Course of Action for Dawat o Tabligh and Islah
With my
very limited knowledge and understanding, I have proposed a scheme of work and
action for the improvement of Muslims and their progress in Islam. Actually
what I have to say is nothing else than a brief outline of the practical way of
life which had been followed by our forefathers and early Muslims.
1. The first and the foremost thing
to do is to change the aim of our life from material intention and collection
of wealth to the work to establish the supremacy of Allah (SWT) on earth and
Islam and this needs to become a defined objective for ourselves.
2. A sincere effort needs to be made
for the enforcement of the commands and orders of Allah (SWT); to sincerely
decide to obey all commands of Allah (SWT) i.e. to try to practice them in our
daily lives and to turn away from the disobedience of Allah (SWT) in all
circumstances. The fulfillment of this decision must be made the primary
objective of our lives. We can plan and act on this foundation by adopting the
following practical method and procedure.
3. To memorize and correctly recite the Kalimah لا إله إلاَّ الله محمد رسول الله And to understand its exact meaning as well as what
it actually suggests. That is to believe, to say, and to act on the faith that
Allah (SWT) is the only Power, the onlv Authority and the Sole Controller of
all things, and it is He alone who is to be worshipped and obeyed, and it is He
alone who grants success or failure in life. Success will depend on our truly
adopting the way of life preached and taught by Sayyidina Rasul-ullah
(Sallallahu „alayhi wa sallam) and our accepting him as true and last Prophet
of Allah (SWT).
4. Having this as a foundation, we
then begin to change our own life on the requirements of the Kalimah.
5. To become punctual and regular in
offering our Salaah five times daily. The performance of this most obligatory
duty should be strictly in accordance with the procedure laid down by Sayyidina
Rasul-ullah (Sallallahu „alayhi wa sallam), to be performed in utmost humility
and devotion.
6. The greatness and superiority of Allah (SWT)
must be held supreme in mind throughout the prayers, whilst maintaining the
feelings of our humbleness and helplessness.
7. In other words, Salaah should be
performed as if one was actually being presented to Allah (SWT) in a manner
befitting the Height of His Greatness and Glory. If the procedure of Salaah is
not known, it should be learnt properly with each of its details committed to
memory.
8. To develop attachment of body and
soul to the Quran in the following manner:
9. a) To recite daily a portion of
the Quran, however small with highest respect and reverence for the Holy
Scripture along with understanding of it’s meaning, if possible. If one is
unable to understand the meaning, he may still recite the text with the purpose
and hope that his salvation and progress depends upon it. Simple recitation of
the original words and lines is also a great blessing. If a person is unable to
read, he should spend a litle time daily to learn to recite it (properly).
10.
b) To
ensure that one's own children as well as those of the neighbours and friends
are taught the Quran and other essential religious books as a first step in
their learning.
11.
Some time
should be devoted each day to Dhikr Rememberance for Allah which means
concentrating on the Omnipotence, the Greatness, and the Attributes of Allah
(SWT), and to offer Durood [Prayers & Salutations] for Sayyidina
Rasul-ullah (Sallallahu „alayhi wa sallam). In this connection, guidance should
be sought from a Sheikh-e-Tariqat (a learned and saintly person) who should be
carefully selected for his distinction in piety and his capacity to follow
Shariah and Sunnah. He may prescribe certain Wazaif (litanies) to be recited
during the times of Dhikr. In case no such person can be contacted, it is
suggested that the following Wazaif (litanies) may be repeated a hundred times
both in the morning and in the evening: a) Third Kalimah: سُبْحَان اللهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلِّ وَ لآ اِلهَ اِلّا اللهُّ، وَ اللهُّ اَكْبَرُ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّة الَّا بِالِّلِ الْعَلِىّ الْعَظِيْم b) Durood [Prayers &
Salutations] for Sayyidina Rasul-ullah (Sallallahu „alayhi wa sallam) c)
Istighfaar (seeking forgiveness of Allah)
12.
Every Muslim must be considered as one's real
brother and must always be given affection, sympathy and sincere attention at
all times, particularly when he is in need. The fact that a person professes
the faith of Islam automatically entitles him to brotherly respect and
reverence from all Muslims, who must at all times refrain from causing him any
physical or mental harm.
13.
The above
practices should be strictly enforced in one's own life and, at the same time,
efforts should be made so that other people may follow them as well.
14.
The only
and the best way to achieve this is to devote some time specifically for
learning and inculcating in oneself these fine Islamic qualities, and also
persuading others to make similar efforts.
15.
Thus a
joint and collective campaign will automatically ensure for the growth and
expansion of Islam in its true form, which is the real and urgent need of the
day. It was exactly this type of work, which every Prophet of Allah (SWT) had
to do as his sole occupation.
16.
For the
sake of this work, almost all Prophets had to bear untold miseries and perils.
The worthy Companions of Sayyidina Rasul-ullah (Sallallahu „alayhi wa sallam),
as well as many other distinguished Muslims of the early period of Islam, spent
the whole of their lives in striving hard and struggling for the religion of
Islam in this very manner. Most of them sacrificed their lives in the sacred
path of Allah (SWT).
17.
It will
be our misfortune and enormous loss if we do not devote a part of our lifetime,
however small a period it may be, towards propagating and perpetuating Islam.
18.
We must
confess that it is due to our negligence in this vital task that the Muslim
society has reached its present state of low morale and virtual collapse and,
therefore, we must rise and make manifold efforts.
19.
Previously,
the very purpose of being a Muslim was to be ready to sacrifice one's life,
honour and wealth for upholding Islam and the Kalimah. In those days, whoever
didn’t aspire to sacrifice his life for the sake of Islam and the Kalimah was
considered to be ignorant and a useless person.
20.
But alas!
Today, although we feel proud to be called Muslims, we remain totally unmoved
by the fact that every particle of Islam is being destroyed one by one before
our very eyes, and not a finger is moved to check this terrible loss.
21.
If we
realised it only then we could have appreciated that the propagation of Islam
is our real mission in life, and therein is the key to our very existence as
Muslims and also our success, glory and ultimate salvation.
22.
The
opposite is also true that by neglecting this important task we suffer from
moral degeneration and social degradation. The only remedy is that all of us
must sincerely repent our lethargic and injurious past and take immediate steps
to revive the act of Tabligh as our major occupation. It is only then that we
can expect the mercy and compassion of Allah (SWT) to flow, to bring us triumph
and happiness both in this life and the hereafter.
23.
This does not mean that we should give up
everything else, i.e. our professions, trades or employment and take entirely
to this work. It actually means that as we devote our whole-hearted attention
and time to other material vocations, in a similar manner we should also attend
to this work.
24.
As and
when someone finds himself ready to pickup this sacred task, he should try to
contact his friends or such people in his neighbourhood who may already be
engaged in this work and spend a few hours a week in their company.
25.
The next
step will be to spend under the guidance of those people, full three days every
month outside in a locality or a village other than one's own. Later, but as
early as possible, to pass one full month, or better still, forty days annually
in some distant area in a similar manner.
26.
Lastly,
the real requirement in Tabligh is to spend continuously four months once in
the lifetime, in a given place or area. All these periods are to be spent
entirely in the pursuit of learning and propagation of the true faith of Islam
and adopting the actual way of life under the sacred code of Shariah.
27.
Thus our
efforts will become extensive and ultimately reach every person, rich and poor,
employer and employee, Land-Lord and Peasant, learned and ignorant, to join
hands in this work and become bound in the ties of true Islam as ordained by
Allah (SWT) and Sayyidina Rasul-ullah (Sallallahu „alayhi wa sallam).
