English Column: Dakwah is Not Only for Sheikhs with Beards
“Look deeper inside”
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English Column: Dakwah is Not Only for Sheikhs with Beards
“Son, please take Islamic studies. I’ve always wanted you to become a cleric who advocates Islam at the Masjids or universities. Please son” says a mother of three to her first born. He just became a fine young adult.
It has always been the ultimate dream of the mother to give birth to young masters of Islamic studies, to breed young knowledgeable experts well-versed in the Quran and hadtih, to be the mother of young Islamic Theologians.
The mother, for the years spent from hounding her bachelor’s degree to owning a doctorate, she didn’t have the chance to pursue anything in the field of Islamic studies. All were related to Turkish studies.
Despite being an expert in Turkish language, she always thought that she was a mistake in her life. She should’ve taken Usuluddin or Usul Fiqh or Tafsir, she thought. That’s why she doesn’t want her children to repeat her same mistake.
Her son, dissented the mother’s wish of taking Islamic studies as he saw his potential in medicine, he decided to carve the path of a medical doctor instead.
The mother felt sad. But since she has two more children, there’s still hope to realize her dream.
The second child was her daughter. With Allah’s will, the daughter manages to achieve flying colors in her SPM.
The mother approached the daughter “Aisyah, I recommend you to take Quranic studies. You can teach Quran to me. You can be an Ustazah” she said with a smile.
The mother never stopped blaming herself for not being able to read the Quran properly. Each time during prayer, she’ll cry for the fear her prayer wouldn’t be accepted as her tajwid in prayer was incorrect.
But the daughter, says “I’m sorry Mama, I can teach you Quran without me taking a bachelor’s degree in Quranic studies. Since you are an expert in Turkish language, your linguistic genes are fostering excellently in me. But I don’t see myself as a master of Turkish language, I see myself as an expert in English language.”
The mother cried “Why can’t my children understand me? Why can’t they realize my dream? Why can’t they fathom they can be counted as daes, hafiz, only through Islamic studies?”
She was overwhelmed. But since she has one more son, “there’s still light” she says to herself.
The SPM results were just announced. Her final son has received his but it wasn’t that good.
The mother tried to take this opportunity to convince her last son. “Son, please go to Jordan and take Usuluddin there. We need more religious clerics in Malaysia. You can write lots and lots of books about Islam. You can become a dae, a hafiz and a place of reference to the society.”
The son replied “But mama…” the mother cut in “I will sponsor your studies from bachelor to PHD only if all they are in Islamic studies.”
The son was engulfed between following what his mother wishes and what his heart says.
What’ll mama feel if I decide to not follow her wish? What’ll happen to me if I take a field of study which I disfavor? What kind of future it will be if I take either one? All these questions came penetrating his head.
For weeks, he avoided talking about this with his mom. Each time they talk about this, they’ll argue.
The son has to be decisive; he has to send in the application before the closing though. His SPM, even though weren’t as good as the requirement to pursue medicine, however, his History answer script was the best in Malaysia.
With that achievement, he was accepted to be interviewed for a scholarship. If he passes the interview, he can pursue his studies in any field related to history in the United Kingdom (UK).
The mother didn’t know about this. She thought that the reason he kept quite was because he had accepted his mother’s persuasion. But no, she was wrong.
Two days before the interview, he told his mom. The mother was devastated, extremely sad about the news.
The son has to go to KL to attend the interview but the mother was reluctant to give any pocket money.
With the little money the son saved from working part-time after SPM, he went to KL from Johor. His brother and sister are studying at their respective universities. His mother was left at home alone.
He arrived at the place underwent the interview process. Everything went fine. His knowledge on history was remarkable backed up with his communication skills; the interviewee has no reason why he shouldn’t be chosen but the answer still remains a mystery.
On his way home, he received horrible news that his mother was killed in a robbery. The burglars took advantage of the mother being alone at home. She was vulnerable; no one was there to be her protector.
As soon as the last son reached home, his brother and sister was already there. The mother’s corpse was bathed by the two sons. The last son became the Imam of the Janazah prayer.
The children took two weeks off classes to care of the documentations, bank accounts of her mother and all including if they are debts by her. The big brother and sister were students with scholars from their respective sponsors, so money isn’t a big problem to them.
Before going back to their universities, the big brother asked his little brother “Little bro, your sister and I can’t honor mama by taking Islamic studies because we are already on track and we have an agreement with our sponsors. But you can, please.”
There was a long silence. Everyone knows that the little brother is reluctant to fulfill that dying wish of their mother.
“Brother, sister” he finally spoke. “I wish I can honor mama. But I am consented to an agreement with my benefactor. I passed the interview. They offered me a Bachelor’s degree in Jewish Studies at University College London (UCL).”
“What can you do with Jewish studies? Being a doctor can help lots of patients for dakwah. Becoming an English teacher teaching Islam using English is dakwah but what can Jewish studies benefit dakwah?” the sister questioned.
“Sis, we are familiar with the Palestine struggle right? We cannot liberate Palestine by seeing the historical side of Palestine only; we have to see it from the Jewish people’s side, from the Israel side. Besides, understanding the secrets of intelligence of Jewish people would bring benefit to Islam. Have you ever thought why the Nobel Prize is mostly won by Jewish people?” the little brother explained in detail.
The little brother took out a piece of paper with some handwritten notes. “I wanted to give this to mama. After I came back from KL but didn’t have the chance.”
Dakwah is not only for sheikhs with beards. Dakwah is for professionals with blazers. You can be a da’e even though you’re taking English literature. You can be a hafiz teaching Quran at the masjids even though your field of study is medicine. Do you not consider yourself a dae’ mama?
~ Ameen Misran
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