Striving with Sincerity

Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned the following:

If any person considers himself to be incapable of engaging in the work of da’wat and tableegh, then this should never cause him to remain seated without doing anything. Rather, he should make an even greater effort to engage in the work and encourage others to join the work.

At times, it so happens that a person lacks capability, but on account of him being a sincere and good person, through his effort the work reaches people whom Allah Ta‘ala blesses with capability. Thereafter, these people who have the capability engage in the effort and propagate it far and wide until deen flourishes in the ummah. In this manner, the one who regarded himself as incapable and weak begins to receive immense reward through people practicing on deen, as the Hadith mentions:

من سن في الإسلام سنة حسنة فله أجرها وأجر من عمل بها بعده من غير أن ينقص من أجورهم شيء (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 1017)

The one who commences a good work in Islam, then he will receive the reward for carrying out the good work, and he will also receive the reward of those who engage in this good work after him, without their reward being decreased in any way.

Hence, those incapable people, who were the means of the work reaching those who are capable, will receive the full reward which is mentioned in this Hadith. Thus, it is necessary for those who are incapable to continue exerting themselves even more in this effort.

Hazrat Moulana Ilyaas (rahimahullah) then mentioned:

Since I regard myself to be incapable, I also remain engaged in this effort, hoping that perhaps through my effort, Allah Ta‘ala will make this work and effort reach a person who has true capability and will take the work further in the ummah. Thereafter, Allah Ta‘ala will also bless me with the immense and full reward which He has in store with Him.

(Malfoozaat Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) pg. 55-56)