Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera – Qur’anic Reflections How Yusuf (AS) Gave Dawah
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Bismillah R Rahman r Rahim Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa
barakato. Let us start with our verse of the Quran. There all the
bill humanist shaytani R rajim Bismillah R Rahman Al Rahim,
Otero, Isla sabini or bigger Bill Hekmati will know a lot in Havana
with the loom in the accent. So the colloquial Aleem.
This is verse 125, of the 60s Chapter sort of denial of the
Quran, Allah subhanho wa Taala is telling us it's telling us how one
should invite others to Allah, how we should fulfill our
responsibility of inviting others to good and to purity, and to this
perfect faith.
Now, this is being told in a way that we can understand this to be
both in a passive sense. And in an active sense, Allah subhanaw taala
says, invite mankind to the way of your LORD with Wisdom. And,
moreover, fair preaching, good advice, sound. Sound advice,
right. And if you have to
argue with somebody, if you have to have a discussion with someone
that do it in the most excellent of ways, that always works better,
that always works better, rather than aggressively going in and
condemning everybody, and putting people down, that doesn't help at
all. Now, this is a very, very comprehensive verse, that it's
impossible to mention all the principles for propagating the
religion or for inviting others to the path or, I mean, you know,
when we're talking about inviting others to the path, we're not just
this is not just thinking of it in some kind of formal way that I'm
going to join the dow a movement, a Dow a group, right, and then I'm
going to go and, you know, present a ties and, you know, do these
stalls outside markets and give people copies of the Quran?
Definitely, you can do that. There's definitely a father that
will but there's also other, there's also other iterations of
this, for example, parents giving out to their children, children
giving out to their parents, just literally trying to encourage one
another towards piety. Thou in one building with Taqwa without I
wonder if we will read one. I mean, that's essentially we're
doing, you've got friends, you've got colleagues, brothers, sisters,
right. And we're just trying to encourage them that we see that
somebody is, you know, involved in drugs. So, again, calling people
to the right way that's part of that work, right, trying to help
correct somebody trying to help somebody out of a bad situation.
That's all dour. In fact teaching somebody who doesn't know how to
read the Quran, right? teaching somebody on how to do these
things. All of this is Dawa. Right? It's very, very
comprehensive, and how you can do that there are so many different
principles, it depends on the situation. There's so many factors
that are involved in that. That's where Allah subhanaw taala said,
do it with hikma but Hickman is a very loaded term is a very
comprehensive term. What is wisdom, wisdom is how you deliver
a message according to that particular circumstance. You know,
what is you can have knowledge. But if you don't have wisdom,
which means that you don't know how to convey that knowledge that
you have, then that knowledge is not going to be useful to you,
because you can't convey it to somebody else. So wisdom is how
best to convey it in the most ideal situation most convincing
way. That's what you call wisdom. May Allah subhanaw taala give us
wisdom on how to tell people, may Allah give us wisdom of how we
preach how we deliver these lectures as well.
You have to go according to somebody's capacity, understanding
their level, intellectual level, spiritual level, contemporary
issues that are going on the challenges that people may be
facing at that particular time psychological factors have to be
taken into consideration. You have to take into view their own
worldview of how they think things and then you have to try to change
that worldview, if that is what's causing an obstacle in the path of
them understanding, right? Sometimes that's what that's what
it is, you just have to be creative about it and think and
strategize that what is the way to do this. That's why every form of
persuasion for winning over the adresi could be adopted and
included in this and that is what Allah subhanaw taala is saying in
the Quran. That's why it's very difficult to just narrow it down
to a few things. But wisdom definitely is one of those things
that you can say, at the end of the day, as servants of the
creator of this universe, we are His slaves, and we should just be
ready to perform this share his faith with people whenever the
situation demands for us, okay? And
it's useful if we can understand some ways of how successful people
did this before. Then we get an idea and that would be helpful
because you know, we learn from examples. So I'm going to
To give you an example from use of Ali Salam story, right? So Allah
subhanho wa Taala says about use of Ali salaam now use of it some
you know, he had his issue with his brothers and then you had
issues after. But this is a very particular aspect of the story. He
then carries on the story carries on that incident, particular
incident Karazhan. This is the specific incident of use of ice
anomalies put into prison, and there's two other people who join
him at that time. So this is what Allah says. So let's look at a
translation. First, I'll translate it for you completely, so that you
get the full story. And they entered with him, two young men in
prison. One of them said, Verily, I saw myself in a dream pressing
wind, the other set, verily, I saw myself in a dream, carrying bread
on my head. And birds were eating their off. I mean, they approached
us about Islam with this, it wasn't just a casual chat, they
actually
they actually came to us via Islam with this. So then they said,
inform us of the interpretation of this very, we think you are one of
those who do good. Usually salaam, this already started, he said,
your food, the food will not come to you as your provision, or
rather, no food will come to you as your provision, meaning the
food that's supposed to be coming to you as prisoner to us. Right,
right. I will inform you of the interpretation before the food
comes. And this why because this is part of the duty which Lord,
which the Lord has taught me, meaning this dream interpretation
is something that Allah has taught me, I have abandoned then he says
this, he says, I have abandoned the way of the people who do not
believe in Allah, and then even deny the hereafter. I follow the
way of my forefathers. Ibrahim is how can Yaqoob
and never could we attribute any partners to Allah. This is from
the Grace of Allah to us and to mankind. But most men do not
think, Oh, two companions, oh, two companions of the prison, oh, my
two companions of the prison, rather, are many different gods
better than Allah, the One that irresistible.
You do not worship besides him, but only names which you have
forged, you and your forefathers for which Allah subhanaw taala has
not sent down any authority. The command is for none but Allah, He
has commanded that you worship number Allah, and that is the true
religion, but most men do not know. Now, if we look at this
carefully, what we're going to find is some really interesting
points. This is a method of data that use value Salam uses, and
it's in prompt you. He didn't come to, he did not come and invite
them or he decided that I'm going to invite them, they gave him an
opportunity, and he took it. And that's exactly what happens. So
initially, it tells us that Allah Subhan, Allah subhanaw, Taala
tells us that they both entered, or three of them actually entered
prison around the same time. So they were his companions, right?
And they tell him, so if you look at the verses, they tell him that
in nanorod, criminal, Marcin that we see you from among the doers of
good, right? We see you from among those who do good. That means that
prior to them, asking him that observed him, he carried himself
in a very particular way that made him approachable, that made him
seem dignified enough, knowledgeable enough, and
reasonable and decent, that they could actually ask him these
questions.
Right? That and then when you look at the rest of his discourse, and
how he follows at one point with the other, you see an amazing
amount of caution, intelligence, tact and strategy to get the
message across. There's a whole psychology behind that, that you
see. Right?
You see, what happens is that if you get to a shop at,
let's just say that you get to a shop at closing time, and the
owner of the shop, he is really bad to you. And as I'm closing,
why'd you come at this time or whatever, you're probably not
gonna want to go to that shop again. Alright. Cuz in the
business world as a customer is always right. There's somebody I
know who eats out a lot and spends a lot of money taking out friends
To eat, and he spends, you know, good amount of money. So there's
one particular restaurant that that has good food, but they
charge a lot of money. And he said, I've not been there since
about the last four years or something. whole group had gone to
that restaurant, and that the bill was like 301 pound 50 301 or 302
pound 50. Right. This was a few years ago. 300 partner restaurant.
I mean, it was quite a bit of money. Right? And he said they
literally charged every last penny. Okay, well, it's their duty
is their right, they can charge it. But yeah, at the end of the
day,
he said,
because he's a businessman himself, and he knows that when
somebody buys a lot
You I mean, the little spare change, I mean, it's a tradition
that you just you just let it go, right? It gives it you know, you,
you're not going to lose that much, but you make the customer
feel very good. They become repeat customers, there's a store close
by, and everybody praises it, because the guy is just such a
nice guy. And he just, you know, knocks up a few pennies here and
there, it's just a few pennies, but it makes a big difference. So
that's why in a similar kind of idea, you have to be very
flexible, you can't be rigid, when it comes to data, you have to be
very, very, very flexible. And you have to show a lot of courtesy,
right? Because everybody likes to receive a bargain. So if somebody
wants your faith from you, they need to get a bargain. And you
need to be very, very flexible in the way you, you know, you
the way you explain these kinds of things.
Because at the end of the day, there's a patient that's you know,
who has an issue and you're trying to correct them, you're trying to
give them therapy, for that you need to get them on your side.
That's why doctors tend to try to be very polite, and try to be very
empathic and try to be very compassionate, that in itself does
half the job. Subhanallah you know, that in itself does half the
job. If you get this rough and gruff doctor, you know,
subhanAllah, that doesn't leave you very comforted, you know,
afterwards, even if they have diagnosed everything from you. So
that's why you know, what we understand from the F series
regarding this verse that these two people had come in. And they
saw use of Ali salaam as a person that could probably answer their
questions for them. Right. So they were instantly drawn to him,
right? They must have recognized these special abilities and saw
his piety is chastity, his concern, His Holiness, and so on.
So
that's what our is, at the end of the day to put yourself out there
for that in that kind of a way. Right. Now, eventually, they
recognize that he wasn't some kind of convict right, he was in there
for some other reason. He wasn't a kind of convinced. That's why they
got a lot of respect for him and hamdulillah there's been people in
prisons today as well, who had the same kind of effect on people as
well, right. Now, you know, I guess prisoners are probably the
best people to tell if somebody else is a concrete or not, if
somebody else is guilty or not, I mean, SubhanAllah.
That's why they said that noncommittal, Marcin that, you
know, we consider you to be of the doers of good. The other thing is
that, you know, you can't act in a modest way all the time. Right. So
the main, the main, the main point here is, then he starts off and he
says, Look, he put brings the concept of food first. Now, you
know, when you're in prison, you're probably hungry, because
you can't go around snacking all the time. So they're waiting for
their food. He says, Look, I'm going to get you this information.
I'm going to just Just listen to me, just bear with me, I'm going
to get you this information before your food comes. So he's given
them a timeframe that don't worry, you know, whatever I say, don't
get weary, don't get bored about it already. I'm gonna get this for
you before your food comes. So you know that there's not going to be
an endless amount of preaching for you. And then after that, he
starts off, because food is very important. But then he starts off
and he says, that also number two, this is something that the Lord
has taught me. So you know, I speak on a bit of authority. And
then he said, he starts with his Dawa. But remember, in this, he
never criticizes anything. He never condemns them. He never
criticizes their belief or whatever, he just shows the wrong
way. He just shows that it's wrong and it's not the right way to do
things. So he says that I have abandoned the way of the people
who do not believe in Allah and even deny the hereafter. So he's
saying of the people isn't say up up, but they were probably deniers
as well. But he didn't say that I've denied your, your way of the
united people of Norway. So it's like these other people. So you
can also you know, distance yourself from that as well. All
right. I follow the way of my forefathers, they may have heard
of Abraham Ibrahim is hocking Jaco. So he invokes them and say
that never would We could we attribute any partner to Allah.
Now, if you've heard of these great individuals, we would never
do this thing because you know, people have become corrupt. This
is a form of the Grace of Allah subhanaw taala upon us and to
mankind, but most people don't know that this is for everybody.
Like you need to stop doing this. And then he says something very
personal. He says, Yeah, Sahiba Yes. Sujan? Ja Sahibi. Yes. Sujan
Oh, my two companions of the prison. He's building a connection
with them a rapport with them, saying that we're all in this
together, right? We're not different, I'm not superior to you
are many different loads better to Allah, the One who is
irresistible, and what an amazing expression. That is. Why would you
go for all of these other things, when there's God who is in himself
the most irresistible. Then he challenged them a bit. He says,
all you're doing is you do not worship besides him but names,
just names just mere names that you have forged, both you and your
forefathers for which Allah subhanaw taala has not sent down
any authority. And the command is only for Allah. He has commanded
that you worship none but Allah that's when he finally gives his
his his preaching to them, or rather his main instruction to
them, This is the true religion, but men do it or not. And then
after that, he goes on to explain their dream for them. And
subhanAllah they remember this, right? Especially one of them and
he becomes the he becomes the means for utilize some eventually
coming out of prison, so that you can tell that this was a lot of
tact, a lot of intelligence, a lot of thought and insight and
understanding that takes place. So likewise,
we do that in everything that we do. So usually salaam took this
opportunity, he avail himself of this opportunity. And then he
said, Oh, my two companions are many different gods better to
Allah better or Allah who is the one that irresistible, right. And
by that he makes, you know, he shows how he is connected to Allah
subhanho wa taala.
He doesn't get anybody to become hostile to him, because he's not
directly criticizing them. And subhanAllah you know, that's how
he manages to get them in his confidence and build a connection
with them, and mashallah attain success in that regard. So, may
Allah subhanaw taala also give us similar tact in dealing with the
people closest to us first, and then anybody else, whether that be
a person at work, whether that be your neighbor, whatever the case
is, there are many forms of Dawa, and some is passive Tao, which is
essentially just acting the part and behaving like a true Muslim,
that sometimes has a much greater impact, because people learn from
the behavior of others. And when they see that this is the only guy
at work, who is not backbiting others, and not competing in the
same way in this cutthroat way, that is, for others, who was very
dignified, was very relaxed, who was seems to be really have a
purpose in life, who's connected, who doesn't just go and fling all
of his money, and splash all of his money over drinks over the
weekend, right, the hard earned money, you know, who has a purpose
in life, who looks after their family, who is taking care of
things and who has a has a God that they you know, that they that
they really relate to, that in itself is also at our May Allah
subhanaw taala give us tact in dealing with people and in
conveying to people in assisting people in advising to people may
Allah subhanaw taala make this also a good advice. And may Allah
subhanaw taala accept it from us and from you. And may Allah allow
us all to become true there is and fulfill our role in this world,
just like the love here and as salaam alaikum wa rahmatullah wa
barakato.
The point of a lecture is to encourage people to act to get
further an inspiration, and encouragement, persuasion. The
next step is to actually start learning seriously to read books
to take on a subject of Islam and to understand all the subjects of
Islam at least at the basic level, so that we can become more aware
of what our Dean wants from us. And that's why we started Rayyan
courses, so that you can actually take organize lectures on demand
whenever you have free time, especially for example, the
Islamic essentials course that we have on there, the Islamic
essentials certificate, which you take 20 Short modules, and at the
end of that inshallah you will have gotten the basics of most of
the most important topics in Islam and you'll feel a lot more
confident. You don't have to leave lectures behind you can continue
to live, you know, to listen to lectures, but you need to have
this more sustained study as well as aka la harem Salam aleikum wa
rahmatullah wa barakato.