THE TASK OF GLOBAL DAWAH

domination and rule over many of the Muslim nations there. However, there was another aspect of their domination that has been overlooked. These nations brought with them the immense blessing of modern communication that was awaited by history itself for the past thousand years, and which would be most beneficial to the religion of Islam. But the Muslim leaders could not recognize this fact and rise above worldly considerations to ignore the political problems, and avail of the opportunities provided by these modern means for dawah work. Every purported Muslim problem of the present times is a result of this lapse in wisdom. Many Muslim scholars considered colonialism, orientalism, etc. as responsible for the problems faced by the Muslim community. Due to this wrong thinking, Muslims have been engaged in fighting the supposed ‘obstacles’ for the last 200 years. However, the result has been totally counterproductive. The truth is that the fear of these so-called ‘obstacles’ was unfounded. Rather, according to the Hadith of the Prophet, their position was that of ‘supporters of Islam’. Through great effort and sacrifices, they had made the discoveries of science that brought modern communication into existence. Although, they had developed these means of communications for their own requirement, there is no monopoly on these methods. These means are available to all and are considered as global means of communication. Had Muslim scholars and leaders not chosen the path of collision and confrontation against them, and instead adopted peaceful methods, then undoubtedly, they could have made full use of these means of communications in their favour. By doing so they could have fulfilled the plan of global Islamic dawah that was awaited for over a thousand years. A Historical Reference Professor T. W Arnold (1864-1930), a distinguished British orientalist, wrote a book on Islamic missionary activity after a thorough study of the subject. This book is titled The Preaching of Islam. This book presents a detailed analysis of the spread of Islam in different countries over a thousand years beginning from the 7th century CE. For instance, with reference to a report from Africa, he writes: Christian missionary reports: “When I came out in 1898, there were few Muhammadans to be seen below Iddah. Now they are everywhere, excepting below Abo, and at the present rate of progress there will scarcely be a heathen village on the riverbanks by 1910.” (p. 326)