I was on a group yesterday and from there I went to a page through a link shared by someone. I just randomly started looking at the stuff and something really amazed me. The brother who was running the page was arguing with some guy and while explaining his point to him, he said something like “I’ve replied to you for this so many times but here you go I’ll do it one more time.” Then he pasted a link and said “read this completely and if you still don’t understand THEN only Allah can guide you.”
I stopped there for a while. It suddenly hit me! THIS is the reason we are not able to influence people! THIS is the reason we explain something so many times yet the person pays no heed. THIS is the reason that although we get “likes” on our posts yet our words have no effect on people; because we rely on OUR logic, OUR argumentation, OUR rhetoric, OUR background knowledge of the subject and even OUR attitudes and values.
We focus on learning all of these. But while doing so we forget the most basic and fundamental aspect of Da’wah:
“…and Allah sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” [14:4]
This is what’s lacking. It doesn’t matter how sincere we are, how well prepared we are, how good are our manners or how good we explain, if we’re relying on our own faculties (that have also been given by ALLAH by the way) instead of relying on HIM, we will never be able to convince anyone of the truth.
“…And upon Allah let the believers rely.” [14:11]
This is the belief we’re lacking. This is what makes all the difference. We all know that the Prophet Muhammad (SalAllaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam) was the best man to have walked this earth. He had the best of logic, the best of arguments, the best of rhetoric, the best of knowledge and the best of manners. Allah has given proof of it in the Quran.
“Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad SalAllaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam) you have a good example to follow…” [33:21]
Yet when it comes to guiding people, this is what Allah is saying to him:
“Indeed, [O Muhammad SalAllaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.” [28:56]
Only Allah can guide you NOW? Whom were you thinking could guide him before?! How can we even dare think that we would just talk to someone and would be able to convince him, without completely relying on Allah? But that’s the saddest part; we don’t know that we’re lacking THAT faith in Allah!
We get so indulged in Da’wah, even if it is with sincere intentions, that we probably never even make Du’a before talking to someone about Islam. We don’t ask Allah to guide him; we just go and try our luck. But if we’re going to do that then we can keep waiting for the day we get lucky – the day Allah decides to guide someone. Not because we talked to him, but because it was destined for him to be guided. We can do that, OR we can start relying COMPLETELY on Allah and know that we’re only doing this effort because the Prophets (Peace Be Upon Them All) did it, because the pious predecessors did it, because the scholars did it and are still doing it, and mostly importantly, because Allah has commanded it. Otherwise Allah could have guided the whole of humanity if He willed. But he made this life as a test for us and we have to accept that and be HIS humble slaves.
Once we have that belief engraved in our hearts, then see how our words start having effect by the Will of Allah.
May Allah grant us the Tawfeeq to rely on ONLY HIM and use the means only because He has ordered us to do so! May Allah bless the Messenger (SalAllaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam).
true….that is the thing lacking, and sometimes its more difficult to make sincere dua than give dawah…..
Yes true. Our egos sometimes tell us only to batter them with argument upon argument!
Yeah! We need THAT faith in Allah…
This is a mistake I have done in the past. Instead of connecting with their hearts, I was trying to connect with their intellect. I started daw’ah through text messages. I’d send a soft daw’ah message and when a friend responded with a joke or when I noticed them more active on political debates rather than showing an interest in studying Islam, my text messages became stern and blunt instead of remembering the way of the Prophet.
To make matters worse, I became an easy target for Shaytan. I stopped the daw’ah activity altogether because “I” was not seeing any change.
I, however, continued my private study of Qur’an tafseer. One day I was studying Surah al-Ma’idah when I came across the ayah where the Prophet sallAllahu aalyhi wa sallam was being encouraged and motivated to get out spread the message of Islam despite the hurdles. During the same time, someone shared the story of Prophet Nuh aalyhi salaam with me. It took him 900 years. And I’m giving up in less then 900 days? It was a reality check for me.
Keeping my ego aside, I resumed my daw’ah efforts. However, this time I made little change. I still send them texts but before sending out one I watch my language, I ask myself, “Am I encouraging and inspiring them or rebuking and admonishing them?” I make a short du’a that Allah ta’ala it’s in Your Hands please guide them because I love them, I care for them, I want us all together in Jannah.
I stopped arguing with my friends. And after sometime their questions started pouring in. My friends were asking about zakat on their jewelry, the alternate of perfume while leaving home, what is meant by resemblance to disbelieving women, etc. Then a friend wrote, “You know your messages have an impact. They make me think. I’m still not regular with my namaz, but you have helped me connect with Allah. Please don’t stop sending me these texts.”
Alhumdulillah that’s the greatest reward for a da’ee : ) because our goal is nothing else than connecting Abds with their Creator. Who am I to guide them? I can only make a secret du’a for them and support them as they struggle to recognize their Creator. I’m immensely grateful to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala that He corrected me by bringing that ayah before my eyes and inspiring a friend to share the story of Prophet Nuh with me, alhumdulillah.
We generally lack training in daw’ah work. I hope one day AbdulRaheem Green from iERA would visit Pakistan and train us. In sha Allah.
May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala teach us the best ways, accept our efforts, and keep us rightly guided and steadfast in our emaan, aameen.
This post was a great reminder, JazakAllah khair!
Ameen 🙂 That’s awesome ma sha Allah! Wa iyyaakum..