Raashid Ul Nabi Khan
If you are inclined towards Dawah’, then there should be abundant Dawah’ centres in your locality. In this age there is need of Dawah’ because Non-Muslims want to know more and more about Islam, so it a duty of every Daee to work for the establishment of a Dawah’ centre in his locality.
Dawah’ is Fard-Kifiya, it is compulsory upon the community, if community is able to do Dawah’ then there is good reward for every member in the community, if no one is able to do Dawah’ in the community then sin falls on every individual within that community. Allah speaks about Dawah’ at various places in Quran: “We made you a middle nation to be witnesses over mankind.” (Surah al-Baqara, 143) “Let there be a community among you, who call to the good, enjoin the right and forbid the wrong. They are the ones who have success.” (Surah Al-’Imran, verse 104).“And warn your tribe and close ones.” (Surah al-Shura, verse 214). In these verses Allah commands to the muslims that Dawah’ is an obligation on every member of the community or nation. In last sermon Prophet (PBUH) said; Convey what you have received from me, even it is a verse (Bukhari, Muslim Chapter on Hajj) This Hadith clearly indicates that you should not wait that one day you will become a scholar and then you will be able to do Dawah’, NO! But one should do Dawah’ if he knows even a single verse of Quran or a single Hadith. You can give Dawah’ at any time and any place, when one has an opportunity to do Dawah’ at any place one should do it accordingly.
You can give Dawah’ at your college/university or at workplace, you can spread Quran and Hadith with fellow Non-Muslims and who knows your one word can change their lives. The intention in Dawah’ is necessary; one should do Dawah’ only to please Allah (SWT). Whenever you give Dawah’ to Non-Muslims you can give him books, videos of different scholars like Dr, Zakir Naik, Sheikh Ahmad Deedat, Dr Israr etc. You can give Dawah’ as a group or at an individual level as well, you can choose a time table for Dawah’, you can give Dawah’ whole week or twice week or once a week, when you choose whole week for Dawah’ then you have a great opportunity to deliver different topics of Islam and comparative religions, for instance on Monday you can chose one topic, on Tuesday another topic and so on. Many times you can give Dawah’ once a week to your friends and families.
Whenever you get a chance to interact with Non-Muslims, present the Islamic talk in a very simple manner so that he can understand Quran and Hadith easily, do Dawah’ passionately make yourself up to date in terms of knowledge regarding various issues of Islam. Once you do Dawah’, you have to be very humble, humbleness is one of the ingredient of Dawah’. Dawah’ should be only according to Quran and Hadith. These days you can chose social networking sites for including Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ etc.
There are so many Dawah’ centers in the world that work hard in order to spread Islam. What are we waiting for then, we all should do Dawah’, it is obligation for every Muslim.
Women can also give Dawah’, they can run a Dawah’ centre exclusively for women or they can cater an Islamic website. The role of women in Dawah’ is as important as men. The Dawah’ work of women has a positive effect on whole society, because education of one woman is education of society. I believe if our women would take Dawah’ as an obligation then this world will be better place to live in, the role of women in Dawah’ is increasing day by day as more and more Non-Muslim women are accepting Islam.
When you give Dawah’ you should keep certain things in mind, Knowledge of that which one calls to, Acting in accordance with that which he or she calls to, Purity of intention (Al-Ikhlaas). Giving food and making Du’a at Dawah’ meetings is very necessary. A Du’a is made before eating, for example: “O Allah, accept this gathering, bless those present and make us live our lives according to Islam.” Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim write that during the days of the ‘Battle of the Ditch (Khandaq), Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, felt that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was hungry. Jabir (RA) asked his wife if there was any food in the house, to which she replied that there was only a little. Despite this Jabir invited the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asking him to bring a few people with him. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, however, called everyone to Jabir’s house to eat. Jabir became worried as there was not enough food to provide for everyone. Yet when everyone came, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, made a Du’a upon the food for barakah. Again everyone ate to their fill and there was still food left over. On the expedition to Tabuk, people ran out of food and began to feel the pangs of starvation. So Sayyidina ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, asked the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, if they could slaughter their camels. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, refused him permission, but asked that whoever had any food left should bring it before him. So all the food was spread out on a piece of cloth and placed before the Prophet, May Allah bless him and grant him peace. A Du’a was made over the food for barakah. Afterwards again, everyone ate and food was still left. (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, chapter on Mu’jizat; chapter on al-Khandaq, Sirat al-Nabi, by Hafidh Ibn Kathir, chapter on Mu’jizat). Some qualities of a Daee are must while giving Dawah’ to any Non-Muslim:
Intention must be pure and should be to please Allah (SWT).
Daee should be knowledgeable person.
Daee should be constant with the topic.
Daee should practice patience, humbleness and politeness.
Daee should use wisdom (Hikmah).
Daee should give to Non Muslims appropriate pamphlets, books and videos.
There are so many Dawah’ centers in the world that work hard in order to spread Islam. What are we waiting for then, we all should do Dawah’, it is obligation for every Muslim.
(The author teaches at Skylark Institute of Education, Pulwama. He is a member at JKIFTS Council of writers. Views are his own) [email protected]
