We too, like others, avoid ling and worthless discussion. We feel that Muslims have undergone a long period of disputations and they are now tired of discussions. Now, something must be done practically. Mutual understanding is necessary to deal with any matter, without which propagating Islam is impossible. This exactly is the reason why every prophet or thinker has always commenced his work of Da’wah with writing or speech, so much so that people accepted it, determined to follow it and used all their energies and talents in its propagation.

Secondly, the eradication of that human-devouring culture is necessary which has been imported from the opposite camp and which has injected so many minds. Very often, we adopt a defensive attitude towards our religious beliefs, country and cultural heritage although this is a matter in which silence proves fatally dangerous. Some prominent features of this anti-Islamic civilization are already before us.

- Renaissance and specially religious awakening are facing a general disappointment.

- Negligence and faithlessness have become commonplace.

- The whole community is sunk in luxury and complacency. It has become very much fond of alien culture.

- In worldly affairs, group-formation and factionalism have gained firm ground, which has become very much fond of alien culture.

- In worldly affairs, group-formation and factionalism have gained firm ground, which has all the more intensified our weakness and misery.

Thirdly, the propagators of Islam have turned blind followers. Now it is beyond their might to devise and adopt new methods of propagation. They propagate in such a way as if it is a part of the duties imposed upon Muslims and through which they only expect the success of the Hereafter  instead of the success of the world. Because of it they consider each difficulty easy and each sacrifice to be loved. Every distant journey becomes tolerable for them as they consider it the way of achieving their particular goal, but they show no eagerness for the dominance and establishment of their religion in the world.

Therefore if corruption and deviations are to be remedied, the mysteries of religion unravelled, commandments of religion revived, and ideological consciousness awakened among Muslims, their duty of religious propagation has to be performed fearlessly and openly.

The Reasons of the Failure of Da’wah

It has to be mentioned sorrowfully that for long propagators of Islam have not been able to perform an effective role in changing wrong customs, reviving past grandeur of Islam and introducing people of its benefits and blessings. In our opinion its reason are as follows.

1- Deprivation of power: Propagators of Islam have confined themselves to speech and writing only. Causally they pay any attention to training. Its reason may be either deficiency of means and resources or the scarcity of public support, or they are victimized by the tricks of the enemies of Islam. Sometime ago the preacher used to be the leader of the nation or the judge himself and the government used to give him economic support. But today, the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that perhaps that person will consider himself most fortunate who escapes the trails of government.

2- Depreciation of Knowledge: When the materialism became dominant fully and people became engrossed in their worldly affairs, becoming quite oblivious of their religion, they entirely forgot their Ulema (scholars) and those poor creatures became a victim of helplessness. Consequently most of them became a burden, both for themselves and for others; they also became the target of insult and disgrace, so much so that they began to be mentioned in stories and thus lost all their authority in public. Now the means and ways of the government compel them to spend a life of poverty, so that they may escape their criticism. It so happened before that people themselves used to defend them, but now they also do not sympathize with them.

3- Mistakes of the Propagators of Islam: The majority of propagators in later centuries insisted upon adopting same obsolete ways and manners, which kept them more aloof from religion. They had no sublimity of ideas and presented religion in such a way that the new and rebellious generation could not stand it. On the contrary its hatred of religion kept on increasing. Today, recreation and amusement have become common in society, and many means of lulling youths to sweet slumber are prevalent. Luxurious commodities can easily be found everywhere without any effort. Along with this we also admit that some of our Ulema (scholars) by the grace of God have deeply influenced the society and brought remarkable reforms. But they have been very few in number. Their Example was like the flash of lightening, which disappears after a momentary appearance. Truly the Prophet of Allah has said:

"Always there shall be present in our Ummah such a group as will remain firm on true religion. The opposition of enemies will not succeed in harming it, until Allah’s decision takes place."

This in no way means that we should deny the constructive deeds of other virtuous persons or ignore the services of those monotheists and practical scholars which they performed in different fields. God rewards those who do good deeds. But our intention is simply to encourage the emergence of such a generation for the cause of Islam, which my fulfil its duty of propagation of Islamic Da’wah on the basis of recognized scholarly truths. Its intention may be the attainment of the pleasure of God so that Islam is practically glorified and no evil remains on earth and obedience is for God only.

Conditions of Success

The Religion of God is present before us in its final form today. It is the form which was brought to this world by Prophet Muhammad (Blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). It cannot prevail over the earth just because it is a religion sent by God or that we have conveyed it properly to other people or that God may establish it by force as other natural laws of the universe are enforced. None of the above mentioned points can establish Deen. But its establishment can be possible only when some group of human beings undertake the responsibility of its establishment.

A group which has staunch belief in Allah, strives to establish it in the minds and lives of others, they confirms fully the following saying of Allah:

"Let there arise out of you

A band of people

Inviting to all that is good,

Enjoining what is right,

And forbidding what is wrong

They are the ones

To attain felicity" (Al-e-Imran 104)

Again, it should make sacrifices for the attainment of this aim, struggles against human desires and weaknesses; the combats against all those forces which impede the way of Da’wah for their vested interests and desires. It should become as much involved in its endeavour to attain this aim as is possible for a human being and utilize all the sources and means available in this way. It should commence its Da’wah from the point which is practically useful for them and never ignore their requirements and necessities of life so that the work of Da’wah may proceed forward with natural speed.

In this way, the group at times might face success and victory and at other might fail. This depends upon the means adopted and the efforts put into by it together with the amount of representation of those instructions in moral character. Thus the success of Da’wah depends upon wisdom and intellect, struggle and sacrifice and the collective effort.

Key to success

According to the opinion of some scholars, portraying the present situations of society is not an extraordinary matter. But important is the fact to give them the best direction. The real achievement is to make their future brighter than their present. Again, the movement of which we are the propagators is founded on the healthy principles of construction, and development which persuades people for personal reform, builds their character by personal criticism and self assessment and incites them to struggle against evils. Thus the internal reform of human beings is the base of social reform and training, consequently, history also undergoes a new revolutionary change.

The liability of Muslim is not only to be aware of the ‘truth’ nor only that he watches the goings on from a distance as do sufis and stoics. Truth always demands satisfactory arguments along with open heartedness, broad mindedness, and connivance from other’s faults.

This is the only suitable method of presenting Da’wah which is harmonious to human nature.

The Prophet of God remained patient and steadfast for thirteen years in Mecca, continuously calling the religious people towards God, not caring when its effect would appear. The Prophet Noah dept conveying the message of obedience to God for nine hundred and fifty years. In the same manner after the continuous and regular efforts of the Prophet Abraham, only Prophet Lut accepted his Da’wah. And many apostles passed away from the world-calling people towards the right path with no remarkable result. Yet this does not in any way diminish their rank and dignity, because they performed their duties according to their capacity. So we request all those working for Da’wah to purify their intention first and them continue with their activities with regular patience, aiming at the purification of human soul as their foremost target.

Method of Da’wah

The disputative attitude of Da’wah, whether full of impressive evidences, prevents people from accepting the “Truth”. So the opponents should be spoken too politely, for, it is of no importance that you defeat them in disputation. The real importance lies in the fact that you have won his heart by your good attitude.

You have a predetermined goal where you must reach. For this a way should be adopted that surely and soon may lead to the goal.

Every society has its own standard, the adoption of which is essential for the vast benefit of Da’wah, but along with this, the fear of God should have the first preference.

To give an immediate answer to a question or criticize someone severely is not useful for the education and training of the ignorants. But it is rather more essential that they should be informed about basic facts and qualities of Divinity and Prophethood. In this connection absolute abstinence from the following things which destroy human ability is essential: Trivialities should not be let into discussion and useless discussions in any form should be avoided.

Unreliable traditions should not be depended upon.

Nothing should be insisted unreasonably nor such deviations from the real topic be made by which the public may feel disgusted.

It is the way of God that life is given to those possessing sight, not to those who are blind.

Those who have been given wealth and properly can play an effective role in reform, yet they seldom take interest in such things. Because of this the struggle is one of the compulsory duties of a propagator of Deen. One should not reproach them who do not come to you, but you are yourself to be blamed for failing to contact them.

There are many kinds of intoxicants; the worst among them is the self-worship and vanity.

No diminution occurred to the rank and dignity of Umar ibn Al-Khattab from patched clothes he wore, but the grand and colourful apparel made of such fine material as “Hareer” and “Deeba” could not save Rustum from ignominy.

It will be a great blunder of the propagator if he thinks that by delivering a speech or announcing his opinion he could manage to change the thought and opinion of the people.

There are various steps of acceptability of Da’wah, among which the most important are the following:

That mankind should be loved, time should be devoted and self interest should be avoided. Divine guidance is attained from here.

Important is not the fact that one is much advanced academically, but that how zealous one is for reform. And sometimes it so happens that the people do not agree with you though they know that you are right. In the Holy Qur'an Allah (SWT) says:

"Then it occurred to the men,

After they had seen the Signs

(That it was best)

To imprison him

For a time" [Yusuf-35]

Always consider your addressee intelligent and learned. Do not say any such thing which may get you in trouble, nor perplex others with long dialogues.

Do not make the faults and defects of others the content of your speech except when it is unavoidable, in order to make the addressee under stand the matter without it. And in your speeches, explain events and stories in the same quantity, as there is spice in food.

The people have the notion that you yourself are Da’awh. It must not so happen that in any case this good opinion of people may receive a setback. So, abstain absolutely from contradiction of word and deed.

The instigator is like an engineer and architect. He is not an actor who must try to please people on the stage just as an artist does not make it his aim to present things to people for mere satisfaction.

In a society where people are avoiding Da’wah, it has to be performed very skilfully just as the most difficult tasks have to be faced in making backward countries progressive.

Presenting only one aspect of Deen should be avoided lest its other aspects should remain concealed, for Deen is perfect code of life.

Keep the ‘movements’ of the past in sight, for without this no ‘movement’ can advance. Know that life is an amalgam of past, present and future.

Do not interfere with proved and confirmed facts.

Whatever important things you have to explain, you should present them in accordance with their importance.

It is not necessary to explain all you know. There is always an occasion of presenting any matter.

Tell the people only those things which may be practically possible. Much speculation does not mend matters – Words should be measured before being uttered, because vices are remembered, and virtues are forgotten.

The Da’wah can meet with success only when the manner of presentation may be correct along with the soundness of the subject.

If, advising anyone you say “do not quarrel” he will agree to your reasonable advice, but under the stress of emotion, he will ignore your words as well as you, simply for the reason that you have put him to shame in public, when such things are to be told in private.

The dignity of the people depends upon their collective rank and posts. Thus very scale is prevalent these days but it is not correct, because such a person may also reach a high post for which he is utterly incapable, he can also attain a high position in society who adopts a wrong means to it. The correct scales to measure is the softness of heart, serenity of wisdom and the fear of God, as God Himself says:

"The most honoured of you

In the sight of God

Is the who is the most

Righteous of you" (Hujurat: 13)