Women in Da'wah - III

Training
On the theoretical side of this step, training women to work in the
field of Da'wah (call to Islam) may need to consider the following
aspects:
- Educational preparation through providing a good presentation of
appropriate materials.
- Psychological preparation by ensuring that the women callers have
faith in Allaah, sincerity, hopefulness, pride in Islam, patience, and
knowledge of the conditions and environments of those they are
addressing.
- Social preparation by having the women Daa'iyaat (callers to Islam)
live an Islamic life in the family and society in a practical
application of Islam. They should abide by the ethics of Islam and of
the Da'wah.
Adequate practical training and preparation is a must
This involves training female callers in speaking and writing tobe
able to bring Allaah's religion to the people through speeches,
lessons, lectures, and writing.
Writing and publishing must not be neglected in an age when people are
easily reached by and engrossed in all sorts of books, booklets,
newspapers, and articles. Writings should both be eloquent and
convincing, through sincere, sound and documented arguments. Writing
is the form of Da'wah which is, in many ways, one of the most
appropriate and important means for women. They can write at home and
thus make useof their spare time. They can in this way reach all
classes of society.
Areas of Da'wah for women
The educational fields: These are related to the ennoblement of the
spirit and the purification of the soul through faith. The mindsand
souls can thus be touched. These fields are to be found in mosques,
schools, associations, Da'wah groups, and others.
The social fields: These relate to bodily and psychological health as
well as to social development and interaction between people that
reflect positively on the realization of spiritual education and the
formation of Muslim character.
Both sides, spiritual and physical, are tied together and they
shouldboth be fulfilled in balance. To give the upper hand to the soul
would be asceticism, and to the body would be hedonism. Fulfilling the
physical needs has often been cause for many people embracing the
guidance of Islam. Preachers of Christianity today, concentrate on
this approach. It is difficult for the hungry, the naked, or the sick
and homeless to listen to sermons.
More specific examples of what women can take part in as Da'wah are:
1. The Home: This is surely the most fertile and most effective
channel. Almighty Allaah has ordained both husbands and wives as
nurturers for each other and the family. The mother shares with the
father the responsibilities of educating and nurturing each other and
their children in all physical, moral, psychological, social, and
external aspects. Members of the family are gathered together in the
home for many hours and this creates harmony among them as well as
affords an opportunity for presenting good examples and guidance.
2. The Muslim Community: Charity, advice, and direction can be offered
to relatives, neighbors,and the needy.
3. The Islamic School: Educationalactivities and curriculums can be
used for the guidance of girl students as well as women teachers and
staff.
4. The Masjid (Mosque): Women should be allowed to go to the Masaajid
(pl. of Masjid) to benefit from the lessons held there. The Masjid is
a suitable place for some of the women activities likeQuran study
groups and other training.
5. Hospitals, Prisons, and Social Welfare Institutions, Women's
Colleges or Universities: "Women-only conferences can also be
incorporated into already scheduled major conferences, thus providing
them with someone to travel with,"
What we sow we reap
1. Banishing ignorance, increasing intellectual broad-mindedness, and
the creation of qualified women Da'wah cadres. These results have a
lasting and beneficial influence, not only on women and the Muslim
community, but also on the whole society at large.
2. Rectifying conduct and restitution of many erroneous practices that
have come to be social phenomenon in many societies.
3. Women's place and status in Islam would be highlighted and Muslim
women would attain a better awareness of their rights and duties.
4. Efforts would be geared toward the cultivating of our young people,
in order to ensure the Ummah (Muslim community) virtuous Muslims in
the generations to come.
5. A sense of belonging to Islam would be fostered, and the key Muslim
rite of enjoining good andforbidding evil would be upheld.
6. An important financial tributary for Da'wah work would be secured;
i.e., women's charitable spending.
It is time that Muslims who profess to follow the Sunnah (Tradition of
Prophet Muhammad, [ ] rethink the issue of Da'wah among women and by
women. We should remember Khadeejah, 'Aa'ishah, Sumayyah and many
Muslim women throughout our history, and what they did for Islam and
learn from it.
We also have to realize that meretalk and emotionalism are useless. We
need to do something about our immediate situation now. Education,
preparation, and qualification of women will be the key to our future
success.
Throughout history, the yardstickused to measure the well-being of any
society has been the condition of its women. Let us therefore, strive
to improve the intellectual, spiritual and emotional condition of the
Muslim woman by allowing her to fulfill all the Allaah-given abilities
and responsibilities made incumbent on her.
As mentioned in the article, women Da'wah is very important.We have to
be careful not to fall in what a lot of Muslims they fell into with
the good intentions of giving Da'wah (intermingling men and women,
people with lack of knowledge altering the Deen and thinking that they
have the authority since they are calling to Islam, etc..). Women who
work in the field of Dawah should be away from men's environment.
Women don't need to be part of a the board members of a masjid for
exampleto be active in Da'wah!. So it needs to be stressed that things
are done in the environment of women and women alone.