Yā Sīn, the People of the Town in Light of a Daʿwah and Political Struggle (Part 2 of 2)
Supervised by Ustādh Asim Khan and written by Rayhan Zaman, Hussain Chowdury, Junayed Ahmad and Ahmed Hammuda.
In our previous article, we related the story of Asḥāb al-Qaryah by examining the Tafāsīr of various scholars and commenting on its general meaning. This article provides a short reflection on some of these verses, in light of Daʿwah (invitation to Islam) and political activism.
Opportunity in Daʿwah Lessons
Ḥabīb came from the outskirts of the town, indicating that he was not well-known while the verses also point towards an element of difficulty in his coming. His trade as a carpenter points to his humble disposition; he was neither a leader nor from the nobility. His dedicated effort to propagate the truth denotes his conviction in it and the purity of his disposition, not least his limited exposure to the three messengers in the town. Indeed, a person who is not convinced with certainty of a cause will seldom come out of his comfort to invite others, understanding the implication on his life, regardless of his religious appearance or his reputation as a ‘Dāʿī’ (caller to Islām). His address was to the ‘Qawm’ or to the general populace of the town, as opposed to just the leading elite. Likewise, a caller to Islām appreciates that change is realised from the bottom up and by addressing all people indiscriminately. The caller to the truth will never know whose heart the message will penetrate or by whom it will be carried forward. More often than not, it is rejected by the elite and adopted by the ordinary people:
…Nor do we see any follow you [O Noah!] but the meanest among us and they [too] followed you without thinking. And we do not see in you any merit above us, in fact we think you are liars.[1]
Some feel that Daʿwah is the role of others and not an individual’s responsibility. Common reasons stated are lack of scholarly knowledge, shortage of time or the absence of the right circumstance. Pressures of life coupled with this feeling of being unqualified lead to one not undertaking Daʿwah. But in the absence of these facilities, every Muslim has been endowed with Islām which is the greatest gift. The caller to Islām does not need to go into the ins and outs of debating and reasoning if he is only capable of delivering the simple and fundamental message that he is adhering to: “And why should I not worship Him (Allāh Alone)…”[2] Ḥabīb’s sincerity was very apparent in his speech. His call was to the messengers, not to his own person, manifesto or scholarly position. In fact, there is no room to allege that he sought worldly gain, as the possibility of this was completely absent. With his undertaking in mind, one begins to understand the pertinence of these verses to those active in Daʿwah and what constitutes the most effective Daʿwah commended by Allāh the most high:
- Sincerity: that a person conducts themselves sincerely and only for the sake of Allāh. This is known as Ikhlās. Only those actions that are done solely for the sake of Allāh are accepted and rewarded in the hereafter. Notice how the verses make no mention of the name of this ‘man’ but rather provide a description of his message which is the essence of his distinction. Men and women are the facility by which the message is propagated but it does not depend on them in the slightest. If a person is endowed with the ability to propagate Islām, it should be regarded as a blessing and trust, and yet it should be constantly bore in mind that the message will flourish with or without us.
- Exhaust available means and capabilities: That we try our utmost to propagate the religion of Allāh, pushing our capabilities to the limit. Ḥabīb was a very ill individual suffering from leprosy but travelled from the outskirts of the town in haste to deliver his message although he most probably had the legal excuse to remain in solitude and leave the task to someone else.
- Deliver effectively: The message is to be communicated in the way most relevant to the situation and the people, approaching the masses and maintaining inclusivity in address. His message was tailored so as to engage the disbelievers at the time who were predominantly idol worshippers. The man could have used this individual opportunity to address any other aspect of the religion but chose to tackle the issue of polytheism which was the prevalent problem at the time: “Why should I not worship Him who has originated me, and to whom you shall be brought back?”[3]
- Remember the aim: To have in mind the end goal of paradise, understanding that this destination is paved with tribulation and obstacles: The Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said: “Paradise has been paved with difficulties and Hell has been paved with temptations.”[4] It is definitely worth the struggle if the end objective is kept in mind.
Lessons in Political Activism
The Qur’ān is applicable to every time and place and is an everlasting source of guidance. It comes without question the relevance of Ḥabīb al-Najjār’s story to the contemporary political struggle of those who advocate the truth, ready to bear the brunt that comes in tandem with utter patience: “Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth, and recommend one another to patience.”[5]
Ḥabīb delivered the true message despite the political circumstances and the animosity the people of the town had already shown towards the messengers. His approach did not immediately target the elite, although it infuriated them as they understood well the threat a prophetic message would bring to their injustice. No doubt he was fully aware of the plight he would come to face but his resolve to achieve his objective overcame his worry of harm or death, even after his execution, rather than lament in pity over himself: “It was said [to him when the disbelievers killed him]: “Enter Paradise.” He said: “If only my people knew, that my Lord [Allāh] has forgiven me, and made me of the honoured ones!””[6] As Ibn Abbās comments, he was a caller to the truth alive and dead.[7]
If one ponders over similar examples from the Qur’ān, history and the contemporary day, the reader comes to meet those who attained the level of distinction in the sight of Allāh. Their mention in the Qur’ān is extensive and emphasised and their remembrance in the hearts of men is continuous. They are those who stood against the odds, understanding the implications of their choice to move against the tides of evil surrounding them. Apart from sent Prophets, there were followers who received no divine revelation but their hearts became saturated with the substance of Imān, yearning for only the face of Allāh and finding sweet for him everything bitter.
Take the example of the Magicians of Pharaoh, when the truth became manifest to them and their hearts absorbed Imān, they became indifferent to the promise of Pharaoh to slay them: “They said: “We prefer you not over what has come to us of the clear signs and to Him [Allāh] Who created us. So decree whatever you desire to decree, for you can only decree [regarding] this life of the world.””[8] Indeed for the Pharaoh’s magicians, like Ḥabīb al-Najjār, it did not make sense that other than the creator be deified: “And why should I not worship Him [Allāh Alone] Who has created me and to Whom you shall be returned?”[9] It is when the believer becomes confident that the pursuit is for the pleasure of Allāh that the displeasure of the people bears no weight.
It was the same conviction that lifted the status of the companions of the Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam). It is what strengthened the companion Khubaib b. ‘Adiy to recite during his gruesome execution: “and I am indifferent so long as I am killed as a Muslim whatever way you choose to kill me for the sake of Allāh.” It made the companion Umair b. Himām find eating a few dates too long a wait before his lunge into martyrdom at Uḥud and it is what made the Prophet’s (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) emissary Harām b. Milhān declare “I have won, by the lord of the Ka’bah!” when he saw that his hosts had lunged a spear into his body before falling to the ground.[10] It was what caused Bilāl to recite ‘He is One, He is One’ whilst being dragged through the streets and baked on the burning sands of Arabia. It was what raised the status of Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal to become the Imām of Ahl al-Sunnah having borne the brunt of punishment, refusing to succumb to the views of the oppressors and deviants at the time.
More contemporary ‘Ḥabīb al-Najjārs’ are most definitely those who shattered the shackles of fear to profess the truth in the face of the most dogmatic regimes. The people of Syria were never oblivious to the torture and death they would face, having lived or heard of the massacre of at least 20,000 of their dissident forefathers in 1981 Hama,[11] just as Ḥabīb al-Najjār was not oblivious to the plight of the Messengers: “…O my people! Obey the Messengers.”[12] They knew, however, that a death for the sake of Allāh is more honourable than a life that harmonises with oppression and evil as Ḥabīb realised: “…my Lord [Allāh] has forgiven me, and made me of the honoured ones!”[13] The Egyptians who came within and from the outskirts of Egypt to stand in Rabʿaa al-ʿAdawiyah square in defence of one of Islām’s proponents and in defiance of those seeking to crush every remnant of Islām are also a contemporary manifestation of Ḥabīb al-Najjār and his cause. They were very aware of the impending assault but presented themselves and their children in sacrifice for their message, proclaiming it aloud before the world in powerful demonstration. Such is the behaviour of the courageous caller to truth; it is a proclamation to it that every being should hear: “Verily! I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me!“[14]
“It was said [to him when the disbelievers killed him]: “Enter Paradise””[15] At the time of his departure from this world, and on witnessing the beauty of his abundant reward he said: “Would that my people knew.”[16] It comes to show that victory and defeat are not judged by torn limbs and smouldered land, victory is in the Hereafter alone: “Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful.”[17] The Qur’ān did not allude to the mention of Ḥabīb al-Najjār’s execution despite a narration attributed to ʿAbdullah b. Masʿūd stating that he was trampled until his intestines were spilled out.[18] What is intriguing is the Qur’ān’s seamless transition from his proclamation to the truth to his afterlife without mentioning the details of his death. One can ask the question: is remorse befitting for the one who is triumphant? Certainly victory is judged by the final outcome and most certainly the running theme of this chapter is that the final outcome is not this life but the Hereafter.
If punishment is hastened for the oppressors in the world as was the case of the people of the town: “It was but one Ṣaiḥah [shout] and lo! They [all] were still [silent, dead, destroyed].”[19] or not, absolute retribution is in the Hereafter: “Such is the punishment [in this life], but truly, the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they but knew.”[20] Likewise, even if apparent victory does not occur in the world, absolute reward and magnificent recompense is in the Hereafter. Remember the believers who were all thrown in the blazing ditch for “…no fault except that they believed in Allāh, the All-Mighty, Worthy of all Praise!”[21] Allāh concludes their story: “…for them will be Gardens under which rivers flow [Paradise]. That is the great success.”[22]
Daʿwah and political activism are two heads of the same coin. The least can be said is that the latter, if engaged in, seeking pleasure of Allāh facilitates the former while its absence confines and strangles the Daʿwah effort. Moreover, for people to shun away engagement in state and current affairs, referring to them as ‘politics’, stems either from misunderstanding of what the Daʿwah entails or fear of its repercussion without a heart to admit it. The thousands imprisoned in Egypt, Syria and other regions have spent decades innumerable in Daʿwah and were incarcerated on their attempt to elevate their Daʿwah to the national level. We should thus not shy away from Daʿwah (as it is known) or engagement in current affairs concerning the Muslims. Nor should we necessarily expect worldly compensation. Ḥabīb saw no worldly result to his efforts. He nonetheless pursued his ambition, sought the pleasure of Allāh and attested to his own honouring and success in the longer life to come.
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Source: www.islam21c.com
Read Part 1 of this article – here
Notes:
[1] Al-Qur’ān 11:27
[2] Al-Qur’ān 36:22
[3] Al-Qur’ān 36:22
[4] Ḥadīth Saḥīḥ Muslim on the authority of Anas ibn Mālik
[5] Al-Qur’ān 103:3
[6] Al-Qur’ān 36:26-27
[7] http://www.islamselect.net/mat/86907
[8] Al-Qur’ān 20:72
[9] Al-Qur’ān 36:22
[10] http://www.islamdaily.org/ar/general/11528.article.htm
[12] Al-Qur’ān 36:20
[13] Al-Qur’ān 36:27
[14] Al-Qur’ān 36:25
[15] Al-Qur’ān 36:26
[16] Al-Qur’ān 36:26
[17] Al-Qur’ān 3:185
[18] Tafsīr al-Tabari
[19] Al-Qur’ān 36:29
[20] Al-Qur’ān 68:33
[21] Al-Qur’ān 85:8
[22] Al-Qur’ān 85:11
PS If Habib’s society is in the first stage of Da’waa-ie PRIVATE Da’waa, it would be wrong for him to give Da’waa in public (Public Da’waa.) Each society must carefully examine which of the five stages of Da’waa it is in. After reading the article again, it seems to me like his society is in the first stage which means he should only give Da’waa to his family
A very informative article, Maa Shaa Allah. I think the da’wah refered to in this article is one at the second stage of da’wah ie the “public stage,” the first one being the “private stage”. This is appropriate for many societies in the world today. All praise is for Allah that in most countries of the world, Muslims are allowed by the authorities to give da’wah publically.
Actually, the reasoning is completely out of topic. The writer has given examples of callers or Doaah such as Habib Alnajar and the magicians. Then at the end we got the implication that this is a kind of political activism, but this is not true at all. This has nothing to do with politics.
The point tackled here could be given another name other than political activism. We believe that Dawaah is the responsibility of all Muslims and while making Dawaah one might face troubles and he has to sacrifice.
As salaamu ‘alaykum
You have conflated da’wah which is the invitation or call to Islam or tawheed with political activism which is seeking of power or leadership position.
Da’wah is for the sake of Allah (swt) and political activism is not.
See 24:55.
Neither Habib nor any of the Messengers involved themselves in political activism. They involved themselves in da’wah. Allah (swt) chose only 3 of His Messengers for statehood: Dawud (as) Sulaiman (as) and Muhammad (as).
Wa alacom Asalam wa rahmat Allah
Apologies Sheikh, but your comment could not be more inaccurate.
Firstly, activism is the effort of directing political & social change. Every Prophet was by definition an activist. All acts of Da’wah are also by linguistic definition a form of activism.
Secondly, off the top of my head, Musa AS was the political leader of his people, Yousuf AS held political office… I don’t know who told you that only 3 of Allah’s messengers were chosen for statehood… Every single Prophet pushed for some major social, political or economic change as well as a spiritual one- this is made abundantly clear through even the most casual reading of the Quran.
Politics is not an industry. Anything related to governance of people is political, so basically religion.
As salaamu ‘alaykum.
References are made to the Qur’an by number, the first being the chapter and the second being the verse.
A casual reading of the Qur’an shows the following:
Religion is tawheed only, as in 12:40.
This explains why it is the same for all Messengers, as in 3:95, 16:123 and 42:13.
The call to tawheed is stated in 16:35-36, 21:25 and 29:18.
If the followers truly believe, then Allah[swt] grants them a state as in 24:54-55, like with Dawud [as] as in 2:250-251.
Once Allah [swt] gives statehood, then the politics, economics and laws follow, as in 22:41.
Looking at specific examples,
Nuh [as], call to tawheed only as in 1:25-27 and 71:1-24.
Hud [as], call to tawheed only as in 7:65-72.
Ibrahim [as], call to tawheed only as in 2:258, 6:74-79, 19:41-50 and 21:51-56.
Musa [as], call to tawheed only as in 79:17-19. There was no revolution to overthrow Fir’awn despite his crimes as in 7:127-129 and 28:4. When Fir’awn wouldn’t listen Musa[as] requested the freedom for the Children of Israel as in 20:47.
Yusuf [as], call to tawheed only as in 12:36-40. The king appointed him minister of finance in 12:54-55. He accepted this administrative position as he would not be in a position to violate Allah’s Law as in 5:44. Rather he exercised the law of Ibrahim[as] by withholding Benyamin as a slave for the alleged theft as in 12:75. He would not have been allowed to do so under the king’s law and this was all part of Allah’s Plan to reunite him with his family as in 12:76.
So Yusuf’s example cannot be used to equate da’wah with political activism because he did not seek the position but was offered it and he chose a position compatible with Allah’s Law at the time.
Muhammad [as], call to tawheed only as in 3:64, 7:158, 12:108, 39:11-14 and 88:21-22.
I look forward to your comprehensive reading of the Qur’an that shows the equivalence of da’wah, which is the call to tawheed, with political activism.