Recently, this has been weighing on my heart, and I felt compelled to pen it down, not as criticism, but as a sincere reminder for myself first, and then for anyone involved in this noble effort. May it be a means of reflection and positive change, inshaAllah.
Alhamdulillah, in South Africa we are blessed with countless Muslims engaged in the work of Tabligh. People dedicate their time, wealth, and effort in the path of Allah, striving to revive hearts and reconnect the Ummah with deen. We welcome guests from across the world who travel solely to convey the message of Allah and become a means of guidance for others. This is indeed a great honour.
But it leads us to pause and ask: do we truly understand what Tabligh is?
Tabligh is not limited to going out in jamaat; it is a responsibility upon every Muslim, to use their time, health, and wealth in the path of Allah so that humanity may find Imaan and guidance. Many have drifted far from deen, and it becomes our concern to gently bring them back towards haq (truth)
Deen flourishes in the right environment. It is nurtured in the masjid, in gatherings of remembrance and learning (halqahs), and in the sincere effort made in the path of Allah, not in the distractions of daily worldly spaces. The Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم) embodied this. They left behind comfort, wealth, and even family ties for the sake of spreading deen.
We are reminded of the powerful words of the Prophet ﷺ in Sahih al-Bukhari:
“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”
This teaching forms the foundation of brotherhood and sincerity in Islam.
Yet, something concerning has slowly crept into the way this work is carried out. We have begun to choose whom we host, whom we honour, and whom we serve. When guests come from certain backgrounds, we extend warmth and effort. But when they come from backgrounds other than Arab, our enthusiasm fades. Our hospitality becomes selective, based on nationality, ethnicity, or even surname.
This is not the spirit of Tabligh.
How can we call others towards Islam while overlooking one of its most fundamental teachings: Ikram – E-Muslim, honouring every Muslim?
The Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم) did not differentiate between people in this manner. Their hearts were expansive, embracing all who came in the path of Allah. Their standard was taqwa, not background.
Of course, there are exceptions, there are those who embrace people from all walks of life, Alhamdulillah. But generally, this is lacking among those who engage in this noble work.
This reflection is not to discourage the work, but to purify it. To remind ourselves that the success of Tabligh lies not only in speech, but in character, sincerity, and how we treat one another.
Allah Ta’ala knows best
May Allah grant us the ability to revive the true spirit of this effort, one rooted in humility, equality, and genuine love for the Ummah. Ameen.
