The Winds of Change…redefined.

by Raja Zia ul Haq

It doesn’t take much to figure out that our ummah in general, and our country in particular, is going through a state of crisis. Whether it is corruption, or insecurity, or instability, or a shortage of energy and power, or immorality, or indecency; seems like it’s all happening – an “age of fitnah” if you will.

Without getting into long discussions, I’ll present before you, simply four ayaat (verses) from the Qur’an that point the finger back at us. Yes, that we indeed are the reason for our problems.

 

Ayah No.1

وَمَآ  أَصَـٰبَڪُم  مِّن  مُّصِيبَةٍ۬  فَبِمَا  كَسَبَتۡ  أَيۡدِيكُمۡ  وَيَعۡفُواْ  عَن  كَثِيرٍ۬

“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He (Allah) pardons much.” [Ash-Shura 42:30]

 

Ayah No.2

ظَهَرَ  ٱلۡفَسَادُ  فِى  ٱلۡبَرِّ  وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ  بِمَا  كَسَبَتۡ  أَيۡدِى  ٱلنَّاسِ

“Corruption and disorder have appeared on land and in the sea because of what the hands of people have earned…”  [ar-Room 30:41]

 

Ayah No.3

ٱلَّذِينَ  ءَامَنُو اْ وَلَمۡ  يَلۡبِسُوٓاْ  إِيمَـٰنَهُم  بِظُلۡمٍ  أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ  لَهُمُ  ٱلۡأَمۡنُ  وَهُم  مُّهۡتَدُونَ

“It is those who believe and confuse not their belief with Zulm (shirk), for them (only) there is security and they are the guided.” [Al-Anaam 6:82]

 

Ayah No.4

اِنَّ  اللّٰهَ لَا  يُغَيِّرُ  مَا بِقَوۡمٍ  حَتّٰى  يُغَيِّرُوۡ ا مَا  بِاَنۡفُسِهِمۡ‌ؕ

“Verily! Allah will not change the condition of a people as long as they do not change what is within themselves.” [Ar-Rad 13:11]

 

The fact being that due to our own wrong actions, our disengagement with the Creator, our gross transgressions, our crossing the limits, our greed and our lusts, we have reached this state of chaos and confusion. The solution, however, lies in the opposite direction. To reconnect with the Creator, to live by certain universal yet divine moral and ethical values, to build the characters of our children and our youth, so that they can be strong, upright, honest individuals and the leaders of the future.

The Winds of Change Tour is just one small step in that direction.

And sometimes, a small step is all it takes…

What is WOC2015?

The Winds of Change Tour (WOC) first began in 2012, where a few international speakers were invited to Pakistan to lecture across two to three different cities; namely Islamabad, Lahore and either Peshawar or Faisalabad. Shortly thereafter, a strong need was felt to make the dawah more “local” as (a) certain parts of the country still struggled to understand the English language and (b) not much ground was being covered within the country due to time limitations and security concerns for the international speakers.

A clever little idea was thus conceived to make this a “for the people, by the people” tour, where local speakers, daees and scholars would reach out to the people, not just in a few cities but all over Pakistan!

Behold, Winds of Change 2015!!

Legacy of the Prophets

The Qur’an testifies as to how each of the prophets were sent to their own nations, enjoining their people to worship Allah. These prophets of Allah were raised from a people whom they knew well. They knew their habits, their deeds (both good and bad) and their sensitivities. Thus they were best suited to invite them towards the truth that was from Allah.

لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوۡحًا اِلٰى قَوۡمِهٖ فَقَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ مَا لَـكُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰهٍ غَيۡرُهٗ ؕ

Indeed, We sent Nuh to his people and he said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. [Al-A’raaf 7:59]

وَاِلٰى عَادٍ اَخَاهُمۡ هُوۡدًا‌ ؕ قَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ مَا لَـكُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰهٍ غَيۡرُهٗ

And to ‘Ad (people, We sent) their brother Hud. He said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. [Al-A’raaf 7:65]

وَاِلٰى ثَمُوۡدَ اَخَاهُمۡ صٰلِحًا‌ ۘ قَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوۡا اللّٰهَ مَا لَـكُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰهٍ غَيۡرُهٗ‌

And to Thamud (people, We sent) their brother Saleh. He said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. [Al-A’raaf 7:73]

وَاِلٰى مَدۡيَنَ اَخَاهُمۡ شُعَيۡبًا‌ ؕ قَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ مَا لَـكُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰهٍ غَيۡرُهٗ‌

And to (the people of) Madyan, (We sent) their brother Shuaib. He said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. [Al-A’raaf 7:85]

وَلَـقَدۡ بَعَثۡنَا فِىۡ كُلِّ اُمَّةٍ رَّسُوۡلًا اَنِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ وَاجۡتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوۡتَ‌ۚ

And verily, We have sent among every nation a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (keep away from) Taghoot (all false deities). [An-Nahl 16:36]

Who are the speakers?

The speakers involved in the epic tour include senior, local scholars from each city, as well as a variety of young, knowledgeable and energetic daees who have “been there & done that”! Most of them share a similar background, in that they gave up their previous lives of rebellion, sin and recklessness to learn the deen of Allah and to propagate it to the people. They are from the educated, well-to-do class of society, some having graduated from top universities/colleges within the country or abroad. Together they plan to share their stories in-sha’Allah, as well as their experiences, in an attempt to inspire the youth and to motivate them towards being better individuals and productive members of society.

Where is WOC2015 going?

The Winds of Change Tour 2015, is going where ever YOU are! We intend to visit all major cities of each province including: Peshawar, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Jehlum, Mirpur, Multan, Quetta, Hyderabad, Karachi and more!

What will be happening during WOC2015?

The tour will consist of lectures, talks, workshops, street dawah, counseling sessions, advice, naseeha and team building exercises within each city in–sha’Allah. Our intent is to provide people with the chance to sit with scholars, as well as meet the Youth Club team who can offer their help and services where ever and however required.

The team will visit schools, colleges, universities, masajid, madaaris, as well as other public or private venues (both big or small) where speeches, discussions or workshops can be arranged.

How can YOU be a part of this tour?

If you would like to join the cause and be part of this awesome tour, you can start by assisting us in making arrangements in your own city! Book a private venue or a public one, all you have to do is fill out the following form and join the gang in-sha’Allah!

BOOKING FORM: http://www.tinyurl.com/woc2015

The long road ahead

Allah (SWT) states in the Noble Qur’an:

وَلۡتَكُن مِّنكُمۡ أُمَّةٌ۬ يَدۡعُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡخَيۡرِ وَيَأۡمُرُونَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَيَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِ‌ۚ وَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ

“Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to what is good and forbidding what is evil. And it is they who are successful.” [Aal-e-Imraan 3:104]

And He (SWT) also says:

كُنۡتُمۡ خَيۡرَ اُمَّةٍ اُخۡرِجَتۡ لِلنَّاسِ تَاۡمُرُوۡنَ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ وَتَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ الۡمُنۡكَرِ وَتُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِاللّٰهِ‌ؕ

“You (the true believers) are the best of nations ever raised up for mankind; You enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and you believe in Allah. [Aal-e-Imran 3:110]

We realize that the task ahead of us is huge. We realize that our resources are limited and our numbers are small. And despite the challenges, we know we have to do what we have been commanded. As Allama Iqbal put it so eloquently:

My dear brothers & sisters, it is time we put our full faith in Allah (SWT), and do whatever is in our capacity to work towards his deen and to change the deteriorating condition of our nation. If we won’t do it, no one else will do it for us.

I want to conclude by reminding you the promise of Allah. That Allah helps those who help His cause. Having that knowledge, you have nothing to fear, for you have the help of Allah the Almighty, by your side.

وَلَيَنۡصُرَنَّ اللّٰهُ مَنۡ يَّنۡصُرُهٗ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَقَوِىٌّ عَزِيۡزٌ

“Verily, Allah will help those who help His (cause). Truly, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.” [Al Hajj 22:40]

#WOC2015 here we come (in-sha’Allah)!