3 Days 40 Days 4 Month In Tabligh

NOTE : There was a recent question on proving the concept of 3 days/40 days and 4 months spending in Tabligh. Below is an answer from Mufti Ebrahim Desai Saheb. There are innumerable articles on our site in defence of the noble work of Da’wat and Tabligh. This is on an ongoing basis from The Darul Iftaa. We are also busy with a compilation of answers in defence to the ahadeeth of Fadha’il e A’maal. This is indeed a very mammoth task that requires a lot of research. Make du’a this compilation reaches its fruition. Ameen.

In the Name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful

The principle and simple response to this objection is,

· One is a general order of Sharī῾āh. For example Da῾wahand Tablīgh, seeking Knowledge etc.

· The other is the procedure in carrying out these orders.

The procedure to do da῾wahand Tablīgh, seeking knowledge etc. are subservient to Maslihah (prudence). Maslihah is a very important juristic principle and governs many orders of Sharī῾āhbased on circumstances.

It is the wisdom of a wise person/s to understand circumstances and guide and act accordingly.

Rasulullah salallahu ῾alayhi wasallamwanted to rebuild the Ka’bah Sharīf and include the Hatīm area in it as it was excluded by the Arabs at the time of Jahiliyyah due to shortage of funds.

· Consider, the Ka’ba Shareef is the house of Allah.

· It was built by His beloved prophet Ebrahim alayhis salam with the order of Allah.

· The Ka’ba Shareef is a symbol of Allah on earth.

· The final and most beloved Rasul of Allah salallahu alayhi wasallam expressed his desire to rebuild the Ka’ba and include the Hateem in the enclosed part of the Ka’ba.

Inspite of such overwhelming positive points, Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam decided against rebuilding the Ka῾baas that was against Maslihah.

The people would accuse Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam of starting a new religion and changing the symbols that are near and dear to them. That in turn would turn the people away from Islam.

It is also important to consider that this consideration of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was during his final Hajj. Makkah was conquered. Islam has spread and thousands entered into the fold of Islam already. Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam could have all had the support to change the Ka’ba. Yet he exercised restraint. All this was due to Maslihat.

There are innumerable examples in Seerah of invoking the rule of Maslihah for purpose of Da῾wah. A wise person looks beyond the surface of the issue.

Da῾wahh (propagation) is an integral part of Deen. It is actually one of the missions of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam. In fact the mission of every prophet of Allah.

Any person having insight on the history and life of the prophets will understand that the procedure of da῾wahh during the different prophets was circumstantial. Every prophet faced a different challenge which required a different approach of da῾wah.

It is common knowledge,

“The laws of one nation cannot govern the other”

Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam is the last prophet. His mission of Da῾wahh will remain till the day of judgement.

The Ummat will face changing conditions all the time.

What was the best method of da῾wahh 1000 years ago, may not be the best now. New methods had to be introduced to achieve the common objective of Sharī῾āhand Da῾wahh. Surely, any new method must not violate any injunction of Sharī῾āh. At the same time, Sharī῾āhdoes not oppose introducing methods to uphold the common objectives of Sharī῾āh. In fact to some extent Sharī῾āhencourages it.

اذا ثبت الشئى ثبت بلوازمه

When something is established, it will be with all its imperatives

Take for example, Sharī῾āhhas emphasised on building Masājid. There are great rewards promised for a person that builds a Masjid.

مَنْ بَنَى لِلَّهِ مَسْجِدًا بَنَى اللَّهُ لَهُ مِثْلَهُ فِي الجَنَّة

Whosoever builds a Masjid for Allah’s pleasure, Allah will build for him a similar in Jannah

(Sunan Tirmidhi Shareef #318, Vol. 2 Pg 134)

Building a Masjid is an expression of a person’s Imān.

However, what takes place before building a Masjid and what happens after a Masjid is built are all administrative issues left to the discretion of the person, for example:

· Consulting appropriate people in the choice of the land.

· Choosing a builder

· Obtaining funds

· Drawing a constitution

· Appointing an Imam

· The daily activities in the Masjid

There are no specific rules governing all the issues surrounding the building of a Masjid. However,, Sharī῾āhdoes not oppose these issues as it is a means to achieve the objectives encourages in Sharī῾āh.

Will anyone object to these issues in establishing Masjid?

Can anyone claim, where is it in the Qur’ān and Hadīth to have a constitution for a Masjid?

Where is it in the Qur’an that there should be specific talks and programmes in the Masjid? All this is left to the discretion of the trustees of the masjid.

Similarly, Sharī῾āhemphasizes on seeking knowledge of Sharī῾āh? There is no specific order of Sharī῾āhto learn Arabic.

However, it is understood that he Arabic language is a medium to understand the Qur’an and Hadīth. Hence, the learning of Sarf, Nahw, Fasahat and Balaghah etc.

Similarly, there is no mention of establishing madrasahs and Dārul Ulūms with a five year or seven year curriculum. All these are based on careful thought, experiences and administering an agenda to achieve the objective of being educated in Sharī῾āh.

Nowhere in the Qur’an it is stated to study specific subject or for a specific time period?

If these lawāzimāt (imperatives) of a masjid or becoming an Alim are not implemented, a masjid would not be built or not properly administered. There would not be well educated Ulama.

This is also understood in the circular field. There is a need for doctors, lawyers, and other apprentices.

It is only after a person spends a few years studying and doing apprenticeship in a particular field, is one qualified enough to practice in that field. To practice as a doctor without fulfilling these administrative requirements is termed as fraud. Will it be wise to question where is this in the Qur’an and the Hadith?

How can such a huge responsibility of Da῾wahh be fulfilled without undertaking training in the field of Da῾wahh. Da῾wahh is not merely representing ones client in law. Da῾wahh is not merely administering medicine or fixing someone’s lights like an electrician does!

It is to guide mankind from the darkness of kufr to the lights of Iman and faith in Allah.

It is to guide one from the attachment of their temporary materialistic world to the everlasting hereafter.

This is a huge and mammoth task. It requires the pain in the heart to witness kufr and shirk, to witness people treading the path to jahannam (hellfire).

Once that pain is there, the rest follows – sacrifice with wealth and life.

This pain is inculcated by going out and witnessing the condition of people immersed in their worldly life. Knowing something can never be like personal experience.

ليس الخبر كالمعاينة

Information (of something) is not the same as witnessing (through eyes)

Our Ulama have thus encouraged people to go out for a few days, 3 days, 40 days, 4 months to witness the condition of the people and feel the pain of Ghaflah (obliviousness) , kufr and shirk and then exert oneself to guide oneself and other on to Sirat al Mustaqeem.

The best answer to your objections is join the work with experienced elders and witness the noor of the work yourself.

No amount of explanation will fulfil you equivalent to your personal experience.

There is a saying,

The taste of the pudding lies in tasting it.

Looking at the pudding will not make you understand the taste.

And Allah knows best

The consequences of an absent father

Jazakallah for writing to us regarding your concerns about a brother who is an “absent husband and father”. I would like to deal with this matter at length as Muslims are challenged with many dilemmas and fitna from all directions. It is noble and commendable to serve Allah Ta’ala’s deen where and whenever possible. However, to serve one’s family and to be consciously involved in the upbringing of one’s children is a responsibility and duty every parent has (to fulfill).

Parents have to recognise that they live in a world where “western” influences are strong, no matter how much they may try to shield their children or themselves. They cannot go on burying their heads in the sand in this day and age and believe that they will not be affected or targeted in one way or another. They have to accept that their children are growing up in a world where peer group pressure, the education system and the media, be it “mXit”, drugs, movies, pornographic material exist and can have an influence on them. These traps can have a huge impact on their children’s lives and in fact on the lives of the parents themselves.

Children become confused when they have a “temporary father” or a father who takes little interest in being present for his children. This sort of father is considered as an absent father and the children often experience conflict about whether they are loved or wanted by him or not. Yes, a mother is the child’s first school but it is the father who is most important in teaching his children what the world is all about. He is the one who helps to establish moral and social values in the lives of his daughters and sons for he is their link with the outside world. He goes out daily into the outside world and he thus has full knowledge of what his children will be faced with. It is his duty to make them aware of the possible pitfalls they may encounter out there and help them by preparing them to deal with these pitfalls and other challenges.

He is also the parent who has a great deal of influence over his children in terms of their interests, be they academic, religious, social or otherwise. When a father takes an interest in the children’s education, they are more motivated to do well and to be “like father”. Not only sons but daughters also love to impress their fathers and they often want to do well because, “my father will be so happy with me”. They identify more with the father’s qualities and code of life. This in turn helps to improve their self-esteem, confidence and identity of who they are as Muslims. They are better able to stand up to negative peer pressure and are more receptive towards avoiding evil.

When a father shows a lack of interest in his children’s education, they often lack the motivation and interest in performing well. They feel rejected or have the attitude, “What’s the point because my father does not care as he is too busy making money or doing his own thing”. They also become ambivalent about whether they can love, trust and respect him or even obey him. They often find it difficult to obey him or follow his advice or guidance because he is not ‘there for me when I need him’. By the otherwise, I mean that if a father does not convey his interest in his children’s daily lives, his children will seek the “otherwise” which could be drugs, crime or worse. They will seek acceptance and recognition from their friends who instead become more important than the ‘absent father’. In order to be accepted and to have a feeling of belonging (with their friends), these children may engage in activities that are haraam and that get them into trouble with the law.

The father should not just take the stand that he does not have to spend much time with his children or that, “My children will be safe because I am fully engaged in the work of deen” The life of a Muslim has to be one of balance. If there is no balance in how a father conducts his time between work, family and deen, his family will be rocked from pillar to post. The father is the captain of his family and as such, he has been given the responsibility to protect and guide his family safely. He is the shepherd of his flock and he has to look after them.

It is totally unacceptable that a husband goes for 4 months jamaat and leaves his wife to work and support his family. In fact, he should have seen to it that he made adequate provision for his family so that his wife did not have to work during this time. She should have been in a position to give her full attention to her children and feel safe in her home by not having to be working. By away from home too often and by not spending quality time with them, he is abdicating his duties and responsibilities as a father and husband. If he is so caught up in his own world of television, car washes, business and other activities; he is neglecting his wife’s and his children’s rights over him. He should question himself and ask why he serves other people but fails to serve his own family. He has to examine himself and ponder over where his first duty lies. It is considered a great sadqa to assist one’s wife in the home. His duty is to take his family to the doctors when needed and timeously too so that they don’t miss their appointments. Since he goes in jamaat so often, he has learnt the value of time and punctuality. Time to put it into practice, brother. The brother concerned here should seriously consider what role he is playing in his family.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

The Thoughts of Sinning

There are many people that are very anxious and troubled when the thought of sinning comes to their minds. Whilst Shaytaan whispers such thoughts, inviting and tempting towards sins, we should not entertain them.

I often present the analogy that our minds can be likened to a national highway. Whilst traveling on the highway, we find different kinds of vehicles and conveyances – luxury cars, old cars, trucks, bicycles, motorbikes, etc. Many a time, animals are seen being transported – horses, cows and even pigs. If we find ourselves driving behind a truck transporting pigs, then even though it is something that disgusts us, we don’t have to leave off traveling the highway. All we have to do is, indicate, accelerate, overtake and continue driving.

Similarly, our mind is like that national highway and all kinds of thoughts begin traveling the mind – good and bad. When evil thoughts visit our minds, then we should just pass them by. We should not intentionally bring them into the mind or entertain them when they come to mind. Simply ignore them. Despite the thought being bad, no sin is recorded against. In fact Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) mentioned that Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had said that if a servant has an inclination towards some evil but does not act upon it, one good is written of good deeds.

The following is another analogy which I have also presented in explanation : If during the blessed month of Ramadaan, whilst sitting at the dastarkhaan, waiting for iftaar, many delicious foods are placed before a person, and the thought comes to his mind, to eat this or partake of that, then there is no sin in regard to those thoughts. As long as the person does not eat anything, his fast will not break and there will be no sin on the mere thought of eating the different delicacies coming to his mind.