Some
Characteristics of a Da’ee
Syed Hasanuddin Ahmad
And if you punish, then
punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. But if you
endure patiently, verily it is better for the patients (16: 126).
And by the mercy of Allah, you dealt with them kindly. And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have certainly broken away from you (3: 159).
To invite people to their Lord, Creator
and His code of life is an obligatory duty to every Muslim: man or woman, young
or old, learned or illiterate. The above two quoted verses give us some
qualities of a da’ee. Here three qualities have been mentioned. These are
forgiveness, patience and soft-heartedness. In Qur’an and Sunnah, there are
many other qualities as well. Let us, then, look into some of the most
important characteristics of a person who has a duty
to extend the da’wah to others.
(1) First of all a da’ee should be firm
in his belief that Islam is a true religion. He should not have any doubt that
this is the religion of Allah SWT. Allah Himself says that
Verily the Deen with Allah is Islam (
(2)
The second most important thing for a da’ee is his manners. A da’ee should have good manners. It is a must for the faith. The
Prophet SAW is quoted to have said that those believers are perfect in faith, who have good manners (Abu Dawood).
(3) The third most important
requirement is the knowledge. A da’ee should have a good grasp of the knowledge
to which he is inviting. He should have a good working knowledge of Islam,
Qur’an, Hadees, History, Literature, Sociology, Science, Current Affairs, and
the books and teachings of other religions, and cultures etc. Understanding of
Deen’s teachings is a favor of Allah. The Prophet SAW is quoted to have said
that Allah bestows the understanding of the religion on those whom He wants to
favor (Muawiyya RA, Bukhari). Therefore, a da’ee must endeavor to seek Allah’s
favor, and acquire the understanding of the Deen. Allah SWT also advises that
Say, “ This is
my way, I invite unto Allah with sure knowledge, I and whoso ever follows
me”(12: 108).
A da’ee should be fully aware of
the vices of the society in which he is moving around, such as crimes, sex and
drugs in teenagers, divorce rate, the disintegration of family life, neglect of
parents and relatives, cruelties and injustices committed on Muslims, and their
nations all over the world, etc.
(4) A da’ee must join an
organization to impart da’wah. It gives him strength and support. This is the
command of Allah SWT. He says,
There should be a group of people among
you who invite towards good (3: 104)
Also, “Hold fast the rope of Allah together”(3: 103).
There is a hadees, which says that Allah’s hand is over the jamaat. Whoever leaves jamaat, goes to fire.
(5) A
da’ee must strive for self-purification. Also, the da’wah work itself helps in
purifying the da’ee, when he is criticized for his loose behavior. Allah
advises the same.
Fear Allah, and purify yourself (8:1)
also, at another place He says
And purify your garments. And keep away from the dirt (sin) (74: 4-5).
(6) Another good quality of a da’ee is
Taqwa (Piety). He should always be fearful of Allah in his heart. Allah SWT
says to all Muslims,
O you who
believe, fear Allah as He should be feared (3: 102)
(7) A da’ee should develop in himself the quality of patience. Allah SWT also advises for
patience, when He says,
And endure you patiently, your patience is not
but from Allah (16: 127).
So a da’ee should be patient,
as Allah SWT Himself says
So wait with patience or the decision of your Lord, and be not like the companion of the fish – when he cried out while he was in deep sorrow (68: 48)
(8) Toleration, and forgiveness are two other qualities which a da’ee must develop in himself. Although a da’ee is allowed to avenge when he has power, he has been advised to forgive, and have patience. Allah SWT says,
And if you punish, then punish them with the like of that with which you
were afflicted. But if you endure patiently, verily it is better for the
patients (16: 126).
And by the mercy of Allah, you dealt with them kindly. And had you been
severe and harsh-hearted, they would have certainly broken away from you (3:
159).
A
story is narrated about the Prophet SAW that an old woman used to throw garbage
from her balcony over the Prophet SAW whenever he passed through her street.
One day she did not throw the garbage. The Prophet SAW inquired about her. He
was told that the woman was sick. He visited her at her sickbed. Such should be
the attitude of a da’ee.
A very good advice has been given by
Hasan Albanna Shaheed. He said that one should be like a tree. People throw
stones at it, and it, in return, drops fruits to them.
(9) A da’ee should develop good
speaking, writing and computer skills. Now a days all
three of the methods are being used to propagate one’s point of view.
(10) A da’ee should be soft spoken. He should never
use harsh words or satire or pun in his dawa. Allah SWT advised Prophet Moses
AS and Prophet Aaron AS to be soft spoken in front of Pharaoh. He said,
And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition
or fear (
(11) A da’ee should be moderate in his
behavior, and attitude. This is an advice of the Prophet SAW to all his
followers. He says, “Beware, Do not be extremist. Because of extremism people
before you have been destroyed (Abdullah Ibn Abbas RA, Bukhari).
(12) A da’ee should always be just in
his dealings. It is required of all Muslims. Allah SWT orders that
O you, who believe, stand out firm for justice,
as witness to Allah, even though it may be against yourself, or your parents,
or your kin, be he rich or poor (4: 135).
(13) A da’ee must do proper prior
planning. He should specify objectives, enumerate and estimate resources,
choose proper time and place. He should equip himself with proper materials,
such as pocket Qur’an, booklets, cassettes, pamphlets, newspaper cuttings,
notebook, and pen or pencil etc.
(14) A da’ee should be dynamic, and
zealous in dawah work. He should burn his blood to light the lamp of his
mission. He should try to follow the Sunnah in this regard. Allah SWT says
about the Prophet SAW,
Perhaps you would kill yourself in grief over their steps because they
believe not in this narration (18: 6)
The Prophet SAW himself described his condition as,” My example is like the man
who lighted the fire, and moths are falling in it. I am holding you with your
waist to keep you safe from the fire” (Mishkawt).
(15) We shall now look into some
dos and don’ts which a da’ee must observe through out his life. Let us first
look at the dos.
(a) Some Dos
A da’ee should develop strong
relationship with his Lord, and Creator. To develop this relationship, he must
develop and practice the following traits, and habits.
(i) He should constantly seek
help from Allah with night prayer, and patience
O you who believe seek help with
patience, and prayer (2:153).
O you wrapped in garments. Stand all night, except a little. Half of it or a
little less than that. Or a little more. And recite the Qur’an in a slow style
(73: 1-4).
(ii) He should spend money in the path
of Allah (Infaq) to seek nearness to Him.
And of bedouins, there are some who believe in Allah and the Day of
Judgment, and look upon what they spend in Allah’s cause as means of nearness
to Allah, and a cause of receiving the Messenger’s invocation. Indeed these are
means of nearness for them (9: 99).
(iii) He should do his utmost for a
just or good cause, and then leave the result to Allah SWT. Allah says
And put your trust in the Almighty, The Most Merciful, Who sees you when you stand up (26: 217,218).
(iv) He should, not only safe guard,
but fulfil the rights of other people in the society. The Prophet SAW had
narrated a long story of three travelers. To seek refuge from a storm, they
went into a cave. The mouth of the cave got blocked with a large chunk of
stone, which came rolling over and closed the cave. They decided to seek
Allah’s help by calling Him, and narrating their good deeds, which they had
done to other people for His sake only. The stone started moving a little bit
with the prayer of each traveler. It finally moved away from the mouth to open
it completely, as soon as the third traveler finished his prayer (Abdullah Ibn
Umar RA, Agreed Upon).
(v) A da’ee should constantly pray to
Allah (DU’A) for His help. The following dua is reported to have been taught by
Hazrat Ali RA, “O Allah! Bestow upon me your obedience, and the obedience to
your Prophet” (Tabrani). And, of course, Allah helps every body who strives in
His cause.
Verily, Allah will help those who help His cause (
(vi) A da’ee should quite often recite
salat and salam for the Prophet SAW. He should develop this as a habit. The
Prophet SAW had told Ubai Bin Ka’ab that if he were to recite salat all the
time it would suffice for his needs (Tirmizi).
(vii)
A da’ee should constantly repent his sins, and seek Allah’s forgiveness
(Istighfar). Allah SWT says in a Hadees Qudsi, “So, seek my forgiveness, I
shall forgive you.”( Abu Zar RA, Muslim).
(b) Some Don’ts
We shall now discuss some of the
points, and deeds which a da’ee must always avoid.
(I) A da’ee should not take part in
the discussion if the verses of Allah are being ridiculed
And when you see those who indulge in
false conversation about our verses by mocking at them, stay away from them
till they turn to another topic (6: 68).
And leave them alone who take their religion as play and amusement (6: 70).
(ii) A da’ee should not
degrade himself. On the other hand, he should remain dignified.
So be patient. Verily the promise of
Allah is true; and let not those who have no certainty of faith discourage you
from conveying Allah’s message (30; 60)
(iii) A da'ee should not be
disheartened because of bigger and powerful numbers of opposition. He should
remember that
And to Allah belongs the unseen of the heavens and the earth, and to him
return all affairs. So worship Him and put your trust in Him (11: 123)
(iv) A da’ee should never be afraid of
propaganda against him. There will be accusations, cruelties, and mistreatments
but he should never give up the mission, or succumb to greed.
Say, O disbelievers, I worship not that which you worship (99: 1,2).
A da’ee should always remember
the fact that even prophets had enemies.
Thus We have made for every prophet an enemy among the wrong doers. But
your Lord is sufficient as a guide and helper (25: 31)
A da’ee should always stand
firm, and never compromise, or follow the desires of those who have gone
astray.
And stand firm as you are commanded, and follow not their desires
(42:15),
And whatever be the
consequences,
And those who disbelieved said to their messengers, "Surely, we
shall drive you out of our land, or you shall return to our religion”. (
(v) A da’ee should never compromise on
his mission. Allah SWT says,
So do not obey the deniers. They wish that you should compromise with
them, so they would compromise with you (68:8,9)
Standing firm is the trait
which has been emphasized by Allah, as well as the Prophet SAW,
LO. Those who say, our sustainer is Allah
and steadfastly pursue the right way, upon them do angels descend”(41: 30).
The Prophet SAW has also
advised believers that they should proclaim their belief, and then stand fast
on it.
We shall illustrate our point with
the lives of the Prophet SAW, other prophets, and some determined and pious
peoples as well.
We all know that as soon as Prophet
SAW started to preach, the whole society became his enemy. The matters got from
bad to worse. He remained firm and refused to budge. Once the chiefs of
different tribes came to his uncle, Abu Talib, and complained to him against
the mission of the prophet SAW. They wanted him to stop his preaching of
Tauhid. In return they were ready to accommodate his worldly demand of money,
power, or marriage, if any. But the Prophet SAW said, "Let them put sun in
my one hand and the moon in my second. I would not give up preaching unity of
Allah."
In another story, Utabah bin Rabiah
offered to make him king, marry him to the woman he liked, give him gold and
silver, or even to arrange for his treatment. The Prophet SAW recited the
verses of Surah Ham Meem Assajdah to him, and told him that he had heard his
reply.
It is also well known that the
disbelievers would drop goats over him while he used to pray. They would throw
dirt and refuse over his food. They would throw nails and thorny bush at his
door. They used to hit him with stones in the bazaar. They used to express
delight, and celebrate the deaths of his children.
The prophet SAW used to say that the
day of Aqaba was the hardest on him. On his mission to Taif, street urchins,
and boys were throwing stones at the Prophet SAW. He was profusely bleeding.
The angels asked his permission to collide the two hills to crush the transgressors.
“No perhaps Allah may guide them, and their off springs may accept Islam some
day” was his reply.
Abu Jahl used to disturb the prayer
of the prophet SAW in the Haram. Allah SWT mentions this Qur’an,
Have you seen him who prevents a slave when he prays? (96: 9,10).
Prophet Abraham AS was thrown into the pyre of fire, but he did not compromise. Allah SWT mentions this in the Quran as
We said, “O Fire! Be you coolness, and safety for Ibrahim” (21: 69).
His own people betrayed Prophet Jesus
AS to the Romans. Prophet John AS got beheaded, but did not compromise.
In olden days, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam
Malik, Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Imam Ibn Taimiyya, Imam Mujaddid Alf Sani all
were imprisoned, and suffered a lot but none of them compromised.
In present day life, Maulana Abul Ala
Maudoodi was sentenced to death, besides several time imprisonments. Syed Qutub
Shaheed and Abdul Qadir Audah Shaheed both were put to death. But all of them
stood firm and did not compromise.
(vi) A da’ee should never use derogatory, or insulting language for others, especially for those whom some people love or hold them in high regards. Allah SWT says,
And insult not those whom they worship besides Allah, lest they insult
Allah wrongfully without knowledge (6: 108).
(vii) A da’ee should always avoid
answer to a question which may offend others, or may not be of liking to
others. When Pharaoh asked Prophet Moses AS about the fate of his dead elders,
Prophet Moses did not give a direct answer to him. Instead, He said
The knowledge there of is with my Lord, in a Record. My
Lord neither errs, nor He forgets (