– Maaz Ahmed Javed, M. Tech., AMU
When Allah sent the first human to this world, He said, “Descend from here, all of you, and if guidance comes to you from Me, then whoever follows My guidance will have no fear, nor will they grieve.” (Al-Baqarah: 38). This means that when humans were sent to the world, Allah promised them guidance. To fulfil this great task, a series of resolute Prophets and Messengers were sent, bringing with them books and scriptures. Thus, the fundamental duty of the Prophets was to invite people to the truth. After the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), the responsibility of this task fell upon the Ummah (the Muslim community). Throughout history, sincere individuals in the Ummah have taken on this great responsibility, even sacrificing their lives for it. Therefore, the work of invitation (Da’wah) is not a trivial matter; it is the tradition of the Prophets and the righteous. Since the beginning of time, this work has continued, and most importantly, it is obligatory upon the Ummah. Allah says, “O Messenger! Convey everything that has been revealed to you from your Lord. If you do not, then you have not fulfilled the duty of His Prophethood.” (Al-Ma’idah: 67).
Calling towards the ‘One True Lord’ is one of the noblest services to the Humanity.
Understanding the significance of this work, the Ummah has always embraced it, and continues to do so today, albeit to varying degrees. Allah has emphasized the importance of those who invite others to Him by stating, “And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah, does righteous deeds, and says, ‘I am among the Muslims.'” (Fussilat: 33). How does this work elevate a person to such a high rank? A hadith explains it like this: “The example of me and the people is like a person who has kindled a fire. When it lights up the surroundings, moths and insects start falling into the fire, and the person begins to pull them out of it, but they keep falling in despite his efforts. Similarly, I grab you by the waist to pull you away from the fire, but you insist on falling into it.” (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Al-Riqaq). This means that a caller to Allah (Da’eei) is someone who feels deep concern and anxiety for humanity. He knows that those who are engrossed in the world today will become the fuel of fire tomorrow. This concern compels him to forsake the worldly distractions and devote himself to the task of calling others to the truth. Such is the greatness of this work.
If humanity truly understood the rank of a Da’eei, they would place him on a pedestal and adorn him with garlands of flowers. But history paints a different picture. It shows that the work of Da’wah is not a bed of roses, but rather a crown of thorns. It is a difficult path, one that is not easy for the faint-hearted. History shows that the Da’eei has always been greeted with stones by his people. He has been mocked, insulted, boycotted, beaten, forced to migrate, and even killed. This hostile approach towards Da’wah continues even today. In our country, this hostility is evident as well. Recently, several prominent Da’eeis were sentenced to life imprisonment by a court. Although this is not a new example, such incidents have increased in recent times. They have been accused of forcibly converting people to Islam, and of luring them with money. Given the current state of the judiciary in our country, there is little to do but mourn. The baselessness of these allegations is clear from the fact that Islam itself condemns forced conversions. Allah says in the Quran, “There is no compulsion in religion.” (Al-Baqarah: 256). This means that no one can be forced to accept Islam. This is a well-known and fundamental principle of Islam. It is impossible that the eminent scholars involved in this case were unaware of this or acted against it.
Instead of looking at them as saviors, Da’eeis have been condemned, denounced and persecuted throughout history.
The second allegation, that they lured people with money, also appears equally baseless. How can a community, known for its poor economic condition in India, expect its prominent Da’eei to use money for something that Islam considers a sin? It seems that those who drafted this case have no knowledge of Islam or the priorities of Muslims. However, lamenting over such things in this country is a waste of time, as it has become a normal occurrence here. Now, regarding the law under which these individuals were sentenced: this law defines forced conversion as one where deceit, coercion, fear, or intimidation are used. Even the fear of divine punishment or the promise of rewards cannot be used. This means that Muslims cannot invite others to Islam based on Heaven and Hell. In essence, this law deprives Muslims of their right to fully invite others to their faith. It’s important to note that this is neither new nor unique. In the past, falsehood has always used similar tactics. But today, the champions of falsehood are using the veil of “human freedom” to carry out their work. Those involved in the noble task of Da’wah should carefully assess the pros and cons before stepping into this thorny path. They should also remember that the opponents of Da’wah can stoop to the lowest of levels. The Quran states, “The disbelievers say, ‘Do not listen to this Quran and make noise during its recitation so that you may prevail.'” (Fussilat: 26). But it also says, “Good and evil are not equal. Repel evil with what is better.” (Fussilat: 34). May Allah grant all Da’eeis patience and steadfastness in this path. Ameen.
