One of the worst calamities faced by the Muslim ummah was in 1258, when Genghis Khan’s grandson, Hulagu Khan and his people ravaged through the city of Baghdad, committing numerous atrocities and massacring the Muslims, where they made the Muslim blood lawful, until they drenched the city in it.

A horrible carnage and catastrophe that history has borne witness to. A crime so heinous, that it has left an indelible mark in our hearts, a time when the Muslim world was ransacked and decimated. An era which witnessed 800 000 Muslims butchered mercilessly.
Reading all this, a question arises in our minds, the fact that, how then in only 80 years did these barbaric Mongols convert to Islam?

By the mercy of Allah, it were those remaining Muslims who even in those tragic moments continued to work for Islam, enjoining good and forbidding evil, as a result ,the Mongolians took a complete turnover, now raising the banner of Islam as their religion. It was at this time where women were at the forefront of Da’wah. If the Mongolians who massacred muslims could find the truth in Islam, then so to can our many enemies today, Muslims continue to be massacred, in Syria, in Burma, in Palestine and across the globe.

This gives rise to a very important question, a question in need of comprehension, a question we need to ask ourselves indeed, What have we done for Islam? Have we served this ummah, for is it not mentioned in the Quran?….

“Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining Al-Maroof (Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar(polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden ). And it is they who are successful.” (Al-Imran: 104) 

And then what about the famous hadeeth, where Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him) said: “Convey from me, even one verse.” (Bukhari)

It’s not a voluntary deed, dear friends but in fact an obligatory one. The obligation is further emphasized by the following verse which explains that not conveying the message – hiding knowledge – is disobedience to Allah that causes Allah’s curse to descend upon such people, which shows that such a sin leads to the Hellfire.

 “Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers.” (Quran, al-Baqarah: 159)

People have died for the cause of Da’wah. The sahabah sacrificed their lives to promote and propagate this deen in hopes of attaining Allah’s pleasure alone. The question remains what about me and you? Have we fulfilled our duty in this regard?

The barbaric Mongolians converted to Islam, the flag of Islam raises itself high in several countries, and even now Muslims occupy an extremely large portion of the globe, would such have been the situation if Muslims hadn’t adhered to the commands of Allah and propagated our deen. All these undoubtedly shows the extreme importance of Da’wah in our lives. We definitely need to imbibe Da’wah in our everyday routine. We have ample opportunities to give Da’wah, at our workplace, colleges, on the bus, at the airport etc. It’s our duty to make the best of these moments.
It is essential that contribute to this developing Ummah, we need to motivate ourselves by remembering our ancestors, after all giving Da’wah is obligatory and we will be questioned, so let’s prepare ourselves by realizing the importance of Da’wah and then implement in it our lives.

Allâhumma zayyinnâ bi-zînati-l-îmâni, wa ja’alnâ hudâtan muhtadîn

O Allah, beautify us with the adornment of faith and make us of those who guide and are rightly guided.”

Ameen ya Rabbil Alameen

Bint Hasan

Writer, AAT