The Da’iyah

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OBSTACLES FACED BY THE DA’IYAH

1. Expecting Instant results:  You should not expect immediate results. If you enjoin good upon somebody, or forbid somebody from doing evil, do not expect them to change overnight.  You should keep trying. Some take longer time to change, while others take a shorter time.
2. Not having enough knowledge: The more knowledge you have, the more effective the Da’wah will be.  
3. I am in need of Da’wah Myself: You should not wait till our knowledge becomes 100 % or till our Iman becomes 100%. Da’wah helps to increase your Iman. But you should keep in mind that, if you are continuously doing Da’wah to others and there are no changes in you at all, then you need to do Da’wah to your own self too.
4. I am too shy: Sometimes you are shy and are hesitant to give Da’wah. So participate in group Da’wah or with somebody who has experience.
5. Not knowing who you are talking to: You can make out the background of a person from his name, place, body language, work, etc. So some preliminary questions related to these things would work.
6. Having bad akhlaq (manners): You need to improve your manners when you deal with other people. This has a big impact while giving Da’wah. When you do not have good manners, the person whom you are doing Da’wah will not get affected.
7. Having the wrong intentions: You need to make sure that your intentions are purely for the sake of Allah.

Points to Ponder:  “Giving Da’wah is like hand washing a garment: at the end of the process, your hands are cleansed even though you only wanted to clean the garment.”

Your Intention

All callers to Allah should refresh and renew their intentions so that their efforts are for the sake of Allah, not for the sake of their reputation, nor personal benefit. The ayat below mentions about calling to Allah and not to anything or anyone else:

“Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to Allah, works righteousness, and says "I am of those who bow in Islam" (41:33)

"This is my way; I invite unto Allâh…” (12:108)

Our definition of Da’wah is, when you work to make people closer to Allah. If you stay focused on this as your ultimate goal, your Da’wah will not be for the sake of money, power or fame.

The Prophet (SAW) went to visit the boy when he was on his death bed. He was walking so fast towards the boy’s house that the companions were struggling to keep up with him, and when the boy had become Muslim, The Prophet (SAW) said:  “Alhamdulillah, who saved him from the hellfire through me.”

The dying young boy would not add anything to the strength of the Muslim society, nor would he increase the wealth of the Muslims, but the Prophet (SAW) rushed to him to save one soul from the Hell-fire.

How do you know if you are not sincere in your Da’wah?

1. When you love that your name is mentioned or to be recognized and hate to be ignored: It is natural that you will be happy after doing a good deed. But do not be proud of doing the good deed.
2. When you want to show your achievements to others (not from educational standpoint): Hide your good deeds in the same manner you would hide your bad deeds.
3. If you follow your desires in Da’wah (you do something because you get a personal) non-religious (benefit from it): The intention should be very sincere, purely for the sake of Allah.
4. If you don’t accept the truth.

Pearls of Wisdom:  Imam Ibn Rajab Al Hanbali was giving a class in the masjid and spoke about an issue in phenomenal detail, to the point where his students were awestruck. Later that night he went with his students to visit a judge who was ill. The gathering was full of judges and important people from the community. The same issue that the Imam spoke about in the morning was brought up in that gathering. Ibn Rajab didn’t say a word about the topic at all.Later on, his students asked him why he did not speak out about the issue, he replied, “ My first gathering was a gathering of knowledge with which I sought the face (pleasure) of Allah; and I feared that the second gathering (my speaking) would be (for) showing off in front of the judges!”

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