The Role of Muslim Women in Daw’ah
31-01-2008
كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ
وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّه
“You are the best of the nation raised up for mankind because you enjoin what is
right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah” [TMQ Ale-Imran: 110]
There many evidences in the Qur’an and Sunnah that obligates ALL Muslims, men
and women to do da’wah, and enjoin good and forbid evil.
The Qur’an and Sunnah have expressed the idea of da’wa with the terms; tableegh
(delivering the call), enjoining the good (ma’ruf) & forbidding the evil (munkar),
recommending one another on the truth (tawaasi), being sent to give good tidings
and to warn, clarifying the truth, advising (naseeha) and reminding the people,
and debate and discuss with the people in the manner which is best and the
struggling to make the Deen prevail.
ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ
وَجَادِلْهُمْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ
Allah (swt) says, “Invite to the way of your Lord (i.e. Islaam) with Hikmah
(divine evidences), and argue with them in a way that is better.” [TMQ 16: 125]
What we can notice when we look at the evidences is that they have come in a
general form, addressing Muslims as a whole – not being specific to men or
women.
The fuqaha have explained that Da’wah to non-Muslims is in origin Fard Kifayah
(obligation of sufficiency), meaning if some people are fulfilling it – the rest
of the Ummah are not sinful and are encouraged to also perform it. However, it
can become Fard Ayn (individual obligation) in the case where we know a
non-Muslim who does not know about Islam and is unlikely to hear about it except
through you – in this case it is our obligation to convey the message of Islam
to them.
Da’wah to non-Muslims differs from da’wah to Muslims which includes enjoining
the Ma’ruf and forbidding the Munkar which is an individual duty.
Ahmad narrated on the authority of Abu Bakrah that the messenger said: “If the
people see the Munkar (evil, wrong doing) and they do not change it, Allah will
take them with a punishment”.
The Muslims, as individuals, are required to enjoin that which they are
commanded with and forbid that which they are ordered to abstain from - if
anything happens in front of them that necessitates that – according to the
knowledge each individual has.
Furthermore, the Messenger (saw), when addressing the people used to say, “Let
the one who is present convey what he has heard to the one who is absent” (Al-Bukhari).
Consequently, enjoining the ma’roof and forbidding the munkar becomes an
individual obligation (fard ayn) for which the Muslim will be sinful if he or
she did not undertake it, and he is not excused for abandoning it. Thus the
Muslimah, in her daily life with her husband, children, relatives, neighbours,
customers, acquaintances or anyone else who they happen to meet; each one of
such people needs be given the naseeha (advice), if they failed to perform a
duty or was disobedient. How can this not be the case when there are sins that
only she may be aware of. Such as a sin committed in front of her at a sitting
where no one else is present. If she did not advise them then she will be
sinful. No one else can take her place, and in his sphere, nobody other than her
can fulfil it. For every munkar that appears in his sphere, no one other than
the individual who witnesses it is responsible.
If one of our friends is not wearing the khimar, taking riba, has haram
relations with men before marriage or engages in any other definitive haram –
then you are obliged to forbid this munkar.
The Prophet (saw) said in a hadith narrated from Imam Muslim from Abu Sa’id al
Khudri: “Whosoever sees a Munkar (an evil or wrong) let him change it by his
hand, if he could not let it be by his tongue. If he could not let it be by his
heart, and this is the weakest of Iman”
We are also obliged to work to establish the mechanism which will establish the
Ma’ruf and ensure the removal of Munkar, the Islamic state – which has been
emphasised by the hadith in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (saw) said:
“Whosoever dies without a bay’ah on their neck dies the death of Jahiliyyah.” [Sahih
Muslim]
Women have been expressly addressed with the duty of the da’wah because Allah,
subhanahu wa ta’ala, says:
يَا نِسَاءَ النَّبِيِّ لَسْتُنَّ كَأَحَدٍ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِنِ اتَّقَيْتُنَّ
فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذِي فِي قَلْبِهِ مَرَضٌ وَقُلْنَ
قَوْلًا مَعْرُوفًا
“O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty
(to Allah) then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease
should be moved with desire, but say that which is Ma’roof (good).” [33:32]
Ibn Abbas understood Allah’s injunction to the Prophet’s wives, to “say good,”
to mean that they have to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil. This can
be taken as a general address to all Muslim women. Allah also says:
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ
بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ
“The believers, men and women are Auliya (helpers, protectors) of one another,
they enjoin the good and forbid the evil, they perform salah and give away zakah
and obey Allah.” [9:71]
It is clear in this verse that women are addressed with this task, just as men,
whenever they are capable of undertaking it.
* Removing ignorance, increasing awareness of Islam, and the creation of
qualified women da’wah carriers. These results have a lasting and beneficial
influence, not only on women and the Muslim community, but also on the whole
society at large
* Women’s place and status in Islam would be highlighted and Muslim women would
attain a better awareness of their rights and duties.
* Making dawah should be part of our children’s upbringing by making them aware
that they are the future carriers of Islam; and Islam is their identity; without
it they are lost.
Examples from Muslim women in the past
The Prophet’s companions who left their homes to go places that were thousands
of miles away to take the new religion to people also had the support and the
backing of their wives. Let’s look at some examples:
- Khadija’s (ra) comfort, help, and support of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhe
wa sallam, offer the greatest proof of the vital importance of this role.
Khadijah was very rich, and she spent her money to support the da’wah
- If we look at the hadeeth narrated by Abu Saeed that the women said to the
Prophet, sallallaahu alayhe wa sallam, “The men are keeping you busy and we do
not get enough attention from you. Would you specify a day for us, women? He
promised them a day to meet them and educate and admonish them.” (Bukhari) The
fruits of this understanding and concern by the women companions of the Prophet,
sallallaahu alayhe wa sallam, and the attention he gave them, are shining
examples and a source of pride for Muslim women
- Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, is also a perfect example of what the
Muslim women should strive to be like. After the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon
him, died, Aisha (ra) was the main source of knowledge about the Prophets
teachings. She was active in telling people about Islam and giving knowledge to
those who sought it. Abu Musa Ash’ari narrated, “We never had a problem to
tackle but always found a relief from Aisha (ra). Her knowledge was stupendous.”
Imam Zuhri, a Tabe’ie of great renown said, “Aisha was the greatest among the
living scholars.”
- Umm Sulaim (ra) teaching her son Anas Ibn Malik (ra) about Islam, even though
her husband rejected Islam. When Abu Talha proposed to her (before accepting
Islam) she told him that her dowry was Islam, he in-turn embraced Islam and she
married him. She gave her son Anas to the Prophet (saw) as a servant.
- Umm Hakeem (ra) was the reason behind her husband embracing Islam, the aunt of
Adi ibn Hatem (ra) also led him to Islam. Amra, the wife of Habib Al-Ajami would
wake up her husband to make salah at night. Asmaa (ra), the daughter of Abu Bakr,
encouraged her son, Abdullah ibn Az-Zubair (ra), to stand up for the truth and
not fear death in the face of a tyrant.
- Sumayyah (ra) gave up her life when Abu Jahl killed her for becoming a Muslim.
She was the first martyr in Islam.
- Umm Salamah (ra) left her husband and saw her children persecuted when she
migrated. (She is the one who narrated the famous speech of Ja’far to Najashi).
Umm Ammarah (ra) fought in defence of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhe wa sallam,
in the Uhud battle. Tending the wounded in battles was the role Muslim Women
played throughout history.
- It is reported that Dawud ibn Husayn (ra), a companion of the Prophet, used to
take Qur’anic lessons from Umm Sa’d Jamilah bint As’ad Ansariyyah (ra), daughter
of As’ad ibn Rabi who fought in the Battle of Badr and achieved martyrdom in the
Battle of Uhud. According to Ibn Athir, Umm Sa’d had memorized the Qur’an and
used to give regular lessons.
Even in later generations Muslim women continued to play a large part in Da’wah
and the propagation of Islam.
- Nafisa bint al-Hasan (d. 208/824) taught hadith to Imam ash-Shafi’i.
- Ibn Hajar mentioned 12 women who were musnida (transmitters of collection of
hadith). He studied with 53 women.
- Ibn Asakir al-Dimashqi (499-571) took hadith from 1,300 male shaykh and 80-odd
female shaykha.
What contribution can women make?
Many obstacles and restraints have been the causes behind the weakness and
neglect of da’wah work amongst women.
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. This is due to the
influence of eastern Mushrik culture where women are seen as slaves to men.
Unfortunately some attempt to justify this by misinterpreting Islamic evidences,
for example:
The Qur’anic verse: وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ “…remain at your homes…” [33:33]
has been misinterpreted by many, and so has the right of guardianship or Qawama.
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.
Unfortunately, not a lot of Muslim women feel that they know enough about Islam
to share it with others. They need to realize that it is their responsibility to
obtain that knowledge and then share it with others. Many women also feel
uncomfortable presenting to groups of people due to various reasons.
Although many women are busy due to their responsibility as a wife, mother,
cook, and teacher, inside their homes, etc – as with any fard, we must make time
and organise our lives such that it becomes a centre point of our lives. Women
have the ability to make a real difference:
- They generally have a great effect on their husbands. If they have strong Iman
and character, they have a very good chance at helping their husbands become
strong as well.
- Women are more free 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.
- Women stay at home with their sons and daughters, and thus can bring them up
as they please.
Practical Steps for women
* Where to do dawah: ideally where people gather regularly, such as the mosques,
girls schools – trying to influence the teacher and the curriculum,
associations, da’wah groups, friends, families etc.
* We need to start by seeking knowledge and developing our Islamic
personalities.
Proper Islamic rules of mixing between men and women must be observed at all
times
* Building of the da’wah personality: Da’wah requires sacrifices and therefore
women must be prepared to bear the burdens of calling to Islam
* Da’iyat delivering lectures, seminars, sermons, should be able to persuade the
listeners by addressing their minds through proofs and evidences.
* Utilising the latest communication technology is important for fruitful dawah.
Radio, TV, and the internet are very efficient means for local and international
mass-dawah.
* Writing and publishing such as books, newspaper, articles etc are means by
which you can easily reach people. Writings should both be eloquent and
convincing, through sincere, sound and documented arguments.
So, let us strive to aid in the revival of the Ummah, by being da’wa carriers –
possessing thought and articulation to uphold the truth.
Each of us has a gift from Allah we should not ignore our obligation in fear of
rejection or failure but, join together to contribute our talents and reasons to
share the gift of Islam, truly a mercy from Allah (swt).
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِمَّنْ دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ
إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
“Who is better in speech than the one who calls (people) to Allah, works
righteousness, and says I am one the Muslims?” (41:33)
Shifaa bint Mukhlis Miah
Submitted by a Mujahid