INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT

~ 8 ~ world hereafter depends on the acceptance of this truth, so man has no choice but to accept it.” This kind of claim is highly provocative, eliciting reactions from every ideological group—religious, materialist, secular, atheist, etc. The man with a mission throws down a challenge which provokes a response. A challenge-responsemechanism becomes operative which stimulates continuous interaction, involving questions and answers, discussions and dialogues. It is during this interaction that the process of intellectual development begins. As a mission, da‘wah work by its very nature is divine. Because of this people with a mission are bound by their code of ethics to respond in a positive manner to their audiences regardless of the latter’s misconduct. At all costs, they must, as a matter of principle, avoid all friction. As the Qur’an says: “Certainly, we (the Prophets) would bear with patience your persecution of us.” (14:12) This positive behaviour on the part of people engaged in the da‘wah mission prevents them from succumbing to hatred for and violence against the