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........rather we will not be able to establish a reformative relationship with this work (Tabligh). Maulwi Ilyas(ra) sahab used to say, "This work is Wali producing....it(by itself) can turn people into Walis". If one does not have (absolute) certitude of success, spiritual reformation, guidance and forward progress with the work......then the work will be taken lightly and discarded........which is why my respected brothers, friends and elders......what we need most is belief in the work and full understanding so that we develop firmness and fortitude (istiqama) in this work.....if one does not believe in it...then he will take it lightly and leave it....and moreover the work will be considered as ineffective and abandoned.... because the effectiveness (ta'seer) ....the effectiveness of this work is dependent upon the sacrifices that are made for it......if the sacrifices and demands of this work remain unfulfilled...then the effects of the work will not stand forth....that's why my respected friends, elders and brothers....first of all we must ask Allah for clear knowledge & full understanding (Baseerat)....so that Allah gives us belief (yaqin) and knowledge.......for one's firmness in this work will depend upon his Baseerat (understanding)...and depending upon his fortitude and firmness will Allah accept him.....

4 points are important for us.........I would like to say 4 things.....1)Belief and knowledge in the work(yaqin and baseera).....2)unity(ijtimaaiyat) regarding the work.....3) Perfection and comprehensiveness (Jaami’iyyat) in carrying out the work…4) Sifat-e-qubuliyyat….qualities which make one acceptable to Allah….making oneself acceptable to Allah(for the work of Da’wa) with one’s good qualities.

So the first thing is this …remember that the Anbiya (asws) used to call with full understanding & knowledge (Baseerat) …..whatever trials, whatever obstacles were placed by their people…(such as) refusal to accept their da’wa….whatever came in their way was unable to stop them….they used to complete their work…because they were absolutely convinced that their success lay in what they were doing.

So my respected friends, elders and brothers, the secret of remaining firm in this work (Da’wa) is that we do this for our own selves, that we understand what Da’wa is, what are the effects of Da’wa, why it is given and for whom it is given. Look! Da’wa is actually for the Daa’ii himself. In the quest for correcting (islah) others, let us never forget ourselves. Let it not happen that we seek to correct others and become careless of our own (spiritual needs)…for remember that Da’wa is for the Daa’ii himself. Hadrat (rah) used to say, “Do this work for (the correction of) your own self. He who does it for himself (considering himself muhtaj) will become Saleh (pious). And Allah Rabb al ‘Izzat, will use him for the correction of the Ummah”.

That is why inviting to good and stopping from evil is actually for our selves. We used to do this work in the beginning for our own selves, later on we were moved as per the needs of the people. This way of thinking (that we were doing something for others) made us forget ourselves (i.e. the older members), it made us forget that our talking and our working and all our efforts were all for our own selves (in actuality).

The second thing…is that we believe with our hearts that this work is enough for our self reformation and self correction….Allah forbid if we do not hold this belief in our hearts then our relationship to this work will no longer remain corrective…So the effort and the moving around, its spirit is Da’wa…Maulwi Ilyas(rah) used to say that this is just the skeleton of the work, its soul is Da’wa……the entire thing is a framework…whether the effort or the worship..it is a skeleton and it will come to life through da’wa..otherwise this work…this work[effort] is like a body…..the entire benefits(ifaadiyaat) of this body….its moving around…all its achievements(manfa'at)…… are dependent upon its soul..hence we need to believe in it.

The Qur’an has sworn that humanity is in loss and cannot come out of this loss without da’wa (repeated twice). Those people will be saved from loss ….they will achieve salvation….who have 4 things in them….Faith, good deeds, inviting others towards faith and good deeds..(repeated)….inviting others towards good and stopping them from evil. Inviting towards faith and good deeds..this is also a condition for salvation like faith and good deeds themselves.

The ‘Ulama have written that these are the four conditions for salvation (najaat). Faith (Iman), good deeds (amal al Saleh), Tawasee bi’l Haqq (calling towards Haqq), tawasee bi’s sabr (calling towards patience). If even one is left out, then (all) the conditions for salvation will not be met. Hence workers must believe that this Ummah cannot come out of its state of loss without the work of Da’wa.

The second thing is this; Something that was seen in the times of all Prophets (asws) was that when that (particular) Nabi passed on, then the work of da’wa went and then the Din went. When the Messenger came, Da’wa came and Din came. So in every era and time, the Din remained dependent upon Da’wa. This is the end result of every era. When the Nabi went, Da’wa went and finally the Din went. And today also, all the evil in the world, all the innovations in Din and all the evils and carelessness..(that we see around us)…..there is no way that the Muslim Nation can come out of it or escape it except through Da’wa.

My friends, elders and brothers, I am saying this because the method and way of working is becoming (seemingly) more important while Da’wa (itself), its truth(and depth), its need and belief in it…all this is becoming weaker….our workers need to have belief in it so that firmness in the work is per faith and belief and as per one’s firmness (in the work) will the demands of this work be fulfilled.

So the first thing is that we have belief in this work……the other thing my friends and elders is that there be unity and single-mindedness in us…what does Ijtimaayiyat mean? It refers to the union of (our) hearts……The Jama’h is not a collection of bodies/people…a mass of people is a crowd(repeated) …and unity of hearts is known as ijtimaayiyat. If two men are offering Salah (namaz) in Jam’ah..then it will be said that this is a Jam’ah….prayer in Jama’h is taking place…If there is an ameer and a Jama’h is with him, then it will be called a Jama’h…..because they are on faithful obedience(ita’at)…the follower(muqtadi) follows the Imam(repeated) and the Jama’h follows the amir..so it will be said that it is a jam’ah….(however) if there is no union of hearts then it will be a crowd.

My respected friends, this unity of hearts has conditions (behind it). The Qur’an has given four reasons for unity….the first reason and condition is that there be gentleness(and softness) in the workers(of Din)…this is the first reason….because the principles of this work are not Laws. Excessiveness(and intolerance) raises its head when people consider the principles of the work to be Laws….so that (they think) that this Law was passed or this Law was decided….which is why I have said that no principle with us is a Law….its a principle,,,and principles are for whom? Principles are for those who obey faithfully…and laws are for those who disobey …(repeated)….so Laws are for those who do not listen and Principles are for those who faithfully obey.

Which is why Governments pass Laws and Prophethood(Nubuwwat) has Principles(repeated)……Principles(Guidelines) for Da’wa and Laws for Government…he who goes against the Law is punished….(but) there is no punishment for one who contravenes our guidelines(principles)…(you can’t say) ask him why he went against the Principles…there is (simply) no such concept with us…because all our principles and guidelines are just principles which are for faithful obedience(ita'at=to listen and obey) and (this) obedience is (achieved) by encouragement(targheeb)…that they be encouraged towards working rightly….that’s all….no one has a greater right than this…. Because the Da’ii is responsible for reminding…And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers” Sura Ad Dhariyaat v.55….that remind them of the right thing…so the Da’ii is responsible for reminding what the principles and guidelines are…..that’s it..

which is why my dear friends and elders…the principles(all) of this work are not Laws because (breaking) Laws entails punishment…which is why we have a discussion and reminding of principles here not a listing of mistakes…there is no punishment….because those who do this work are humans…..not angels….and our workers will make mistakes and break principles..they are human and the human is intrinsically prone to error…. In the hadith it is mentioned that all of you are sinners…no one is free of error…….small or large…different….but all are sinners…. So the fact is that one sees the mistakes of others when his eyes are upon his own achievements and qualities (repeated)….then his eyes will definitely chance upon the faults of others….and he who keeps looking at his own weaknesses…he will never look at the faults of others…he will never bother with thinking evil about others….or their faults…...because what he sees in others…he has already glimpsed in himself….and this has lead to a sense of worry and sorrow regarding his own self in his heart…

Hadrat ‘Umar saw an old man drinking alcohol….so he came out of that place weeping…the incident is detailed….the reason that he was crying was his own mistake of entering and searching for the old man’s fault in his house…he was not crying because his people were drinking..rather his crying was (what) if Allah did not forgive ‘Umar…so he was crying for his sin.(to be continued)