Non-Violence and Islam

Dawah Activism Islamic activism in respect of its method is based on non-violence and in respect of its target is based on dawah. Dawah, in fact, is another name for a peaceful struggle for the propagation of Islam. It would be true to say that Islamic activism in fact is dawah activism. The task of dawah is no simple one. It enjoys the status of a key factor. If this task is fully performed, all other objectives will be automatically achieved. Here are certain references from the Quran in this connection. 1. Through dawah the believers receive God’s protection against the mischief of the opponents. (5:67) 2. Through dawah even the direst of enemy turns into a dearest friend. (41:34) 3. Dawah proves Islam’s ideological superiority. And without doubt nothing is greater than the superiority of ideology. (10:32) 4. Through dawah a positive mentality is inculcated within the ummah. This is called ‘honest counsel’ in the Quran. (7:68) 5. The mission of dawah is performed by human beings but the conducive conditions for it are provided by God. Just as the farming is to be done by the farmer while the rains come from God. In modern times favourable conditions have been fully provided to man. Now the believers’ duty is to refrain from expending their energies in futile activities. They must exert their entire energy in dawah work. All the best results will ensue from this act.