Maryam Hamza Break free from your comfort zone
We need to be more generous with the incredible gift that is our Deen. We see the benefits of our beautiful and complete Islamic faith in every aspect of our lives; it’s the lifeline we hold on to during turbulent times, it purifies our hearts of all degrees of diseases and brings tranquility into our homes.
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
[Ar-Ra’d: 28]
For every pain, every dispute, every loss, and every doubt-there is a solution in the Book of Allah, and in the advice inspired in His Messengerﷺ.
So, what about those lost souls who try to fill the void with other than Allah?
While your comfort zone feels cozy, it’s important to look at the bigger picture. Ask yourself sincerely, “What does Allah want from me? Am I doing enough?”
Of course, guidance is from Allah, but we should want to be elevated as the tools of His guidance that bring our brothers and sisters out of the darkness of this dunya and into the Light of Truth.
Al-Kareem, the Most Generous, has showered us with countless blessings. Not only are we blessed to be Muslim, but we are also each given unique talents, passions, abilities, and opportunities to convey this flawless message to His Creation.
Our gratitude to Allah is incomplete if we don’t utilize these gifts in a manner that makes Him pleased with us, that shows Him how much we value them and don’t take them for granted.
We are fakeer before Him – in backbreaking need and poverty – and our da’wah benefits us more than it ever could anyone else. Why?
Because it will bring us the pleasure of Allah, His Blessings and Bounty.
Look at the story of Musa Alaihi Salam, who is the most mentioned Prophet in the Quran – giving us powerful da’wah so many thousands of years after his death.
He was a source of benefit and relief to others, even in his darkest moment, as a man on the run for his life! He made himself of service in a foreign land to people he had never seen before, and only then did he rest. And even while taking shade, he made a heartfelt Du’a, never forgetting that Allah is the Source of all help and strength.
And all his needs were sufficed in one fell swoop! That very day, he received a secure home, a halal and respectable job, and a righteous wife. Allahu Akbar.
Then, what about you? This is the same Allah, the same Ar-Razzaq, who provided so perfectly for Musa Alaihi Salam.
If we truly claim to follow the sunnah, we need to be walking Qur’ans.
As Aisha (peace be upon her) beautifully stated,
“Verily, the character of the Prophet of Allah(ﷺ) was the Quran.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 746]
Not only should we perfect our obligations and beautify our deeds, but benefitting people should also be our default state.
This is not limited to grand gestures such as speaking before a crowd of thousands of publishing a scholarly book every year. Much of Da’wah is how you conduct yourself in everyday life, as over 70% of the Prophet’s noble example was displayed in his actions!
Do not belittle your deeds
Uthman bin Affan reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
“The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it.”
[Al-Bukhārī 5027]
We often get discouraged because we don’t know enough, and what we can give of the Deen is so small and insignificant.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,
“None gives charity from what is good, for Allah only accepts what is good, except that the Merciful takes it with his right hand. Even if it is a date, it is nurtured in the hand of the Merciful until it becomes greater than a mountain, just as one of you nurtures his young horse or camel.”
[Muslim 1014]
If one date (or even half) given for the sake of Allah translates into a mighty mountain of good, then what of the best possible deed?
It was never about who we are, it’s about Who He is; so, we need to convey His Deen having good expectations and hopes in Him.
One of the most beautiful things about Islam is that there are so many ways to go about the deeds that please our Rabb.
There’s always something we can do to convey the message, whether it’s mentioning a beautiful and relevant Islamic titbit when advising a friend, volunteering to make learning Deen fun for the youth in your community, helping an elderly person with their groceries, or sending a delicious meal to your non-Muslim neighbors.
Don’t forget that charity begins at home. And imagine the reward, then, of teaching the kids in your family the Surah Al-Fatihah, which they will recite in every salah all their lives and pass it on through generations. What a legacy!
And imagine the bond strengthening between you and your spouse as your read and learn Quran together, reflecting on the verses of the Lord who has placed love and mercy between your hearts.
Follow the etiquette of a Da’ee
We need to take every opportunity to illuminate and beautify our life and the lives of others with the Quran and Sunnah.
When people look at you and see your Islam and Iman emanating from you like a beacon, they will be drawn to you inevitably because it is what their hearts were created to crave. However, our Deen also comes with perfect guidelines to set us straight in the manner of giving Da’wah.
At the heart of Da’wah, there are certain requirements, for instance:
1) Sincerity (Ikhlaas)
This is a vital part of any act of worship we perform. Are we really bringing the Deen to people to bring ourselves and them closer to Allah?
Or are we doing it for praise, fame, or a sense of prideful accomplishment?
Because the only deeds worth doing, the only sacrifices worth making, are for the sake of Allah, who is the One who gives us every ability and blessing in the first place.
Let’s keep this famous hadith in mind,
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The deeds are considered by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention…”
[Al Bukhari and Muslim]
And well-wishing for all of humanity is a Prophetic characteristic. Look at how our Prophet ﷺ responded to the emotional and physical abuse hurled at him by the people of Ta’if. He was insulted and attacked by the whole town, yet, when given the opportunity to take revenge, he didn’t. Instead, he had good hopes for them, for at least their progeny to accept the Truth that was so simple and so obvious.
May Allah enable us to perform deeds of righteousness only for His Pleasure, seeking His reward, and not waste our deeds by seeking this temporary world through such noble work. Allahumma Aameen.
2) God-consciousness (Taqwa)
“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqoon (the pious)]. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware”
[Al-Hujuraat 49:13]
This amazing spiritual mechanism beautifies our deeds while simultaneously purifying our intentions. We are aware of Allah in whatever we do, so we give each action its due right (haq) without being heedless or negligent.
With this noblest of tasks comes monumental responsibility; we will be taken into account for any speculations and false information about Islam we impart because we were too lazy to check the reference or too embarrassed to say, “I don’t know.”
Let’s not forget that the great Imam bin Malik, who was one of our most learned scholars of fiqh throughout the ages, replied with “I don’t know” to 36 out of 40 questions!
Therefore, we should never be casual and irresponsible when attributing anything to Allah and His Messengerﷺ, as we are only laymen.
3) Worshipfulness (Ibadah)
It’s vital to follow the authentic Qur’an and Sunnah both in what you are conveying and how you are conveying it.
It was narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Verily the best of you are those who are best in attitude.”
[Al-Bukhārī 6035 and Muslim 2321]
According to Al-Qaadi ‘Iyad, this includes treating people in a kind and cheerful manner, showing patience to the ones who are being difficult (da’wah is not always a walk in the park), and advising them with wisdom and without any harshness.
In a nutshell: verify your information, implement it in your own life, and treat people with patience and good manners.
4) Self-reformation (Islaah)
You find many of our brothers and sisters sharing the quote:
“Islam is perfect, but Muslims aren’t.”
And while this is 100-percent true, we shouldn’t use this as an excuse to slack off in following what Allah requires of us. Our desires must be placed on the back burner if they contradict Allah’s commands, and we must strive (with loads of du’a) to be inspiring role models through our obedience.
And among the greatest manifestations of guidance is a good character.
The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said:
“Verily, the most complete of believers in faith are those with the best character and who are most kind to their families.”
[Al-Tirmidhī 2612]
5) Reliance on Allah (Tawakkul)
Don’t get too paranoid about how your da’wah gets across to people. As long as you did your best to convey correct knowledge in the best manner, simply ask Allah’s forgiveness and protection for any deficiency on your part. Also, remember that the results are not in your hands.
You may have hundreds of thousands benefitting from your da’wah or just one person. It doesn’t matter because Allah does not let even an atom’s weight of effort go to waste, and you never know the ripple effect of goodness that this one person can create.
Be sure to make plenty of heartfelt Du’a, which is the very best measure you can take!
“O Allah, dress us with the beauty of faith, and make us guides who are upon correct guidance.”
[An-Nasaa’I, 3/54]
There is only one you
Our beloved Prophet (ﷺ), instructed us,
“Convey from me, even a single verse.”
[ Al-Bukhārī 3461]
If truly we believe that Islam is the only comprehensive solution, unbiased by the desires of mankind, to eradicate all our problems and ease our affairs, then how can we refrain from sharing it?
We also live in a world where islamophobia-driven propaganda is so vicious that even Muslims are beginning to question their faith. It’s our pressing duty to reclaim the narrative of our noble Messenger ﷺ from those who try to skew it with no regard to context.
Our first responsibility is to learn our Deen for our guidance and salvation, and then defend Islam, not through harsh words or rage, but the just, gentle, merciful, and forgiving Sunnah of Allah’s final messengerﷺ.
So, why you?
Because there’s no one else who can give our Deen what you can give. Allah has blessed you with unique talents, capabilities, and circumstances. You can be married or single, elderly or young, working or nurturing- an artist, teacher, writer, speaker, activist, etc. - there is always something you can do in Allah’s Way.
The question is, will you look for it?
It’s your responsibility to take the first step because Allah says:
“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.”
[Ar-Ra’d: 11]
So, it’s time to find your light and illuminate the world with it, bi’idhnillah.
