PRINCIPLES OF TABLEEGH (PREACHING) - Part 4

INDIVIDUAL OR PRIVATE TABLEEGH IS FARD-E-AYN (فرض عین)

If we are seeing someone commit a sin, or neglect some compulsory Ibadah (acts of worship), and it is probable that if we point it out to him he will abstain from that sin or perform that act of worship, then in such circumstances doing Individual or Private Tableegh is Fard-e-Ayn (obligatory upon us as individuals). In those circumstances we can not abrogate our responsibility rationalising that it is the duty of religious scholars to teach people religion, it is not my responsibility. According to the Hadith mentioned previously it is the duty of all Muslims under such circumstances. 

SURAH AL-E-IMRAN: 28

TRANSLATION:
The believers must not take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers. And whoever does that has no relation with Allah whatsoever, unless you (do so) as a protective measure (in order to) save yourself from them. Allah warns you of Himself, for unto Allah is the return.

INTERPRETATION:
The Arabic word 'Wali' has been translated as friend or supporter. Making someone a 'wali' (ولی) is also called 'Mawalat' (موالات). It refers to such a close friendship and relationship in which two people's purpose in life, and gain and loss becomes one. Muslims have been forbidden in this verse to have such a close relationship with disbelievers, and it has been deemed a great sin. The same commandment has been given in Surah An-Nisa (4:139-144), Surah Al-Maeda (5:51-57, 81), Surah Al-Tawba (9:23), Surah Al-Mujadila (58:22), and Surah Al-Mumtahina (60:1). However, it must be remembered that Allah Ta'alah has commanded Muslims to deal with kindness, benevolence and compassion with those non-Muslims who are not at war with Muslims. It is not just something nice to do, it is actually a requirement by the Shariah. Quran Karim has clarified this in Surah Al-Mumtahina (60:8). It was a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet ﷺ that he dealt with kindness and Ihsan with non-warring non-Muslims throughout his entire life. Similarly, it is permissible to enter into political and economic contracts with non-warring non-Muslims, as long as these contracts are not against the long-term interests of Muslims, and do not entail violating laws of Shariah. Rasool Allah ﷺ himself, and after him the Holy Companions (Sahaba), entered into such contracts.

At the end of the verse where it says, "unless you (do so) as a protective measure (in order to) save yourself from them", it means that if a person has to adopt certain behaviours which overtly look like Mawalat, in order to protect himself from torture or cruelty of disbelievers, then he is allowed to do so. 

PRINCIPLES OF TABLEEGH (PREACHING) - Part 3

COMMUNAL OR PUBLIC TABLEEGH IS FARD-E-KIFAYAH

There are two types of Fard (acts of worship deemed compulsory or obligatory by Shariah), Fard-e-Ayn (فرض عین) and Fard-e-Kifayah (فرض کفایہ). Fard-e-Ayn means that that particular act of worship [Ibadah] has been made compulsory for every individual Muslim. If any individual doesn't do it he will be committing a sin, regardless of if everyone else is doing it or not. For example, the five daily Salah are Fard-e-Ayn. On the day of Judgment every individual Muslim will to account for all their Salah (Namaz) about whether they carried those out properly or not. In contrast, Fard-e-Kifayah are those Ibadah which are compulsory for a community but not every individual Muslim. If some people in the community carry out that Ibadah then it is deemed to have been carried out by everyone in the community.  Salah of Janazah (Salah prayer offered when a Muslim has passed away) is an example of Fard-e-Kifayah. If some people in the community carry it out then it suffices for the whole community. However, if no one in the community carries it out then everyone in that community would be deemed sinful.

Now coming back to the topic of Tableegh it needs to be understood that Communal or Public Tableegh is a Fard-e-Kifayah, it is not a Fard-e-Ayn. It means that every individual Muslim is not required to give sermons to large groups of people, or go to other people's homes to do Tableegh, as long as some people in the community are doing it.  However, if no one in the community is doing Communal Tableegh then the whole community would be deemed sinful. 

SURAH AL-E-IMRAN: 26-28

TRANSLATION

[3:26]

Say: .O Allah, O Lord of the Kingdom, You give kingdom to whom You will, and take kingdom away from whom You will; and You bestow honor on whom You will, and bring disgrace to whom You will. In your hand lies the betterment (of everyone). You are surely powerful over everything.

[3:27]

You make the night enter into the day, and make the day enter into the night; and You bring the living out from the dead, and bring the dead out from the living, and You give to whom You will beyond measure..

[3:28]

The believers must not take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers. And whoever does that has no relation with Allah whatsoever, unless you (do so) as a protective measure (in order to) save yourself from them. Allah warns you of Himself, for unto Allah is the return.

TAFSEER (INTERPRETATION)

[26]

At the time of Ghazva Khandaq (trench) Rasool Allah ﷺ had predicted that one day one day the empires of Rome and Iran would fall to Muslims. At that time the non-believers had ridiculed Muslims that they have to dig a trench for their defence, they do not have enough to eat, but they are predicting that they will conquer Rome and Iran. At that time these verses were revealed in which a soft reply was made to this ridicule by teaching Muslims this prayer.

[27]

In winters when the days are short part of the summer days turns into night, while in the summers when the days are long part of the summer night turns into day.

The living chicken comes out of the on-living egg, while the non-living egg comes out of a living bird.

[28]

The Arabic word 'Wali' has been translated as friend or supporter. Making someone a 'wali' is also called 'Mwalat'. It refers to such a close friendship and relationship in which two people's purpose in life and profit and loss becomes one.

PRINCIPLES OF TABLEEGH (PREACHING) - Part 2

The first point to understand is that there are two ways of doing Tableegh and conveying Allah's message to people. The first is individual or private Tableegh, and the second is communal or public Tableegh. Individual or private Tableegh means that if a person sees another person committing a sin, or sees him neglecting his obligatory (Fard) Ibadah (acts of worship), and points it out to him privately, then this is private or individual Tableegh. Communal or public Tableegh includes giving a sermon or a lecture in front of a large group of people, or going to many individuals with the intention of conveying the message of Allah to them without any immediate precipitant or reason, like our brothers from the Tableeghi Jama'at do. This is all communal or public Tableegh. There are different rules and etiquettes which apply to both of these types of Tableegh.

To be continued...

SURAH AL-E-IMRAN: 21-25

TRANSLATION:

[3:21]
Surely, those who reject the verses of Allah and slay the prophets unjustly, and slay those of the people who bid justice, give them the good news‘ of a painful punishment.
[3:22]
Those are the ones whose deeds have gone to waste in this world and in the Hereafter. For them there are no helpers.
[3:23]
Did you not observe those who have been given a share from the Book? They are invited to the Book of Allah, so that it may decide between them. Then, a group from them goes back, turning their faces away.
[3:24]
That is because they have said: .The Fire shall not touch us except for a few days.. Thus they are deceived in their faith by what they themselves used to invent.
[3:25]
Then, how (will it be) when We will gather them together on a day about which there is no doubt, and everybody will be paid in full for what he has earned, and they shall not be wronged?

PRINCIPLES OF TABLEEGH (PREACHING) - Part 1

In describing the characteristics of virtuous people in Quran Karim Allah Ta'alah says that they tell other people to do good deeds and stop them from committing sins. "Amr" (امر) means ordering someone to do something, "Ma'roof" (معروف) means a good deed. "Nahi" (نہی) means stopping and "Munkir" (منکر) means a bad deed. ٖMuslim jurists (فقہاء) have written that just like Salah and fasting are Fard (compulsory) for every Muslim, similarly it is compulsory for them that if they see someone committing a sin they should try to stop them from committing it and tell them not to commit that act as it is a sin, as much as they are able to.

While a lot of people know that نہی عن المنکر is Fard (compulsory) they generally do not have a clear understanding of those situations when it is compulsory, and in what situations it is not.  And because of that people go to two different extremes. There are some people who are so careless about it they see their family members and close friends committing signal the time, but it never occurs to them to try to stop them from committing those sins. They see them neglect their Fard prayers routinely but do not say anything. On the other extreme there are those people who have taken this command so literally that all their time is spent in criticising other people. That is why it is important for people to learn that there are situations in which Tableegh (preaching) is Fard (compulsory), but there are also some situations when it is not recommended.

To be continued...

"Principles of Tableegh (Preaching) by Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani DB

SURAH AL-E-IMRAN: 18-20

TRANSLATION:

Allah bears witness that there is no god but He __ and (so do) the angels and the men of knowledge __ being the One who maintains equity. There is no god but He, the Mighty, the Wise. Truly, the (recognized) religion in the sight of Allah is Islam . Those who have been given the Book did not differ (among themselves) until after the knowledge had come to them, (and all this) due to envy against each other. Whoever denies the verses of Allah, then, Allah is swift at reckoning. Then, if they argue with you, say: .I have submitted myself to Allah, and (so did) those who have followed me.. And say to those who have been given the Book, and to the unlettered: .Do you submit?. If they submit, they will be on the right path. Yet, if they turn back, then you have only to convey the message. Allah is watchful over (all of) His servants.

SURAH AL-E-IMRAN: 14-17

Translation:

It has been made attractive for people to love the desired things; that is, women, children, hoarded heaps of gold and silver, branded horses, cattle and tillage. That is an enjoyment of the worldly life; but with Allah lies the beauty of the final resort. Say: .Shall I tell you what is far better than that? For those who fear (Allah), there are gardens with their Lord, beneath which rivers flow, where they shall live forever, with purified wives, and approval from Allah. Allah is watchful over His servants. Those (are the ones) who say: .Our Lord, surely we have believed, so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the Fire,. (and those who are) the patient, the truthful and the devout, who spend (in Allah‘s way) and who seek forgiveness in pre-dawn hours..

SURAH AL-E IMRAN: 15 - Part 2

Continued from before...

According to a Hadith, when the people of Paradise would have settled down there, Allah Ta'alah will address them directly asking them if they are happy and if they need anything. They will say, "Our Lord! You have given us everything, what else could we ever need?" Allah Ta'alah would then say, "Now I give you the greatest of all blessings - you all have my Approval that I will never be displeased with you, and you will always be near to me."

Continued...