Dakwah/Da'wah

"With the name of Allah The Almighty, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful."

As the topic goes, my post this time will be on dakwah or da'wah as per Arabic spelling. What does that mean? It simply means calling to Islam or in a more elaborate explanation, educating, explaining through various means to our non-Muslims friends about our (Muslims) practices, beliefs and faith.

I cannot say I am worthy to perform such important responsibility, what's with my limited and inadequate knowledge on the matter at hand. But I believe what I have practised and carry out ever since I was born were right and that they were following the orders and words of the last messenger, our beloved Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.

It might not be entirely similar. Heck, it might be totally different. But that's why they say, Islam is the way of life. It transcends the trials and tribulations of time. Even after 1400 years after the first verse was read to the Prophet, Islam teaches the same values, the same practices, the same, 'way of life'. But never in any way, was it mentioned in the Quran how the values and practices are to be carried out. The only information provided is the guideline. And guidelines can be interpreted differently by different people.

An analogy; you see a non-smoking sign in a building. Many will interpret it as 'you're not allowed to smoke in the building'. That's what the general consensus would be. But did the sign wrote, no smoking in the building? Is it the whole building, even the balcony on the second floor, with very good airflow? The balcony is outside of the building, but its still part of it. You can smoke there, can't you?

There will also be some people who regardless of the sign, go against it or they created a thinking around it. Instead of interpreting it as no smoking in the building, they go with no smoking in the area where the sign is. So, technically, if they smoke in the toilet where there's no sign, or anywhere where the sign isn't put up, its not wrong is it?

The same goes with Islam. We were told to follow the Quran and the Hadith, in the Prophet's last message to his ummah before his last breath. By doing so, we will be saved, in the world and the hereafter. Still, Quran itself is not an easy scriptures to interpret. Reading the Quran isn't as simple as picking up any book where you read it once and you can understand it straight away. Even scholars sometime have difficulties to understand what exactly the verses in the Quran are trying to deliver.

That's why we have 4 different mazhabs. I'm not entirely sure how to explain the mazhabs, but to make it simple, the mazhabs are basically compilation of methods or ways of practicing Islam that has been proven to be the closest or the most similar to the practices during the time of the Prophet. Note my words, 'the closest', 'the most similar'. Its not exactly the same but nevertheless, the practices are all acceptable as they all follow the guideline as outlined in the Quran and Hadith.

Going back to the main topic, da'wah. I'm not in a position to say I can go up to people and educate them about Islam, not about anything beyond what I've learnt and practised. But if the non-Muslims inquire about things I believe I understood and have lived by it for the past 22 years, I am more than happy to explain, based on my own understanding. Yes, with references to proper evidence and examples.

One thing I always have to tell myself when explaining. Da'wah is not an easy thing. They will have plenty of questions, some of which I don't know the answer to. Some I might not even heard of before. Others might be very discriminative and biased that you felt like giving up or become angry. If you follow your heart, you'll get nothing. You'll end up arguing, but you reach nowhere.

Therefore, whenever I'm explaining about things, especially sensitive things like my faith, I told myself to be patient, listen and understand, explain carefully and properly, answer all their questions. Do not let them get to you. Cause once you do, you've lost. It's not just a matter of making them understand, but it's a matter of how much do we understand our own faith that we can explain it to others who have no prior knowledge whatsoever. It's a test for our own faith. Our Iman.

Remember this my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters. Whenever you're in trouble or having a huge problem, bear in mind, there is no trouble or problem, bigger than the passing of our beloved Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. For he was the last messenger of God.

The Burden

Let me start this off with the phrase, "With the name of Allah The Almighty, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful".

I have always contemplated since the first time I was called upon to go onto the stage and answer the call of leadership. Reason being because I understood my limitations and how I'm unworthy of holding such position. But when thinking of all the new experiences, all the changes I'm able to do when I do become the person in charge, I stepped forward and took on the responsibility onto my shoulders.

It was not an easy decision.

Someone once told me, when you become the head, you've put in one foot beyond the gate of hellfire. Depending on how you lead the people under you, it may determine whether you will walk through the gate or the other way round.

Over the last few weeks, I've been listening to series of lectures by Anwar Al-Awlaki. The audio can be downloaded here: http://www.kalamullah.com. Of the most particular relevance to me (though all are actually relevant to me as a Muslim; this part is actually the part for the non-believers) is about the Day of Judgement, specifically the time during the arguments between the leader and the people. At that time, the people were saying, "Verily, we were following you (our leaders). Can you give us protection on the Day of Judgement? Had Allah guided us, we would have guided you. There is no place for us now, to seek refuge."

The speaker then proceeded to explain that those who spread truth to even one people, and that person spreads it to others and so forth, that person will receive the deeds of everyone who receives that truth and follow it. But those who spread even one falsehood to a person, and that person spreads it to others and so forth, that person would also carry that sin and those of others who committed the falsehood.

It scares me to imagine, what would happen if on that day, I was among the leaders and the phrases were directed to me. It even scares me more when I think of all the sins I'll get just by making one wrong decision as a leader.

And I'm currently at a point where I have to make a call which is clearly against the amar makruf nahi mungkar. At times like this, I can feel the burden heavily pushing down on my body. It has pushed me to the extent that I can't think of any other solution. I want to remain with my stand, but there is no other option.

Given the situation, I might in the end make that call and go with it, even when I fully understood the consequences. But I pray to Him that it will not come to that. There's still time, and as much as I know it is nearly impossible, I'm still clinging to that small grain of hope that eventually things will turn out alright. I'm still holding on to my faith that in the end everything will go as planned, done in the proper way and manner.

"They have all put in so much efforts. And now I'm praying that You will show us guidance. In the end, You are The All-Knowing, The Almighty. We can make plans, but you know what's best for us."

Quote #8

"You were given the title of 'Saif-ullah' meaning, 'The Sword of Allah' and, the sword of Allah is not meant to be broken and hence, it is not your destiny to be a 'martyr' but to die like a conqueror."

We're Brothers in Islam

The short film struck me at each answers the brothers gave to the man's questions. At first, I was troubled by the differences. But in the end, there were no differences at all.

As they said, 'We're brothers in Islam'.

The Notebook

It could just be a plain notebook where I jot down all my notes. Or it could be a diary where I wrote down everything that happened in the past. Or it could also be a love story, one that moves others' hearts, one that reminds you of all the things you did. All the small things, even the insignificant ones.

A notebook can be many different things in different hands. But I remember The Notebook as one of my favourite films I ever watched. I believe many do too.

Love takes many different forms and you express it through your own unique way. A father hitting a son can be due to love, a husband embracing his wife can be a form of love or a dog wagging its tail seeing the owner can also be another form of love. It doesn't matter how you show it, for as long as the person you show it to sense it and they know, what you mean is love.

In conjunction with this Eid-Ul Adha, I wish everyone a happy eid celebration. 'Selamat Hari Raya' or as I recently learnt, 'Takabbalallah hu minna wa minkum'. Let us spread our love during this eid, be it love to Allah the Almighty, the prophet Muhammad pbuh, our family and friends or even to a stranger we came across the street. It is a day of sacrifice, but let us sacrifice with our hearts by sharing them with everyone, even a tiny bit.