The Da’wah To Islam by Sheikh Ahmad Mahmoud

Accordingly, the group must study the actions that the Messenger 􀁕 undertook which led to the establishment of the first Islamic State in Madinah. Indeed, the steps of the method are taken from the Messenger 􀁕, and the rules of the da’wah are understood from that period, and the da’wah will force its way ahead with patience and perseverance despite the difficulties, as is the law of the true calls; no one can be saved from it. It is as Waraqah b. Nawfal said to the Messenger 􀁕 when the revelation started to come down to him:

“You will be belied, harmed, expelled and fought. The Messenger 􀁕 asked him, ‘Will they expel me?’ Waraqah replied:

‘There was not a Messenger that came before who was not banished by his people.’” He 􀀬 said; “Verily, (many) Messengers were denied before you (O Muhammad), but with patience they bore the denial, and they were hurt, till Our Help reached them, and none can alter the Words (Decisions) of Allah. Surely there has reached you the information (news) about the Messengers (before you).” [TMQ 6:34] The method of work is the same method of the Messenger 􀁕. He 􀁕 lived in Makkah while it was dar al-kufr. He undertook deliberate actions that led to the establishment of dar al-Islam in Madinah. The emigration from Makkah to Madinah, where the Islamic State was established, was the point of transition from dar al-kufr to dar al-Islam.

Here arises a question; from what we have said, does it mean that the da’wah today must pass through two stages - the Makkan stage and the Madinan stage - as in the time of the Messenger 􀁕?

The answer is that in the time of the Messenger 􀁕 the da’wah passed through two stages:

1- The Makkan stage in which most of the verses of beliefs, and few verses of rules were revealed to the Messenger 􀁕. The Muslim was not legally responsible for more than what was revealed at the time. The Messenger 􀁕 was commanded to forgive the people and call them with wisdom and beautiful preaching and desist from the use of arms and to have patience when any harm comes his way.

2- A Madinan stage in which the rest of the verses of beliefs were revealed to the Messenger 􀁕, and the revelation of the ahkam was completed. The Messenger 􀁕 was ordered to establish the laws of Islam and apply the ‘uqubaat (punishments), declare Jihaad and open lands and look after the affairs of people. In this stage the Muslim became responsible for the whole of Islam.

Today we are responsible for the whole of Islam, regardless of what was revealed in Makkah or Madinah. The Muslim will be accounted for any negligence regarding any rule. So the muslim is answerable for the rules of divorce, marriage, selling, Jihaad, fasting, Hajj, punishments, testimonies, land, ownership and other such laws which were revealed in Madinah. However there are rules whose implementation has been entrusted with the Khaleefah of the Muslims and no individual is allowed to undertake them, such as the rules of punishments (as a whole), the rules of offensive Jihaad to spread the Da’wah, the rules of State property and the rules of the Khilafah. There are rules not entrusted with the Khaleefah and it is obligatory on the Muslim to adhere to them whatever the circumstances are. He will be accounted if he fails to comply with them; whether they were revealed in Makkah or Madinah.To the point that Islam has made migration obligatory on the Muslim who lives in a country where he is not able to perform the individual rules. He 􀀬 says; “Verily! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves (as they stayed among the disbelievers even though emigration was obligatory for them) they (angels) say (to them): ‘In what condition were you?’ They reply:’We were weak and oppressed on earth.’ They (angels) say: ‘Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?’ Such men will find their abode in Hell - what an evil destination! Except the weak ones among men, women and children who cannot devise a plan, nor are they able to direct their way.’” [TMQ 4:97-98] Therefore, it is not correct to speak of the Makkan phase and the Madinan phase in our current situation today. However, we take from and emulate what the Messenger 􀁕 did while he was in Makkah only in what relates to the phases he passed in the da’wah and the actions which he undertook that led to the establishment of dar al-Islam. As for the individual rules, they remain obligatory on the Muslim, whether he is in dar al-kufr or dar al-Islam.