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----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 9:38 AM
Subject: [3] Re: [IslamCity] Who Should
Make Da'wa To New Muslim Sisters?
Salams
There is a support network set up solely for new Muslim sisters called
Sakinah - they hold regular discussion circles and events. Takes place
in Whitechapel london. for further details email me
Who Should Make Da'wa To New Muslim
Sisters?
By Sahar Kassaimah
There is no doubt that Muslim women play a vital
role in the propagation and spreading of the proper understanding of Islam,
through da'wa, (invitation). Da'wa amongst women began in the
first days of Islam, with Khadijah, (RA) the Prophet's wife (SAW), who used
her resources to help spread the message of Islam. Sumayyah (RA), the first
martyr in Islam, also provides an honorable example of a woman dedicated to
furthering the religion.
But how many Muslim women have the proper
understanding or even accurate general knowledge of their religion? How many
Muslim women possess the capabilities needed to offer
da'wa?
Stories I heard from my American Muslim friends both
amused and distressed me as I learned how they suffered at the beginning of
their journey to Islam, because their Muslim - born female friends did not
have the proper capabilities to offer da'wa.
"I was myself
ignorant about Islam and then discovered how ignorant they were," said my
American Muslim friend. "I was confused and depressed to the point that I
cried every night."
"One sister told me that I should say, "La
Ilaha Ila Allah, Muhammad Rassoul Allah" (there is no God except Allah
and Muhammad is His Messenger) a hundred times every night before sleeping.
Another one gave me du'aa (invocations) and told me to read them ten
times a night," said another American Muslim friend.
"It was hard for
me in my first days of Islam to learn the basics of my new religion and to
recite the Qur'an in my prayers. I couldn't imagine how I would be able to
make an extra hundred du'aa a day?"
A third woman told me that
a Arab woman told her that every time she has intercourse with her husband,
she must wash the sheets seven times. Once, her husband saw her going back
and forth to the laundry room more than ten times and became confused as to
what she was doing.
"He asked me what I was doing," said my
American friend. "When I told him that I had to wash the sheets seven times,
he was astonished and he explained to me that this was not true."
"I
was really confused. One sister was telling me that I should put my hands
over my stomach, as another told me that this was wrong, and that I should
pray with my hands down at my sides," she said.
"A Pakistani sister
told me it is forbidden in Islam to sweep at night, and that if I wanted to
go to heaven I should never hold the broom at night," said another American
friend. "I was really scared of brooms after that, especially at
night."
Newly Muslim women face such misguidance from the Muslim -
born women because of the issue of pluralism. Some Muslim sisters do not
understand that the pluralism of opinions in the subsidiaries
(far'eyat) is not intended to constrain people but to provide
different paths. Hence, they ask the new Muslim sisters to follow them,
believing that all of the opinions are obligatory.
"In the end, you
find yourself confused due to the many opinions of women who do not know the
difference between the obligatory (fard), the Sunnah (the
practices of the Prophet), and the recommended (mustahab)."
I
do not know whether all of the Muslim women converting to Islam face these
kinds of problems, but I am sure that the single ones are more vulnerable to
these experiences than the married ones, who have a Muslim husband to
correct them.
One major reason behind this problem is that some
Muslim women do not have the capability to offer da'wa to others
because their own level of general Islamic knowledge is lacking. An
additional reason is the confusion of Islamic priorities among some Muslim
women. Unfortunately, they do not know the difference between the religion
and their traditions, and believe that all Muslims should follow the same
mazhab (school of thought).
It is difficult for new
Muslims, who often have little information about Islam, to realize whether
or not their guides are truly versed in the teachings of the religion. This
makes for a precarious situation when they are seeking the accurate
information needed to guide them on their journey.
Before
offering da'wa to others, one needs to realize that it is our
responsibility to obtain knowledge and educate ourselves first before we can
begin to help or teach others.
http://www.islam-online.net/
Moderator
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/islam4all/
"And strain not your eyes in longing for
the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them
[polytheists], the splendour of the life in this world, that We may test
them thereby." [Qur'an 20:131]
"Truly, the life of this world is nothing
but a [quick passing] enjoyment, and verily, the Hereafter that is the home
that will remain forever." [Qur'an, 40:39]
"And know that your
possessions and your children are but a trial and that surely with Allah is
a mighty reward." [Qur'an 8:28]
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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