The topic ‘The Necessities of Da’wah in the Light of Current Conditions’ is
extremely vast in its scope. People are accepting Islam in the West (USA, Canada,
UK, France and Germany), in the Middle Eastern countries (Saudi Arabia, the
Gulf States, Jordan), in Africa and the Far East (Malaysia, Philippines, Hong
Kong, etc.). Each region has its own peculiar characteristics and the reasons for
conversion vary accordingly. Furthermore, in each of these areas, the reasons for
conversion differ depending on the point of contact with Islam. In fact, the
numbers of reasons are probably as many as the number of people who have
accepted Islam, as each person has his or her own special reasons why they
decide to accept Islam. However, if the subject is considered from the general
perspective of the shared characteristics of human beings, the reasons may be
narrowed down to a few general groups of reasons.
If one assumes, as Islam proposes, that the nature of human beings has not
changed since the time the first human being was first created, then the reasons
for conversion in the time of the Prophet (pbuh) should essentially be the same
reasons as found in the present age. According to Islam, there is only one
revealed religion which has been repeatedly revealed from the time of Adam
until the last of the prophets, Muhammad (pbuh). Consequently, the essential
message of all the prophets was one and the same:
“Verily, We have sent to every nation a messenger (saying), ‘Worship Allaah and
avoid false gods.”1
There was no difference in their basic messages also because the purpose of
creation has only been one; to worship Allah.
“I did not create the jinn and mankind except for My worship.”2
This message addressed a fundamental need in human beings to worship. That
primordial need was created in all human beings at the time of Adam’s creation.
Allah addressed this need saying:
“When your Lord drew forth from the loins of the children of Adam their
descendant and made them testify concerning themselves, (saying): ‘Am I not
your Lord?’ they said, ‘Yes, we testify to it.’ (This) in case you say should say on
the Day of Judgement, ‘We were unaware of this.” Or in case you should say, ‘It
was our ancestors who made partners (with Allaah) and we are only their
descendants. Will you then destroy us for what those liars did?’”32
Man’s Natural Disposition : the Fitrah
Since Allaah made all human beings swear to His Godhood when He created
Adam, this oath is printed on the human soul even before it enters the fetus in
the fifth month of pregnancy. So when a child is born, it has with it a natural
belief in Allaah. This natural belief is called in Arabic the fitrah.4 If the child were
left alone, it would grow up aware of Allaah in His unity, but all children are
affected by the pressures of their environment, whether directly or indirectly.
The Prophet (pbuh) reported that Allaah said,
“I created My servants in the right religion but the devils made them go astray.”5
The Prophet (pbuh) also said,
“Each child is born in a state of ‘fitrah’, but his parents make him a Jew or a
Christian. It is like the way an animal gives birth to a normal offspring. Have you
noticed any (young animal) born mutilated before you mutilate them?”6
So just as the child’s body submits to the physical laws which Allaah has put in
nature, its soul also submits naturally to the fact that Allaah is its Lord and
Creator. However, its parents try to make it follow their own way and the child
is not strong enough in the early stages of its life to resist or oppose its parents.
The religion which the child follows at this stage is one of custom and
upbringing, and Allaah does not hold it to account or punish it for this religion.
When the child matures in youth and clear proofs of the falsehood of its religion
are brought to it, the adult must now follow the religion of knowledge and
reason.7 At this point the devils try their best to encourage him to stay as he is or
to go further astray. Evils are made pleasing to him and he must now live in the
midst of a struggle between his fitrah and his desires in order to find the right
road. If he chooses his fitrah, Allaah will help him overcome his desires, even
though it may take most of his life to do so; for many people enter Islam in their
old age, although most tend to do so before that.
THE ERA OF THE PROPHET
During the Prophet’s era, as in the modern era, people may be divided into
two main groups with respect to their preparedness to receive the message:
1. Those searching for the truth who are dissatisfied with the religion followed
by their contemporaries, and3
2. Those not searching. This second group may be further divided into those not
searching because they are content with their religion and those not searching
because they have rejected belief in God. The second group has been a minority
throughout history.
The first group also consistently represented a minority as the majority of
people tend to accept the cultural norms of society without question. In the
Prophet’s time, that minority was called the hunafaa’ . Most of them converted to
Islam as soon as the message reached them. A few, due to tribal jealousies
rejected the message. Thus, the first group responded to the clear truth of
revelation. On the other hand, the second group based their response on their
trust in the Prophet’s (pbuh) character. They knew him to be truthful and honest
throughout his life, therefore, there was not reason to doubt his claim to
Prophethood.
1. The Role Model
The first converts were from the Prophet’s household
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid
‘Ali ibn Abi Talib
Zayd ibn Harithah
They were followed by the Prophet’s close friend and confidant, Abu Bakr.
Their conversion was due to their intimate contact with the Prophet (pbuh)
and their unquestioned belief in him his truthfulness due their personal
experience with him. This reason for conversion may be called the “role model.”
2. Da’wah to Islamic Monotheism (Tawheed)
The next five converts embraced Islam as a result of Abu Bakr’s invitation.
‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan
Az-Zubayr ibn al- ‘Awwam
‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf
Sa ‘ad ibn Abi Waqqas
Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydullah
Their conversion was a result of the message being taken to them.8 This
reason may be generally called the “Da’wah”
3. Truth Seekers
Among the converts was ‘Amr ibn ‘Absah who had rejected the idolatry of
his people and sought the truth. Like him was Salman al-Farisi who journeyed 4
from Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity to Islam. The reason for the
conversion of these companions and others like them may be called “truth
seekers”
4. Reading the Qur’an
‘Umar ibn al-Khattab’s conversion is authentically narrated as a result of his
hearing the Prophet (pbuh) recite Surah al-Haaqqah.9 The Najashi’s was due to
his hearing Surah Maryam. These and others like them may be referred under
the general reason of “Reading the Qur’an”.
5. Marriage
Abu Talhah al-Ansari was offered a dowry of accepting Islam by Umm
Sulaym (Mother of Anas ibn Maalik). She also gave him logical da’wah
concerning his idol worship.
Abul-‘Aas who was married to the Prophet’s daughter, Zaynab, was
separated from her by the Prophet (pbuh) and was later ransomed from among
the prisoners of Badr by Zaynad. In both of these cases, marriage to a Muslim
woman was a factor in their conversions.
The following eleven surveys of reasons for conversion were done in April,
2001, in different parts of the world. From the surveys, it is evident that the
above-mentioned factors continue to be the main reasons for people accepting
Islam in the 21st century.
It should be noted that in the Middle East, one of the biggest factors in
conversion is the religious example of employers. This is especially the case of
Far and Near-Eastern women working as domestic helpers in Arab homes. This
is the role model reason which constituted the first major reason for converts in
the Prophet’s era. See surveys 2 and 3 of Discover Islam /Bahrain and QCPI of
Qatar. In the West, living with Muslims is a minor factor because contact with
Muslims is much less frequent and Westerners do not usually work as domestic
helpers in Arab homes. However, the role model reason is still significant in so
far as it comes from contact with Muslims on the job, in universities, in the
neighborhood, etc. See survey 6 of the convert community in Detroit, Michigan,
USA, where the majority of converts were introduced to Islam by someone
trusted.
From the survey results it appears that the most critical conversion factor in
the West seems to be the availability of information.5
In India, where the caste system is dominant, the oppressed classes find in
Islam social justice and respect. Consequently, as indicated in survey 7 Islamic
justice and equality is among the biggest attractions.
DA‘WAH STRATEGIES
Having understood many of the reasons why people accept Islam in this
century and the way they differ relative to the environment, it is necessary to
develop some methods of effectively dealing with giving da’wah to them.
1. The Role Model
First, the factors shared by the Prophet’s time and the modern era should be
looked at to determine what efforts are needed to make them most effective. The
first method is the “role model” method. In the Middle East, those families
having servants should be informed through the media, tapes and pamphlets
about the importance of setting a good example for those who work for them.
Too often cases of abuse of maids are reported in the local newspapers. Such
adverse publicity will decrease the effectiveness of the family role in da’wah. On
the other hand, in the Western context, Muslims have to develop a stronger
outreach program for the communities to meet the Muslims. This can be
achieved by regular open house days at the local mosque or Islamic center,
during which non-Muslim neighbors are invited to visit and to share some
“Eastern cuisine”. Free exotic food is always a good attraction for non-Muslims.
Islamic weeks at universities in West have become some of the most vibrant
means to reach the student body.
2. The Da’wah to Monotheism
The essential message of Islam needs to reach the masses of Westerners. The
majority of Westerners today do not have the slightest inkling of what Islam
teaches. The vast majority of converts in the West are a product of family da’wah
based on Allaah’s instruction to the Prophet (pbuh):
“And warn your close family members.”10
When a person converts, he or she immediately attempts to invite all of their
family members to Islam. In this way, the numbers of converts increase
exponentially. However great this individual effort may be, it cannot supplant
the basic need for da‘wah materials in sufficiently large numbers to reach the
general masses. Likewise the impact of TV and Radio da’wah cannot be
underestimated. There are already a number of Islamic programs in Arabic being
broadcast on sattelite, however, very little in the way of English da’wah is taking 6
place. More useful da’wah tracts need to be developed. The Deedat approach has
become outmoded with its harsh rhetoric. Alternative materials need to be
introduced internationally.
3. Truth Seekers
As in the Prophet’s era there are people in our times seeking the truth. In many
cases it is due to dissatisfaction with the dogmas of their religions. These seekers
find that their questions are unanswered in their inherited religion and blind
faith is insisted upon by its priests. This conversion factor is very prominent
among Westerners as indicated in surveys 5 – 12 as well as QCPI and Discover
Islam – Bahrain surveys among their Western converts. The Detroit survey gives
86% of Americans who converted from Christianity while having difficulties in
their belief system. Consequently, more literature, tapes and programs which
present the Islamic solutions to religious mysteries needs to be developed.
Literature which demonstrates that Prophet Jesus was in fact a prophet of Islam
and that his message was Islam needs to be widely distributed.
4. Reading the Qur’an
A large number of Western converts embraced Islam due to reading translations
of the Qur’an. This mirrors those who converted in the Prophet’s time due to
hearing readings from the Qur’an. The two most wide-spread translations of the
Qur’an’s meanings are those of Yusuf Ali and Muhsin Khan. However, both
have serious problems with regard to getting the message across. Yusuf Ali’s
translation is in old-English and his footnotes contain much mis-information.
Muhsin Khan’s translation, on the other hand, while accurate has so much
explanatory material between brackets that the average reader loses track of the
verse. There needs to be a good clear translation in modern English with
sufficient footnotes to explain unclear passages and references.
5. Marriage
Many Western converts in Muslim countries convert for marriage purposes as is
quite evident in the surveys. In a number of cases, the conversion is not genuine,
but merely a ritual conversion. Although this situation is abhorrent, one cannot
refuse to convert others due to suspicions. The solution is to develop programs of
study, which prospective converts must go through before conversion, to insure
that the basic teaching have been learned. This approach was taken by the
Muslim Convert’s Association in Singapore, where they were faced with the
majority of its converts being for marriage purposes.7
CONCLUSION: FOLLOW-UP
The factors leading to conversion are basically the same the world over. They
are not limited to time periods, but can be found from the earliest of times until
the present. Those involved in propagating the religion and inviting others to
Islam, must familiarize themselves with these and other factors in order to
develop the correct strategies to deal with them. Furthermore, Islamic
organizations need to keep more accurate information concerning conversion so
that researchers can analyze the material and benefit those in the field. Most
organizations internationally do not have proper records. Some only have names
and while others have little more than that. Follow-up programs cannot be
effectively implemented without proper records. Perhaps the greatest problem
facing converts is the lack of follow-up. In the Prophet’s time, converts were
integrated into the Muslim community and way of life with the full support of
the community. Today, converts are congratulated and left to fend for
themselves. As a result, when many are faced with difficulties, they revert to
their former faiths, if they do not find support from the Muslim community. In
the West, there is a big need for institutions and Muslim social workers to cater
to the needs of the new converts. Many who accept Islam in the prisons end up
in their destructive life-styles and back in prison like their non-Muslim
counterparts. Although their numbers are fewer, they are too many for the
community to ignore.
The other major problem facing convert Muslims, especially in the West, is
that without a Muslim community to support their families, their children often
leave Islam by the time they graduate from high school. Consequently, among
the da’wah strategies necessary is the development of Muslim schools to
preserve the identity of Muslim children of the converts. Those children did not
choose Islam, and they lack strong cultural ties to Muslim culture. As a result,
every decade or two, a new wave of Westerners convert and during the same
period, most of their children leave Islam. Those children sometimes go on to
become major stars in sports like Shaquille O’Neal (Basketball), or Rocket Raghib
(American Football), who have no allegiance to Islam what so ever.rasoulullah.net
