Our invitation

| نومبر ۲۰۱۴ | حکمت مودودی

Introduction

These questions—How can a minority living among a dominant majority safeguard its existence, interests, and rights? How can a majority obtain the authority that naturally belongs to it due to being the majority? How can a subjugated nation free itself from the domination of a powerful nation? How can a weak nation save itself from the encroachment of a stronger one? And how can a backward nation achieve the progress, prosperity, and power that dominant nations of the world possess?

These and similar issues may certainly be among the most important and fundamental concerns for non-Muslims. But for us Muslims, they are not independent problems. Rather, they are the consequences of the negligence we have continuously shown toward our real duty. Had we fulfilled that duty, this jungle of complex and troubling issues would never have arisen for us. And even now, if instead of exhausting our energies in cutting this jungle, we devote our full attention and effort to that very duty, then before long this forest of worries—both for us and for the entire world—will automatically clear away.

This is because the responsibility for cleansing and reforming the world was placed upon us. When we abandoned our appointed duty, the world became overrun with thorny jungles, and the most painful and thorn-filled portion of it fell to our lot.

A Grievous Condition

It is unfortunate that Muslim religious scholars and political leaders fail to understand this matter. Everywhere Muslims are being told that their real issues are the protection of the community and material progress. Moreover, the guidance being offered to solve these issues is precisely what has been borrowed from non-Muslims.

But I believe in the existence of God as much as I believe that this guidance being given to you is completely wrong. Following these paths, you will never reach your destination of success.

The Real Issue

I would be your worst enemy if I did not plainly tell you—without hesitation—what the real issue of your life is. Your present and your future depend entirely on this one question:

What relationship do you maintain with the guidance that has reached you through the Messenger of God—because of which you are called Muslims, and through which you are regarded—whether you desire it or not—as representatives of Islam in this world?

If you follow it sincerely, bear true witness to it through your words and actions, and if your collective character clearly reflects the full and accurate manifestation of Islam, then you will surely remain honored in this world and successful in the Hereafter.

The dark clouds of fear, sorrow, humiliation, weakness, and subjugation hovering over you will disappear within a few years. Your call to truth and your righteous conduct will win over hearts and minds. Your credibility will solidify across the world. Hope for justice will be attached to you. Trust will be placed in your honesty and integrity. People will seek validation from your words. Expectations of goodness will be tied to you. The leaders of disbelief will lose all credibility before you. Their philosophies and political-economic systems will appear as nothing but superficial polish before the truth and uprightness you represent.

Powers that currently seem aligned with them will gradually break away and shift toward Islam. A time will come when communism will struggle to survive even in Moscow, capitalist democracy will tremble for its safety in Washington and New York, materialistic atheism will fail to find acceptance even in the universities of London and Paris, and racism and nationalism will lose influence even among Brahmins and Germans.

This era will remain only as a cautionary tale in history—when the followers of a globally dominant force like Islam had become so foolish that, despite holding the staff of Moses in their hands, they trembled at ropes and sticks.

If This Path Is Not Chosen

This bright future awaits you only if you are sincere followers and true witnesses of Islam. But if your attitude remains as it is—sitting idly over the guidance sent by God, benefiting neither yourselves nor allowing others to benefit; calling yourselves Muslims and representatives of Islam while your collective words and actions testify mostly to ignorance, polytheism, worldliness, and moral disorder—then know that the future may become even worse than the present.

If you openly abandon Islam and adopt disbelief, then at least your worldly life may resemble that of America, Russia, or Britain. But to be “Muslim” in name yet “non-Muslim” in practice, and to falsely represent God’s religion—closing the door of guidance upon the world—is a crime for which you will not prosper even in this world.

The punishment for this crime is recorded in the Qur’an. The Jewish nation stands before you as a living example. You cannot avoid this outcome—whether you adopt the “lesser evil” of composite nationalism or pursue everything that Muslim nationalism desires through a separate identity.

There is only one way to escape this fate: abandon this crime.

Our Purpose

Now, in brief, I want to explain why we have risen:

We invite all those who accept Islam as their religion to truly make it their religion. Each Muslim should establish it in his personal life, and collectively, the entire community should be prepared to establish it in national life.

We say to them: Apply Islam practically in your homes, families, society, educational institutions, literature and journalism, business and economic dealings, organizations, national institutions, and—overall—in your national policies. Through your words and deeds, bear true witness to it before the world.

We say to them: As Muslims, the real purpose of your life is establishing the religion (Iqāmat-e-Dīn) and bearing witness to the truth (Shahādat-e-Haqq).

Therefore, your efforts and actions should revolve around this alone. Abandon everything that contradicts this purpose or misrepresents Islam. Examine your entire behavioral pattern in light of Islam and dedicate all your efforts so that the religion is fully established, its testimony is completely delivered, and its invitation reaches the world in a manner that fulfills the proof against them.

Our Method

This single purpose is the reason for the formation of the Jamaat.

To achieve it, the method we have adopted is this: We remind Muslims of their duty and clearly explain what Islam is, what it demands, what it means to be a Muslim, and what responsibilities arise from this identity.

Those who understand this are then told that the demands of Islam cannot be fulfilled individually. Collective effort is necessary. Only a small portion of Islam pertains to personal life. Even if you establish that, neither the whole religion will be established nor its testimony fulfilled. And when the system of disbelief dominates collective life, even much of individual Islamic practice becomes impossible.

Therefore, to establish the full religion and to bear its complete testimony, it is absolutely essential that all those who understand their responsibilities unite and organize themselves to practically establish the religion, invite the world toward it, and remove the obstacles that stand in the way.

Our effort is this: First, that each individual becomes a living witness of Islam. Then, that from these individuals grows a well-organized community in which Islam can be seen operating in its true spirit. And finally, that this community, through its struggle, removes the dominance of falsehood and establishes the system of truth that fully represents Islam in this world.

This is our purpose. This is our program. We have risen solely with genuine, original, and complete Islam. Our call to Muslims is simply:

“Come, let us all join together to establish it practically and bear witness to it before the world.”

For further reading, explore the complete article at the link below: Read More: https://tarjumanulquran.org/articles/nov-2014-mary-daaot