The Two Cousins: Da’wah and Jihad
20-03-2008
Da’wah (inviting people to Islam), jihad (fighting for the sake of Allah),
commanding good and forbidding evil are all obligations in Islam which can never
be neglected by a Muslim, male or female. They are the attributes of Ahl
ul-Jannah (the People of Paradise) and the qualities of the Sahaabah
(Companions). In the Quran, Allah (SWT) condemns those who abandon these duties
and promises to punish them along with the doers of evil – the unbelievers.
What Allah (SWT) has made obligatory (waajib) will remain obligatory until the
Day of Judgement, and what Allah (SWT) has made forbidden (haraam) will remain
forbidden until the Day of Judgement. Divine rules (ahkaam shar’iyyah) do not
change; it is only the reality or one’s prioritisation of the duties which are
subject to change. Therefore, whether one is living in daar ul-harb (the land of
war) or daar ul-Islam (the domain of Islam) does not change the ahkaam (rulings)
of Allah.
Consequently, it is not appropriate for one who believes in Allah and the Last
Day to pick and choose which divine rules they should follow and which ones they
should forsake, as this is an attribute of the Jews. Allah (SWT) says:
“…Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what
is the recompense of those who do so among you, except disgrace in the life of
this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most
grievous torment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.” (Quran 2:85)
After reading such a verse, how can it be that we still find people in the Ummah
today who choose to only speak about salaat (prayer) and not jihaad; ‘Aqeedah
and not Sharee’ah; jihaad and not da’wah, commanding good and forbidding evil?
How can they expect to be saved from Allah’s punishment – Jahannam (Hellfire) –
when they have erred so much? How can they claim to be followers of Muhammad
(SAW) when they backbite, criticise and attack the very people who seek to
emulate the Prophet (SAW) in the way he forbade evil, exposed man-made law and
the evil ideologies of the Kuffaar?
Verily, the Messenger Muhammad (SAW) and his Companions (RA) were men of action.
When they were on the battlefield their da’wah and forbidding evil was done by
the sword, and when they were not on the battlefield their da’wah and forbidding
evil was done by the tongue. This is an undeniable fact; yet, how many Muslims
today are engaging in these noble duties? How many Muslims have the bravery and
courage of the Sahaabah, expose the evils of society (such as democracy and
freedom) openly and publicly in society, and invite the unbelievers to the one
and only way of life which is acceptable to Allah? How can we claim to be
followers of the Sunnah when we are not following the Sunnah of giving da’wah,
commanding good and forbidding evil?
Indeed, those that command the good and forbid the evil are
Ghurabaa` - The Strangers?
in the world. The Messenger Muhammad (SAW) informed us that they will be a
minority, and the majority of people will disobey, ridicule, attack, criticise
and condemn them, but Allah (SWT) will be pleased with them:
“…Toobaa [Paradise] is for the Ghurabaa’ [Strangers]; those who command the good
[and forbid the evil] when the people become corrupted.” (Musnad al-Imaam Ahmad)
“Toobaa [Paradise] is for the Ghurabaa’ [Strangers]: righteous people in the
midst of a multitude of evil people. Those who disobey them will be far more
than those who obey them.” (Musnad al-Imaam Ahmad)
So we find many individuals today who have the attributes of the Khawaarij (an
evil and deviant sect in Islam) who speak the same language as the Prophet
(SAW), have beautiful recitation and do many good deeds, yet they do not command
good and forbid evil openly and publicly, reject taaghout in all its shapes and
forms and do not have walaa’ with Muslims they differ with. What is even more
disturbing to notice is that there are numerous Muslims who are beginning to
abandon the Islamic Standard and become impressed with the apparent good deeds
of this evil sect. Sadly, they have chosen to rebuff the guidance of the Prophet
(SAW) and follow the misguidance of these ignorant individuals.
Al-Ghurabaa’, however, are not easily amused with the “impressive” arguments of
the Khawaarij, and have no time to argue people who neglect the Sunnah. When
they are on the battlefield they give da’wah, command good and forbid evil with
their swords, and when they are off the battlefield (with a valid Islamic
permit) they give da’wah, command good and forbid evil with their tongues.
Jihad and da’wah are cousins; they cannot be separated. If a person is not
physically participating in jihad they must continue to invite people to Islam
and expose the munkar (evils) of society – this is exactly what the believers in
the time of the Messenger Muhammad (SAW) did when they were unable to attend the
battlefield. The mujaahid and daa’ie (propagator of Islam) have no time to
justify sitting back and neglecting da’wah, such as by arguing about whether
there is a covenant or not. They will do what is obligatory and submit to the
divine rules of Allah.
Are you emulating the Prophet (SAW) and his Companions or are you following your
desires? Account your self before you are brought to account.
Submitted by a Mujahid