In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
We are pleased at the Sheikh Hasa Islamic Center
to present to our esteemed listeners
a reading of the book
The Treasure of the Muslim
on the virtue of calling to Allah
by its author, John Yar Bamarni.
Gentleness is the adornment of the caller.
Allah the Almighty says:
“It was by the mercy of Allah that thou wast lenient with them (O Muhammad), for if thou hadst been stern and fierce of heart they would have dispersed from round about thee. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs. And when thou art resolved, then put thy trust in Allah. Lo! Allah loveth those who put their trust (in Him).” (3:159)
Had you been harsh and hard-hearted,
they would have dispersed from around you.
So pardon them,
and ask forgiveness for them,
and consult them in the matter.
“It was by the mercy of Allah that thou wast lenient with them (O Muhammad), for if thou hadst been stern and fierce of heart they would have dispersed from round about thee. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs. And when thou art resolved, then put thy trust in Allah. Lo! Allah loveth those who put their trust (in Him).” (3:159)
“It was by the mercy of Allah that thou wast lenient with them (O Muhammad), for if thou hadst been stern and fierce of heart they would have dispersed from round about thee. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs. And when thou art resolved, then put thy trust in Allah. Lo! Allah loveth those who put their trust (in Him).” (3:159)
Even if it were the Messenger of Allah, the best of mankind,
if he had been harsh and hard-hearted,
they would have fled from him.
For humans are emotional beings;
they are drawn to noble and kind treatment,
and repelled by rebuke and harsh criticism.
The ruling on calling to Allah.
Scholars have differed regarding the obligation of calling to Allah:
Is it an individual obligation or a collective one?
Some hold the view that it is an individual obligation
upon every Muslim man and woman,
and they have their proofs which they cite
from the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
Even if it is not an individual obligation today,
while nations have gathered against us,
and the number of those stepping forward to call to Allah is small,
when does it become an individual obligation?
Others hold the view that it is a collective obligation.
There is no doubt that calling to Allah
is a duty upon every Muslim man and woman,
each according to their knowledge and ability,
so that all religion may be for Allah,
and the word of Allah may be the highest.
It is the responsibility of the entire Ummah,
and it is likewise a need of the entire Ummah,
because calling to Allah is one of the greatest causes of guidance,
the increase of faith, and the abundance of deeds.
Some are sinful if they do not act.
How many students of knowledge
have had the wealth of the Muslims spent upon them,
and they possess the knowledge and the skills,
yet they abandon calling to Allah under the pretext of seeking a livelihood?
Yes, they are in need of seeking a livelihood,
but not with all of their efforts and energies.
Let them dedicate half of their time and wealth to calling to Allah.
And how many Muslim men and women possess wealth,
and they spend it on everything except calling to Allah?
Cautions.
The general public must restrict their calling
to the scope of clear matters.
Many texts have indicated the necessity for the caller
and others to remain within the circle of their knowledge.
It is feared, in the event of stepping outside of it,
that one might speak about Allah the Almighty
and His Messenger (peace be upon him) without knowledge.
The status of calling to Allah.
Regarding the status of calling to Allah,
Sheikh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Tuwayjiri says:
Calling to Allah
is how the purpose of Allah for His creation is fulfilled,
which is to worship Allah alone, with no partner.
Calling to Allah is the mother of all deeds,
and through it, the obligatory acts, the Sunnah, and etiquettes are revived,
and through it, the entire religion is revived throughout the whole world.
Calling to Allah is the greatest of all vocations,
and worship is the greatest of all deeds.
The vocation of calling to Allah is like the vocation of a king,
and the rest of the vocations
are like the vocations of those beneath him, such as workers and servants.
Many people have busied themselves with the vocation of servants
and abandoned the vocation of the prophets and messengers,
which is calling to Allah,
enjoining good and forbidding evil,
and offering sincere advice to every Muslim.
Have you heard in the history of humanity of an honor
that equals the honor of the caller?
Have you seen a status that rivals the status of calling to Allah?
If such is the case,
then set forth, O youth,
into the arena of calling to Allah,
sincere and truthful,
to attain the reward and recompense,
and the elevation and honor,
“Firmly established in the favour of a Mighty King.” (54:55)
with the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous.
And excellent are they as companions.
The punishment for abandoning calling to Allah.
After having mentioned the virtue of seeking reward and the work of calling to Allah,
we must remind ourselves
of the punishment and consequences of abandoning this call.
Allah has threatened those who are negligent in performing it with punishment.
For it is narrated from Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him),
from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him):
"By Him in whose hand is my soul,
you must enjoin good
and forbid evil,
or Allah will soon send upon you a punishment from Him;
then you will call upon Him, and you will not be answered."
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi.
It is known that among the barriers to the answering of supplication
is consuming and wearing what is unlawful.
As in the authentic hadith,
he then mentioned a man who travels a long distance,
disheveled and dusty,
stretching his hands toward the sky,
"O Lord, O Lord,"
while his food is unlawful,
his drink is unlawful,
his clothing is unlawful,
and he has been nourished by the unlawful,
so how could he be answered?
But few know that abandoning calling to Allah is also
among the barriers to the answering of supplication.
This means
that the obstacles that prevent our supplications from being answered
include abandoning enjoining good and forbidding evil.
As the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"Enjoin good and forbid evil
before you call upon Him and are not answered."
The matter is grave and shakes the heart.
How can the ship of society be protected from sinking
if those in the lower deck are left
to bore a hole in their section,
under the pretext that it is personal freedom?
At that point,
everyone on board the ship will perish.
But if those in the upper deck restrain
those in the lower deck,
because it is not personal freedom,
then,
everyone will be saved.