Da‘wah Activism

Islamic activism in respect of its method is based on non-violence and in respect of its target is based on da‘wah. Da‘wah, in fact, is another name for a peaceful struggle for the propagation of Islam. It would be true to say that Islamic activism in fact is da‘wah activism.

The task of da‘wah is no simple one. It enjoys the status of a key factor. If this task is fully performed, all other objectives will be automatically achieved. Here are certain references from the Qur’an in this connection.

1. Through da’wah the believers receive God’s protection against the mischief of the opponents. (5:67)
2. Through da’wah even the direst of enemy turns into a dearest friend. (41:34)
3. Da‘wah proves Islam’s ideological superiority. And without doubt nothing is greater than the superiority of ideology. (10:32)
4. Through da‘wah a positive mentality is inculcated within the ummah. This is called ‘honest counsel’ in the Qur’an. (7:68)
5. The mission of da‘wah is performed by human beings but the conducive conditions for it are provided by God. Just as the farming is to be done by the farmer while the rains come from God. In modern times favourable conditions have been fully provided to man. Now the believers’ duty is to refrain from expending their energies in futile activities. They must exert their entire energy in da’wah work. All the best results will ensue from this act.
6. The Prophet Muhammad e along with about two hundred of his companions left Makkah when the Makkan leaders had made it impossible for them to stay there. The Makkans had even decided to kill the Prophet. But the first speech the Prophet made on reaching Madinah had no taste of bitterness, neither did it contain any mention of vengeance on or violence against the Quraysh.

On reaching Madinah, first priority was given to the task of entering into peace treaties with the tribes in and around Madinah, for instance with the Banu Khuza‘a, etc. According to their pact neither would they fight against the Muslims nor would the Muslims fight against them. Most of the tribes in Arabia joined in these truce agreements.

But the Quraysh did not desist from aggression, and even engaged in certain military forays against the Muslims. Finally, in the sixth year of Hijrah, the Prophet succeeded in making a peace treaty with the Quraysh as well, at a place called Hudaybiya, albeit on acceptance of all the conditions laid down by the Quraysh.