How to Preach the Message

How to Preach the Message : 

How to Preach the Message Based on: The all-Embracing Message of Islam By Sh. El-Nayyal Abd-Alqadir Abu-Quroon

Reform : 

To call for knowing God Almighty is the base from which all Messengers start the reformation of virtuous societies that have high moral qualities. After believing in God Almighty, comes having faith in His Prophet: “O believers, be heed of God Almighty and have faith in his Messenger…” [57:28], who conveys the divine legislation from Him, and is thus obeyed: “And We have not sent forth a Messenger but (for him) to be obeyed in accordance with the will of God Almighty.” [4:64] Henceforth, the Messenger establishes the teachings that refine society in order to perfect high moral qualities. Reform

Good Manners : 

A poet said: Teach youngsters the knowledge that shows them The ways of life, but before that teach them manners Another one said: Nations with their good manners prevail If their good manners are lost, then perish they shall Good Manners

Human dignity is God-given : 

The manners that religions call for commence  with respect for people, for whose sake the Message of God Almighty has been delivered. The Creator thus honours them, so that the Prophet’s methodology may come  in harmony with this honouring. God Almighty said: “We have honoured the children of Adam” [17:70]. He then favoured them above many of his creations: “…and we have favoured them much more than many of our creation” [17:70]. Prophet Muhammad honoured the status of human beings  as he said: “Human beings are the dependants of God Almighty, and the most beloved to Him are those who benefit them most”  Al Mo’gam Al Kabeer. Human dignity is God-given

Equality of Human beingsEquality of Human beings : 

The Imam Ali said  that people are of two kinds: “Your brother in religion or your equal in creation.” God Almighty said : “O people! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honoured of you in the sight  of God Almighty is (the one who is) the most heedful of you. And God Almighty is All-Knowing and All-Aware” [49:13]. Prophet Muhammad (PBHH) also said : “There is no merit for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a white person over a black person except through piety”. Equality of Human beingsEquality of Human beings

Piety for Reform : 

The apex of good manners is piety, and  cannot be an attribute of hypocrites, criminals, immoral persons, or liars. It rather describes those who do not inflict harm on others and whose goodness surpasses them. Such persons are those who devote  all their efforts towards reform, with the Prophet (PBHH) as their guiding standard. The reform of the human being is indeed the aim of the Message: “If God Almighty guides one person through you, it is better for you than to have the best of wealth” Bukhari Piety for Reform

Greater than the Kaaba : 

Prophet Muhammad once looked at the Kaaba (in Makkah ) and said: “How wonderful you are and how wonderful is your scent, how grand you are and how grand is your sacredness. By the One in whose Hand Muhammad’s life is, the sacredness of a believer is even grander than yours” Sunan Ibn Majah Thus, Prophets were sent by God Almighty with the Message to reform human beings until they become spiritually greater than the sacredness of the Kaaba and the angels. Greater than the Kaaba

Greater than Angels : 

Some people might misinterpret the following verse of the Holy Quran and think that the angels are better than Jesus: “Neither Christ will disdain being a worshipper of God Almighty, nor shall the closest angels” [4:172]. What is implied in this verse is not the favouring of the angels over Jesus, the Soul of God Almighty and son of Mary. Rather, the verse stresses the fact that they are all worshippers of God Almighty. In spite of the fact that Jesus was born only to a mother (without a biological father), he will not abstain from worshipping God Almighty, nor shall the angels who have neither mother nor father. Greater than Angels

Free of Harshness & Cruelty : 

The purpose of sending all Messengers with the Message is the refinement of humankind. Accordingly, the  methodology of preaching the Message of Prophet Muhammad  was totally devoid of any trace of harshness or cruelty, for he was created free of them. He was the example of divine perfection, “…and a luminous source of light” [33:46]. God Almighty says: “Had you (O Muhammad) been harsh or hard-hearted, they would have left you…” [3:159]. If a certain situation required sternness, he was then ordered by God Almighty to be stern, because his manners were entirely devoid of it: “O Prophet! (Jahid) Strive hard against the opposers and the hypocrites, and be stern with them.” [9:73]  He was thus praised by his Creator for having high moral qualities. Free of Harshness & Cruelty

Jihad with Words : 

Striving (Jihad) here means to contend with firm words and sound argument, and does not mean using the sword. This has been clearly illustrated by the use of the command to strive (Jihad) against the opposers and the hypocrites together; a fact which excludes the call for war, since war cannot be waged against hypocrites who exist amongst the queues of the Muslims and cannot be singled out. The Prophet  Muhammad (PBHH) said: “There are twelve hypocrites amongst my companions; eight of them shall never enter Paradise until the camel passes through the eye of a needle.” Sahih Muslim Jihad with Words

Jihad with Words : 

So, striving (Jihad) against them can only mean the use of firm words of warning, because firmness is used as an adjective to describe words, not to describe war. Thus, the Prophet (PBHH) would become a herald to them and a foreteller of painful suffering: “…foretell them of painful suffering” [3:21], a warning which befits both the opposers and the hypocrites. The bearing of glad tidings is for those who have faith, even if their foot slips by a major sin. The Prophet Muhammad (PBHH) says: “Whoever commits a sin and realises that God Almighty is aware of his deed will be forgiven even if he does not ask for forgiveness” Bukhari, because the believers who sin are better than the hypocrites. Jihad with Words

Bearing of Glad Tidings : 

The Prophet Muhammad (PBHH) also said: “A worshipper committed a sin and said 'God Almighty I have sinned, please forgive me' so God Almighty will say 'My worshipper knows that he has a God who might forgive sins or punish for them. I have forgiven my worshipper.' Then after a while he sinned again and said 'I have sinned once more; please forgive me' so God Almighty will say 'My worshipper has learnt that he has a God who might forgive sins or punish for them. I have forgiven my worshipper.' Then after a while he commits another sin for the third time and says 'I have sinned, so forgive me.' God Almighty will say 'My worshipper has learnt that he has a God who might forgive sins or punish for them. I have forgiven my worshipper three times; he is to do what he desires'” Sahih Al-Bukhari. Bearing of Glad Tidings

The Most Effective Jihad : 

Striving (Jihad) with the word effect is more pronounced than striving with the sword because the word  is more effective  upon the addressees and its effect on them might be more  than that of the sword. A sword ends life, but words endure so long as life continues.   The sword and wars were not used to force people into Islam during Prophet Muhammad’s life (PBHH). The Most Effective Jihad

In Self-Defence : 

The battle of Badr was aimed at the trade caravan of the opposers from the tribe of Quraysh, in order to recompense the losses of the immigrants who were unjustly forced out of their homes. It was Quraysh who had insisted on going to war after their trade caravan was secured as they had wanted to flaunt their strength and to humiliate Muslims in their land. The battle of Uhud was in defence of the city of Al Medina against the opposers who had attacked it, and the battle of Al Ahzab had also been a defensive response to an attack by the enemies on Medina. So, the Prophet (PBHH) in all these battles was on the defensive. In Self-Defence

Ethics of War : 

As for the conquest of Makkah , it was not a war in the known  sense. Not a single person was killed or taken prisoner. The  Prophet (PBHH) said: “O God Almighty, I am not responsible for what Khalid Ibn Al Waleed has done” Bukhari, because Khaled had killed some of the opposers he encountered upon entering Makkah . No women were enslaved and there  was no looting, and neither did the Prophet Muhammad (PBHH) appoint a governor over Makkah to collect oblation.. Above all, he did not order them to proclaim that there is no God but God Almighty, and did not force anyone to proclaim that he (Muhammad) is the Messenger of God Almighty. Ethics of War

Ethics of War : 

The wars of the Prophet (PBHH) were only carried out in defence. God Almighty does not love transgression, even if it were for the sake of spreading the Message: “There is no compulsion in religion…” [2:256], “…will you then compel people, against their will, to believe!” [10:99]. If compulsion has any place in the methodology of Islam, then the first thing the people of Makkah would have been asked to do after the conquest would be to convert to Islam. Ethics of War

These are not the words of Muhammad (PBHH) : 

The following saying that is claimed to have been said by Prophet Muhammad (PBHH) contradicts his methodology: “I was ordered to battle with people until they say there is no God but God Almighty. Once they say that, their life and wealth are safe from me and their judgement is left to God Almighty” Musnad Ahmad. This saying also contradicts the saying of God Almighty: “Invite (O Muhammad) (all) towards attaining the blessing of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious” [16:125]. It is impossible that a saying would come from Prophet Muhammad (PBHH) to contradicts the Holy Quran. The source from which this saying has been taken is not faultless therefore this is to be taken into consideration as to its authenticity. These are not the words of Muhammad (PBHH)

Wisdom and Good Sermons : 

Furthermore, God Almighty said: “And do not debate with the People of the Book, except with the best and most gracious means…” [29:46] because spreading the Message among those who are not Muslims is accomplished through wisdom and good sermons. However, among Muslims in all religions, there is no need to preach the Message; but the aim is to reform the conduct, since they are already Muslims. If the ungracious sermon is forbidden in calling non-Muslims to Islam, then for Muslims in all religions it is absolutely prohibited: “Death suffices as a reminder ” Majma’ al-Zawa’id. Wisdom and Good Sermons

The Methodology of the Prophet : 

The way to preach has been defined by God Almighty in the Holy Quran, and Prophet Muhammad (PBHH) has established it in his methodology, and no other person has the authority to change this methodology. Prophet Muhammad (PBHH) said: “Make people love God Almighty, and make them lovable to Him, then He will love you”, and he said: “Facilitate, do not complicate (life); bring joyful tidings, do not repel” Sahih Al-Bukhari The Methodology of the Prophet

Lessons from the conquest of Makkah : 

Violence was never a method for spreading the Message. This was made clear in the conquest of Makkah . The aim behind the conquest was to break down the dominance of the leaders who opposed the preaching of the forbearance of Islam, forbade the freedom of thought and would not tolerate others’ rights to portray different values and ideas. God Almighty says: “Fight the chief opposers who have no faith; they do not abide by their oaths” [9:12] because they are the ones who control and influence their people and forbid them from listening to other opinions, thereby repressing the freedom of thought. Therefore, conquering Makkah was not in order to enforce a certain opinion or religion! Rather, it  was to liberate the people of Makkah from the oppressive regime which was averse to, and violent towards all new beliefs, and forms of freedom of thought. Lessons from the conquest of Makkah

Lessons from the conquest of Makkah : 

The conquest of Makkah sets a clear example of why and how war is waged in Islam. The purpose of the conquest was not to impose a religion on people, as Prophet Muhammad (PBHH) did not ask the people of Makkah to proclaim that there is no God but God Almighty; instead, he left them free to think and believe as they wished. He made Islam lovable to them so they would embrace it willingly, and he used to give some of the non-believers who listened to him like Abu Sofian a portion from the Zakat (alms) money. Lessons from the conquest of Makkah

Lessons from the conquest of Makkah : 

The Prophet Muhammad (PBHH) would not have waged war against them if they had allowed freedom of thought and had not violated the truce (Al-Hudaybiya treaty of peace) and had not interfered with people’s freedom of choice. God Almighty said: “Whoever desires to believe can do so, and whoever desires to reject is free to do so” [18:29] because this is what the Message advocated, in clear contrast and contradiction to the attitude of tyrannical rulers. Lessons from the conquest of Makkah

Lessons from the conquest of Makkah : 

God Almighty also said: “If you were to be put in authority, would you then do mischief in the land and break your ties of kith and kin? Such are the people whom God Almighty has cursed” [47:22-23]. Tyranny was the reason why God Almighty had sent Prophet Moses (PBUH) to the Pharaoh of Egypt: “Go to the Pharaoh, for he had indeed transgressed all bounds.” [20:24] Lessons from the conquest of Makkah

Good conduct with enemies : 

Therefore, waging wars had never been a methodology of preaching Islam. No killing took place in the conquest of Makkah . If war is forced upon Muslims, then they would have to defend themselves, but if the enemy then calls for peace, even if the Muslims felt that victory was on their side, they should comply, as God Almighty says: “But if the enemy inclines towards peace, you too incline towards it” [8:61]. The methodology of Islam extends to honourable dealings with the enemies who do not attempt to fight, as God Almighty said: “God Almighty does not forbid you from dealing kindly and honourably with those who did not fight you for (your) faith and did not drive you out of your homes: Verily, God Almighty loves those who are honourable.” [60:8] Good conduct with enemies

Slide 25: 

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