Third matter: this matter of always wanting to see the results, and connecting success based upon that. Looking for the results, looking for the good end to the matter. Many from ahlul-Khair (the people of good) look to the positive results and analyze issues based upon that, and therefore connect their real deep hopes to that. If time goes on, and it doesn't seem like there's any result, then what enters into their hearts? Weakness enters their hearts.
And this weakness increases and increases as the days go on until some of them just give up. And some of them leave the battlefield of da'wah. And some of them may even have an adverse reaction to the whole matter, and become opposite of what they were.
And this is a deficiency in their understanding of the methodology of da'wah.
For the caller and the one who wants to do Islaah (rectification), he is not responsible for the results. He is not responsible to look or see the results. It is not a necessity or from the means of the success of his da'wah that he sees the results. But it is upon the caller and upon whoever wants rectification to spend and strive their utmost to calling the people to what is good.
If Allaah, Tabarak wa Ta'aala, blesses the coolness of his eyes with seeing the fruits of his da'wah, Fa Biha wa Ni'mah (in that case, that's a blessing). And if he doesn't see the results, and it is delayed - the season of harvesting - or he might not see the finality of the fruits of his labor, it doesn't matter, for he is upon good.
Upon the individual is to strive as much as he can in doing good. It's NOT upon him necessarily to complete or reach the goal he was striving for. And before all this, let the caller to good place right in front of his eyes the following texts from Qur`an and Sunnah.
And remember the position of the Prophets of Allaah and how they were teaching the people good, and how they were concerned about that even though they may not have seen the season of harvesting or the fruits of the labor.
Listen to [read] these ayat:
...Are the Messengers charged with anything but to convey clearly the Message? (An-Nahl, ayah 35)
Say: "Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, he (Messenger Muhammad) is only responsible for the duty placed on him (i.e. to convey Allaah's Message) and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to convey (the message) in a clear way." (An-Nur, ayah 54)
[Nooh said:] "I convey unto you the Messages of my Lord and give sincere advice to you. And I know from Allaah what you know not." (Al-A'raf, ayah 62)
[Hud said:] "I convey unto you the Messages of my Lord, and I am a trustworthy adviser for you." (Al-A'raf, ayah 68)
O Messenger (Muhammad)! Proclaim (the Message) which has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message. Allaah will protect you from mankind. Verily, Allaah guides not the people who disbelieve. (Al-Ma`idah, ayah 67)
So if they dispute with you (Muhammad) say: "I have submitted myself to Allaah (in Islaam), and (so have) those who follow me." And say to those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and to those who are illiterates (Arab pagans): "Do you (also) submit yourselves (to Allaah in Islaam)?" If they do, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message; and Allaah is All-Seer of (His) slaves. (Aali 'Imran, ayah 20)
But if they turn away (O Muhammad, from the Tawheed, which you have brought to them). We have not sent you (O Muhammad) as a Hafidh (protector) over them (i.e. to take care of their deeds and to recompense them). Your duty is to convey (the Message)... (Ash-Shura, ayah 48)
Then he [Saalih] turned from them, and said: "O my people! I have indeed conveyed to you the Message of my Lord, and have given you good advice but you like not good advisers." (Al-A'raf, ayah 79)
Obey Allaah, and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), but if you turn away, then the duty of Our Messenger is only to convey (the Message) clearly. (At-Taghabun, ayah 12)
[Hud said:] "So if you turn away, still I have conveyed the Message with which I was sent to you. My Lord will make another people succeed you, and you will not harm Him in the least. Surely, my Lord is Guardian over all things." (Hud, ayah 57)
Ponder upon these texts that show that the position of the caller is but Al-Balaagh (to convey the message). Even if those who are called turn away, it is not his position to see the future of his da'wah, or even whether they will answer his call, or believe in his message.
Whether We show you (O Muhammad) part of what We have promised them or cause you to die, your duty is only to convey (the Message) and on Us is the reckoning. (Ra'd, ayah 40)
From these texts and many other verses, it becomes clear that it is upon the caller to good to struggle and strive in the path of spreading good. If his call is accepted, he has a reward and they have a reward. But if they stick upon their falsehood and transgress and are obstinant, he will have his reward and they will have punishment. The caller will get the reward in both situations.
Also, in this regard in this particular matter, the hadeeth of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), because the Prophets for us are the best and highest example. We find that many did not adhere to - or accept - the message of the Prophets. Yet, this did not prevent them from conveying the message, nor did it lower the status of the Messenger. And they (Messengers) were able to exemplify and actualize the worship of Allaah, Tabarak wa Ta'aala, and support the Deen.
Imam Muslim recorded on the authority of Ibn 'Abbaas (radiallaahu 'anhumma): the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: The nations were presented before me. And I saw a Prophet and there were none with him except less than 10 people. And I saw a Prophet who had with him a man or two men. And I saw a Prophet who had no one with him [no one accepted his call and followed him]... [Muslim, Bukhari]
Nevertheless (the reference point here for us) is that some Prophets only had one or two followers, and some had no followers. So this is a blessed Prophet who had been supported by revelation from Allaah, but still no one answered his call. And along with that, he didn't become regretful or give up, but he kept conveying the risala (message), trying to please Allaah, Tabarak wa Ta'aala, and fulfill the obligation upon him in conveying the message to his Ummah. So if this is the case of the Prophets of Allaah, what about these people who give up at the first moment, saying, 'we don't have that many people here,' or 'we don't have that many people listening.'
It is upon the caller and the one who wants correction and to rectify matters - himself, of course, and others - to continue to convey that which is good. And [it's also upon him] to give Nasiha (advice), hoping for the pleasure of Allaah, Tabarak wa Ta'aala, and fulfilling his responsibility, giving sincere advice to his brothers and be warned against Talbees Iblees (the deception of Iblees) regarding the few listeners.
 | quote: | In this respect, many people are astonished with themselves if they have a lot of people around them. And you find them weak in giving da'wah when there are a few people. But with the true da'iyah (caller), he should be the same, whether the (listeners or subjects of da'wah) are many or few.
Listen (read) this statement of Imam Adh-Dhahabi, who mentioned about 'Abdur-Rahman ibn Mahdi. He said, 'I used to sit on the day of Jumu'ah. If there were a lot of people, I became happy. And if there were few people, I became sad. So I asked Bishr ibn Mansoor. Bishr looked at him and said, 'Hadha Majlis Soo` (This is an evil sitting). Do not return to it.' So I did not return to it. [Seera A'lam Anubula]
If you find that you are astonished and you feel amazed with yourself due to seeing many people, then the group goes away and separates and leaves you, and you don't find except a few people, then you don't have the same sincerity, the same type of meticulousness, the same type of concern about conveying what you have, then know that you are in a Majlis Soo` (evil sitting).
It will harm you, and it will not benefit you.
Therefore, even if no one except one person sits with you, teach him what Allaah, Tabarak wa Ta'aala, has taught you. Teach him what Allaah, Tabarak wa Ta'aala, has taught you. | |
And I used to see the mashayikh sit waahidan (alone), none one with them [referring to the scholars of the mamlaka (Kingdom of Saudia Arabia), such as Ibn Baaz and others]. If someone would come, they would read to him something and explain it to him. And if no one came to him, when the time for the Dars (lesson) was finished, [the shaikh] would get up and return the next day upon the same matter until Allaah, Tabarak wa Ta'aala, has written for him what He has written.
And it didn't bother him (the shaikh). One came today, and he asked and he recited something, and I explained. Today, no one came. I'm still doing what I have to do.
Listen (read) the statement of Imam Malik (rahimahullaah). I used to come to Nafi' [Malik's major shaikh in that golden chain of transmission: Imam Malik -------> Nafi' -------> 'Abdullaah ibn 'Umar (radiallaahu 'anhumma) -------> the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam)].
I came to Nafi' while I was a young man, and I had a young man with me. He [Nafi'] used to sit on the steps and narrate to us, and he used to sit after SubH (morning prayer). Generally, no one came to him. [We're talking about Nafi', now!] So here was Imam Malik benefitting from him, with this young ghulaam at his side. That was it, and they (those such as Nafi', the tabi'ee) didn't mind that. They understood the issue, they had understanding.
Imam Adh-Dhahabi (rahimahullaah) mentioned in The Life of The Great Scholar 'Atta Ibn Abi RabaH. Great Scholar (rahimahullaah). | | quote: | | One of the contemporaries of 'Atta Ibn Abi RabaH said: I saw 'Atta - and he is the most beloved person of the people upon the earth with the people [the people loved him], but I didn't see except eight or nine people sitting with him. | |
| | quote: | | So the proof, the lesson, the most important matter is not with the great amount, but the most important matter is Ikhlaas, and to benefit anyone - not necessarily the group. So do not belittle any good at all. Do not ever belittle any good. | |
And strive with what you have of knowledge. Maybe four or five people come to you, and one of them benefits. And there might be someone else who has 40 or 50 people, and five or six (of them) benefit. And the one who benefited from you may bring great benefit, even more than the five or six who stay with the others. And Allaah may benefit you that one that you may have taught thouands and thousands of people. | |
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