Criticism feesabilillaah

Asalamualaikum,

This post is solely intended to allow people/volunteers/organizers to post their constructive criticism as directly as possible, inshallaah anonymously if that makes them feel comfortable. For the UTM and YORK dawah events, please also post which campus event you are referring to in your post.  Because UTM and YORK’s event were different.

Jazakumullaahu Kheirun!!

Why give Dawah?

Many of us experienced times when we ponder whether or not to give dawah to people around us. Something holds us back. Thoughts cross our mind: What will I say? How do I approach him/her? Will they think I’m weird? What if I give bad dawah?

By the time we decide, we miss the oppurtunity! Not like they’d become Muslim anyway. Whats the point? I’ll just do dawah by being a Muslim. We prevent the thoughts from arising again. And we may or may not ever realize the consequences of our actions. On the Day of Judgment, will we be able to answer Allaah for not conveying the message to the people whom we live with? Work with? Study with? Commute with? Carry out transactions with?

Still not convinced? Let’s ponder upon a few verses insha Allaah.

“Behold, Luqman said to his son by way of instruction: “O my son! Join not in worship (others) with Allah: for false worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing.” (Luqman 31: 13)

The GREATEST thulm that a person can ever commit is the one toward the Creator of all that exists!

“Surely Allah does not forgive that anything should be associated with Him, and forgives what is besides that to whomsoever He pleases; and whoever associates anything with Allah, he devises indeed a great sin.” (Nisaa 4: 48)

This is the only action that He will not forgive.

“And as to those who believe and do good deeds, He will pay them fully their rewards; and Allah does not love the unjust.” (Al-Imran 3: 57 )

They are without the love of Allaah, and committing the greatest thulm, and that prevents them from success. Should we not try to convey the message to stop the greatest thulm? What happens if we neglect our duty?

“And (as for) these towns, We destroyed them when they acted unjustly, and We have appointed a time for their destruction.” (Al-Kahf 18: 59)

Allaah will seize and destroy the unjust and their town! Whose towns? Are we not living in their towns? Will we get punished too?

The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “If people see a wrong-doer and they do not take him by his hand (to stop him), then soon Allaah will inflict them all with a punishment from Him.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

How do we help the wrong doers (thaleemoon)?

The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Help your brother whether he be the oppressor or the oppressed.” The companions asked, how should we help the oppressor?. The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said,“prevent him from commiting thulm, and that is helping him “(Al-Bukhari)

Subhan Allaah, in this case, both the oppressed and the oppressor are the same, they are the ones who commit thulm upon themself by closing the path to success! So wait, are we responsible for the shirk disbelievers commit?

Then, if they turn away, thy duty (O Muhammad) is but plain conveyance (of the message). (Surah Nahl 16:82)

We are only responsible only for our actions, whether or not we conveyed the message. Based on all these commands from Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala), a person must convey the message as regularly as possible and in the best manner and with the best speech! Let us make more effort to do our duties and to follow the commands of Allaah. What is considered the best speech?

And who is better in speech than he who [says: My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness),” and then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah’s (Islamic Monotheism) and does righteous deeds, and says: “I am one of the Muslims.” (41, 33)

May Allaah (Subhaanahu wa ta’aala) forgive our shortcomings and accept our deeds in trying to fulfill our obligations! (Ameen!)

 

 

Five Steps for Effective Da’Wah

Written and Distrubuted at an MSA Dawah Workshop By Khadija Haffajee

I. Ways of Relating to People

A. Be attentive and show concern. When shaking hands. The Prophet (pbuh) never released his hand first, and never turned his face away from others until they did

1. Be consistently considerate
2. Share in others’ interests.
3. Inquire about the absent
4. Exchange gifts
5. Visit the sick
6. Listen to and look at the speaker

B. Address people by the names they like One day the prophet asked a man about his name, and he replied that it was Abdulhajjar (slave of stone). The prophet said “No, you’re Abdullah” (the slave of Allah)

II. Requirements for Effective Da’wah

A. Don’t blame the people for their mistakes or be critical.

1. Many people are hypersenstive to criticism.
2. Some people become defensive when blamed. When Musa went to Pharoah, Allah said, “but speak to him mildly…….. perchance he may take warning or fear (Allah)”.

B. Don’t embarrass by correcting someone in front of others.

The Prophet (pbuh) used to use plurality when correcting a particular person in front of a group. For example, he would ask the group, “what do you think about those who do such-and-such a bad thing?”.

C. Satisfy the people’s halal needs.

1. Help those in need
2. Don’t wait to assist the needy until they ask you
3. The prophet (pbuh) always helped the needy
4. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Whosoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from him one of the griefs of the Day of Judgement. whoever alleviates [the lot of] a needy person, Allah will alleviate [his lot] in this world and the next.

D. Always be fair, just, and honest

E. Give others sincere respect and heighten their self-esteem.

1. Remember, if the respect you show others is not genuine you will be showing hypocrisy, rather than respect.
2. One day a mushrik came to the prophet (pbuh) who was sitting with Abu Bakr on his right. The Prophet had Abu Bakr move to left,and had the mushrik sit on his right,a position of honor.
3. Two brothers came to speak to the Prophet (pbuh) when the younger of them spoke first, the Prophet interrupted him and asked the older to start.

F. Don’t be angry or retaliate for injury to yourself, but be angry or retaliate only for wrongdoing in the view of Allah.

III. Techniques for Growing Closer to Others

A. Attempt to understand deeply those you deal with

1. Find out their background (cultural, educational, social, etc) because that helps in finding access to their minds and hearts.
2. Attempt to know everyone equally well. Favoritism creates mistrust and hurt feelings.

B. Be simple, moderate, and respectful

C. Do not insulate yourself from the bad people. They need you more than the others.

D. Be tactful

1. Avoid personal questions and embarassing comments
2. Address the person according to his level of understanding

E. Be cheerful and enthuisiastic

Al-Harith, a companion said, I have never seen anyone who smiled most of the time as the Prophet (pbuh) did.

F. Present a pleasant appearance

1. Be clean and neat
2. Observe decency in dress
3. Wear clothing that is harmonious to the total outfit
4. The prophet (pbuh) saw someone with uncombed hair and asked, “Didn’t you find something with which to comb it?”
5. Never eat raw onion or garlic when going to the masjid or to meet with people.

IV. Obstacles to Da’wah

A. Don’t be afraid of temptation.

Some peole fear contact with non-Muslims for fear of succumbing to their bad influence. the remedy for this is to strengthen one’s faith.

B. Don’t be shy.

1. Some people lack the courage to mix with others and socialize.
2. The remedy for this is practice.

C. Fear of one’s inability to express oneself and lack of confidence in one’s capabilities for logical analysis and persuation. The remedy for this is practice.

V. The field for Da’wah: .

school, neighborhood, workplace and family.

Taken from islamway.