DW # 01/2000
June 30, 00 - ICNA
Convention, Baltimore
[A
Q/A Dawah Workshop]
QUESTIONNAIRE:
Q. 1.
What are the dimensions of Dawah Ilallah in American Perspective? Please
spell out.
First
Dimension: The Concept of Dawah Ilallah.
Problem # I: Concept of DI is itself not clear?
Q. 2.
What is Dawah Ilallah? Can you define it?
Q. 3.
What are the salient features of Dawah Ilallah? [Please extract from the
definition just we had]
Q. 4.
What conclusions you draw from this definition?
Q.
A. Is Dawah a means or an
end? Q. B. What is the culminating point of DI? Q. C. What are the stages of Dawah?
Second
Dimension: Problem # II: The Addressees
are not pinpointed [All cannot be drive by one stick]
Q. 5.
Who are the addressees?
Q. 6.
Can you categorize them on the basis of religion and ethnicity?
Q. 7.
What are the important features of Jew, Christians, Muslims, Hindus and
Buddhists that A Da’ee must know?
Q.
7a. What should we know about
the people of the land?
Q. 8.
How to address the Jews, the Christians, the Muslims the Hindus and the
Buddhists?
Third
Dimensions: Problem # III – Dearth of
correct, effective and to the point Dawah literature for Intelligentsia +
Masses.
Q. 9.
What is to present?
Q. 10.
What are the levels of presentation of DI?
Fourth
Dimension; Problem # IV.
Non-availability of effective Methodology of DI in American Perspective.
Q. 11.
How to present the Dawah? Or
what should be the Methodology of DI in American Perspective?
Q. 12.
How far are you interested in Dawah Ilallah? Can you express your
consent to work for it alone or with ICNA?
Fifth
Dimension: Problem # V. Dearth of effective Da’ees
Q. 13.
What is an effective Dawah? How can we make ourselves as effective
Da’ees?
Q. 14.
“ For Effective Dawah, We need effective Da’ees” – Who can be effective
Da’ees?
Q.
What are its requisites?
Q. 15.
Success of Dawah depends on the pursuance of correct Methodology of
Dawah. Do you agree with this
statement?
If you agree, then follow what we have shared so far. May Allah bless all of us with Tawfeeq to be
effective Da’ees.
Shamim
A Siddiqi
DW # 01/2000 June 30, 00 ICNA Convention, Baltimore
WORKSHOP:
First
Dimension: The Concept of Dawah
Ilallah: Problem # 1; The Concept of Dawah
itself is not clear
Q. 2.
What is Dawah Ilallah? Can you define it?
“It is to call the people of the land to the fold of their Creator
and Sustainer, on the pattern Rasulullah (S) did, through a determined, an
organized and a continuous effort as priority Number One of our life towards
accepting Islam as a way of life to the extent that they are inclined to
establish the Deen of Allah in the body politics of the country with the sole
objective to get the pleasure of Allah here and Hereafter”.
Q. 3.
What are the Salient Features of Dawah Ilallah?
i.
An organized
ii. A determined
iii. A
continuous effort
iv. Priority
No. One of life
v. Pattern
of Rasulullah (S)
vi.
Establishing the Deen of Allah in body politics
vii. For the
pleasure of Allah
viii. Obligatory on each Muslim, especially when the
Deen of Allah is nowhere in a dominant position on earth
Q. 4.
What conclusions you draw from this definition?
Q. Is Dawah a means or an
end?
Q. What is the culminating point of DI?
Q. What are
the stages of Dawah?
i. Dawah is a means not an end
ii. Dawah
is the first step and the culminating point will come when the Deen of
Allah is dominant everywhere
iii. Stages
of DI:
* Dawah to self;
* Dawah to family;
* Dawah to the people of the
land
Second
Dimension: Problem # II: The Addressees must be
pinpointed –All cannot be driven with same stick
Q. 5.
Who are the addressees?
Q. 6.
Can you categorize them on the basis of Religion and Ethnicity?
*
The people of America - The Judeo-Christian-Hindu-Buddhist community + secular or atheists
* Caucasian-American;
* African-American;
* Latino-American;
* Native-America;
* Immigrant Muslims–Arabs +Indo-Pak
Subcontinent;
* Chinese, Koreans and Japanese origin;
Q. 7.
What are the important features of Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus and
Buddhists that Da’ee must know?
Q. What should we know about the people of the land?
* We must know these people, their
cultural background, religious dogmas, political affinities, historical
developments, and economic potentials;
* Equally we must know the people of
the land, their socio-economic-political conditions and the issues they are
facing.
Q. 8.
How to address: the Jews, the Christians, the Muslims, the Hindus, and
the Buddhists?
[Reference: Page 2 of Workshop # 07 Dated April 18, 1999]
Third
Dimension: Problem #III: Dearth of correct,
effective and to the point Dawah literature: for Intelligentsia + Masses
Q. 9.
What is to Present?
*
The Correction of man [or Correction of individuals – Fard ki Islah]
based on the concept of:
*
Tawheed
* Risalah
* Amanah
* Akhirah = Aqeedah
and its cohesiveness
* Need of Guidance and the guide
* Family values
* Position of women
* CORRECTION OF AQEEDAH:
i. What is
the position of man on earth?
ii. Allah
created this universe for man
iii. Allah’s
commitment to send guidance as and when needed by man through His Messengers to
serve as MODEL
iv.
Accountability of man to Allah; How he used His AMANAH on this earth
v. To
correct relation between God & man
*
Thought provoking material available in American English/Spanish, both
for the Intelligentsia and the masses
Q. 10.
What are the levels of Presentation of DI?
i.
Personal
ii. Group
meetings
iii. Through
Masajid
iv.
Intelligentsia
v. Mass
contact Programs
Fourth
Dimension: Problem # IV –
Non-availability of an effective Methodology of DI in American Perspective.
Q. 11.
How to present the Dawah Ilallah? Or What should be the methodology of
DI?
1. No fixed
method; It differs from person to person and situation to situation. BUT Allah
and His Prophet (S) has laid down its main features as how to deliver the
message and with what precautions.
2.
With Hikmah and good exhortations
- Al-Nahal: 125
3.
To start with a common denomination – “ O my two fellow prisoners
[Joseph: 39]
* It requires that you should
know your contactee [the people] well;
* Al-Imran – 64:
4.
Better start from the burning issues of the day. You find him more
interested and then bring him gradually to DI;
* Khutabatul Jumaah: Discussion
of the prevailing events People love to discuss their current affairs; * Al
Rome; 1-3;
5.
Speaking gently, in soft spoken words – [Ta’ha: 41]
6.
Be respectful while presenting Dawah: Al- Rome –60:
7. No
animosity – no support to terrorist activities anywhere, rather condemn them;
Islam does not support ‘Innocent killing”
[Al-Furqa’n: 68 +
Al-Isra’: 33]
8.
Moderation in Presentation; Abdullah b Maswood ® Every Thursday, [Page
146]; not all a time;
9.
Clarity in delivering the message: Vision, Goal, Process and conviction
to attain it. This will create Confidence in the Da’ee;
10.
Message of hope. Care and concern for the addressees
11.
Regularity and follow up program is a must both at individual and
collective levels. This is key point of DI;
12.
Prayers for the contactee before and after the contact
13.
Service to humanity – the best means of Dawah; Develop an “Oasis” of
love and care for each other around you, In your neighborhood and vicinity;
people recognize you as a good guy, only then they will open their hearts for
Islam.
14.
Make Dawah Program for designated areas and around Masjid;
15.
Develop your personal skills:
* Speaking power
* Listening attentively
* Be audible and imaginative
in approach
* Be time-conscious; Must
carry Dawah Literature with you and make sure to have studied it before hand
* Make short note about the contactees
and the conversation. It will help you in future
16. A determination to carry out the mission,
even no body does it; It is the key point to success;
Recommendation: Read Chapter VII of
Methodology of Dawah [now available in this website]; Pages 116 to 161 for
detail study.
Q. 12.
How far you are interested in Dawah Ilallah? Can you express your
consent to work for it alone or with ICNA?
FIFTH
DIMENTION - Problem # V: Dearth
of Effective Da’ees.
Q. 13.
What is an effective Dawah? How can we make ourselves as effective
Da’ees?
Q. 14.
For effective Dawah we need effective Da’ees. Q. Who can be the
effective Da’ee?
Its requisites are:
i.
Clarity of vision and love for the Goal and conviction about success
ii.
Having working knowledge of Islam
iii.
Knows this country and the people well
iv.
Is prepared to sacrifice time, talents and resources for his Dawah
efforts
v.
Expecting no reward from any one in this world
vi.
Actively involved in Dawah activities
vii.
Is a part of the Islamic Movement
viii.
No compromising attitude with the vested interests
ix.
Involve in Dawah activities with Sabr, Shukr, and Azimah
x.
Always repents to Allah, begs His Nusrah and shows no arrogance under
any circumstances
A
Da’ee with these qualities of heart, mind and character will be an effective
Da’ee, irrespective of the fact where he works and what are his circumstances.
Only such Da’ees will be effective in American Perspective.
May
Allah give us Tawfeeq to build a team pf such Da’ees for Dawah work in
America. If we pursue correct
Methodology of Dawah, we will, Insha Allah, get the desired results very soon.
Shamim
A Siddiqi