Preservation, Updating, Dawah

PRESERVATION, UPDATING, DAWAH at through ijtihad and carried into effect by the Islamic scholars. That task in reality is not synonymous with bringing about a change in the shariah, but it is only a reapplication of the shariah in terms of altered circumstances. The task of effecting such reapplication, which was undertaken in the past, will in like manner, continue to be carried out in the future. It is this process of continual adjustment which helps to keep Islam permanently updated. Dawah The third requirement for this continuation of the Prophetic mission is dawah work. That is, to communicate the message of the Prophet to all people in all ages. Though this dawah work is carried out by human beings, it is, in fact, a divine task. That is why the Quran has called it nusrat of God i.e., helping the Almighty (3:52). According to the Quran, dawah work means to make oneself nasih and amin, that is, an honest and sincere wellwisher of all. (7:68) In short, it is to become wholly honest in relation to God and to feel and evince total goodwill towards all of one’s fellow men. Dawah work can be properly performed only by meeting this standard. One important condition for the performance of dawah work is patience. This virtue was exemplified by the conduct of the early da‘is: “We will exercise patience regardless of the harm inflicted upon us.” (Quran, 14:12) This verse of the Quran tells us of the character of the da‘i. The da‘i in relation to the mad’u adopts the attitude of patience unilaterally. He continues his process of da’wah