What And Who Determines If A Certain Action Serves The Best Interest Of The Dawah-
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Creator: Rabih Hadad
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Identifier: http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=570
Language: en
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Subject: dawah
Title: What And Who Determines If A Certain Action Serves The Best Interest Of The Dawah-
Created on: Mon Jan 14 12:06:11 -0500 2008
Updated on: Mon Jan 14 12:06:11 -0500 2008
Version: 1
Abstract: ... ents from the Seerah to examine bow they might be applied to our time and reality, derive lessons and wisdom from them and, whenever possible, suggest practical applications. In this first episode, I would like to explore with you a concept that we often hear and read about. It is the concept of "Maslahat-ud Dawah," which is typically termed the "best-interest-of-dawah," which means doing whatever services -in the be way- the interest of the Islamic dawah in a specific occasion under a specific circumstances. This is a concept that many have either misunderstood, misused, or worse yet, combined these two. All sorts of blunders are being committed under this banner. Many of our basic Islamic principles are being compromised for the 'best-interest-of-dawah.' Because of the misapplications of this concept, indeed our identity and moral fabric, stand threatened. I think it is worth our while to examine this in the light of the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, as derived from his Seerah. In Makkah, at a the time when the new dawah was still in the cradle, and after years of persecution and torture of its few followers, and numerous attempts on the Prophet's life, and after many threats to the main protector of the dawah then, Abu Talib, the Prophet's uncle, threats were continuously made by the leaders of the Quraish tribe. They decided to send Utbah ibn Rabi'ah as an envoy to the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, with an offer that he, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, cannot refuse. Utbah told the Prophet: I - If wealth is what you want, we will gather for you from our respective wealth enough to make you the richest and wealthiest among us. 2- If power and status is what you are seeking, we will appoint you as our supreme leader, and we will not make a single decision without your approval. 3- If marriage 'and kinship is what you desire, we will marry you to a woman who will be the most beautiful, and who will have the noblest lineage among the Arab. Provided that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, give up dawah. By all standards, this is a tempting offer. On the face of things, it would seem that the best interest of the dawah at the time dictates that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, should accept this lucrative offer. It would then possible for him to acquire power, wealth, kinship, and put them all in the service of dawah. And little by little he would soon achieve what he wanted for the dawah. Common sense suggests that this would be the thing to do, but Islam transcends common sense. Islam makes loyal... [Full Article...]
