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View Full Version : Responsibility of Dawah on all Muslims and the significance of the change of th Qibla



Muhaba
06-27-2009, 08:14 PM
All Muslims have a great responsibility to conduct dawah to the best of their abilities as can be seen from the following verses of the Holy Quraan.

Now you are the best community which has been raised up for the guidance of mankind: you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah… Surah 3 ( Ali Imran) Verse 110)

Commentary: This is the same declaration that has been made in Al-Baqarah (verse 143). The followers of the Holy Prophet are being reminded that they have been appointed to the leadership of the world from which the Children of Israel had been deposed on account of their incompetence. The Muslims have been appointed to that office because they possess those moral qualities which are essential for just leadership. These are to establish virtue and to eradicate evil practically and to believe that there is no god other than Allah and to put into practice the implication of this belief. They should, therefore, understand the responsibilities of the work that has been entrusted to them and avoid the errors into which their predecessors had fallen.


Thus have We made you a community of the “Golden Mean” so that you may be witnesses in regard to mankind and the Messenger may be a witness in regard to you… (Surah 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse 143)

Commentary: This is the declaration of the leadership of the Muslim Community. “Thus” refers both to the Guidance of Allah which was sent through Muhammad (SAW) and to the change of the qiblah. It was by following the Guidance that the Muslims achieved those excellences which led to their appointment as the “Community of the Golden Mean,” and it was the change of qiblah from the Temple to the Ka’abah that was an indication that the Israelites had been deposed from the leadership and the Muslims had been appointed instead. Therefore the change of qiblah from the Temple to the Ka’abah was not merely a change of direction as the foolish people took it to be, but it was really the formal declaration of the change of leadership from the Israelites to the followers of Muhammad (SAW).

The Arabic word “ummat-i-wasat” which has been translated into “a community of the Golden Mean” is so comprehensive in meaning that no English word can correctly convey its full sense. It is a righteous and noble community whose position among the nations of the world is that of a leader. It does not go beyond proper limits, but follows the middle course and deals out justice evenly to the nations of the world as an impartial judge and bases all its relations with other nations on truth and justice.

The meaning of “We have appointed you as ummat-i-wasat, so that you may be witnesses in regard to mankind and the Messenger may be a witness in regard to
you:”


On the Day of Judgment when the whole of humanity will be gathered together for the sake of accounting, every Messenger will be asked to give evidence to prove that he had imparted, by word and by deed, without any reservation, to the ummah that Truth which he had received from Allah. The ummah in its turn will be required to give evidence to prove that it had exerted its utmost to impart that Guidance, by word and by deed, to the people of the world as it has received it from the Messenger.

It should also be borne in mind that Allah confers the honor of leadership along with the obligation to bear witness to that Truth before the people. Though it is a position of honor, it carries very onerous responsibilities with it. It requires that the Muslim Community should become a living witness of piety, truth, and justice before the world just as the Holy Prophet bore witness before it, and its words and deeds should suffice to demonstrate to the world the meaning of truth, justice, and piety. It also implies that it is a great responsibility for which the Muslim Community is accountable. Just as the Holy Prophet was responsible for conveying the Guidance of Allah, in the same way the Muslims are responsible for conveying it to the people of the world. If they fail to prove in the Court of Allah that they have discharged this responsibility to the best of their ability, they will be condemned there. And they along with their evil geniuses and accomplices shall be accountable for all the evils which prevailed during their term of leadership, if they had shown any relaxation in the performance of their obligation as witnesses of the Truth. On the Day of Judgment, Allah will surely ask, “What did you do to prevent it when you saw the epidemic of sin, tyranny, and impiety breaking out in the world?”


As can be seen in the above verses and commentary, all Muslims are obligated to do dawah orally or in writing as well as through their deeds. Doing dawah through deeds means that one practices Islam fully and through this the nonmuslims get acquainted with and impressed by Islamic practices and beliefs.

The other ways of doing dawah are orally and in writing. A Muslim can preach (orally) to his/her friends, relatives, and colleagues. They can also give speeches and lectures. Additionally the Muslim can preach by giving out booklets/pamphlets, sending emails, etc. One good way to do dawah online is by using the email automatic response and signature features. Muslims must try to do their best in whichever way possible. If it’s not possible to directly preach to people orally or by giving out pamphlets, then the Muslim should do it through the mail or online. A certain amount of time daily or weekly should be set aside to do dawah. It is also necessary to preach to fellow Muslims (especially those who aren’t practicing) and try to improve them and make them better Muslims. Telling others to do dawah is also very important. For example, you can send the above to all Muslim friends, relatives, and acquaintances and encourage them to do dawah.

Whichever method you use to do dawah, it’s important to keep in mind that preaching is every Muslim’s responsibility and one must try their best to fulfill this responsibility.

What are your opinions? What do you think are some practical ways to do dawah today? Which type do you conduct? How many hours do you spend daily/weekly doing dawah?

Note: Translation and Commentary from The Meaning of Quraan by Saeed Abu Al Ala Maududi.
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