Why to Learn the Fundamentals of the Manhaj of Dawah?

Dawah is, without doubt, a distinctive trait of this ummah – a distinctive characteristic of the followers of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

"Say (O Muhammad), 'This is my Sabeel; I invite unto Allah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (must also invite others to Allah) with sure knowledge. Glorified and Exalted be Allah. And I am not of the Mushrikoon (polytheist).'" [Quran (12):108]

So therefore we learn,

• Dawah is the Sabeel (way) – and it is the Nahaj (way), which is necessary for us.
• Dawah is a great form of worship.
• It is a worship through which one draws closer to Allah.
• It is a worship, the benefits of which are passed on, and not limited to the one who makes Dawah. Its benefits extend through the Da'ee to the people in his country, to the people outside his country, and even to those who will be influenced by his Dawah until the Hour is established.

Du'aat (callers to Allah) are of two kinds;

1. Du'aat who make dawah according to the Sunnah - along with the recent Ijtihaadaat (sing. Ijtihaad – i.e., deduction of rulings based upon the Sharee'ah texts) of the century. They make Dawah according to) Ijtihaadaat that do not go beyond the boundaries of adhering to the Sunnah, the Jamaa'ah and the ways of as-Salaf as-Saleh (Pious Predecessor).

2. Du'aat who make Dawah which agrees with al-Hawaa (one's lowly desires), and Ijtihaadaat which are not referred back to Ilm (knowledge) as a strong pillar.

          So, because there are numerous desires, Dawah - instead of being one Manhaj – has resulted in various Manaahij (sing. Manhaj). And everyone claims that the correct (Manhaj) is that which he comes up with. 

Verily, cautiousness/carefulness in establishing the Usool (fundamentals) safeguards the mind and heart from falling into mistakes.

Manhaj is the Way, which Allah (Exalted is He) has mentioned in His Book, in the following verse,

"To each among you, We have prescribed a law and Manhaj (a clear way)." [Quran (5): 48]

Al-Manhaj, al-Minhaj or an-Nahj – is the clear Path which holds no doubts/ambiguities. As it is said, 'He took a clear Manhaj' meaning, (he took) away with confidence, a way which is definite and free from uncertainty.

Dawah, without doubt, is a course of action, which needs a way (i.e., manner, approach, method)… It is possible that the Manhaj of Dawah (of some Du'aat) is not in accordance with the Quran, the Sunnah and the safe/reliable way of as-Salaf as-Saleh, from whom the people of knowledge have taken the Manhaj of Dawah.

The Manhaj of Dawah might be influenced by one's opinion about MaslaHa or by corruption - in accordance to the magnitude of one's inclination towards corruption – or it might be influenced by some specific occurrences, which are either territorial, political, etc.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014