Anyone Can Give Da’awah

There are quite a few Muslims who believe that only learned people or scholars are allowed to preach (give da’awah), whether it is to Muslims or non-Muslims. This creates confusion among those who don’t have qualifications from Al-Azhar University, or any other institution that is deemed acceptable. Does that mean I can’t give da’awah to those who may even ask for it? Many times I have seen a young man or woman giving da’awah and someone else demanding that they show their qualifications before they go ahead. It creates conflict and tension between Muslims, when there should be encouragement that people want to sit in a gathering that is talking about God.

In the Qur’an in Surah Yaseen, God talks about the messengers who came to a particular town to give da’awah. These people did not believe in them, so God sent them two and three, hoping that they would believe, but they didn’t.

That’s when a man came from another town, running, to give da’awah to these people. The Qur’an calls him a man, not a scholar or a religious man or even a wise, learned man. He is just a man.

36: 20: And there came running from the farthest part of the town, a man, saying: “O my people! Obey the Messengers;

He preaches to this nation, hoping they would believe in the messengers. Just look at his passion. He has come running from the farthest part of town. In Arabic the word running means he heard the news and sprinted, even though he was from the farthest part of town. He didn’t stop until he reached this nation and told them to believe in the messengers.

We don’t hear that the messengers stopped this man and told him that this was only a job for messengers, learned ones or scholars. He comes in, preaches without interruption, and is killed by these disbelievers because they still didn’t believe in the message.

36: 26: It was said (to him when the disbelievers killed him): “Enter Paradise.” He said: “Would that my people knew!

And the man is not angry from his people. He doesn’t seek revenge. He is admitted into Paradise and still wishes that the disbelievers could have believed him. He is so passionate about his religion and faith. He wants everyone to believe so they can be admitted into Paradise with him. Another person would have entered paradise and thought ‘Well it’s their bloody loss!’ But no, not this man. He entered Paradise and was still thinking about his people, wishing they could have believed.

From this we learn that it is our duty to give da’awah, indirectly through our good manners and success in our daily lives or directly if we see a situation that calls for it, like this man in the Qur’an. We don’t have to have extensive knowledge in the religion to give da’awah. We can just talk about the sun and the moon and how they were created for example. We can share the little knowledge that we have. We can be kind and caring because feelings reach out to people. If I’m asked a question that I don’t know the answer to, then I can research on it and then give the answer. I’m not expected to say, ‘Oh wait, I can’t give you Da’awah, I have to take a 4 year shariah degree before I can. Can you wait till then!’

Multiple Universes

Within each of us lies an infinite universe of mystery. Think about it – even though you live with yourself every day, how much do you know about yourself? No matter how much, you’re not even close to scratching the surface. You could plunge deep forever in your soul and never reach the bottom.

How mysterious and infinite, then, must be the Creator that fashioned these multiple universes and mysteries! He says in Surah Tin (95:4) that He created us fi ahsan taqwim -  “in the best conformation” (Asad)/ “in the best of moulds” (Yusuf Ali) /”in the best stature” (Pickthal) / “in the best make” (Shakir). So what is within us is not only infinite, it is infinetly beautiful and best capable of dealing with what it encounters in the external world.

My All-time Favorite Recitation

I used to listen to this when I was younger and had no idea what was being recited. Just the melodic tone and the passion with which Qari Basit recites used to bring tears to my eyes. I’m so glad I found the exact same recitation on youtube.

InshaAllah soon I will write about my thoughts on some of these verses. For now, check it out.

Worship is all about being God-conscious

Worship is a means to being God-conscious. And if we do not become better people through fasting, praying, Hajj and other acts of worship, then we do not get the reward. Worship is designed to affect all areas of our life, how we deal with people, care for our family, work, study and attempt to make the world a better place.

2:21-22
Mankind! Worship your Sustainer, who has created you and those who lived before you, so that you might remain conscious of Him who has made the earth a resting-place for you and the sky a canopy, and has sent down water from the sky and thereby brought forth fruits for your sustenance: do not, then, claim that there is any power that could rival God, when you know [that He is One].

2: 183
O you who have attained to faith! Fasting is ordained for you as it was ordained for those before you, so that you might remain conscious of God.

22: 37
Never does their flesh reach God, and neither their blood: it is only your God-consciousness that reaches Him. It is to this end that We have made them subservient to your needs, so that you might glorify God for all the guidance with which He has graced you. And give you this glad tiding to the doers of good.

29:45
Convey [to others] whatever of this divine writ has been revealed to you, and be constant in prayer: for, behold, prayer restrains [man] from loathsome deeds and from all that runs counter to reason; and remembrance of God is indeed the greatest [good]. And God knows all that you do.

A small tasty note on Ayah 006.099

We bring forth the green blade from which We bring forth the thick-clustered grain; and from the date-palm, from the pollen thereof, spring pendant bunches; and (We bring forth) gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate, alike and unlike (Quran 006.099). 

During Ramadan I cannot help but wonder how flavour and scent play important roles in the lives of Arabs who have special affinity to ‘musk’, incenses, perfumes, olives, and dates. Islamic theology and the Quran rely heavily on the sense of taste in laying down the laws of permissible consumables; attractng good Muslims towards piety essential for securing eternity in the tasty Heaven; and frightening the sinners from the probable pus-drinking flashforwards from sweltering Hell. The images of Heaven in Islam are rich in tasteful descriptions:   

A similitude of the Garden which those who keep their duty (to Allah) are promised: Therein are rivers of water unpolluted, and rivers of milk whereof the flavour changeth not, and rivers of wine delicious to the drinkers, and rivers of clear- run honey (Quran 047.015).   

Elsewhere in the Quran, there is mention of other food items all of which are particularly appealing to the Arab population, e.g., clean drinkable water was always good temptation for the desert dwellers of Arabia. Surah Al-Tin begins with ‘By the fig and the olive’ (Quran 095.001) with the fig referring to Jesus and olive referring to Muhammad.  
 

Dates and figs were easily available in Arabia whereas grapes, olives, and pomegranates were highly precious imported fruits which common persons could not afford in Arabia. When the Quran was revealed foreign trade was a labourious affair and perhaps a more keen reading of the Quran reveals so beautifully how the people of Quraish were educated on the universality of Islam through the following ayah where Allah asserts that He is not only the God of Arabia (where dates grow) but is the Master of the entire universe (gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate, alike and unlike) looking after the affairs of all parts of the world: 

We bring forth the green blade from which We bring forth the thick-clustered grain; and from the date-palm, from the pollen thereof, spring pendant bunches; and (We bring forth) gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate, alike and unlike (Quran 006.099). 

SubhanAllah!