Why Don't You Speak?

Doing dawah is an obligation upon every Muslim whether he knows or not or whether he accepts it or not. If we see something happening in front of us that is wrong then we have to tell that person. If we just sit there while it happens we also get the sin for that aswell but if we tell them we will get rewarded whether they listen or not.

"When you see an evil act you have to stop it with your hand. If you can't, then at least speak out against it with your tongue. If you can't, then at least you have to hate it with all your heart. And this is the weakest of faith." (Muslim)

It is not for us to decide who will be guided and who won’t, Allah guides whom he wills. However, we still have to inform others. Who knows that one thing you tell them could be the reason for them opening their eyes. But we don’t speak up, we sit there and watch while corruption occurs before our eyes, while our family and friends are sinning around us. What are we scared of? Rejection? Isolation? Being called a fanatic? Why do we care so much about what people will think of us? Why are we ashamed of practicing our religion freely and encouraging others to do so? We shouldn’t fear people because that makes them a barrier on our journey to Allah. As you grow, you learn (hopefully), your love for the Deen purifies, and increases and you realise that if you only fear Allah all your problem in this life become minor. Most of the time those you tell didn’t know that what they were doing was wrong and want to know more. There is a way of telling people. No one wants to be lectured or shouted at all the time and most people who preach like this get no positive outcome and the audience goes away resenting the religion. Therefore, you have to think before you speak and inform. Think about who it is you are talking to. If they are already practicing they will welcome your advice but if they are not then you need to approach differently. Enjoin the good THEN forbid the evil. Don’t straight up tell that person that this and that is wrong and haram because you wont get their attention. Invite them to the peace of Islam to Allah and to Paradise. Once you have their attention, they are engaged then slowly, calmly, and using examples EXPLAIN why what they are doing is dislike by Allah. Don’t tell, ask questions, and use metaphors to suit their lifestyle and their situation. Make them understand the guidelines. Everything that Allah forbids is for our own benefit and there is wisdom behind it. Never let them loose hope in this Deen, never let them think there is not a way out and never let them walk away from you confused.

For most of us when we are young our parents only tell us to pray and read Quran and don’t swear or steal etc. but we are very rarely told us why we do this and that. We were never told in detail about the good, about paradise so it never felt real. Everything was haram and a sin and would take us to hell. When you are a child, you want to know why and even now if you don’t understand something you are less likely to follow it. No wonder we never listened to them and were not motivated to learn about Islam. If we were told properly about how loving Allah was and how amazing this Deen was maybe the youth would be more focused now. Maybe they would love this Deen as they should and realise the blessing they have. Most of the time our parents didn’t and still don’t really understand the concept of Islam and many have come from different countries so had different upbringings. But times are very changed now, growing up here with the distractions around, the way they were taught about religion won’t necessarily work for us and it isn’t. Culture played more of a role back then and children asked fewer questions and just accepted more. However if you look at how the Prophet (s) told people about Deen, it was beautiful and we can all learn from it. Here is one occasion:

Abu Umamah reported that a young man came to Messenger of Allah and said,"O Messenger of Allah, give me permission to commit zina (illegal intercourse)." The people shouted and the Prophet said, "Stop it!" The Messenger of Allah said, "Let him calm down. Come here." He came and sat in front of Allah’s Messenger who said to him, "Would you like it for your mother?" He said, "No." He said, "Likewise, people do not like it for their mothers. Would you like it for your daughter?" He replied, "No." He said, "Likewise, people do not like it for their daughters (And Rasulullah asked the same question but regarding sisters and aunts in which the person answered no for each questions). Then Allah's Messenger put his hand on his chest and said, "O Allah, forgive his sins, purify his heart and make him chaste."

Subhanallah how loving was the Prophet (s) in his speech and way of doing dawah. Today the imams firstly don’t offer this approachability and would kick this person out of the mosque and he would probably go and do the sin aswell as leave Islam. So the method of informing is crucial. Be calm, use explanations, don’t scare people away from Islam. If after all that the still don’t listen then that is not your concern. You have done your duty and so wont be accountable and that person cant blame you for not telling them. At least you have given them something to think about. Don’t give up on people too easily. Keep inviting them to the good, you never know one day they may change. Don’t keep telling them that that one thing is wrong, once you have told them three times that’s it but keep talking about Islam with them. It is only reward on your part and if they start doing a good deed because of your words then you will also be rewarded everytime they do the deed. Don’t be embarrassed of spreading the truth, it is not your own laws you are imposing it is the laws of the Lord of the worlds and we have to fear him above everyone. So if He has told us to convey then we have to do that.

When it comes to your family we cant give up on them we have to keep telling them. with friends however it may be a bit different. First i am not condoning male and female relationships so doing dawah to the opposite sex needs to be carefully considered. Make sure you’re not alone and keep it halal. Even better refer them to a brother if you are a sister and to a sister if you are a brother. Don’t let the devil make you think that it is OK because you are talking about Deen so you can meet alone or talk on the phone because it’s not! (May Allah forgive us)…So if you think your friends are going to take you away from Islam and you have told them to stop doing what they are doing then you need to keep away from these people. But if you have a friend who shows interest and you are confident by still associating with that person you can help them become better then inshallah stay with them and keep doing your dawah. However don’t stay with people who will be a negative influence on you, have those people around you who will remind you of Allah and encourage you.

Fear Allah alone and work to please Him alone, only then will you be totally free.

Your Sister in Islam x