hi. assalamualaikum.
It has been so long since my last visit to NAYZAK.
his article about 'sabeelee' which I understood the meaning as 'ways' is about da'wah. Sort of, Ways in Da'wah. As usual, his art always stunning to me and I am so attract to this calligraphy.
In shaa Allah, hope that this article will be beneficial to all of us. :-)
All the prophets of the God Almighty -peace be upon them- called their people to follow Islam -the way of submission to the will of the God-. Certainly, calling people to the worship of the One true God and serving Him in all we do was something each true prophet of the One Almighty God did. Each prophet, in his life, was the way, the truth and the light. whoever follows the prophet gets eternal life and salvation, by God's will. People have the ability to go right or go wrong. so they need to be called out of darkness and into light, from false beliefs to true Faith, from shirk (polytheism) to tawheed (Pure Monotheism), and from the Fire to Paradise. this is from God's Love and mercy.
The Da'wah (invitation or call to the God) is established upon foundations which are absolutely essential. If any of these are missing the da'wah will not be correct and will not produce the desired results - no matter how much effort is expended and time wasted - and this is the reality which we witness with regard to many of the present day calls which are not supported by those pillars and built upon those foundations.
THE PILLARS OF DA'WAH:These pillars which support the correct da'wah are clearly shown in the Book of the God Almighty and the teachings of his final prophet, and can be summarised as follows:
1. Knowledge of that which one calls to:
Since the ignorant person is not suitable to be a caller to Islam (daa'ee). Allah, the Most High, says to Mohammed -peace be upon him-:
قُلْ هَٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي ۖ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say, "This is my way; I do invite unto Allah, with baseerah, I and those who follow me. Glory be to Allah! and I am not of the idolaters (Those who associate other with Allah)"
Translation of 12:108
Baseerah, in Arabic, is knowledge, clear evidence and proof. The caller is certain to face those who will attack him with doubts and futile arguments in order to rebut the truth. He's certain to face those who are scholars of misguidance, those who try to attack him with falsehood and lies, with aggression and rudeness. but The God, the Most High, says:
وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ
... and argue with them in the best manner...
Translation of 16:125
2. Acting in accordance with that which he calls to:
So that he will be a good example - his actions attesting to his words, and leaving no excuse for the opponents of the Truth. Allah, the Most High, said about His Prophet Shu'ayb* that he said to his people:
قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ ... وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَىٰ مَا أَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ ۚ إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا الْإِصْلَاحَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ ۚ
He said, "O my people, ...I wish not, in opposition to you, to do that which I forbid you to do. I only desire (your) betterment to the best of my power..."
Translation from 12:108
Allah the Most High, said in Quran:
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِّمَّن دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
Who is better in speech than one who calls (people) to Allah, works righteousness, and says, "I am one of the Muslims (i.e., those who surrender (to the God Almighty)"?
Translation of 41:33
3. Purity of intention (Al-Ikhlaas):
Such that the call is made purely and sincerely to seek the Face of the God - not for show, or repute, or status, or leadership, nor desiring worldly goals - since if any of these goals adulterate it, the call will not be for the God Almighty, rather it would then be a call for oneself or for the attainment of the worldly goal - as Allah informs that His Prophets said to their people:
قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا ۖ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْعَالَمِينَ
Say: "No reward for this do I ask of you: This is no less than a message for the worlds."
Translation of 6:90
and
وَيَا قَوْمِ لَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مَالًا ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ
"And O my people! I ask you for no wealth in return: my reward is from none but Allah
Translation of 11:29
* Shu'ayb: sometimes identified with the Biblical Jethro
from islamnewsroom.com/news-we-need… with some changes
I hope this was beneficial
IN THE DRAWING:
the Qur'anic verse 12:108:
قُلْ هَٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي written in Nastaligh script
أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي ۖ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ written in Thuluth script
