Bihar Anjuman believes in self-help rather than charity

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Dawah: Are We Wasting Our Precious Resources on It? [Part-3]

by Shakeel Ahmad

In Part-1 of this article, our investigations revealed that we are losing the race even in Dawah activities, perhaps the only activity that we are somehow undertaking. We also concluded that the level to which Muslim institutions are involved in welfare activities is grossly insufficient, and that may possibly be the main cause for losing the race even in dawah activities, in comparison with the Christians. In part-2, we argued that without taking care of the welfare of the people we invite towards Islam, and without improving our brand image, all our efforts on dawah activities may simply be a waste of time and resources. Aggressively undertaking welfare activities (we are a religion that cares for the entire humanity, so walk the talk), because actions speak much louder the words, could be the only way to make people believe in what we preach. Practice before we preach! What should we practice, along with our best efforts to purify ourselves by following the five pillars of Islam?

Allah says, "Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves". And, in the same ayah, Allah immediately warns those who do not follow this advice on trying to change the condition of people, "But once Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect." (Quran: Surah Ar-Rad, Chapter #13, Verse #11)

Our actions must signal to the people we invite towards Islam that we obey the God absolutely, by practicing (not just preaching) completely His operations manual (Quran) in its letter and spirit. First and foremost, we would need to stop accusing them for our miseries. If we tell them they are so powerful they can cause our miseries, how can we invite them to a territory wherein they would become powerless by joining a group which has its destiny in the hands of the "other" side. As long as we keep clamouring about our locus of control being with "them", why would they decide to lose that control over "us"?

serving the poor

Those who invite "others" towards Islam must be the brand ambassadors of Islam; this is not an option, but as appointed representatives (khalifa, vicegerents, heirs, inheritors), we have to justify our role as the "best of the nations, raised for the benefit of mankind" (Quran, 3:110). As appointed leaders of the entire mankind, we must lead by example, particularly when "Allah subjected to you everything that the heavens and the earth contain" (Quran, 45:13). It is well-known human psychology that we seek role models, in our leaders. The role of trend-setters, and successful examples from them become far more important when someone wishes to get out of the comfort zone, to tread into unchartered territories (the situation that a non-Muslim faces when he is urged to abandon his or her comfort zone and accept the religion he or she is being invited into). Can we have examples that "others" could follow rather than carry dread on our shoulders?

If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
- Catherine Aird

If the invitee peeps into the new "territory" and finds no truth of what is being preached but abundance of insensitivity and callousness, no role models but only hypocrites, will our dawah carry any impact? One poorly-served customer can pull away a hundred other potential customers, that is what we are told by the marketing wizards! We must set examples of whatever is perceived as the best; we must work very hard to raise our attractiveness index; we must become the true khalifa (appointed vicegerent) that Allah wants us to become.

Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." (Quran, 2:30)

It is He Who hath made you (His) khalifa, inheritors of the earth ….(Quran, 6:165)

Your Lord will destroy your enemies, and make you khalifa (vicegerents) in this land; and He may try you by your deeds. (Quran, 7:129)

Your Lord will destroy your enemies, and make you khalifa (vicegerents) in this land; and He may try you by your deeds. (Quran, 7:129)

We made you khalifa in the land, after them, to see how you would behave! . (Quran, 10:14)

Most importantly, we would need to know the characteristics of a khalifa. First of these attributes of a khalifa is faith in Allah and His prophets – being a momin (true believer). A Muslim role model must first be a true believer, a true Msulim. Who is a believer (momin)? Let us examine the Quran, Allah's Book, for an answer. The following verses of Quran lay down the minimum requirements (specifications) for a momin to be characterized as such – this may mean that no one is a momin if any one of these characteristics is absent in him or her.

(1) Quran, Surah Al Anaam (The Cattle, chapter-6), verse-162: Whose Salat (prayer), whose sacrifice, whose living, and whose dying are all for Allah alone, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).

(2) Quran, Surah Tauba (chapter-9), Verse-112: (2.1) Those who turn back to Allah over and over again; (2.2) those who worship Him, (2.3) those who sing hymns in His praise, (2.4) those who move about in the land for His sake, (2.5) those who bow down and prostrate before Him, (2.6) those who enjoin virtue and forbid evil and strictly observe the limits prescribed by Allah.

(3) Quran, Surah Al-Muminoon (The Believers, chapter-23), first 11 verses: (3.1) who perform their Salat with humility; (3.2) who refrain from vain talks; (3.3) Who are active in deeds of charity; (3.4) Who abstain from sex, except with their wives and those women who are legally in their possession, (3.5) who are true to their trusts and their promises, and (3.6) who strictly guard their Prayers.

(4) Quran, Surah Al-Noor (chapter-24), Verses 30 and 31: (4.1) Men who lower their gaze and guard their modesty (guard their private parts). (4.2) Women who lower their gaze and guard their modesty (guard their private parts); and do not display their adornment, except that which is displayed of itself, and (4.3) who draw their veils over their bosoms and do not display their adornment except before their husbands, their fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons and the sons of their husbands (from other wives), their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their female associates and those in their possession and male attendants incapable of sex desire and those boys who have not yet attained knowledge of sex matters concerning women; (4.4) who do not stamp their feet on the ground lest their hidden ornaments should be displayed; who turn all together towards Allah.

(5) Quran, Surah Ash-Shura (Council, Consultation, chapter-42), Verses 36 to 38: (5.1) those who have believed and put their trust in their Lord. (5.2) Who refrain from gross sins and indecencies. (5.3) Who, when they are angry, forgive. (5.4) Who obey their Lord, (5.5) establish the Salat, and (5.6) conduct their affairs by mutual consultation. (5.7) Who spend out of what We have given them as sustenance. (5.8) Who, when they are oppressed, help and defend themselves.

We will continue exploring other characteristics of a khalifa, in the next part (part-4), insha-Allah.
Write your comments to bakhabar@biharanjuman.org

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