Da`wah: Significance & Ethics Question and answer details Name of Questioner: Faisal Question: What else should we do as Muslims after fulfilling the five pillars of Islam and treating our fellow humans justly and kindly? What is the importance of da`wah, and how should it be practiced nowadays? May Allah reward you. consultant:Hamid Al-`Ali consultant:Su`ad Salih Answer 1 of 2... In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Dear brother in Islam, we would like to thank you for your question and we appreciate the confidence you have in us. We hope our efforts meet your expectations. Actually your question is quite interesting and very important to every Muslim, though it is hard to cover in one page or even an essay. However, we will try stick to the points you have raised in your question. First of all, you should know that Islam is not just prayer, fasting, paying Zakah, and going for Hajj. These are the foundations of Islam; however Islam is a very comprehensive and all-encompassing religion that covers all aspects of life. In that sense, Islam is a way of life and a code of teachings and rules that makes life better. Da`wah means conveying the message of Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. It is to help all people be always on the right track and guide those who have gone astray to return to the path of Allah the Almighty. Responding to your question,Sheikh Hamed Al-Ali, instructor of Islamic Heritage at the Faculty of Education, Kuwait and Imam of Dahiat As-Sabahiyya Mosque, says, In addition to performingSalah, fasting and other pillars of Islam, we need to have the taqwa (consciousness of Allah the Almighty) in our hearts, be this in public or in private life. That means we are required to follow the commands of Almighty Allah and avoid all what He has forbidden. The Qur’an and the Sunnah are the sources of guidance and knowledge for us, and as such, we need to resort to the Qur’an and refer to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in all of our actions and read them regularly to seek guidance. If sometimes we fail to find the guidance in the Qur’an and Sunnah to a particular problem or situation in our life, then we need to approach the Muslim scholars and ask them about things we do not know. This way we will make sure that we are on the right path of Allah Most High. As far as the issue ofda`wahin the sense of preaching is concerned, it is regarded asfard kifayah(collective obligation) on Muslims. But da`wah in the sense of setting a good example is fard `ayan (individual obligation) on Muslims to safeguard their religion and convey its message to Muslims and non-Muslims as well. With regard to the methods of giving da`wah, they are many: wise and gentle approach, giving speeches and sermons, setting good example for others to follow, etc. Shedding more light on the issue, Dr. Su`aad Salih, professor of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) at Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt, adds, `Ibadah(worship) in Islam is not restricted to the performance of the five daily prayers, fasting, Zakah, Hajj, and others rituals. The real meaning of`ibadahis very comprehensive and goes beyond these acts mentioned above. Literally,`ibadahstands for submission and showing humility to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, as He is the One Who has given us bounties and favors. Therefore, any act of goodness that is classified under righteousness and piety is considered to be an act of worship in Islam. It is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked Mu`adh Ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him):“Do you know what right Allah Most High has on His servants and what right they have on Him? ”He said: No, Allah and His Messenger know best.” Thereupon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: “The right people owe to Allah is to worship Him alone and associate no partner with Him. And the right people deserve from Allah is not to be punished if they do not associate any partner with Him.” This Hadith indicates the broad concept of`ibadahin Islam, and that Allah the Almighty can forgive any sin except taking other partners with Him, Exalted be He. People are required to strive against themselves and overcome their desires and not to respond to their evil-whispering soul. Allah Most High says,“And those who strive in Our (cause), We will certainly guide them to our Paths: For verily Allah is with those who do right.”(Al-`Ankabut 29: 69)
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 05:10:24 +0000
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