The weakness of Muslims: The causes and the cure

Allah Almighty has promised victory for this Ummah (Muslim nation), even if it be after a long stretch of time. Unfortunately, the Ummah today is passing through a bitter state of division, discord and weakness, incurring regress and humiliation, so much so that the heart of any Muslim is painfully affected. But this should not cause us to forget Allah’s firm promise that victory and success on the earth will certainly be granted to His worshippers.

Consider how this great religion brought many different people together: The Prophet Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) was an Arab, Bilal an Abyssinian, Suhayb a Roman and Salman a Persian  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  them. Even today, many people leave the beliefs of their religion, be it idol-worship, Judaism or Christianity, to come to Allah’s religion of Islam.

If Muslims reflect upon this and understand that whatever division faces them, whether of class, race, or partisanship, etc., if they consider the reality of Islam and how it unifies all people, they will overcome all of these causes for weakness. This issue is in itself enough to bring the Ummah back to the great position of glory which it enjoyed during the era of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ). We ask Allah to keep us upon His faith until we die.

Allah Says (what means): {You [yourselves] were like that before; then Allah conferred His favour [i.e., guidance] upon you...} [Quran: 4:94]

This verse was revealed as an address to a group of people who were once idolaters but then embraced Islam. Similarly, many of us may have lived as idolaters in a life-style similar to that of the Jahileeyyah (pre-Islamic period of ignorance) before Allah conferred His great favour upon us, showing us the truth and allowing us to leave disbelief and come to the light of the true faith. Almighty Allah saved us by making us hate the disbelief and disobedience that we previously adhered to.

Even though we are a weakened nation, Allah has conferred a great favour upon us; our existence instils tremendous fear in the hearts of the disbelievers. They spend their nights unable to rest simply because of the great fear that they have of the Muslims, despite our weakness. This is not because they are unaware of the religion of Islam, certainly not, because as Allah Says (what means): {And they rejected them [i.e., Allah's signs], while their [inner] selves were convinced thereof...} [Quran: 27:14]

And also what means: {Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceals the truth while they know [it].} [Quran: 2:146]

Here, Allah is referring to the Jewish Rabbis who easily recognised that the Prophethood of Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) was genuine just as easily as they could distinguish their own sons from other children. They refused the faith of Islam only because they had dedicated their lives to worldly affairs. They found it inconceivable that they would have to leave their lofty positions. All of this denial leads us to ponder over the cause of our present weakness and division.

For instance, many people think that our weakness is a result of lack of technology, because we do not possess the scientific knowledge to produce materials or to develop agriculture as other nations do. They may state that the reason for our weakness is the lack of human resources, our backwardness, and our small numbers. Many mistakenly analyse our weakness from this perspective, blaming it on lack of technology, insufficient material wealth, or poor human resources. But, in reality, this type of analysis is short-sighted.

The true cause for the weakness of the Ummah is much greater than any of these reasons. It is not a secular cause but a religious reality, that is, we have not applied our religion as Allah has demanded from us, for He clearly Says in His Book, (what means): {Is not Allah sufficient for His servant?...} [Quran: 39:36] Allah addresses every single Muslim with this verse. He has given us our lives, sustenance, and all the essentials for our existence to continue according to His decree. If people truly deserved such blessings, then they would understand the importance of this verse.

One of the main causes of the weakness of the Ummah is its laziness and laxity in applying the religion of Islam, which results from it having an inferiority complex. This weakness causes a Muslim to sense his own laxity in applying Islam in the manner which Allah orders him to. Many Muslims feel that it is sufficient that they are born into Muslim families, saying, for example: 'Al-Hamdu lillah (All praise is due to Allah), my father and mother are Muslims, and that is enough for me.' Or, on the other hand, they may say they are pleased with their traditional Muslim names such as Muhammad, Ahmad, ‘Abdullah, ‘Abdur-rahman, etc., and that is enough. Is this the submission that Allah demands of us? Is this what Allah wants from us?

We must understand that Islam is not simply possessing a Muslim name or being born to Muslim parents, or saying that one comes from a certain part of the world. Rather, Islam is a way of life, a methodology for living, not only dealing with religious matters but addressing one’s conceptual outlook on worldly matters as well.

Unfortunately, when some Muslims come to understand this point, they become overly excited and exclaim: “Al-Hamdu lillah (All praise is due to Allah)! Allah has saved us from the Hellfire by making us Muslims.” They have some understanding of what the religion means, but they are people who hide their Islam and do not want it to be known that they are Muslims, unlike the disbelievers and the pagans who are proud to belong to a certain nation, social classification or religion - proud of the principles that they believe in. It is strange that some Muslims, due to their religious weakness and weak understanding of Islam, and their own personalities, hide the fact that they are Muslims. They feel embarrassed that they are Muslims; they don’t want anyone to know that they belong to this religion. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “There are three qualities by which he who is characterised (with them) will taste the sweetness of faith: that Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anything else; that he loves a person purely for the sake of Allah; and that he hates returning to disbelief after Allah has rescued him from it, just as he would hate being cast into the Hellfire.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Why is that? Because he has realised the greatness of his faith and the great favour which Allah has conferred upon him by guiding him to Islam. Had it not been for the guidance of Allah, he would never have been a Muslim. When a Muslim feels this, he becomes proud of the fact that he is a Muslim and then begins to apply Allah’s commandments in his life. This feeling in his heart reflects upon his limbs and his entire body. He is the opposite of the other Muslims who feel shy about their religion and, unfortunately, do not understand what it means to be a Muslim. So, due to their weakness of faith, they tend to shy away from acknowledging that they are Muslims.

Despite Obstacles, Islam Continues to Spread

Since the advent of Islam, as the final and all-compassing Message to mankind up to the moment, its adversaries left no opportunity to thwart it and curb its followers. Right from day one, they did their level best to kill it in the bud using different ways.

Due to the fact that this new religion holds all people equal in terms of rights, duties, human value, etc, regardless of their ethnic, social or economic backgrounds, the rich and leading figures in Makkah, fearing lest they would lose their prestige and wealth, stood adamantly in the face of the then nascent Message. They tried to put different kinds of obstacles to hinder the spread of Islam, in feverish attempts to maintain their positions and prevent any sort of threat to their interests.

In their war against Islam, they tried many kinds of weapons: bodily torture, economic sanctions, false propaganda, and financial seduction, none of which was of any fruit.

With the Help of Allah, the Most Exalted, then the will, patience and perseverance of Prophet Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) and his faithful companions, may Allah be pleased with them, Islam could successfully pass all those hard tests. It survived all the hardships and expanded its span to include not only the Arabian Peninsula, rather spacious lands outside it.

By the tenth century, Islam became the main religion, or at least, the religion of the majority of nations in an area covering more than half of the civilized world stretching over three continents from the Pyrenees and Siberia in West and North Europe to the farthest end of Asia, up to China and New Guinea in the East; from Morocco in North Africa to the southern tip of Africa, covering two-thirds of the African continent.

It is one of the most striking facts of human history that the spread of Islam over such a vast area took place within three centuries. Most striking of all, within half a century after the Hijrah (Prophet Muhammad's  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) Migration from Makkah to Al-Madeenah), Islam had already conquered the whole of North Africa from Egypt to Morocco, all the Middle Eastern lands from Yemen to Caucasia and from Egypt to the lands beyond Transoxiana (portion of Central Asia corresponding approximately with modern-day Uzbekistan and southwest Kazakhstan).

What makes Islam spread?

There are many reasons why nations have been, from past to the present, so ready to embrace Islam, what is pointed out by Muhammad Asad, a Jewish convert to Islam, probably being the foremost:

“Islam appears to me like a perfect work of architecture. All its parts are harmoniously conceived to complement and support each other, nothing lacking, with the result of an absolute balance and solid composure. Everything in the teaching and postulate of Islam is in its proper place.” [Islam at the Crossroads, p.5]

Most of Western writers, especially those under the influence of the Church, have never failed to accuse Islam of spreading by the sword. The causes of this prejudice lie mainly in the fact that the spread of Islam has often occurred at the expense of Christianity. While Islam has, for centuries, obtained numerous conversions from Christianity without much effort or organized missionary activities, Christianity has almost never been able to achieve conversions from Islam in spite of sophisticated means and well-organized missionary activities, and it has always been at a disadvantage in its competition with Islam for fourteen centuries.

This has caused its missionaries and most of the orientalists to develop a complex within themselves by depicting Islam and introducing it as a regressive, vulgar religion of savage people.

If history is to be read with an objective eye, such allegations will easily be debunked.

In addition to many other reasons which are responsible for the spread of Islam, it is the exemplary life-style and unceasing efforts of individual Muslims to transmit the message of Islam throughout the world which lie at the root of the conquest of the hearts by Islam. Islamic universalism is closely associated with the principle of 'enjoining the good' for Islam is to be spread by Muslims by means of this principle. This principle seeks to convey the message of Islam to all human beings in the world and to establish a model Islamic community on a world-wide basis.

Among every four humans in the world, one of them is Muslim. Muslims have increased by over 235% in the last fifty years up to nearly 1.6 billion. By comparison, Christians have increased by only 47 %... Islam is the second largest religious group in France, Great Britain and USA.

The following statistics show the growth of Islam in the world from (1989-1998):

North America: (25%)

Africa: (2.15%)

Asia: (12.57%)

Europe: (142.35%)

Latin America: (4.73%)

Australia: (257.01%)

Western fierce media campaign against Islam and Muslims escalated after the 11th of September attacks. Biased media, especially in the USA, rushed into a feverish contest to depict Islam as a religion based on savagery, intolerance and blood-thirst.

Not only in the media were Muslims harassed in the United States of America, Britain, Australia, and other European countries; rather, they were physically attacked at their homes, in the streets, in public places, and in their Mosques, Islamic centers, etc. The same attitude was, unfortunately, maintained toward the Noble Prophet of Islam  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) and the Noble Quran.

Islamophobia reached its peak when a Danish newspaper published heinous caricatures picturing the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) as a terrorist. The noble Quran was also desecrated in the US and some other countries, which indicates the deep hatred towards Islam and Muslims.

There have been many rigid regulations and extremist procedures enacted against Muslims in the US and some European countries, on the pretext of their "war on terror". Many Muslim students were banned from completing their studies, many families expatriated, Islamic activities limited or stopped, Muslim men and women subjected to sophisticated checking and screening procedures in airports, women with hijab and men with beards mocked or harassed, etc. In brief, a Muslim has become for them a word synonymous to “suspect”.

Nonetheless, even after the events of September, a wave of new Muslims embraced Islam all over the world. In the USA alone, more than 30000 persons embraced Islam.

By the year 2020, Islam is projected to be the largest religion in the world.

To sum up, in spite of all the feverish attempts on the part of the adversaries of Islam, old and new, Islam is still sweeping the globe easily and peacefully, thus conquering and illuminating the minds and hearts, no matter how hard and intricate their conspiracies are. Allah, the Most Glorious, Says in the Quran (what means): “It is He (Allah) Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although they who associate others with Allah dislike it.” [Quran 9: 33]

Raising new Muslim generations

The greatest concern of the conversant Muslim reformer is to raise a new Muslim generation that deserves to be named the 'victorious generation'. This is the top priority of our nation.

A generation that brings Islam to its pure springs, understands it rightly and completely, free from redundancy and blemishes. It is not an Islam of myths in its doctrines, of religious innovation or heresy in devotions, negativity in morals, or inactivity, imitation and fanaticism to one school of Fiqh (jurisprudence) over another. Rather, it is the Islam which is revealed in the Quran, propagated by the Noble Messenger, Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) in which the Companions may Allah be pleased with them believed; by which the rightly guided Caliphs may Allah be pleased with them ruled; upon which a sound lofty civilisation was erected. A civilisation that linked the earth to the heaven, led the world by religion and brought knowledge and assuredness together.

It is the Islam of the Quran and Sunnah (prophetic sayings, actions and approvals), of truth and strength, learning and acting, Jihaad and Ijtihaad (juristic reasoning in the absence of texts from the Quran or the Sunnah), and of comprehensiveness and balance. What is meant by Jihaad here is not "holy war" in one sense only, rather, it is in its broader concept, which is the opposition of all kinds of wrong and crookedness whether it stems from ones' self, Satan or other people. Opposing one's whims and Satan's whispers is a high rank of Jihaad. Fighting the enemies who oppose Allah's Message and hinder its spread or those who transgress on Islam and Muslims is one aspect of Jihaad.

It is the Islam of individual dignity, family ties, social solidarity, Shooraa (counselling), productivity, and fairness in distribution of duties and rights.

Islam redirects the entire individual’s life for the sake of Allah, the Most High, namely, no ulterior motives, no conflict; as the purpose is united, the direction is fixed, and the path is clear; Allah Says (what means): “Say (O Muhammad): 'Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.’” [Quran 6:162]

It is Islam that makes the whole life of the society for the sake of Allah, the Most High. It cannot be divided into two conflicting powers: one portion, called 'the state,' being for Caesar; and the other, called 'religion' for God, because Caesar and his state both belong to Allah, The One and Only.

Islam invites to justice, even if it is for the interest of its deadliest enemies; Allah Says (what means): “…And do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; Indeed Allah is Acquainted with what you do.” [Quran 5:8]

It also forbids aggression, even if it is towards its most hostile adversaries; Allah Says (what means): “…And do not let the hatred of a people for having obstructed you from Al-Masjid Al-Haraam (in Makkah), lead you to commit aggression. And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah…”[Quran: 5:2]

Islam battles with the atheist communists and the capitalists, and rejects class struggle and oppressive sects. It calls for religiosity that instils love; not for sectarianism that inculcates grudge.

Islam also fights oppressive rulers and the oppressors’ rule. It is Islam that says to the ruler: “Do not oppress” and to the people: “Do not cringe.” It teaches the Muslim to supplicate in his prayer: “O Allah! We do thank You and refuse to be ungrateful; we cast and abandon whoever disobeys You.”

Islam makes the best type of Jihaad speaking the truth before a tyrant ruler.

It aids the weak till they get their rights from the strong and fights the rich, should they abstain from paying Zakaah (obligatory alms) to the poor. It urges believers to fight in defence of the oppressed. Allah Says (what means): “…in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children…” [Quran 4:75]

This is Islam of the Quran and Sunnah, as understood, believed in and invited to by such a desired generation. It is this Islam that has illuminated the minds and hearts of past generations. With its guidance they realised their goal, made their way to glory, knew themselves and their Lord, their religion, world, heritage, age, life, friends and foes. With Islam, one would know who shows him the way and who wants to mislead and derail him off the right track.

Women in Da'wah - III

Training in the field of Da'wah:

On the theoretical side of this step, training women to work in the field of Da'wah (call to Islam) may need to consider the following aspects: 

- Educational preparation through providing a good presentation of appropriate materials. 

- Psychological preparation by ensuring that the women callers have faith in Allah, sincerity, hopefulness, pride in Islam, patience, and knowledge of the conditions and environments of those they are addressing. 

 - Social preparation by having the women Daa'iyaat (callers to Islam) live an Islamic life in the family and society in a practical application of Islam. They should abide by the ethics of Islam and of the Da'wah. 

Adequate practical training and preparation is a must

This involves training female callers in speaking and writing to be able to bring Allah's religion to the people through speeches, lessons, lectures, and writing.

Writing and publishing must not be neglected in an age when people are easily reached by and engrossed in all sorts of books, booklets, newspapers, and articles. Writings should both be eloquent and convincing, through sincere, sound and documented arguments. Writing is the form of Da'wah which is, in many ways, one of the most appropriate and important means for women. They can write at home and thus make use of their spare time. They can in this way reach all classes of society.

Areas of Da'wah for women

The educational fields: These are related to the ennoblement of the spirit and the purification of the soul through faith. The minds and souls can thus be touched. These fields are to be found in mosques, schools, associations, Da'wah groups, and others.

The social fields: These relate to bodily and psychological health as well as to social development and interaction between people that reflect positively on the realization of spiritual education and the formation of Muslim character.

Both sides, spiritual and physical, are tied together and they should both be fulfilled in balance. To give the upper hand to the soul would be asceticism, and to the body would be hedonism. Fulfilling the physical needs has often been cause for many people embracing the guidance of Islam. Preachers of Christianity today, concentrate on this approach. It is difficult for the hungry, the naked, or the sick and homeless to listen to sermons.

More specific examples of what women can take part in as Da'wah are:

1. The Home: This is surely the most fertile and most effective channel. Almighty Allah has ordained both husbands and wives as nurturers for each other and the family. The mother shares with the father the responsibilities of educating and nurturing each other and their children in all physical, moral, psychological, social, and external aspects. Members of the family are gathered together in the home for many hours and this creates harmony among them as well as affords an opportunity for presenting good examples and guidance.

2. The Muslim Community: Charity, advice, and direction can be offered to relatives, neighbors, and the needy.

3. The Islamic School: Educational activities and curriculums can be used for the guidance of girl students as well as women teachers and staff.

4. The Masjid (Mosque): Women should be allowed to go to the Masaajid (pl. of Masjid) to benefit from the lessons held there. The Masjid is a suitable place for some of the women activities like Quran study groups and other training.

5. Hospitals, Prisons, and Social Welfare Institutions, Women's Colleges or Universities: "Women-only conferences can also be incorporated into already scheduled major conferences, thus providing them with someone to travel with,"

What we sow we reap

1. Banishing ignorance, increasing intellectual broad-mindedness, and the creation of qualified women Da'wah cadres. These results have a lasting and beneficial influence, not only on women and the Muslim community, but also on the whole society at large.

2. Rectifying conduct and restitution of many erroneous practices that have come to be social phenomenon in many societies.

3. Women's place and status in Islam would be highlighted and Muslim women would attain a better awareness of their rights and duties.

4. Efforts would be geared toward the cultivating of our young people, in order to ensure the Ummah (Muslim community) virtuous Muslims in the generations to come.

5. A sense of belonging to Islam would be fostered, and the key Muslim rite of enjoining good and forbidding evil would be upheld.

6. An important financial tributary for Da'wah work would be secured; i.e., women's charitable spending.

It is time that Muslims who profess to follow the Sunnah (Tradition of Prophet Muhammad, [ sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) (may Allah exalt his mention)] rethink the issue of Da'wah among women and by women. We should remember Khadeejah, 'Aa'ishah, Sumayyah, may Allah be pleased with them, and many Muslim women throughout our history, and what they did for Islam and learn from it.

We also have to realize that mere talk and emotionalism are useless. We need to do something about our immediate situation now. Education, preparation, and qualification of women will be the key to our future success.

Throughout history, the yardstick used to measure the well-being of any society has been the condition of its women. Let us therefore, strive to improve the intellectual, spiritual and emotional condition of the Muslim woman by allowing her to fulfill all the Allah-given abilities and responsibilities made incumbent on her.

As mentioned in the article, women Da’wah is very important. We have to be careful not to fall in what a lot of Muslims they fell into with the good intentions of giving Da’wah (intermingling men and women, people with lack of knowledge altering the Deen and thinking that they have the authority since they are calling to Islam, etc..). Women who work in the field of Dawah should be away from men’s environment. Women don’t need to be part of a the board members of a masjid for example to be active in Da’wah!. So it needs to be stressed that things are done in the environment of women and women alone.

Women in Da'wah - II

A definite role

The work of the Muslim woman in the field of Da'wah (call to Islam) strengthens the man's work, and expands it into areas where her effectiveness supersedes that of the man. The woman's role does not end at door. She can be greatly effective by being a good example to others, by being good-hearted, kindly spoken, and of friendly conduct. She can offer assistance, and share concerns as well as joys. She can also use all appropriate opportunities to educate, guide and call others through observing the conditions of those whom she addresses.

Examples are needed

Women, who understood their role, started educating themselves and achieving their rights to education. Look at the Hadeeth [narration attributed to Prophet Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) (may Allah exalt his mention)] narrated by Abu Sa'eed, may Allah be pleased with him, that a women said to the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) "The men are keeping you busy and we do not get enough attention from you; would you specify a day for us, women? He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) promised them a day to meet them and educate and admonish them." [Al-Bukhari]

The fruits of this understanding and concern by the women companions of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) and the attention he gave them, are shining examples and a source of pride for Muslim women.

Muslim women played a great role in sacrifice and service for the religion of Allah. Sumayyah, may Allah be pleased with her, gave up her life when Abu Jahl, the head of disbelievers, killed her for becoming a Muslim. She was the first Muslim, and woman, killed in Islam. Khadeejah, may Allah be pleased with her, the first wife of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) who was very rich, spent a lot of her money to support the Da'wah. Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, left her husband and saw her children persecuted when she migrated. Umm Imaarah, may Allah be pleased with her, fought in defense of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) in the battle of Uhud. Tending the wounded in battles was the role Muslim Women played throughout history.

Building successful Dawah Programs

There are conditions that must be met for women's Da'wah work to succeed and achieve its expected outcome:

First: important guidelines

There are important points that should be used as guidelines when planning or doing Da'wah work:

Typically, the woman's main job is at home. This is clearly stated in Qur'an and Hadeeth. Allah Almighty Says (what means), "And abide in your houses..." [Quran 33:33] Of course women can go out for Salaah (prayer) in the Masjid (mosque), participate in any other activities she may need and to do Da'wah. However, none of these activities should conflict with her essential duties at home as wife and mother.

2- There are special injunctions regarding women, such as the mixing of men and women that must be observed in any Da'wah activity and under any circumstances. 

a) Proper Hijaab (Islamic woman dress) must be observed at all times.

b) Woman cannot travel without a male companion who is her Mahram (her husband or a man with whom marriage is unlawful).

c) Woman cannot intermix freely with men who are not directly related to her.

d) Women cannot exit from their homes except by permission of those who are in charge of them and care for them, i.e. their husbands or fathers, etc.

3- The enemies of Islam usually exploit these injunctions and use them to defame Islam as demeaning to women. Some Du'aat (callers to Islam) get affected by these allegations and they are thereby led to be lax and unmindful. The true Du'aat guided by the Sunnah (the way/ tradition of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention )) must be mindful, lest they be affected by the lusts and whims of society.

4- Men have the original right in Da'wah activities to take the lead as was the case in the age at the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) and the excellent generations that followed. Women's role in Da'wah work is undeniable, provided the appropriate guidelines are adhered to.

Second: Objectives of the program:

Any Da'wah program directed towards women should strive to, at least, serve the following ends:

1- Strengthening Eemaan (faith): This comes about by increasing worship, remembrance of Allah (Thikr), and reflection on Allah's names, His power and creation in ourselves and in the universe. There is great power in reflection. And its positive impact on one's heart and Eemaan is almost limitless. This, however, would not be possible without the inculcation of the right understanding of certain issues related to our Aqeedah (Belief); the emphasis has to be on Tawheed (Monotheism).

2- Increasing knowledge: One cannot achieve much without knowledge. Special emphasis has to be put on the basics of Islam and on subjects that the Daa'iyah (caller to Islam) needs in her environments. Knowledge should be spread about deviant thoughts, ideas, groups and sects. Awareness must be raised concerning those who do not like to see the spreading of Islam and who are gaining grounds in the hearts and minds of people.

3- Building of the Da'wah personality: Da'wah requires sacrifices and, therefore, women must be prepared to bear the burdens of calling to Islam. This comes through awakening them to the conditions of the Muslims and the endeavors of the enemies of Islam. Leadership, responsibility and individual initiative should be taught. Theoretical and practical educational faculties must be nurtured. The Daa'iyah must be taught the necessary social skills and the importance of Da'wah through good example and conduct. They also must be taught the value of time, its management and how to use Halaal (lawful) fun activities during their times of leisure.

4- Building up immunity to sin: This includes recognizing the ills of sins, particularly those relating to women, and blocking the way to them by shunning the means leading to them and the places where they exist.

Women in Da'wah (Call to Islam) - I

From the very beginning of the Islamic history, Muslim women have played vital roles in the propagation of the Divine Message (Islam). From the sacrifices of Sumayyah, may Allah be pleased with her, to the collected Ahadeeth [narrations of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) (may Allah exalt his mention)] of 'Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, women have been instrumental in the flourishing and spreading of this religion, the process which is called "Da'wah" in Arabic.

Unfortunately, during our present times, the Islamic revival suffers from weaknesses in its properly qualified personnel, which limits its spreading and restricts the Da'wah work to an elite group of activists, with finite and limited efforts of Da'wah and Tarbiyah (education) being focused on women.

Da'wah amongst women deserves, and should get, far more attention than it does. So far, except in a few instances, women have been distanced from the field of Da'wah work. If we consider the situation of Islamic Da'wah work and the position of women in it today, we can easily find the following problems:

1- Deficiency in Da'wah capabilities among women.

2- The ill-use of existing limited-resources in combination with a lack of personal initiative on the part of women.

3- A neglect or omission of women's issues in the planning of Islamic Da'wah.

4- Absence of adequate education and the lack of fundamental Islamic knowledge in the Daa'iyaat (female callers) in the field of Da'wah. Only a few of the wives and daughters of Du'aat (male callers) have any worthwhile Islamic knowledge.

5- Most women do not possess a proper understanding of the role of Da'wah made incumbent on their husbands. Because of this, they may not understand the importance of time given to projects outside the home, which in turn, may become a source of tension within the home.

6- The level of general Islamic knowledge among most women is low.

7- Women's Da'wah programs, as well as overall Da'wah programs and institutions are rare and not well organized.

Roots of the problem:

Many obstacles and restraints have been the causes behind the weakness and neglect of Da'wah work amongst women. Once they have been recognized and analyzed, viable solutions can be sought and implemented.

One major reason is that many men are not convinced about the importance of women's role and responsibilities in the field of Da'wah. The Quranic verse (which means) "And abide in your houses..." [33:33] has been misinterpreted by many, and so has the concept of "Qawaamah", or the right/responsibility of stewardship. In many instances, we see men objecting to women's participation in Da'wah and thus preventing them from fulfilling their role toward their fellow-Muslims and to the larger society in general. Spreading Islam has been made incumbent on all Muslims, men and women.

"It is vital that husbands encourage their wives to participate in Da'wah work," said Dr. 'Aa'ishah Hamdaan, Director of the Islamic Education Foundation (IEF), based in Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA). She has a Ph. D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialty in child and family issues. She teaches at a private university in the Twin Cities. The main goal of the IEF is to increase the level of awareness and provide training in giving Da'wah amongst Muslim women and men. "They (husbands) should encourage them to spread the message of this religion, perhaps by taking them along when they go out, and by instructing them on the proper ways of giving presentations about Islam," she added.

A more particular reason is the absence or confusion of priorities in the minds of the callers to Islam. Many of them have been overwhelmed and distracted by the state of the Ummah (Muslim community), even to the extent of ignoring to give proper attention to their homes and families. Their energies having been exhausted in the work outside the home, leaving them with nothing left for their families. This imbalance affects not only the families, but also the community as a whole.

The level of women's education and awareness of their position and responsibility plays an important role in the field of Da'wah.

A crucial role for the Muslim Women

The reasons women's participation in Da'wah is important are various and diverse:

1. Women are more capable than men are in communicating with other women. Women are usually more affected by word, deed, and conduct of other women, more so than by men. On the other hand, women are more capable of recognizing the particularities and problems associated with women's education.

2. Women can better comprehend the direction in which women's Da'wah work should be geared. They can best discern the order of priorities, because they are more familiar with this sphere.

3. Women are freer than men in communicating with other women, either individually for Da'wah activities, or in women's learning and other forums and places of meeting.

4. Many Muslim women who are in need of guidance, education, and direction lack the presence of men-folk who can provide this service, therefore it makes sense that qualified women in the community should do the job.

5. The need of education with women is greater than that with men. They get pregnant, give birth, and nurse children. The children are more tied to them than they are to their fathers. Women stay at home with their sons and daughters, and thus can bring them up as they please. If they are not allowed to share in the Da'wah efforts of their husbands, a lot of the much-needed results may not be attained.

6. Women have a great effect on their husbands. If they have strong Eemaan (faith) and character, they have a very good chance at helping their husbands become strong as well.

7. Women have a lot of characteristics that stress the importance of their Da'wah role. They should also be taken into account whenever any Da'wah work is planned. Some are:

* Women have the innate ability to communicate strongly what they believe to be true in their hearts. Dr. Hamdaan also points out that, "Women are also generally stronger in terms of verbal abilities and emotionality."

* Women sometimes lack will-power and a sense of direction, and therefore need the assistance of other women to give strength and motivation.