Author: Obaidullah Nimruzi
Allama Sayyed Abul Hasan Nadwi ‘May Allah have mercy on him’ (Part 51)
A great man in the field of Da’wah (invitation) and reformation
Da’wah and Preaching Islam Abroad
Mawlana Nadwi was a master of the Arabic language, dialogue, and composition, in addition to possessing deep and profound inner spiritual states, as acknowledged by the Arabs. Therefore, he can be considered the leader of the caravan of preachers to foreign countries, especially Arab nations. He captivated hearts with his unique spiritual power and eloquent language, engaging in extensive activities in the field of preaching among the Arabs. Additionally, he took great writers, scholars, and elders with him to various villages and cities. They would spend their nights in mosques, praying in a spiritual atmosphere that left positive and valuable effects.
Having learned devotion and thought from the spiritual school of Mawlana Muhammad Ilyas, Mawlana Nadwi increased his spiritual power and constantly contemplated how to bring religion to the entire world and all people from different walks of life. He diligently strived for this cause.
Mawlana Nadwi recounts: “Mawlana Raipuri used to stay in a secluded area of the Haram Sharif during prayer times and would also have his lunch there. I was so engrossed in the congregations and meetings of scholars and dignitaries that I often arrived late for lunch. When I entered the tent, I would see Hazrat Raipuri sitting there, having wrapped some bread in a handkerchief. Upon seeing me, he would say, ‘Dear Ali, you don’t even think of eating. Look, I have left chapati (a special type of bread) for you, because doughy breads are not good for you.’”
Allama Nadwi worked tirelessly to advance religious goals, especially the vital work of calling and preaching, achieving significant success. In various Arab and Islamic countries, he attached great importance to this mission and took scholars and religious thinkers with him to benefit from the spiritual atmosphere of the mosques and the work of preaching. He preferred spending nights, resting, and praying in mosques over any other accommodations, even amidst unparalleled hospitality from the people. Hazrat Mawlana did not limit his activities to just one city; he expanded his efforts to other cities and villages as well. In Egypt, for instance, he did not confine himself to Cairo but traveled to other cities, including “Al-Mahalla Al-Kobra,” for important preaching work.
Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi writes: “On the night that Mawlana was in this city, the people accepted Allama Nadwi’s invitation to spend the night in the mosque, engaging in Qiyam (night prayers) and sujud (prostrations).”
Hazrat Mawlana Sayyed Abul Hasan could have chosen to stay in the best hotels and homes, like many other scholars and elders, but he rejected these luxuries. Instead, he chose to spend nights in mosques, dedicating his days to calling, preaching, and guiding people for the sake of Allah (s.w.t). He saw himself as the heir of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and thus sought neither luxury, pleasure, nor business; rather, he endeavored to steer humanity’s ship to its destined shore.
Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi remarks: “Allama Nadwi believes that the purification of hearts and the cultivation of souls is the responsibility of religious scholars and sincere preachers—those who dedicate their prayers and worship, their lives and deaths to Allah, and are perpetually restless in guiding the Ummah. Through their sincerity and messages, Allah guides the astray, leads sinners to repentance, and directs deviants to the straight path. Due to their sincerity, the words that originate from their hearts resonate within the hearts of others, creating a profound impact, unlike those who merely speak without their hearts being engaged.”
This was the foundation upon which Allama Nadwi believed in the Da’wah and Tabligh movements. According to him, the people of Da’wah and Tabligh are those who effect change in others through preaching, guidance, gentleness in their travels, setting an example in their private lives, and leading them in accordance with Islamic Sunnah and customs.
Allama Nadwi approached the Arab countries with a heart filled with pain for the Islamic Ummah, feeling that people had distanced themselves from faith and perhaps lost the true purpose of their relationship with it. He would inspire the dormant spirits of Muslims, especially within the Arab Ummah, to awaken them to their previous glories in the path of religion. He drew upon the legacies of Khalid ibn al-Walid, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, Owais al-Qarani, Uqbah ibn Nafi, Tariq ibn Ziyad, and Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi as inspirational figures. Allama Nadwi highlighted Syria and the historical city of Damascus among his primary reform programs. Although this city held a prestigious position in terms of knowledge and scholarship, particularly in jurisprudence and hadith, its sense of responsibility towards the Ummah was lacking.
Allama Nadwi began his efforts in Damascus from the mosques, delivering lectures on religion and faith not merely to add to their knowledge but to strengthen their faith and certainty and to awaken their souls.
Mustafa Saeed Al-Khan writes: “Allama Nadwi chose to live and stay in the mosque to find the opportunity to plead with Allah so that his words would be beneficial for people. In these speeches, it was not solely Sheikh Nadwi’s tongue that spoke; his luminous spirit also shone in the halls where he spoke at the University of Syria.”
Certainly, the combined speech of the heart and tongue is more eloquent, expressive, and effective than mere spoken words. Hazrat Mawlana Nadwi’s preaching had a special charm and compelling pull, emanating from genuine concern and internal pain, and captivating hearts. He presented the call to truth in the best manner and in the most vibrant way, consistently striving to reveal the facts with a balanced and sound approach.
Mawlana Nadwi held that the act of Da’wah is not confined to specific rules or personal guidelines, as its effectiveness relies on the environment, the state of society, and the public atmosphere. Hence, it is essential for the caller to be wise and aware of the surrounding situations, events, and occasions.
Continues…
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