THE ULTIMATE CONCERN

Shaykh 'Alee Hasan al-Halabee al-Atharee(1)

THE LOFTIEST GOAL

It will not be hidden from the one who has knowledge of the book and has studied the Sunnah, that the loftiest goal and the highest aim which the Muslim works to implement in himself and amongst the people is: The worship of Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic. There is no way to keep this worship pure and unblemished, except by knowing true Tawheed of Allaah (to single out Allaah alone for worship) - in detail. The daa'ee (caller) who knows this way will find it very difficult to implement, yet he does not make this an obstacle in his way, since day and night in his da'wah (call), he is an embodiment of the saying of our Prophet

: "The people who receive the severest trials are the Prophets, then those like them and those most like them." (2) How can this not be the case whilst he is following his

path, taking his life as an example and following his way!

THE HARDSHIPS

"So the ones most like them, then the ones most like them, are the pious who follow their method and approach in calling to Allaah, and who call what they are called to: Tawheed of Allaah and making worship sincerely for him alone, and rejecting Shirk (associating partners with Allaah in those things that are particular to Him). So they will meet with similar harm and misfortune as was met by their example, the Prophets. Because of this, you see many of the daa'ees (callers) turning away from this difficult and rugged path. Since the daa'ee who follows it will meet opposition from his mother, his father, his brother, those whom he loves and his friends; and he will have to face the community and its hostility, its mockery and harms. Instead, they deviate and turn their attention to aspects of Islaam which do have importance - and will not be denied by anyone believing in Allaah. But these areas do not carry the difficulty, hardship nor ensuing mockery and harms, particularly in Islaamic societies. Since the majority of the Islaamic Ummah (community) rally around this type of daa'ee, surrounding them with a ring of respect and honor - not mockery and harm - unless they threaten the rulers, or their authority, in which case they are restrained by force - such as the political parties, which oppose the rulers and threaten their positions. So when this is the case, the rulers show no affection for them, whether they are ones near to them or related, Muslim or kaafir (disbeliever).

Whatever the case, we say to those daa'ees, that however much noise they make and however much they raise their voices in the name of Islaam, check yourselves, because you have deviated from Allaah's way and His Straight and clear Path which was followed by the Prophets and their followers, in calling to the Tawheed of Allaah and making the Deen (religion) sincerely for Him. So however much you move around and raise your voices in the name of Islaam, then still you are deviating from the way of the Prophets which Allaah laid down. Whatever your efforts to cause your da'wah (call) and your way to materialize - then you are pre-occupying yourselves with the means at the expense of the end - and the means is useless if it harms the end; and is given undue importance at its expense!" (3)

THE PROPHETIC METHODOLOGY

Islaam has many branches and various parts, so it is essential: "To begin with what is of greatest importance, Thus, the first thing to give da'wah to is the correction of 'aqeedah (beliefs) by ordering that worship be made sincerely for Allaah and forbidding Shirk, then ordering the establishment of Prayer and payment of Zakaah and carrying out the obligatory duties and forbidden acts. This was the way of all the Messengers, as He - the Most high - says:

"We assuredly sent to every people a Messenger (commanding): Worship Allaah and turn away from at-Taaghoot (all that is worshipped besides Allaah)." (4)

And, "Not a Messenger did We send before you (O Muhammad) except that We revealed to him: That none has the right to be worshipped except Me, therefore worship Me." (5)

And other (similar) verses.

The life of the Prophet and his way in calling to Allaah is the best example and this method the most perfect. Since he remained for years calling the people to Tawheed and forbidding them from Shirk, before ordering them with Prayer, Zakaah, Fasting and Hajj, and before he forbade them from usury, fornication, stealing, and unlawful killing." (6)

PLANTING THE CORRECT 'AQEEDAH

Thus, the most fundamental principle is to establish the worship of Allaah - the mighty and majestic - as He - the one free from all defects - says:

"I did not create Jinn and man except to worship Me." (7)

This cannot be except through realizing the Tawheed of Allaah - the Majestic- in knowledge, action, in everyday life and life and in Jihaad. You will find many da'ees calling to Islaam - and groups and parties within Islaam - using up their lives and wasting their youth [apparently] gasping for the rule of Islaam, or seeking establishment of the Islaamic State. However, if you examine them, you will find them immersed in acts contrary to the Sharee'ah (Islaamic Laws) and Shirk and Bid'ah ( innovation), except for those upon whom my Lord - the one free from all defects - has had mercy upon. Forgetting, or pretending to forget; ignorant or feigning ignorance that: "Establishing the rule of Islaam in any land will not come about by the likes of these ways. And that it will not be except through a long and slow way - which keeps in mind the rule and not the summit; and begins with planting 'aqeedah (beliefs) anew and cultivation of Islaamic manners. This way, which appears slow and very long, is the shortest and quickest." (8)

"Achieving implementation of the Islaamic order and rule by the Sharee'ah, application of the Hudood (prescribed punishments), establishment of the Islaamic state, avoidance of what is forbidden and carrying out what is obligatory, all these things are from the rights of Tawheed and things that render it complete; and they follow on from it. So how can secondary matters be given such importance that the primary matter is neglected?

It is my view, that the contradictions of the groups and parties to the way of the Messenger, in calling to Allaah, occurs due to their ignorance of this way - and the ignorant person should not be a da'ee. Since the most important condition for da'wah (calling to Islaam) is knowledge, as He - The Most High - says concerning His Prophet:

"Say: This is my way. I do call to Allaah upon knowledge, I and those who follow me. Glory be to Allaah! Never will I associate partners to Him." (10)

The most important attribute of a daa'ee is Knowledge ... The followers of the Messenger are upon a single way and do not differ. Rather those who differ are those who diverge from this way, as He - the Most High - says:

"Verily, this is My straight path, so follow it; and do not follow other paths, they will take you away from His path."( 11)" (12)

THE MEANS AND THE GOAL

In conclusion: "Tawheed is the starting point for da'wah to Allaah and is its goal. There can be no da'wah to Allaah without it, even if it takes upon itself an Islaamic name and attributes itself to it. Since all the Messengers - and at their head, the noblest of them and their seal, Muhammad

had at its beginning, goal and end of their dawah, the Tawheed of Allaah. So every Messenger sent to his people began by saying:

O people! Worship Allaah. None has the right to be worshipped except Him."(13)" (14)

This is the highest goal for the Muslim and his loftiest aim, for which he strives all his life, exerting himself and propagating it amongst the people and implanting it amongst the creation. And the Creator, who made ready for his servants, everything required for their well being of their world, is the same One who prescribed the Deen of Islaam for them and guaranteed its preservation forever. And His care in preserving the Deen is greater, since that is the purpose of this world. Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic - says:

"I did not create Jinn and Man except to worship Me." (15)

(1). Taken from Ad-Da'wah Ilallaah Baynat-Tajammu'il-Hizbee wat-Ta'aawunish-Shar'ee (pp.33-39), from the first chapter: The Muslims Aim and purpose. [Slightly edited]

(2). Reported by at-Tirmidhee (no. 2400), ibn Maajah (no. 4023) and others - from Sa'd idn Abee Waqqaas.The isnaad is Hasan.

(3). Manhajul-Anbiyaa lid-Da'wah ilallaah feehil-Hikmah wal-'Aql (p.31) of Shaykh Rabee' ibn Haadee.

(4). Soorah an-Nahl 16:36 . All Qur'aanic quotations are translations of the meaning of the Qur'aan.

(5). Soorah al-Anbiyaa 21:25

(6). Slightly adapted from the introduction of Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan to Manhajul-Anbiyaa (p.9), by Shaykh Rabee'

(7). Soorah adh-Dhaariyaat 51:56

(8). Limaadha A'damoonee (p.67) of Sayyid Qutb.

(9). Limaadha A'damoonee (p.29)

(10). Soorah Yoosuf 12:108

(11). Soorah An'aam 6:153

(12). Slightly adapted from the introduction of Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan to to Manhajul-Anbiya (p.8)

(13). Soorah Ar'aaf 7:59,65,73,85

(14). Manhajul-Anbiyaa (p.11) of Shaykh 'Abdur-Rahmaan 'Abdul-Khaaliq.

(15).At-Tankeel (1/48) of 'Allaamah al-Mu'allamee al-Yamanee.