.

The Fitrah

Description: The predisposition in humans to worship One God.

By Dr. Bilal Philips

When a child is born, it has with it a natural belief in God. This natural belief is called in Arabic the Fitrah[1] If the child were left alone, it would grow up aware of God in His oneness, but all children are affected by the pressures of their environment whether directly or indirectly. The Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, reported that God said:

وَإِنِّي خَلَقْتُ عِبَادِي حُنَفَاءَ كُلَّهُمْ وَإِنَّهُمْ أَتَتْهُمُ الشَّيَاطِينُ فَاجْتَالَتْهُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِمْ

I have created My servants as one having a natural inclination to the worship of Allah but it is Satan who turns them away from the right religion.
Source: Saheeh Muslim

The Prophet also said:

‏ كُلُّ مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ، فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ أَوْ يُنَصِّرَانِهِ أَوْ يُمَجِّسَانِهِ، كَمَثَلِ الْبَهِيمَةِ تُنْتَجُ الْبَهِيمَةَ، هَلْ تَرَى فِيهَا جَدْعَاءَ ‏‏

Each child is born in a state of Fitrah, but his parents make him a Jew or a Christian. It is like the way an animal gives birth to a normal offspring. Have you noticed any (young animal) born mutilated before you mutilate them.
Source: Saheeh Al-Bukhari

So, just as the child’s body submits to the physical laws which God has put in nature, its soul also submits naturally to the fact that God is its Lord and Creator. But its parents try to make it follow their own way and the child is not strong enough in the early stages of its life to resist or oppose its parents. The religion which the child follows at this stage is one of custom and upbringing and God does not hold it to account or punish it for this religion. When the child matures in youth and clear proofs of the falsehood of his religion are brought to him, the adult must now follow the religion of knowledge and reason.^[2]

At this point the devils try their best to encourage him to stay as he is or to go further astray. Evils are made pleasing to him and he must now live in the midst of a struggle between his Fitrah and his desires in order to find the right road. If he chooses his Fitrah, God will help him overcome his desires even though it may take most of his life to escape, for many people enter Islam in their old age although most tend to do so before that.

Because of all these powerful forces fighting against the Fitrah God chose certain righteous men and revealed to them clearly the right path in life. These men whom we call prophets were sent to help our Fitrah defeat its enemies. All the truths and good practices present in societies around the world today came from their teachings, and if it were not for their teachings, there would be no peace or safety in the world at all.For example, the laws of most Western countries are based on the Ten Commandments of Prophet Moses, like “Thou shalt not steal and Thou shalt not kill etc.”, even though they claim to be secular governments, free from the influence of religion.

Thus, it is man’s duty to follow the way of the prophets since it is the only way which is truly in harmony with his nature. He should also be very careful not to do things simply because his parents and their parents did it, especially if knowledge reaches him that these practices are wrong. If he does not follow the truth, he will be like those misguided people about whom God says in the Quran:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ

If they are told to follow what God has revealed, they say: No, we will continue to follow what we found our foreparents doing! Even though their foreparents did not comprehend anything nor were they rightly guided. (Quran 2:170)

God forbids us from obeying our parents if what they want us to do is against the way of the prophets.

He said, in the Quran:

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حُسْنًا وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ لِتُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

We advise man to be good to his parents, but if they try to make you do in My name what you know to be false, do not obey them. (Quran 29:8)

Born Muslim

Those who are fortunate to be born in Muslim families must be aware that all such Muslims are not automatically guaranteed paradise, because the Prophet warned that a large part of the Muslim nation would follow the Jews and Christians so closely that if they entered the den of a lizard, Muslims would climb in after them as well.^[3] He also said that before the Last Day some people would actually worship idols.^[4]

Today, there are Muslims all around the world praying to the dead, building tombs and masjeeds over graves and even performing rites of worship around them. There are even some who claim to be Muslim and worship Ali as God.^[5] Some have turned the Quran into a good luck charm which they hang on chains around their necks, in their cars or on key chains etc.

Therefore, those born into such a Muslim world who blindly follow whatever their parents did or believed, have to stop and think whether they are simply a Muslim by chance or a Muslim by choice, whether Islam is what their parents, tribe, country, or nation did or does, or what the Quran teaches and what the Prophet and his companions did.

Footnotes:

[1] Al-Aqeedah at-Tahaaweeyah, (5th ed.: 1972). p.273.

[2] Al-Aqeedah at-Tahaaweeyah, (5th ed.: 1972). p.273.

[3] Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim

[4] Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim

[5] The Nusayris of Syria and the Druzes of Palestine and Lebanon

We have studied quite truthfully the types of Tawheed that explain simply the concept of worshipping Allah Alone and without associates.

So ultimately our goal is to realize complete monotheism. And to achieve this ultimate goal we need to reform ourselves inwardly and outwardly. This is what Da’wah (invitation to Allah) is, to gradually transform the hearts, and understanding of how our relation to Allah and the world around us should be and to put it I practice.

It is like going to a doctor and having the doctor telling us we need to be healthy , good everybody would agree to that but the doctors fails to explain us how to achieve good health and he does not inform us of the gravity of some of our habits. The Dahi(an inviter to Islam)is like the family doctor he needs to know the patient, his background, the habits of the patient, his surroundings, its condition of living. The good Dahi should be able to bring the invite to see by himself where he needs to make changes and improvements in order to live according to what would cause Allah’s blessings in his or her life.

Muslim scholars have divided aspects of monotheism into three categories:

Oneness of Lordship (tawheed ar-rububiyyah),
Oneness of Godship (tawheed al-uluhiyyah),
Oneness of Names and Attributes (tawheed asma wa sifat).

Ibn Abi Al-‘Izz writes in his commentary on Aqidah At-Tahawi:

فَالتَّوْحِيدُ أَوَّلُ الْأَمْرِ وَآخِرُهُ أَعْنِي تَوْحِيدَ الْإِلَهِيَّةِ فَإِنَّ التَّوْحِيدَ يَتَضَمَّنُ ثَلَاثَ أَنْوَاعٍ أَحَدُهَا الْكَلَامُ فِي الصِّفَاتِ وَالثَّانِي تَوْحِيدُ الرُّبُوبِيَّةِ وَبَيَانُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَالثَّالِثُ تَوْحِيدُ الْإِلَهِيَّةِ وَهُوَ اسْتِحْقَاقُهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى أَنْ يُعْبَدَ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ

Monotheism is the beginning of the matter and its end. What is meant by this is the belief in the unity of God, for monotheism has three dimensions: first, matters concerning the attributes of Allah; second, the oneness of Lordship which states that Allah alone created everything; third, the oneness of Godship which states that Allah alone should be worshiped without associating any partners with Him.
Source: Sharh Aqidah At-Tahawi 24

The oneness of Allah’s Lordship is the belief that Allah alone has created the universe, that He alone is its Provider and Sustainer, and that He has complete ownership and power over His creation. In other words, Allah is one and unique in regard to His actions, such that no creature shares His power in creating and managing the universe.

Allah said:

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Verily, your Lord is Allah who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, chasing it rapidly, and the sun, the moon, and the stars are subjected to His command. Unquestionably, for Him is the creation and the command. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the worlds. [Surah Al-A’raf 7:54]

The oneness of Allah’s Godship is the belief that Allah alone has the right to be worshiped by His creatures. All prayers, rituals, and acts of worship in Islam must be done with a sincere intention for the sake of Allah alone. In other words, Allah is one and unique in regard to the actions He deserves from His servants.

Allah said:

يَاأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

O mankind, worship your Lord who created you and those before you that you may become righteous. [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:21]

Ibn Abbas said:

اللَّه ذُو الْأُلُوهِيَّة وَالْمَعْبُودِيَّة عَلَى خَلْقه أَجْمَعِينَ

Allah is the one possessing divinity and the right to be worshiped by the entire creation.
Source: Tafseer At-Tabari 1:1

The oneness of Allah’s Names and Attributes is the belief that Allah alone possesses perfect names and divine attributes. Allah’s beautiful names indicate that His might is perfect, His knowledge is perfect, His mercy is perfect, His justice is perfect, His wisdom is perfect, and all of His attributes are pure, holy, and flawless. Furthermore, none of His creatures can share in His attributes of perfection.

Allah said:

هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ هُوَ الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ ⁽²²⁾ هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ⁽²³⁾ هُوَ اللَّهُ الْخَالِقُ الْبَارِئُ الْمُصَوِّرُ لَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ ⁽²⁴⁾

He is Allah, other than whom there is no divinity, knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Gracious, the Merciful. He is Allah, other than whom there is no God, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Faithful, the Overseer, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner, to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth is exalting Him, for He is the Almighty, the Wise. [Surah Al-Hashr 59:22-24]

These three categories are not mutually exclusive, but rather they overlap and they are integral aspects of the singular concept of Islamic monotheism. For example, the oneness of Lordship and Godship are the result of affirming Allah’s two names: “the Lord” (Ar-Rabb) and “the God” (Allah).

If a Muslim falls short in any of these categories, then he will have committed idolatry (shirk). The word “idolatry” comes from the root sh-ra-ka meaning “to partner, to share” and it means to associate partners with Allah in His Lordship, His right to be worshiped, or His divine attributes.

Idolatry is the chief sin which serves as a basis for all other sins, for idolatry opens the way toward fulfilling lustful passions, living selfishly, and transgressing the rights of others.

Allah said:

وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ ۖ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

Do not make another divinity alongside Allah. Verily, I have given you a clear warning. [Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:51]

Acts of idolatry committed without repentance will cause all of a servant’s good deeds to be destroyed and he will be punished in the Hellfire.

Allah said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَمَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ افْتَرَى إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا

Verily, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. He who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin. [Surah An-Nisa 4:48]

And Allah said:

إِنَّهُ مَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍ

Verily, Allah has forbidden Paradise for one who associates with Allah and his refuge will be the Hellfire. There will be no helpers for the wrongdoers. [Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:72]

Therefore, we must study our creed and specifically the principles of monotheism in order to protect ourselves from falling into idolatry.

We ask Allah to guide us to complete monotheism and to save us from associating partners with Him.

If understanding the general concept seems easy, to translate it in our daily lives and to achieve it in ourselves takes time, dedication, discipline, it is a gradual transformation. It could be compare to walking a mountain path over a high mountain. In itself it is just a matter to put one foot in front of the other. Not everybody will reach the final destination some people will become distracted away from the path knowingly or unknowingly. Some will run and fall or will become sick. Some will be careless in dangerous zones.

To reach our goal is not a matter of strength or speed. To be successful in our quest to achieve Tawheed in our lives we need to clearly understand our goal and make all the necessary efforts to change ourselves. It is only by applying sincerely the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah on ourselves that we can achieve our goals.

Once the concept of Tawheed is clarified and understood, whoever needs to improve his behavior should take example from the Prophet Mohammed whoever needs to improve or correct the manner in which he accomplishes the rituals should also follow the Prophet . And so forth in every aspect of our lives in our struggle for halal economic activities or income in the way we feed ourselves based on a true Halal food consumption.

And it is the central role of every Masjid and every Islamic Center to guide their communities to achieve that realization.

It is the role of every Masjid to provide and supervise regular Islamic education classes for adult men and women and for children. It is also the role of the Masjid or Islamic Centers in minority muslim countries to :

Actively Build The Community

A – Provide on top of the above-mentioned classes social and sport activities for both men and women.
B – Youth activities. To establish as well summer camps for Muslim children that would allow the parents educators and administrators to struggle together for the establishment of well connected well supported community.
C – It is desirable for these Islamic Centers to acquire land and commercial properties for the benefit of the Muslim Community.
D – The Sisters as well should be supported in these endeavors to prepare the future generation of wives and mothers to be leaders and example of Muslim Women in a non-Islamic environment. Appropriate space, activities and budget needs to be set aside on a continuous base for the community to be strong , the women have to be properly informed educated and prepared for their vital role in a healthy community.
E – Well trained groups of brothers and sisters have to be available for family, youth, and crisis support.

In short a very big part of a successful Da’wah (invitation to Allah) is to first establish a strong interconnected community. And this is something that we have a long experience with. Building communities start by serving the needs and providing social and educational events for the members of the Masjid.

Examples: Monthly or bi monthly family’s gatherings at the Center or any other venues.

Preparing before the day of the gathering, schedule of events starting before Asr(Afternoon) prayer, open time for adult children games sport activities etc. After Maghreb always favor lectures about how to increase faith with practical examples from Quran and Sunnah. For the children some Islamic Quizzes . And for the sisters if available it is better to have other sisters to provide educational lectures . The changes in the community will be quickly felt. And always the involvement of the women will surpass the expectations. Even the children and the teenagers will show desires for these events to happen more often.

One element that largely contribute to get the wider community involve is to ask during special meetings the kind of subjects they would like to be presented.

The men being the protectors and providers of the women it is vital for men to realize that the wellbeing of the community is their responsibility and therefore having the women contributing and involved actively in the education and social training of their sisters, daughters, and mothers. The men must provide space and funds for the women to complete their educational and social programs. Usually once started these women programs become financially independent.

To be successful and attract a wider base, women programs should not be exclusively religious but should include skills training ( computer, language, cooking ,motherhood advises, health issues, specifics for teenagers etc….)

One of the other benefits is that it will help get funding for the activities of the Center. Either the participants themselves will contribute or donators. Business people and other donators when they can see the community coming together in such peaceful and joyful manner will support it financially and other material needs.

And today with the importance of social websites keeping a web page active and interactive is a must have tool in building communities.

Likewise so many times when the community comes together we discover so many talented brothers and sisters who are looking for ways to serve the Deen of Islam ( religion of Islam) . Some brothers and sisters are too shy to come forward to offer services but when people meet play learn and eat together and have social activities brotherhood sisterhood and friendship starts building up. And spirit of belonging to a bigger family pushes people to give and sacrifice for the wellbeing and success of the group.

With a well trained connected and confident base it becomes so much easier to enter in programs like street Da’wah (invitation to Allah) or special events or open Masjeed day . With a well trained and connected base it becomes so much easier to schedule yearly Da’wah (invitation to Allah) goals and programs.

And here we need to open a small reminder about the importance of Brotherhood in Islam ad specifically to increase the emotional capacity of the Da’ees.

One of the most important qualities that the first Muslims developed was a heartfelt active solidarity and a heightened sense of brotherhood. This quality is a very important factor in the success or not of every Muslim community and it is also one of the most important characteristic that cements the faith of all the new Muslims. Unfortunately today it is not easy to find that genuine expression of fraternity . So lets take a look at what the Quran and the Prophet Mohammed teaches us regarding developing relationships based on the concept of brotherhood in Islam.

Active Spoken Or Written Da’wah

The Fitrah

Actively Build The Community

Active Spoken Or Written Da’wah

CONTENTS