All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the Worlds, who exalted the mention of his elect Messenger Muhammad, who is the source of blessings in all the worlds. And perpetual peace and blessings be upon that Messenger, the one who called me to Him.
The other night I gazed into the night sky and saw the first crescent of Rabi ul Awwal, and was reminded of the auspicious occasion of the dawning of the light of Muhammad into the world. And yet at the same time, there was sadness in my heart. Sadness not because I had failed to note the occasion, or even recognise its significance. But because this grand occasion meant nothing to those people closest to me – my family. And therefore, I want to note a few points on Da’wah in the hope that there may be some benefit in them. Shortly after I became Muslim, another revert brother told me that the first few months of being Muslim are like “riding a wave of blessings”, and advised me to make the most of them. I wished I had made better use of those months, because everything seems so much harder now. One of the other characteristics of that period was that I was in some way oblivious to any recognition of faults in the brothers and sisters I met, and our communities collectively. Over recent months, I have become increasingly more aware of these faults on a collective level. I feel that as a community, and I include myself in this, we live in a comfort zone. We go about our lives completely blind to the people around us.
Each and everyday we live amongst people devoid of guidance, devoid of any connection with the divine. And yet we walk past each and everyone of them without telling them that God sent a Prophet for their benefit, as a mercy to them and the whole of mankind. Each and everyday, we walk past people who’s lives are empty, who’s hearts yearn for the blessings of Allah (swt) yet instead they fill their void with alcohol, drugs and mindless hedonism. Because we’re too lazy to share our truths, to share to religious metaphysics of love, justice and charity. And to compound matters, we’re projecting a hostile image of ourselves. We don’t practice our Islam, we -just hide behind it. They know of the media headlines, foreign policy and the niqaab debate. Yet because we never contextualise these matters, they take Islam to be an problem in the world, a source of violence and injustice. You have to ask, where did we go wrong?
Which leads me to what I want to talk about. About five hours after I embraced Islam, I read a hadith in the Forty Hadith of Imam al-Nawawi. It was one of the first hadith I read, and it filled every part of my body and soul with the most amazing feeling. I knew for sure then that I had made the right decision. I felt at that point, deep inside my heart, that for the first time in many years, I was home. So tonight I want to share with you a few simple points about this hadith, about how we can take inspiration from it and implement it from now on. On the authority of Abu Saeed Al-Khurdari, who said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “Whosoever of you sees some wrongdoing, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart; and that is the weakest of faith.”
Related in the Sahih of Imam Muslim.
So here, from the beautiful words of the best of creation, what can we ascertain? Firstly, the Prophet (saw) has excluded the possibility of doing nothing when we see some harm. Secondly, the Prophet (saw) has not expounded on whom this applies to. He is, in effect, instructing all of mankind to protect all of mankind, he is affirming the humanitarian value of collective moral value and action which forms so much of our fitra. So what does the Messenger of Allah say we should do in the first instance? How should we, as Allah says in the Qu’ran “command the good and forbid the evil” if we can? We should repel injustice and harm with our hands. In terms of our day to day lives, what physical action can we take to embetter society and repel wrongdoing? How about a simple action? Get up out of your seat on the bus to let an elderly person sit down, or a pregnant mother, or someone with young children? Allah has entrusted mankind with the stewardship of the world, yet we allow so much harm to come to it. Why do our youth not organise to use some of their free time for the benefit of everyone and clean up our streets, provide a better environment for us all? In several parts of this city organised groups patrol the streets at various times of the day and night, ensuring a safer community for all.
Such physical presence deters drug dealing and other unsavoury activities, and is a good example of a basic idea with great benefits (in this world and the next, insha’Allah). Fundraising, community led initiatives and youth work provide further opportunities for physical actions to prevent harm spreading in society. Hospitals, youth organisations and other groups cry out for volunteers. Which brings me on to the tongue, it’s potential to prevent injustice and harm in society, and how this fits in the context of Da’wah. How we speak to people is very important in making Da’wah, and I think if we were to reduce it to one simple point, then it would be to speak to a non Muslim with exactly the same love and respect you would a brother or sister. Whilst the dynamics of gender interaction in the work place poses some serious issues for most of us, I do think its important that we follow Allah’s words of “lowering our gaze” but then speaking to members of the opposite sex as normal, in a manner that embodies modesty but also conveys mutual respect and equality. In terms of day to day conversation in a school, college or workplace environment, following the Sunnah is so important. Speak with sincerity and truth, and people will respect you for your genuineness and good nature.
On a day to day basis we should avoid useless conversation as it leads to transgressions of the tongue, and follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw) as narrated in a fine hadith “When those around the Prophet would laugh excessively, he would remain quiet and simply smile”.
It is also important to separate ourselves from the idle talk of matters which were forbidden by Allah and his Messenger, in a way that is poignant but does not cause offence. A good practice is to take advantage of such moments to get a breath of fresh air, or a drink. On the matter of the hearts, there is no easy steps to take, but we should always be mindful that Allah knows what is in the hearts and it is on the content of the heart and our deeds that we shall be judged. The Prophet (saw) said that “within the body lies a morsel of flesh. If it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt, and if it is sound, the whole body is sound. Verily, it is the heart.” May Allah make all of our hearts sound, may Allah fill all of our hearts with the love of His Messenger, and may Allah guide us all to use our hands, tongues and hearts for this benefit of this Ummah, so that many more people may enter this Deen.
Walhamdulillahir-Rabb-il-al-Amin.
خلديوسف
Birmingham, UK
Rabi ul Awwal 1428
