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BE A MISSIONER!
Bismillah
Thank be to Gog, the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessing be upon Muhammed a.s., on his family, on his closest friends and on those who carry Islam in their hearts.
I pray to Allah to help and strenghten us and may He make us like it is mentioned in the following ajah: In the faith of your Lord call wisely and with a nice advice.
I have decided for the subject, because it is very important. Maybe someday I'll write a short brochure or a book. Duty for every muslim is that he has to work on da'wa (missionary), because he will be asked on the Day of Judgement, why didn't he call people to the right path. We all know that everyone will forget on their mother, father, brother, sister, friends etc. There is a a thought that even Jesus (Isa a.s.) will forget on his mother Mary (Maryam). Our duty is to present Islam in his best light and on the best possible way to the nonmuslims or muslims. Every muslim feels the dangers, which are threatening his religion and muslims around the world. Because of this message he starts thinking about defending that, which means most to him – islam. Fire lightens in his heart and because of it he decides to become a missioner. We all know that if we want to explain to somebody and at the same time call him to follow the right path we have to:
I'll try to describe the mentioned characteristics and to add my thoughts and experiences.
THE FIRST CHARACTERISTIC – Deep believe in what we are calling This is the origin of any kind of calling. May it be in a religion or in some kind of club. We have to be avare that Allah is the only one, who is worth worshipping and that Muhammed a.s. is the last God's prophet. With that equipment no one can mislead or confuse us. This has to be totally clear like it is 1+1=2 so is the fact that surah IHLAS totally describes God! Missioner should be avare that only Allah is the one, who gives islam: »They think that they lay you under an obligation by becoming Muslims. Say: Lay me not under obligation by your Islam: rather Allah lays you under an obligation by guiding you to the faith if you are truthful.« (Al-Hujraat, 17.)
THE SECOND CHARACTERISTIC – constant learnning about islam There are people, who have the above mentioned characteristic, but they think that only imaan (faith) is enough for the successfull call to islam. That is totally wrong! That would be like you are supportting a political party, but you know only how is the party's name and who is in charge. It is normal that missionars don't know everything about islam. Humans (in Europe) live today for about 60-70 years and if a human being would constantly learn about islam, he would constantly find a new thing, which he didn't know. Allah says: »It is given only little knowledge to you.«
It is necessary to mention, where a missioner must seek knowledge:
I would like to warn that it is also necessary to have knowledge about other religions.
THE THIRD CHARACTERISTIC – to follow the things we are presenting The muslim ummah has moved from the teaching of islam. Just so the people, who are calling to islam. We cannot demand from someone to follow the teachings of islam, if we arenot following them. Can you picture yourself that a woman, who doesn't wear the hijab is telling the other one to war it. What would the other person think? How many »chances« are there that the other would accept that fact? Absurdum! But exactly that you will see in today's time. Maybe not in religion, but on other areas. For example in breeding. Father is telling to his son that he mustn't smoke, but he, the father, has a cigar in his mouth. We have in our islamic history an example, when Muhammed a.s. on Hudaybiya (sorry if I wrote that wrong in our language is Hudejbija) ordered to his apostols (sahaba) to kill a sheep and to shave their heads. They didn't do that and so Muhammed a.s. went to Ummu Selema and told her: »Muslims have degenerated. I have ordered them and they didn't obey me.« She answered: »Sorry my Prophet! You have took a great obligation with that order. Muslims have returned without a win. Because of that they are disappointed. First you go and do the things you have ordered. When they see you do it, they will start too.« The Messenger a.s. did that and when the muslims saw, what Muhammed a.s. was doing, they also did it.
Two examples from the Qur'an: »I wish not, in opposition to you, to do that which I forbid you to do. I only desire (your) betterment to the best of my power; and my success (in my task) can only come from Allah. In Him I trust, and unto Him I look.« (Hud, 88.) »O you who believe! why do you say that which you do not do? It is most hateful to Allah that you should say that which you do not do.« (Saff, 2.-3.)
THE FORTH CHARACTERISTIC – using other experiences It is necessary for a missioner to listen to other missioners how they talk, when do they take a break, when do they emphasize, how do they talk to people etc. We know very well that if someone wants to be a professor that the has to gain experiences. The same thing is with a missionary.
THE FIFTH CHARACTERISTIC – the method of calling A good missioner should know, how to talk to people. Missioner has to be patient and calm in every situation. The result won't be always instant and pozitive! Some da'was last for years. Allah says in the Qur'an about patience: »…and be patient; surely Allah is with the patient.« (Al-Anfal, 46.) »O you who believe! be patient and excel in patience and remain steadfast, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, that you may be successful.« (Ali Imran, 200.) »…and Allah loves the patient.« (Ali Imran, 146.)
About the reward for the patient Allah says: »…only the patient will be paid back their reward in full without measure.« (Az-Zumar, 10.) »Surely I have rewarded them this day because they were patient, that they are the achievers.« (Al-Mumenoon, 111.)
Beside this characteristic it is necessary to know in what way you have to call. Allah says to His Messanger Muhammed a.s.: »Thus it is due to mercy from Allah that you deal with them gently, and had you been rough, hard hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you…« (Ali Imran, 159.)
To Moses (Musa a.s.) and Aaron (Harun a.s.) Allah said: »Then speak to him (the pharaoh) a gentle word haply he may mind or fear.« (Ta Ha, 44.)
THE SIXTH CHARACTERISTIC – the ways to acheive goals There are ways in da'wa, which make the job for missioners easier. These instruments are accessible to everyone. You can find: - Khutbas and lectures - Journalism (islamic newspapers) - Any kind of written word (books, researches, articles, leaflets, brochure…) - Radio and TV - Internet - Private contact
Conclusion Dear brother/sister, if you have an opportunity to talk about islam, grab it. And DON'T follow the ajah: »O you who believe! take care of your souls; he who errs cannot hurt you when you are on the right way; to Allah is your return, of all (of you), so He will inform you of what you did.« (Al-Maeda, 105.) Many people had misunderstood the above ajah! Many sahabas said that this ajah talks about the people, who will live at the end of this world. In this sense Mekhul says: »It still isn't the time about which the ajah talks. That is the time, when those who will recommend (others to do good deeds) will be in fear and those to whom it is recommended will be disrespected. If you experience these kind of times then take care only for yourself. Then (if you are on the right path) those, who will be on the wrong path, won't hurt you.«
Dear muslims! Your enemies are working on their demolishing ideas, because Ibliz promised: »He said: Then by Thy Might I will surely make them live an evil life, all, Except Thy servants from among them, the purified ones.« (Sad, 82.-83.) Isn't it time for us to resist?!
Let us be among those, who Allad had mentioned in surah Ali Imran (ajah 104.): And from among you there should be a party who invite to good and enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong…
Jesenice, 18. May 2007 Alim Hasanagiæ |