What is foresight in islam? What is prudence?
People making tabligh must be prudent.
Jafar (RA) had found the opportunity to convey Islam to the Negus of Abyssinia. When asked to recite a portion of the Qur’an, he looked for an avenue to enter the hearts of his Christian addresses, and decided to read the verses of Chapter Maryam detailing the birth of Jesus (AS). This deeply moved the Negus who, according to reports, became Muslim, either there on the spot or at a later date.
Jafar (RA) could well have recited verses containing stern warnings against disbelievers. But would that have had the same effect?
Thus, people making tabligh need to possess foresight. What will give them foresight is nothing other than piety or taqwa. The Almighty states:
“Fear Allah; and He will teach you.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:282)
Yet, citing the circumstances as excuse and refraining from the duty of making tabligh is inexcusable. This is a task all people must undertake to the extent their individual capabilities allow. Luqman (AS) reminds his son of the duty in the following:
“Son! Maintain the prayer, bid what is right and forbid what is wrong; and whatever may fall on you, remain patient. This truly is among things that require determination.” (Luqman, 31:17)
It must be remembered that;
During the Prophet’s (SAW) time, the verses of the Qur’an were being revealed one by one and the religion was being completed gradually. Yet, even then, the Prophet (SAW) would task companions who had reached the required level, with the duty of making tabligh.
For instance, the person who roamed Yathrib door to door, conquered it with the Qur’an and transformed it into the city of faith that was to become Medina, was just a young man in his twenties, Musab ibn Umayr (RA). He convinced the people of Aws and Khazraj jumping at his throat with swords and spears and telling him to leave Medina, to just listen to the words of the Qur’an once; and, one by one, incorporated all of them inside the garden that is Islam.
Source: BEING A GUIDING LIGHT, Osman Nuri Topbas, Erkam Publications
