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| Words of advice regarding da'wah |
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| rkhan |
| 03/04/04 at 00:23:30 |
| [slm] I’m reading this book by Shaykh ‘Abdul Azeez ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Baaz called [i] “Words of Advice Re: Da’wah” [/i] and these are some portions from it that I felt it’d be a good idea to share with everyone. I found it interesting that this scholar is considered to be following a [i] “strict interpretation” [/i] of Islaam, yet looking at his advice one realizes that Islaam is all about acting with knowledge . Like The Prophet SAW said : “Anyone who innovates something in this affair of ours (deen) will find it rejected…”if anyone tries to add inflexibility and harshness or extreme liberality and ease in the deen where none exists…both will be rejected in this life and the hereafter. Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem Warnings to the Da’ee 1.Beware of being extreme It is correct to name this awakening which pleases and excites every believer, an Islamic movement, an Islamic revival and an Islamic activity. It is necessary to encourage and guide this awakening toward adhering and clinging to the Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW as well as warning leaders and individuals from this awakening from exceeding the limits, exaggerating and being extreme in their actions. In accordance with what Allaah says in the Qur’an: [i] Yaa Ahlal Kitaabe laa taghloo fee deenekum “ O People of the Scripture, do not exceed the limits of your religion.” [/i] [Surah an Nisaa 4: 171] The Prophet Muhammad SAW is reported to have said: “O you people, beware of being extreme and exceeding the limits in the religion, for that which destroyed the people before you was none other than extremism in the religion.” He (SAW) also said: “The extremists are destroyed, the extremists are destroyed, the extremists are destroyed.” 2. Speaking about Allaah without knowledge Beware of speaking about Allaah , the Most High, without knowledge. It is not permissible for one who believes in Allaah, the Most High and the Last Day to say: “This is halaal and this is haraam” or “This is permissible and this prohibited,” except with a proof and completely depending upon that. It should be sufficient fo`r him to do what the people of knowledge did before him, and that is to restrain oneself from rushing into saying that which he does not know, but rather to say:”Allaah knows best” or “I do not know”. How excellent is the speech of the angels when they said to their Lord: [i] “Subhaanaka laa ‘ilma lanaa illaa maa ‘allam tana” Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except that which You taught us. [/i] [Surah Al Baqarah 2:32] When the Companions of the Prophet SAW were asked about something that they did not know, they would say:”Allaah and His messenger know best.” That is only because of the perfection of their knowledge and their faith and their glorification of Allaah, and being far removed from embarking on matters beyond them. 3. Beware of accusing someone of disbelief or being sinful without proof Indeed it is a most dangerous matter for one to dare accuse someone of disbelief or of being sinful without proof and authorisation from the Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. There is no doubt that this is insolence towards Allaah and His religion and it is also speaking about Him without knowledge. This is also in contradiction to the behaviour of the people of faith among the pious predecessors RA. It has been authentically reported that the Prophet SAW said: “Whoever said to his brother ,”O kaafir” It returns to one of them.” He also said: “Anyone who called his brother “O kaafir! Or O enemy of Allaah! ’’ And if it was not corrected it would return back to him.” [Sahih Bukhari8/80 no.125} 4. Beware of being hasty How many calamities, difficulties and problems have afflicted those who are hasty! The days and nights are going and leaving behind the traces and consequences of hastiness! How much corruption and destruction and unprasieworthy consequences have occurred because of partisanship and of the following of desires. We ask Allaah to keep us safe from that. 5. Beware of partisanship to a group It is not permissible to blindly follow this person or that person, or the opinion of such and such a person. Nor should he blindly follow the methodology or group of any individual.. Differing: its effects and cure There is no doubt that differing is one of the greatest trials and calamities to befall the Muslim Ummah. It is one of the reasons why efforts are being wasted and truth is lost. Differing among Islaamic groups and Islaamic centers harms the da’wah. The only way thay can succeed is to have a unification of goals and exert their efforts and work together towards that goal. It is necessary for every grp, institution and community who wants success in the Hereafter to help each other enjoin al birr (righteousness) and taqwa (piety)…… …. My advice for da’ees is that they should make sure that the actions should be done sincerely and purely for the sake of Allaah, the Most High alone. ….whenever a disgreement breaks out between them, in accordance with what Allaah says in the Qur’an: [i] Fa in tanaaz’aatum fee shai’in fa raddoohu ilallaahe wa rasoole in kuntum tu’minu billaahe wal yaumil aakhir. Dhaalika khairun wa ahsanu ta’weela And if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allaah and His Messenger if you believe in Allaah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for the final determination…..[Surah Nisa 4:59] [/i] …. Beware of supporting someone just because his or her opinion agrees with yours The deen of Allaah must be the authority that judges everything. Beware of following your brother just because he agrees with you over an opinion and oppose another just because he disgrees with you over an opinion or an issue. That is not being just or fair. We know that the sahabah differed on issues , but this did not effect the good faith, support and love between them. So the believer acts by Allaah’s laws and he accepts and submits to the truth and makes it precede everything else… How to advise da’ees if they are wrong The Prophet SAW said: “Beware of [i] adh-dhann [/i] (conjecture/suspicion) for verily it is the most untruthful speech.” [Sahih Bukhari 8/58/no.901] However, this does not prevent one from giving advice to the one who commits an error from among the people of knowledge or the da’ee when he commits an error in his da’wah, his behaviour or in something he does. Rather it is necessary to direct him towards goodness and guide him towards the truth in a good manner and not to defame him, have bad suspicion or by a harsh manner as this causes a repulsion of the truth rather than bringing him closer to it. We can see how Allaah swt told His Messengers Moosa and Haaroon AS to behave when He sent them to the worst and most disbelieving person of their time ( someone who committed the ultimate shirk by considering himself at par with Allaah swt and saying “Ana rabbukumul Aaala.” [I am your Lord Most High] ) Allaah swt tells them: [i] Fa qoola lahu qaulan layyinah, yatazzakaroo au yakhshaa And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition and fear Allaah. [/i] [Surah Ta ha 20:44] [Published by Al Hidaayah Publishing and Distribution, UK] |
| 03/04/04 at 01:30:06 |
| rkhan |
| Re: Words of advice regarding da'wah |
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| faith |
| 03/05/04 at 01:00:30 |
| [slm] thank you ya ukhti for providing this great reminder... may we all learn from this posting ;), (hint: we're in need of it now!), especially when we talk about deen to one another peace, :-) |
| Re: Words of advice regarding da'wah |
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| MIT |
| 03/05/04 at 09:40:31 |
| as-salaamu alaikum There is an interesting lecture on "The Why of giving da'wah" by Salim Morgan here: http://www.svis.info/Recordings%20Etc/select.asp?/Recordings%20Etc/Salim/Seminars |
| NS |
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