Different Opinions On The Effort of Dakwah and Tabligh

"In a certain country no one had ever seen an elephant. From India the first elephant was brought to this country. It was placed in a dark building where the eyes could not see the dark coloured elephant. Many viewers came along to see the animal. They were allowed to touch the elephant and then draw conclusions as to what an elephant was. According to which part of the elephant they had touched, they drew their conclusions by analogy and in this manner each one had a different opinion. The one who touched the ear‑lobes of the elephant exclaimed: “The elephant was like a huge fan.” The one who touched its back exclaimed: “The elephant is like a platform.” The one who touched its leg exclaimed: “No, you are all wrong. This is like a pillar.” The one who touched the trunk of the elephant said: “According to my opinion, this elephant is long and hollow within.” So, in this manner all of them had different versions of an elephant.

Maulana Rumi (R.A.) says that if in their hands they had a lamp, all these differences of opinion would have disappeared. “If every one of them had a lamp in his hand, they would all have been safe from differing.”

These days there are much differences of opinion in this world regarding the concept of Allah, Messengership, Prophethood, the aim and object of life on earth and the resurrection. Many people, in this darkened world, independent of the light of revelation try to understand the links between the worldly life and the life of the hereafter. They try to understand the relationship between the Creator and His creation simply and only by using reasoning powers, or who try to understand these things through the reason of him who does not rely on revelation; They are all like those mentioned in this story. Not one of them will be able to reach the truth. One blind man, whether he tries to tread the path of his own accord or through following another blind one, in both cases he will be treading towards destruction and be deprived of reaching the required destination. If a traveller and guide, are blind ‑ no matter how many they may be, the sum total will still be blindness. Hence, to understand the reality of things, logic and reason alone is not enough. Light of revelation is also required. In the story all those who touched the elephant were rational beings, only light was missing."

The above writings are excerpts of MA‑AARIF‑E‑MATHNAVI: A Commentary of the Mathnavi of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi (R.A) By Maulana Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Publisher: Idara Isha’at-e-Diniyat (P) Ltd

Perhaps one may claim he knew all about dakwah and tabligh effort inside out by merely hearing something about the effort from someone else. From time to time, I've met scores of people who tended to give judgement on the noble effort by just looking at the people in the jamaat, or might have spoken a few sentences with them, or have a friend, a family member or relative who is involved with the effort of dakwah and tabligh. Of those people, they are of two types - they either like the effort or shun it.

As for me, I know I could not learn how to swim by merely reading a swimming guide book, or listening to a talk by an Olympic gold medalist, or by joining as a member of Watermanship Club, or even after watching all the rerun episodes of Man from Atlantis. I have to simply go in the water to be able to swim.

Likewise, if I sat at a chai stall just outside a football stadium, sipping a cup of tea, I would never know for certain what transpires inside the stadium. When the stadium suddenly erupted with shouts, cheers and loud applause, I may assume the home team scored a goal. But it would only be my assumption and imagination. Perhaps it is not a goal scored, only a penalty kick is being awarded. Even if it is a goal, I would not be able to tell who scored the goal or how the goal was scored. My position is not the same as someone who is actually in the stadium watching the game.

If only we could feel the sweetness and ecstasy of hidayah from Allah that is opening wide, waiting for the Ummah thorough the blessed effort of dakwah and tabligh - that is, unless and until we are willing to spend some time ourselves in khuruuj in the path of Allah and forego whatever that is dear to us in order to attain closeness to Allah.