Wisdom in the propagating of Deen

The axe is not meant to cut vegetables and the knife is not meant to break bones. One must know when, how, where and what must be used.

Allah Ta'ala gave us a mouth to speak but not to utter just any kind of words. One must know how to use it. One can utter something in different ways that can have different effects. As far as possible, one must speak in such a way that one can convey the message without it having any negative effect. In principle, one should use a soft and polite tone. But there are also moments where a harder tone is required just as sometimes it is wiser to keep quiet. One must not emphasise on something that gives the impression that it is Farz when in reality, it is not Farz. And one must also not be insensitive to a serious situation by making compromises that give the impression that it is a simple thing.

This is especially when nowadays people do not know the basics of Deen yet, so it is not wise to develop big themes. This is like giving small children the food of adults. In this case, besides wasting food, the damage that it will cause to the health of the child is very evident. One must know how, when and what to give to whom.

One is in an epoch where people do not even know the basic things such as Wuzu, Ghusal, Salah, Tilawat of Qur'aan-e-Karim, good manners and how to live with the next person. In addition to that, one has to work a lot on our own Imaan and has a little concern for others also. If one starts to deal with sterile themes for the pleasure of some, then one will waste one's resources and one's efforts will be in vain without doing anything good and positive for the community. One will go at great speed but in the opposite direction to one’s destination. That is how one is distancing day by day despite enormous efforts.

Firstly, one must work on Yaqeen (the conviction) in the Aakhirah. This was the principle adopted by Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam). If this is imbued in a person, then everything will become easy. Otherwise, the person will be like a truck which is carrying a tank of fuel without being able to take benefit from a drop of it even. This is because a vehicle does not drive with the fuel that it transports so long as it is not filled in its engine. Likewise, however much one may have knowledge, the only knowledge that will make one practise is that knowledge which penetrates the heart. Thus, the force that motivates one is Imaan and Yaqeen in the Aakhirah. And it is this very effort that must be made.

[English version of "La sagesse dans propage Deen" – Al Jamiat – Vol.5 No.14]