[POWERPOINT-SLIDES] IN-HOUSE TALK AT PERGAS, SINGAPORE (10th APRIL 2009)

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Maseehiyah Slideshare(Pergas 2009)

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( An excerpt of relevant article ........ )

4.0 Dispelling some misunderstanding about Da’wah:

4.1 Confrontational?

One of the common complaints against Islamic Da’wah is that it is deemed confrontational. Many already seems to conclude that being confrontational is wrong, it is unacceptable in normal social interaction for it create tension which is bad for harmonious co-existence amongst people and therefore must be disallowed. This is a fallacy. And when even Muslims hold this view, giving discouraging apologetic remarks making excuses such “don’t want to cause offence to others;” or “don’t invite their dislike towards us, etc.,” we are indeed sadden because it reflect their lack of deep thinking upon what Islam stands for. Let us consider:

[A] Islam firstly stands for Truth, it advocate adherence to the truth and enjoins every good, and therefore conversely it opposes falsehood and every evil. By virtue of this reality, its existence is meant to be confrontational, to confront every falsehood and evil. So, we do not deny that the message of Islam is confrontational. Any Muslim who is totally against being confrontational should do more reflection. Even the kalimah of Islam (statement of Islamic creed) itself is confrontational: Laa-ilaaha il-lallaah "There is no god (i.e. no other deserving of worship), but God (Allah)”. From the history of our Prophet s.a.w, we learn how because of his confronting falsehood and evil, it brought about changes and established much better lives for everyone. And every Muslim knows of our social responsibility to enjoining good, commanding the doing of what is right and forbid wrong and evil. In fact even in any other society too, it has to depend upon its citizens to confront and eradicate crimes and deeds opposed to the law and social order. If we yearn for peace, progress and strive for an ideal, we cannot merely hope for it to just happen. How would this be possible without being confrontational? Perhaps the relevant question is not that we cannot be confrontational, but to consider the manner of confrontation is it the right or the wrong approach, based on concept of justice and common good? And remember that by being confrontational, it does not mean forcing people to accept our view. We will respect their right to hold on to their opinion.

[B] Tension is not a bad thing. In fact existence of order and harmony can only be possible because of the existence of tension. The terms “order” and “harmony” implies presence of varieties, perhaps even contrary and opposing elements. What holds them together is the tension created by confrontation of opposing elements and their settling upon the median or equilibrium. Without which, these two terms do not make any sense. Perhaps what we should be concerned with is whether the degree of tension is healthy or otherwise. So, it is naive to expect harmonious co-existence without tension. On the contrary when tension becomes totally absent (e.g. checks and balance are removed) we may even face danger of imminent collapse and destruction of that society.

[C] Is conveying a message to whomsoever it is meant for, wrong? Even though some may feel offended because they may deem it confrontational and insist that therefore it should not be delivered, shouldn’t it still have to be delivered? Is the messenger wrong to carry out a trust? Surely this line of argument, that you shouldn’t deliver disliked or unwelcomed messages, is preposterous. And the Qur’an that is with us contains many such messages to be appropriately conveyed. This is how Muslim views Da’wah effort, because for us, the messages came upon us to be delivered to those whom it is addressed to. It specially mentioned the People of the Book (Ahl-al-Kitaab); it is as though Muslims are holding on to a mail meant for them. Even if the message will be disliked, we have to deliver as it is a duty. We cannot betray the trust, especially to Christians because one of the reasons for Allah s.w.t. revealing the Qur’an is to warn them:

ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمۡ يَجۡعَل لَّهُ ۥ عِوَجَاۜ قَيِّمً۬ا

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لِّيُنذِرَ بَأۡسً۬ا شَدِيدً۬ا مِّن لَّدُنۡهُ

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وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ إِلَّا أَجۡرًا

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حَسَنً۬ا مَّـٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدً۬ا وَيُنذِرَ

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ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدً۬ا مَّا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ۬ وَلَا لِأَبَآٮِٕهِمۡ‌ۚ كَبُرَتۡ

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ڪَلِمَةً۬ تَخۡرُجُ مِنۡ أَفۡوَٲهِهِمۡ‌ۚ

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إِن يَقُولُونَ كَذِبً۬ا

Praise be to Allah Who hath sent to His Servant the Book, and hath allowed therein no Crookedness: (He hath made it) Straight (and Clear), in order that He may warn (the godless) of a terrible Punishment from Him, and that He may give Glad Tidings to the Believers who work righteous deeds, that they shall have a goodly Reward. Wherein they shall remain forever: Further that He may warn those (also) who say "Allah hath begotten a son": No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying. What they say is nothing but falsehood!

(Qur’an: al-Kahfi: 18:1-5)

From these three (3) reasons, Muslims need not be apologetic when people level accusations upon us doing Da’wah. Do not be faint-hearted as those ignorant ones who even dare to compromise Islamic principles for the sake of looking good in others eyes. May Allah s.w.t. forgive them because perhaps they did not know. We must correct this and persevere undeterred by whatever accusations, as we only meant well and the task is indeed noble. We are merely fulfilling an Amanah (a trust). The message of Islam is all about “An-NaseeHah” - the sincere advice. As in my earlier posting, even if it is unsolicited we still have to convey, as we believe it to contain message of Mercy and Compassion for the well-being of God’s entire creature.

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