IslamWorld

Educators and non-educators alike, are always engaged in discussions about the importance of role models, stressing and emphasizing how critical they can be in the development of people, children in particular

Therefore, many specialists and institutes invest much time and effort in the study and analysis of the role-model phenomenon as it pertains to children but not nearly as much effort is put into the matter with regards to adults.

In General, we as adults, have an equal need for role models in our lives. And as Muslim adults in particular we have an even greater need, an obligation rather, to mold our lives after the example of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, and his great companions, after him. Allah, subhanahu. wa ta'ala, tells us in the Noble Qur'an, "Indeed, In the Messenger Of Allah (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) you have a good Example to follow." [33:21], and in the Hadeeth, the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, orders us: "Follow my Sunnah, and the sunnah of my successors!

In this series, I will, inshaAllah, focus my discussions on specific events 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 loyalty and allegiance to Allah, subhanahu. wa ta'ala, above and beyond all other ties and principles.

Our Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, who is a leader by example and the most perfect Muslim that ever was and ever will be, showed the world what principles mean, and what the caliber the men carrying these principles should possess. He, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, reiterated his position when he firmly declared:

"O my uncle! By Allah if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left on the condition that I abandon this course, until Allah has made me victorious or I perish therein, I would not abandon it."

We can draw many conclusions from this:

A-The best interest of dawah is to always adhere strongly to the pillars and principles dawah is founded on.

Be Compromises, if any, can be made on fringe variables and not on fixed pivotal matters of faith. Furthermore, these compromises are to be decided by scholars who are well-versed in matters of dawah as related to the circumstances and needs of time and place.

C- Principles are only as good as the sacrifices made for their establishment and propagation. Our Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, was willing to put his own life in the balance and not budge an inch on the principles of his mission.

What is my mission in life?

What kind of sacrifices am I willing to make on the path of my mission?

On the list of priorities of my life, where is Islam?