Now and then, I'd reminiscise about the days when I used to go on Dakwah Walkabouts on the streets of Georgetown,Penang with my fellow IPCI members, back in the late 80's and early 90s!
I was the Founding Secretary of the Masjid Kapitan Keling based Islamic Propagation Centre International (Malaysia).
My memories of those days are still fresh and I long for such experiences to return to me here in KL through my Dakwah activities.
These photos were taken during our after Isya prayers 'meet the people' on the streets of Georgetown, Penang Island.
Chulia Street is a favourite location for us to go on this impromptu sessions where we would hand out pamphlets and brochures to tourists and visitors from all over the world who converge on to the backpackers streets of Penang.
Europeans and Americans were the most enthusiastic people we met on the streets. They were always curious about Islam and many of them visited us at the IPCI the next day, to ask us as to all that Islam is about and what it is not.
Picture shows the founding members of the IPCI (Malaysia) with Haji Abdurrahman , a visiting Islamic Activist from the UK.
L to R : Haji Mohd.Yassin, Haji Kamarudin Abdullah, Haji Abdurrahman, Zainol Abideen a.k.a Mahaguru58 (since blogging in 2004)
Haji Yassin works as a bank clerk in Penang. Haji Kamarudin is a former Roman Catholic turned Da'ee and works as a Passenger Services Assistant with Malaysian Airlines in Penang.
Haji Abdurrahman is a full time Islamic activist from the UK and travels the world to share info about Islam. I used to work for a leading Penang Diamond & Gold Muslim Jeweller opposite the mosque as a Sales Executive. At every given opportunity , we would converge at the IPCI centre and attend to hundreds of visitors coming from all over the world daily. We cherished each and every moment of being able to continue the noble work of the Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW in our own limited ways. Alhamdulillah hi rabbil alameen!
Some people think that to do Dakwah is just keeping the Sunnah like growing a beard, dress like an Arab, brush your teeth with a toothstick @ miswak and then go on a 3 days, 40 days, 4 months sojourn from one masjid to another and 'worry' about the state of affairs concerning the religion!
It most certainly is not. The Prophet Muhammad SAW used to go on dakwah walkabouts and short journeys to towns and cities in the Arabian peninsular. He didn't just sit at his corner in the mosque in Madinah al Munawarrah and wait for people to go seek him for knowledge about Islam.
Today, we see so many Islamic associations, organisations and movements, all claiming to be striving in the path of Allah and His Messenger. They build up a false image of themselves being the true ones following the Ways of the Prophet SAW yet we see their existence as being uneffective as to the objective of reaching out to the masses.
Reason being none other than the Ego that reigns supreme in each person's heart. Many who label themselves as this and that, put up impressive looking scrolls and religious credentials fatten up their posteriors sitting in airconditioned offices and think that they are doing a 'jihad' in the Way of Allah the Almighty!
Far from it! Islam is a person to person way of life based on total submission to Allah the Almighty and following the example shown by Muhammad, the son of Abdullah, Most Beloved of Allah.
When the Da'ee's start losing control over their Ego's, Dakwah dies a natural death for they no longer are willing to go meet the people in the streets. They no longer wish to share to people about Islam and instead wait for 'speaking opportunities' either at the various 'Forum Perdana's or televised programs and do not bother to reach out to the ignorant masses and teach the actual teachings of Allah SWT through their being comfortable in offices or they congregate at the masjids but stick to their own 'clique' and not mix with the jama'ah.
How is the relationship between the Da'ee's and the Ummah ever going to improve?
The situation will deteriorate by each passing day till no one gives a hoot about Dakwah or even about Islam, God's Way of Life for all mankind.
We need to reach out and start touching lifes of those whom we can meet while being still alive. Do not waste away your lifes without sharing the info which you have come to acquire with others. The truth stands clear for all to see. At times, we get the chance but think, it's okay. Someone else will do it (sharing information) and the Faith of Islam will be upheld forever.
If everyone starts thinking that way, what's gonna happen to Islam? Fade away into the night?
Not in a million years! Islam is getting subscribers in the millions every given month throughout the world! It is up to us to set that standard high and uphold it with our best shot! Amin.
But for now, this blogging platform serves us well in spreading information. Let's reach out and start sharing our love and respect to one another! Ameen!
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