It is becoming quite clear that many dawah bros and sisters - with their constant stream of online output - want to drag the actual scholars and graduates of the noble Islamic sciences down to their level.
They do this, whether consciously or subliminally, in order to present themselves as equals to scholars, and/or to reduce the academic, intellectual, and scholarly activity of scholars to "da'wah work."
The engagements and endeavours that scholars undertake should not be reduced to "da'wah work." It is much more than that.
Nor should scholars and graduates be expected to assume the role of activists full time. They should not be browbeaten into da'wah or political activity. If it is not a scholar's cup of tea, and there are other scholars to assume that responsibility in a particular field, then it is not the job of every scholar to discuss politics, da'wah, activism, etc. Each should focus on their own area.
One might ask: What is the cause for the rise of a da'wah boy/girl segment within the Muslim scene? There are numerous elements at play here:
1. The internet democratising religion is one factor. Any Tom, Dick, or Bakr can upload content directly from the smartphone.
2. Another factor is that this is seen as the easier entry point to having a public religious face, as opposed to the arduous journey of Islamic studies. So laziness and the desire for instant is a real problem.
3. The third is that it has instant impact with the masses, as opposed to the slow grind of hard-earned knowledge and its long-term effects on the Muslim populous.
4. The want for reputation, power, and fame (jah), as well as the odd bob on the side, is too irresistible for many.
5. Many a time, some people on the "da'wah scene" are simply replicating what has been done elsewhere in non-Muslim arenas and have repackaged that product with an Islamic veneer. The substance, however, is essentially the same. Whether it is the red pill movement, or the get rich fast crowd, or indeed the debating scene, it is all the same.
6. Channels like Peace TV have been responsible for pushing a lot of unqualified people to the fore. (Indeed, some with a public face, who has just accepted Islam, went on to apostatise, but that is another story.) The American Dream was subliminally replicated and imposed onto the Islamic scene, allowing anyone to 'make it', and the most comfortable entry point for that is da'wah.
The solution?
In circles of knowledge, there is an understanding that tazkiyah is needed alongside the acquisition of knowledge. An imbalance in favour of knowledge can have disastrous effects. I would argue that the requirement of tazkiyah for the da'wah boy/girl crowd is doubly important.
Thus far, the da'wah scene has been a net negative, considering how it has detracted from the importance of actual scholarship. Call me a cynic, but these "da'wah personalities" need to be reined in somehow.
Forwarded fromKR
4July 17, 2024 468 1
