THE ART OF DA’WAH PART 2
Similarly, the prize from Allah is very high, and we have to keep in our minds that this is a beautiful job for the chosen few, where the Chooser is Allah himself. Allah challenges us to find something better to do and say compared to inviting towards Allah. Nowadays, if we try to make da’wah, people will ridicule us for losing our money and material status, but in reality, this is not lost because it is spent on Allah. Allah challenges anyone in mankind to do better than to invite towards Allah.
And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, “Indeed, I am of the Muslims.” (Fussilat 33)
Once we have this feeling, we should feel more ambitious and hungry to work for Allah. Once Allah sees these qualities within us, He will open the road. But why will Allah open the hearts or open others to us, or to put wisdom on our tongues? This will only be bestowed upon us if we do the things that Allah loves.
Meaning, the highest priority in my life, money, thoughts and time should be da’wah to Allah, the job of the Messengers and Prophets, the most chosen people by Allah.
Scholars say that da’wah is the mother of all good deeds, because it puts you in the environment to work directly for Allah. What can be more beautiful than this?
Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed. [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur’an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment. (At Tawbah 111)
Qualities of an inviter
We cannot be an inviter while carrying bad qualities such as stinginess, jealousy, arrogance and bad manners. It is the opposite – the more we increase our good behaviour, generosity and humility, the more Allah will open for us. A stingy or ill-mannered Messenger or Prophet is unheard of.
Hence, we should ask for the pleasure of Allah, sincerely for Allah, by His will, generosity and mercy, and we hope to die in the state of invitation to Allah and to live and die for the sake of Allah, and to live, die and be resurrected with “La IlahaIlla Allah.”
We can either spend our lives accumulating dunia or Paradise. Whoever loves his life, will hurt and lack the hereafter, and whoever loves the hereafter will lack and hurt this life.
We cannot invite towards Allah with pressure or compulsion. Remember that Allah is the guider and the one who gives hidayah and light. He is the Opener. It is a complete package, which we cannot tailor or pick and choose from. We have to pick it up, learn it and inculcate it. We have to set the role model and the good example, and only engage in what Allah loves, with kindness, patience and generosity.
Da’wah can also be silent because people observe actions more than words. If they like what they see, they will be attracted to hear your words. What kind of quality do you show them?
Pray for them, and ask Allah to open for you and for them.
This is the most essential element, for Allah to look at your heart and find out that you really deserve such honour and rewards, after all the above have been met.
This is not easy. If you are not serious, and your thoughts, your love and your priorities of your time, money and everything else are not primarily for da’wah, the above will not work.
