Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned the following:
Those who are engaged in the effort of da’wat and tableegh should adhere to the following advice and should bear it in mind at all times:
In any area where the jamaat is working, if they find that the people are not receptive to their message and speak badly to them or make accusations against them, then the negative conduct and attitude of the people should not cause them to lose hope nor lose their spirit. They should remember that this negative treatment that they are receiving is not confined to them, but is the sunnah of all the Ambiyaa (‘alaihimus salaam) – that they were also ill-treated during the cause of inviting people towards deen. Accordingly, this was also the treatment which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) received from the people (in the beginning of Islam when he began inviting people towards Allah Ta‘ala).
In fact, one should regard himself to be fortunate, and one should think to oneself, “Where will one find the opportunity to travel in the path of Allah Ta‘ala and face humiliation for the sake of Allah Ta‘ala?”
On the contrary, if the jamaat is received with honor and welcomed in any area, and they find that their da’wat and message is well received and appreciated, and the people are receptive to their da’wat, then they should not attribute the honor to themselves, but remember that this is purely the favor of Allah Ta‘ala.
Thereafter, they should ensure that they do not show any type of ingratitude to Allah Ta‘ala for granting them this favor. The way for them to show gratitude to Allah Ta‘ala for this favor is that they should make themselves available to teach deen to the people. They should avail themselves to teach people deen, even if they find that the people who are coming to them are people of low social standing in society.
(Malfoozaat Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) pg. 27)
