FEBRUARY 12 The Master Key

between these two categories is that the former have endless grievances against the local non-Muslim authorities, while the latter blame their woes on international non-Muslim powers such as the Jews, Christians, Orientalists, and so on. In Islam, the most important consideration of all is da‘wah. All other considerations, no matter how serious and important they may be, can be legitimately passed over in its favour. The Sunnah of the Prophet gives such clear guidelines on this subject as leaves no doubt in the mind of a lover of Truth. Shortly before his migration to Madinah, the Prophet visited Ta’if. There, scorned by the inhabitants, he was subjected to the worst kind of humiliations details of which can be had from Sirah books. The Prophet later told his wife, ‘Aishah, that he had never had a harder day than the one in Ta’if. It was when the Prophet left Ta’if in great grief and sorrow that he was visited by the angel of the mountains at God’s command. He said to the Prophet, “God has heard what your people had said to you. I am the angel of the mount. If you ask me I can crush their settlement by these mountains”.The Prophet replied, “No, I am still hopeful that there will arise people among their following generations who will worship God without associating anything with Him.” (As-Sirah anNabawiyya li Ibn Kathir vol. II, p. 153). It is quite plain that da‘wah is the master key. But it takes a great heart to make use of it. It takes a character of the utmost sublimity—khuluqin azim, as it is described in the Qur’an. Only those who possess such qualities can recognize and utilize such opportunities as come their way. God has made da‘wah the master key for believers for all time. Whatever the Muslims gained in the first phase of Islamic history was through da‘wah. Any future gains will likewise be through da‘wah, for the revolution brought about by the Prophet and his companions in world history is still making its impact. It has facilitated the process of da‘wah and invested them with great power. It is still the super key to meaningful achievement in the world of religion. In modern times, the latest methods of communication have provided new avenues for the propagation of Islam. But even more important is the development of various branches of scientific research which have quite finally established the veracity of Islam. What was formerly achieved by our predecessors in circumstances fraught with great difficulty because of poor, or