Guidelines
by Qazi Hussain Ahmad.

The General Assembly of the Jama’at members is of basic importance in the overall system of the Jama’at-e-Islami. The members are the center and axis of our Jama’at and its real strength. They constitute the central circle of our entire human-power. The second circle around it is of the workers and associates of the Jama’at, while the third one is of Muslims at large with whose support we want to bring about radical changes in our country and the world by establishing the order of Allah (Iqamat-e-Deen) to be successful in both this world and the hereafter, do our duty as Allah’s obedient people and ultimately win the pleasure of our Lord, the Creator and Sustainer.

The stronger this central circle and axis, the stronger would be the Jama’at and its ability to take along people of the second and third circles, accordingly. Though members are the backbone in this system of ours, yet Allah’s message is the same for all people: to be obedient servants of Allah wholeheartedly and strive for the mission they have been entrusted with by Allah, and become Allah’s ‘helpers’ and ‘supporters’. To perform this mission is the foremost responsibility of Jama’at members so that they become a role model and attraction for others.

To understand this great task and its requirements, it is imperative upon us to remember and remind ourselves of its real objective, method, and demands. This has been the mode of Qur’an and model of the Prophet (pbuh). The points I am reminding are not new to anyone of you, yet these are to be repeated and reminded persistently so that they remain in our view all the time.

The foremost thing is that every one of us should continue asking him or herself: "Why I am in the Jama’at-e-Islami?" "What is the objective before me?" The clear and categorical answer to this should be that "I am in the Jama’at-e-Islami to achieve my Lord Allah’s pleasure, and my aim is to achieve success hereafter. In order to seek Allah’s pleasure, preaching and enjoining Allah’s Will, striving for the establishment of Deen, and calling toward Allah is the duty of every Muslim and follower of the Prophet (pbuh). The requirements of this cannot be met individually. This task demands collective effort. Jama’at-e-Islami is waging a comprehensive struggle for the realization of this objective and I can achieve this objective by joining this struggle as a member of the Jama’at-e-Islami." Our collective direction as well as the direction of every one of us would remain correct if we continue struggling sincerely for this objective and it remains embedded in our mind and before our view.

Along with this, the conditions for membership should also remain in focus:

KEEPING THE PROMISE

Knowledge, the first requirement: Knowledge about Islam is our foremost need. Knowledge is not static, something that does not grow. Knowledge is required for being a Muslim and is the distinction for humankind (and He taught Adam the nature of all things. – al-Qur’an 2:31). Without knowledge, man cannot recognize Allah, cannot distinguish between Halal and Haram (i.e. sanctioned and forbidden), and cannot differentiate between Right and Wrong. The Holy Prophet has said that seeking knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim man and woman. In another tradition, the Prophet enjoined seeking knowledge throughout the life from mother’s lap to reaching the grave. For becoming a member of Jama’at, at least the knowledge that can enable one to differentiate between what is Islamic and what is un-Islamic is necessary. But, to be content with the least requirement is below the dignity of membership. To try to increase one’s knowledge with the passage of each and every moment is certainly the responsibility of every one who has pledged to devote whole life to the cause of Allah.

Contact with Qur’an: It is the duty of our members to establish special contact with Qur’an. Its recitation and reading with understanding, studying exegeses, and keeping Qur’an along all the time should be the feature and identification of Jama’at members. Some of our members are unable to recite Qur’an with correct pronunciation and according to the manner set for reciting it. This is my personal experience. This is regrettable on the part of the Jama’at members. All our friends should make it compulsory for themselves that they should try to be able to recite Qur’an correctly, no matter in what stage of the age they might be, understand its meanings and purpose, its message and teachings and make it their staple. I assure you that the more you absorb Qur’an in you, the more good and active worker you would be. Similarly, studying our own literature as well as all available Islamic literature is necessary for keeping Faith fresh, refinement and cultivation of thought, and intellectual edge over the opponent forces in the battle of life.

Nearness to Allah: Performing the Fara’idh (obligations) and abstaining from major sins is one of the foremost conditions for membership. This is the least standard that Shari’ah demands us to observe. To feel comfortable with observing the minimum requirement does no befit those who seek to be ‘Allah’s chosen people’ (ibad-ur Rahman), their devotion and their try is to achieve nearness to their Lord and color themselves in His color. Obligatory duties are like the door to the bliss, yet reaching the point of excellence (ihsan) in observing Allah’s commands and worship is necessary or achieving nearness to God and enjoying the real taste of Islam, more so for those who call others toward Allah. They should know that the source of their strength and the most precious asset with them in the way to calling people toward Allah is the achievement of this excellence in ibadah. Elaborating this state of excellence, the Prophet said that ‘you worship your Lord as if you are seeing Him, and if this state is not achieved then you should at least feel that He is seeing you’. Arranging for offering five regular prayers collectively (Jama’ah) is very important. This is also a means to contact Muslim people – abiding or not so abiding – besides being indicative of interest in the collective affairs of Muslims.

Establishing Friends Circle: You should have special relations with the prayer-offerers of the mosque in which you often offer your prayers. Our dear brother late Khurram Murad had tried to set a trend by establishing ‘Friends Circle’ for this purpose. This could not take roots properly in the Jama’at. The reason is nothing but slackness on the part of Jama’at members. The scheme is that you offer Fajr prayers regularly in the mosque of your locality, establish personal contacts with virtually all the prayer-offerers irrespective of their school of thought or party affiliation. Comprising them all, establish your own ‘Friends Circle’ and make visiting them on events of merriment or sorrow a way for yourself. This frequenting to them would lead to the formation of a Friends Circle in the locality that would prove very fertile field for Call to the Good and you would have companions on the way to Allah’s Deen without any resistance. Not all these people necessarily join Jama’at-e-Islami, yet because of your personal relationship you would be able to solicit their cooperation for common objectives.

Family Meeting: Family meeting is our another important program. This has proved very beneficial for the training of family members – elders and youth. If the family members have a session for ‘Islamic orientation’ only once a week, it is noticed that this leaves quite good effects on the over all atmosphere surrounding the family. Praise be to Allah for now the whole families with their men and women, boys and girls are all with Jama’at-e-Islami. There are also separate organizations for all of them. If the family atmosphere as well becomes Islamic, this could prove immensely helpful for establishing the Islamic Family institution. Education and training of our family is our foremost obligation that should follow our individual training and study of Qur’an and Hadith. Allah has categorically ordered us to be concerned for this aspect and ‘save yourselves and your households from the Fire’. Family’s training and reform is the foundation-stone in the strategy of Calling to Deen and preaching. If this foundation-stone is laid right, the whole edifice would be strong; and if it is weak or awry the whole construction would be faulty. We should clearly understand that the order of the task is that Muslim individual should be trained, Islamic family is established, Islamic society is established, and these all are strengthened by the Islamic government so that human culture and civilization may become the center of good and well-being.

Treatment to Family Members: Having loving, kind, and cordial relations with family members is necessary for making one’s home a model of good Islamic family. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) has said that ‘the best among you are those who are good to their family members’. In our society, the way in which women are regarded as inferior to men, boy is given preference over girl, less attention is paid to the education of girls – these have nothing to do with Islamic concepts. Men and women are equal in rights, though their responsibilities differ. While on the one hand it is our duty to protect women from the cultural onslaught of the West, on the others it is our foremost obligation to raise our voice against the injustice being meted out to womenfolk in our customary society, and the way in which they have been kept deprived of their rights to education, inheritance etc. We should create awareness about the rights of women in society in the light of Islamic teachings, and strive to restore to them in the Pakistani society. Instead of becoming part of the local un-Islamic traditions, we should make efforts that women enjoy that very distinguished and dignified place that is the distinct identity of the pure Islamic society. For this to achieve, Jama’at members should pay greater attention to the education and training of women and girls of their family and create such an atmosphere in their homes where women too take part in decision making on important issues alongside their men.

Weekly Workers Meeting: Workers weekly meeting is a primary and effective means of training of workers in the system of Jama’at. To make it effective and to keep workers interest alive in it, it should have variety and diversity in its programs. It should be lively and stimulating. Prepare for it, and with diligence provide food for thought and spirit. The workers should feel after every sitting that they have achieved something. It should not be mere sit-chat-wind up activity. This is possible only when the In-Charge and other responsibles deliberately try to make the session useful and that it should not be done as a routine matter. Workers should be given tasks to be done individually and collectively, performance during the week be evaluated, review of ‘enjoining the good and eliminating the evil’ in the adjoining areas be carried out, the task of conveying the Call and message to every household be planned, and each worker is assigned a specific task. The methodology of making one an associate or member of the Jama’at is that he or she be given a specific assignment and asked about it. This is how one starts feeling oneself a responsible worker of Jama’at-e-Islami.

Call towards Allah: Our real task is to call to Allah. Allah ordains in the Qur’an: "Say: This is my Way. I invite to Allah. I see my Way in full light and my followers see it, too. Allah is free from defect, and I have nothing to do with those who take gods with Allah. (Yusuf 12:108). Therefore, to reach each and every individual in this country and invite them to Allah is our responsibility. If we along with the workers of all our sister organizations resolve to do this wholeheartedly, then we are enough now, by the Grace of Allah, that we can reach each and every individual in a span of one or two years. But this needs that we do not restrict ourselves to a limited circle but look beyond and try to contact all. While Allah declares us "the best of Peoples, evolved for humankind", we feel satisfied after passing all time in our own circle and assume that we have done quite enough. The real task is to come out of the closed circle, reach out to others, convey our message to them and try to absorb them in our mission. Undoubtedly, effective personal contact is the most successful means of communication. You can adopt diverse methods for this:

• Visiting one’s office or house for direct invitation.
• Meeting one to discuss his or her child’s education. If you establish a ‘anteroom (baithak) school’ or ‘Masjid school’, this could become an effective means of conveying the Call not only to the students but to their guardians as well.
• Visiting on events of joy or sorrow.
• Organized welfare work: help and guiding for treatment to patients, offering services in paying utility bills, and help in police stations and government offices. For this, you should contact Jama’at’s like-minded people working in different offices and establishments.
• Providing protection to people against hooliganism and cruelty. Young workers should be organized for this purpose. This can be done by soliciting support from Shabab-e-Milli, Islami Jamait-e-Talba, Jamiat Talba-e-Arabia, and Hizbul Mujahideen. This is an important need of society and if the members and workers of Jama’at-e-Islami tend to this, the whole task can be organized with a little effort and attention.

Masjid School Scheme: Some of our workers carried out a small experiment of establishing Masjid Schools in the slums (katchi abadi) in the vicinity of Mansoorah. When the first training camp for the teachers of Masjid Schools got started, the need for practically establishing Masjid Schools was felt. A few workers were assigned the task to look out for the children in the nearby localities who are deprived of education, roaming aimlessly in street, are forsaken, and are being spoiled because of poverty and indigence. They were assigned to find such children and request their parents to allow sending them to the Mosque in Mansoorah for just one or two hours daily. Some 60 / 70 children were thus registered. In the initial couple of days they were taught Bismillah (doing and starting every task in the name of Allah), Kalimah Tayibah (Witnessing that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Prophet), Salam (Islamic way of greeting), making ablution, and prayers. When these children went back to their homes their mothers could not hold their tears of joy and said that they had received affection and now their hearts were in the Mosque. Within days, we witnessed the change that the mothers had started paying attention toward their children and send them to the Mosque after giving them a wash and clothing them cleanly, and that a sense for cleanliness and purity has taken root in them. This is the best way and means to serving and reaching the poor and downtrodden in the society. This is my request to the members and workers that they start such Masjid Schools in their locality. This costs almost nothing. If you are capable of teaching the children in reciting the Qur’an, reading and writing, and make them learn the civic sense in the light of Islamic teachings, and if you can have the cooperation of the local mosque committee and Imam (who leads prayers) and Khateeb (who delivers sermons), then no service of society can be better than extending the light of knowledge to the poor and helpless children with love and affection. You can light up the hut of the poor.

Anteroom School: Our women are doing such a task through ‘Baithak School’ (Anteroom School). Many thousand children are the beneficiaries of these schools in the slums of Karachi and Lahore. The syllabus of primary education is taught in a way as to create understanding of Deen (Islam) and civic sense. This has opened up ways to the families of these children. Our women have organized this system with great attention and hardwork, along side their household and other responsibilities. Certainly, Allah shall give them the best reward. This task is about educating those children and making them good and respected citizens of Pakistan whose parents cannot afford to pay their fees. If the affluent in the society extend cooperation to the women working in their localities, this can be greatly expanded.

Our Objective, Allah’s Pleasure: In serving humanity and reaching out the masses, we should not forget even for a moment that our real objective is to attain Allah’s pleasure. If this is our real objective and we keep it in mind all the time, then the whole life would be like an act of worship. All struggle and toil would be considered in the Way of Allah, and would lead to success in the hereafter. God forbid, if this objective fades in our minds or is completely forgotten, then this toil would become meaningless and would leave negative impact. When people complain about Jama’at that politics has dominated its attention, the reason behind has been that they see such workers who are quite active in mass demonstrations, rallies, in police stations and courts, and emergency activities, but the devotion and commitment to prayers, Qur’an and Zikr (God-remembering) that is the hallmark of Allah’s chosen people is not seen in them. The fact is that if seeking Allah’s pleasure is the objective for all acts and is kept in mind all the time, then all political struggle and service of humanity strengthen one’s relationship with Allah, and the personality is groomed just as with prayers, Zikr and other acts of worship. This is my personal experience that if the attention is toward Allah and intention is pure then even heavily political struggles prove a means for nearness to Allah and softening of hearts, prayers give greater joy, and heart feels satisfied under the impressions of thanksgiving and glorifying Allah. To divide the life into political and non-political or religious and mundane is the result of not understanding the reality of Islam. However, forgetting about Allah while performing worldly duties distracts man. Therefore, we should remember the Prophet’s prayer: ‘O Lord, don’t give us in the custody of our own selves, and rectify all our deeds. There is no god save You.’

Mutual Relations: We have been asked to work for Deen jointly as if we are cemented together: "Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure." (al-Saff 61:4). Those who love each other purely for Allah’s pleasure, Allah creates affection among themselves: "If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have produced that affection, but Allah has done it." (al-Anfaal 8:63).

To increase mutual cordiality, Qur’an asks us to give better answer to greetings, i.e. if someone says ‘Assalam-u Alaikum’ (peace be on you), you say ‘Wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullah’ (peace be on you and Allah’s blessings). And if someone say ‘Assalam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah’, you say ‘Wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullah wa Barakt-u Hu’ (peace be on you and Allah’s blessings and His bounties). Similarly, the way to answer in a better is to welcome with greater warmth and humility. If there is regret or indifference on the face, or greeting is answered only mutely, this gives cause to severing of ties instead of adding to cordiality. Qur’an orders "When a (courteous) greeting is offered to you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy." (al-Nisa 4:86).

Regard for others is of great importance in the etiquette of the collective life. This is not restricted to greeting (Salam), it is rather for the beginning of human relations and our training. Our all affairs should be guided by this principle that marching to the better is our goal. Remove the evil with the good: "Repel (Evil) with what is better". Answer the good with what is still better, and the better with the best and then witness how doors are opened up for you and Qur’an’s guarantee is proved: "Then will he between whom and you was hatred become as it were your intimate friend." (Fussilat 41:34).

Some of our colleagues out of frankness tend to ignore outward symbols and gestures of respect or consider rudeness and impoliteness as reflective of frankness. Such a behavior ultimately results in apathy and severing of relations. Along with frankness, giving regard to the etiquette of session, meeting with humility, expressing love and affection, hand-shake, and embrace when meeting someone after a long time all cause increase in warm and cordial relations. Exchange of gifts and offerings is also a good means for this to achieve. To receive warmly, welcome with open arms, present chair to others, give flowers in gift, and offer cushion to rest against and such seemingly small gestures of love are symbols of humility and affability. We should adopt them ourselves and train our children in them.

Covering others’ flaw or weak point is one of the features of a Believer. According to a Tradition of the Prophet (pbuh) the person who hides a defect or flaw of his brother, Allah will put cover on his flaws on the Day of Judgment. This makes it clear that when a defect of your brother is exposed to you, you should cover it instead of declaring it in the open and informing people about it, because this would be rewarding in the court of Allah.

Similarly, searching for others’ faults and back-biting are forbidden. Back-biting is talking before others about some fault of your brother in his absence; and if the fault does not exist, this amounts to false accusation that is even greater a crime.

When you view the tradition of accountability in the Jama’at in the light of these teachings, you would automatically understand its boundaries. A Muslim is like a mirror to the other Muslim as the mirror tells about only the person who is in front of it, what quality or defect he has, and does not exaggerate but tells the truth, does not publicize, and does not back-bite but tells quietly.

Only that accountability is useful that is backed by the passion of love. If it is driven by jealousy, malice, grudge and animosity, it would be harmful to the Jama’at and cause bad blood in mutual relations. Such accountability should be avoided that may become a cause of creating frustration instead of fostering sentiments of love.

DEMANDS OF EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATION

Knack for Winning the Hearts: Along with the mutual good relations and love, affectionate treatment to the general public is a basic means for the spread of our Call. One of the symbols of the Believer that the Holy Prophet told about is that he is heartening and meets smiling. In a Tradition, the Prophet said: ‘the smile on your face for your brother is an act of piety (sadqah).’

Once, in a mosque and during a general congregation, when an elderly friend of Jama’at while praising the Jama’at workers said in my presence that ‘Allah likes this knack of yours very much’, a common man stood up and addressed me in front of all present ‘Qazi Sahib! Tell your friends that along with themselves they should love all Muslims’. I agreed with the point-raiser. My request to the workers is that they should extend kind treatment and affection to all people. Qur’an orders us to "speak fair to the people" (al-Baqarah 2:83). Fair speech is that which is true, loving, and uttered with humility, and that generates happiness in the hearts of the listeners. This is a general principle, our treatment to everyone – Muslim or non-Muslim – should be befitting of high standards of ethics. Allah declared about the Prophet (pbuh) that "and you stand on an exalted standard of character" (al-Qalam 68:4). This character of the Prophet should also reflect in his followers.

Mutual relations and affection and respect among the individuals associated with the set-up depends largely on the person and behavior of the local In-Charge or President (Ameer). If the In-Charge or President is concerned for workers’ mutual relations and is himself polite, gives attention to their training, does not merely demand for ‘obedience’ but consults them and takes interest in their household affairs, keeps himself apprised on their conditions, and advises the workers themselves for excellence and affectionate mutual treatment – then the entire Jama’at works like a well-knit team. Qur’an orders "and do not forget to show generosity in your dealing with one another" (al-Baqarah 2:237). Allah said to His Prophet "it is a great mercy of Allah that you are very gentle and lenient towards them; for, had you been harsh and hard-hearted, they all would have broken away from you" (Aal-e-Imran 3:159). That is why, while ‘obedience’ is of primary importance in the system of the Jama’at, significance of consultation, cooperation, and love is also proven.

Mutual Trust: By now, the crop of Jama’at-e-Islami is verdant and flourishing. While this gives joy and happiness to the cultivator, it haunts opponents who are given to jealousy and animosity. Out of their jealousy and animosity, spreading of baseless rumors, unfounded allegations, and trying to create distrust has been the method of opponents. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) himself was faced with this. The best weapon with a reformist movement for facing this propaganda is mutual well-wish and good surmise. To protect oneself from suspicion is a Muslim’s duty. To be aware of media news and comments is also necessary in this connection. To be always in contact with the higher set-up is a must for finding out the truth.

Allah has ordained to "avoid much suspicion, for some suspicions are sins" (al-Hujurat 49:12). Qur’an asks: "O you Believers! If a wicked person brings you some news, inquire into it carefully" (al-Hujurat 49:6). Mere newspaper items are not enough for the Jama’at workers, they should search the truth out with the help of Jama’at Set-up, even if the item were in some like-minded newspaper.

Da’wah Expansion: The membership drive we had carried out and the Coordination Committees we had established a little time ago have proved of great help in Da’wah expansion. This duty should not be slacked about. The process of membership drive and establishing committees should continue on permanent basis and permanent contact of Jama’at members and responsibles with them should be ensured. These Coordination Committees are the most effective means of conveying the Call to the people and answering the false propaganda.

ELECTORAL STRATEGY

Reaching the Voter: In spite of its organizational strength, Jama’at-e-Islami has never been successful in showing good performance in elections. We have to overcome this deficiency of ours. The right method to do this is to reach out to each and every voter. Giving importance to the correctness of voter lists, inclusion of the names of our voters in the lists, and have assurance about the correctness of the lists are among the primary tasks of the worker. The task needs to be done according to a well-charted out plan, and local In-Charges and Presidents should pay attention to this without any loss of time.

It would be better if a pledge from voters for voting to the Jama’at candidate is timely arranged. One should not be left after merely inviting to the cause, the need is to give attention to bring him as close to the Jama’at as possible or to make him at least a voter of the Jama’at. Meeting only for once or to make one fill in a form is not enough, you should meet frequently the people with whom you have had a contact, ensure getting their trust, share with them their joys and sorrows, be apprised on their problems and worries, and try to remove their difficulties. In this way, they would have strong relations with you and firm association with the Jama’at. To increase our vote bank is the biggest challenge before us right now. For this to achieve, while it is necessary for us to approach each and every voter, on the one hand, having good terms, on the other, with the heads of clans (biraderi) who exert great control over voters at the village level.

Alternative Leadership: We should honestly admit that we have not been able to convey the Call to all classes in the country the way it deserves to be conveyed. The Jama’at member has to be the resort of all in his locality according to the conceptual framework Maulana Maududi had presented in his early writings about the Jama’at member. The oppressed would look towards him, he would stand by them and ensure justice, and as an affectionate and kind person, he would be the leader of his locality.

We should admit that our members, with rare exceptions, have practically failed in becoming a model of this conceptual framework. Without going into the debate of whether old members were of higher standard or whether the standard of membership of the new members has lowered, or that a lack has always been felt, the need is that we do something to overcome this deficiency and try to be the models of high moral standard and human service that could prove to be a means to resolving leadership crisis at the local level. A good leadership at the national level could be had only when people have good leadership at the local level.

Contact with Sister Organizations: Together with its sister organizations, Jama’at-e-Islami is such a comprehensive movement that has some branch in every segment of society. To activate this entire movement, it is necessary to have effective contact with sister organizations at the local and district President (Ameer) level. There should be at least one session in a month in which district and local Presidents and the responsibles of the sister organizations participate and evolve a well-coordinated plan for the implementation of the common programs of the movement.

WOMEN’S ROLE

To supervise the work of women and children and to extend cooperation to them is among the main responsibilities of the Jama’at.

Work in women’s circle is of extraordinary significance. It has had importance since the beginning of the Jama’at and is being done under a separate set-up. During the past few years, work at every level has greatly increased by the grace of Allah and due to the hardwork, sacrifices and attention of our women. Some people interpret ‘living in home’ to mean that women should not come out of home ever for the Cause of Deen. But as women have been performing their duties of daily affairs and education, how and why should they be silent on this front, especially when the opponents have made them a specific target for their purposes!

Women have created new ways of doing their work, which cannot be detailed here. Men should encourage them at all levels and extend all possible cooperation to them. In homes, the children – boys and girls – who are advancing on the way of Deen should get patronage and encouragement from parents. Those who consciously advance on the way of Deen never suffer a loss even with respect to the career in the world. Our elders should consciously help the children on the way of Deen and adopt different strategies for this.

ESTABLISHING DEEN:SOME PRACTICAL ASPECTS

Moderation in Conflicting Issues: Mosques are an important means of strengthening our work and introduce it to the people. No Deeni (religious) movement can be successful without making mosques their centers. Having a relationship of mutual respect and cooperation with Ulema irrespective of what religious school of thought they belong to is among the main duties. This task demands great patience and courage. For quite a long time, Jama’at-e-Islami’s policy has been of respecting Ulema of all schools and of resolving any complaint from them through contact and genuine effort at understanding the issue. We should avoid confrontation with any group of Ulema at all costs, because we are to kindle sentiments of love and fraternity and to unite the entire Ummah like a cemented structure.

Jama’at members and workers should avoid taking rigid position on minor and peripheral issues, and should in general respect the opinion of majority – though every Jama’at member is independent in having an opinion and act according to his own school.

Keeping Eye on Flaws and Weaknesses: The Call to Allah demands that the workers of Jama’at do introspection and do not suffer superiority complex, pride, egotism, and haughtiness. It does not behove a person whose objective is to Call toward Allah to make others feel that they are inferior and you are the ‘guided’ or are placed in some exalted position in terms of morality or religiously. Allah orders "do not claim piety for yourselves" (al-Najm 53:32). Humility and humbleness is a hallmark of the wise. The Holy Prophet’s (pbuh) Tradition guides those who ‘enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong’:

"My Lord has ordered me for nine deeds: have fear of Allah in the open as well as in private, do justice in both the state of anger and agreement, be moderate in poverty and opulence, contact the one who severs relations with me, bestow on the one who deprives me, that my silence is the silence of thoughtfulness, my utterance is for remembering Allah (Zikr), and my sight is insightful."

After this, the Holy Prophet added "and I have been ordered to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong".

The life of the Prophet is the ideal for those engaged in enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. This Tradition has set the high standard of virtue and disposition. To penetrate the people – common and elite alike – it is the duty of the person who Calls to Allah to be on high standard of virtue and behavior. Meeting warmly and with humility is a basic demand of good behavior. First impression about one’s person is established in one’s very first meeting and his style of meeting.

General Disposition: A general comment on the behavior of the responsibles and members of the Jama’at is that their taste and manners are official, not frank. This has some element of truth. The responsibles sitting in offices are bogged in official matters and do not attend properly those who come in and go out, though the real purpose of sitting in offices is to reach out to people and keep contact with workers. To be lost in files in the office to the extent of not being disposed to the comers results in loss of relationship. A separate place should be chosen if one has to do some serious study. If you are in a place where people frequently come and go then receiving them smilingly, reply their greetings in still better way, hand-shake and embrace warmly are your responsibilities. It is essential to leave an impression on the caller that his arrival is a cause of rejoice for you; that you do not take it as a burden or think that it has interfered in your work. An important job of those who sit in offices of Jama’at-e-Islami is that they are connected with people and workers; people should resort to them and get solace, guidance and support from them. If you are unable to support them in any way but convince them that you are concerned with them and want to support them, it is observed that a majority gets largely satisfied. But if your disposition is contrary to this, you may even accomplish a task for them but estrange them because of coldness in your manners.

Superiority Complex: Another general complaint about the Jama’at members is that they consider themselves ‘highly guided’ and better Muslims and think of others as of inferior quality with respect to Deen and derailed from the path. Some people’s perception about the Jama’at is that its members consider only themselves as good Muslims. Some opponents deliberately attempt to spread this impression and tauntingly use the term ‘Saliheen’ (reformers). It is upon the members and workers of the Jama’at not to give such an opportunity to the opponents to create a gulf between the people and Jama’at members and workers. After Allah Almighty, the people are our bastion of support to change the prevalent exploitative system. The opponents desire to keep people from coming to us and make them believe that we are suffering some superiority complex, that we do not care a fig about general public but regard ourselves as the only good Muslims. The seculars have invented the term ‘fundamentalist’ to make this perception common. In this way, they want to create categories of Muslims with respect to their adherence to Islam. To foil this conspiracy, we should work together with all Muslims, love them and make them realize that they have been with such a precious thing as Faith by Allah Almighty. They are valuable. The fact too is that nobody knows but Allah may bestow best rewards on a common Muslim and place him in a high position, and let go waste the deeds of the one who considered him as pious. Introspection is always needed. If we keep an eye on our own faults and weaknesses, we would never suffer from superiority complex.

The person who calls others toward Allah should be disposed to humility and humbleness. This is the way to reaching the hearts of people.

Appeal of Character: The Islamic movement is at a threshold. Every force of the evil, and the leaderships of those who are ignorant of Allah have miserably failed. Time is calling for change, but the change would not come on its own or in such conditions when the character and model of those who call toward Allah do not have that kind of light and appeal which has been the hallmark of Allah’s Prophets and their sincere followers. This is also Allah’s law that it takes iron to cut iron, that ice is cold, that fire burns. Similarly, this is also Allah’s law that when light of the message championed by those who call to Him emanates from their word and deed, then darkness gives way to light, the message of truth penetrates hearts, every preacher become the center and orbit of people’s attention, and the way of the domination of Deen becomes clear and easy. This is the message of the Prophet’s model (Seerah), and those who call to the truth can be successful in all ages if they mold themselves according to this model and their behavior, character, dealings and relations are all according to the standard set by the Prophet and which is the ideal and model for Islamic movement till the end of time. May Allah make us follow that model and pattern. Ameen.

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Translation and adaptation of the editorial of Tarjuman Ul Quran December 2000.