“Allah has created us in such a country in which people of different faiths live; the majority of countrymen is also justice-loving and are in search of truth. If something is presented sincerely, they have the nerve to accept it. Therefore, being an Ummah enjoined to do Dawah, it is our duty to reach the pristine teachings of Islam out to them, acquaint them with the concept of monotheism and the humane attitude of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) and explain to them the importance and benefits of the way of life presented by Islam and its concord with human wisdom and nature. If we perform this enjoined duty, our identification in this country will be that of a group that has not only the receiving hands but giving hands as well, whose members are the merchants of love and a source of mercy to humanity. The problems the Muslims in India are confronting with are the result of their indifference to this duty. There is still time for us to realise our responsibility and make concerted efforts to acquaint the people with the real teachings of their Creator and Master.”
Yes, this is our enjoined dutyThe above-mentioned statement is an extract from the Declaration All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat released during its 22nd session. This session was held in Mumbai from 20th to 22nd April. During the session the Mushawarat discussed many issues and took many decisions, the details of which appeared in Urdu newspapers. But this Declaration was of utmost importance because besides bringing the Ummah closer to Shari’ah requirements, and drawing their attention to protect the symbols of Islam as well as the Islamic Shari’ah and creating unity in their ranks, it also pinpointed an important need, and that need is of doing Dawah, which is not a need but a duty as has been said in the Declaration. “We are an Ummah enjoined to do Dawah and it is our duty to convey the teachings of Islam to the countrymen.” (Dawat Sehroza, May 1) This is perhaps the first time in the 40-year history of Personal Law Board that the issue of Islamic Dawah has been raised in such a powerful voice while emphasis on removing the misunderstandings of countrymen has been always laid.
Do this duty forthwith
What planning Personal Law Board has done in this regard is not known. If not, it should do this duty forthwith as this is the most important work to do today. Praise be to Allah, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has been busy doing this duty since the very first day of its inception. Although some individuals and institutions have been also doing this service for the last few years yet only the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is active in this field all over the country in an organised and planned manner. But it is obvious that it is not possible for one single organisation or institution to do justice with this task in such a large country; all organisations and institutions should strive to do this duty collectively, or at least extend every possible cooperation to the Jamaat that is active to perform this duty of Islamic Dawah in a planned and well-organised manner and help remove the obstacles in its way. And, if the Muslims in India start this work properly, its result will come God willing into light. Now when Muslim Personal Law Board has drawn the attention of Ummah formally, let its voice does not prove ineffective; it must find expression in a definite manner.
Yes, this is our enjoined dutyThe above-mentioned statement is an extract from the Declaration All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat released during its 22nd session. This session was held in Mumbai from 20th to 22nd April. During the session the Mushawarat discussed many issues and took many decisions, the details of which appeared in Urdu newspapers. But this Declaration was of utmost importance because besides bringing the Ummah closer to Shari’ah requirements, and drawing their attention to protect the symbols of Islam as well as the Islamic Shari’ah and creating unity in their ranks, it also pinpointed an important need, and that need is of doing Dawah, which is not a need but a duty as has been said in the Declaration. “We are an Ummah enjoined to do Dawah and it is our duty to convey the teachings of Islam to the countrymen.” (Dawat Sehroza, May 1) This is perhaps the first time in the 40-year history of Personal Law Board that the issue of Islamic Dawah has been raised in such a powerful voice while emphasis on removing the misunderstandings of countrymen has been always laid.
Do this duty forthwith
What planning Personal Law Board has done in this regard is not known. If not, it should do this duty forthwith as this is the most important work to do today. Praise be to Allah, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has been busy doing this duty since the very first day of its inception. Although some individuals and institutions have been also doing this service for the last few years yet only the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is active in this field all over the country in an organised and planned manner. But it is obvious that it is not possible for one single organisation or institution to do justice with this task in such a large country; all organisations and institutions should strive to do this duty collectively, or at least extend every possible cooperation to the Jamaat that is active to perform this duty of Islamic Dawah in a planned and well-organised manner and help remove the obstacles in its way. And, if the Muslims in India start this work properly, its result will come God willing into light. Now when Muslim Personal Law Board has drawn the attention of Ummah formally, let its voice does not prove ineffective; it must find expression in a definite manner.
28// 06/12 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf