Who Should Make Da'wa To New Muslim Sisters?
By Sahar Kassaimah
There is no doubt that Muslim women play a
vital role in the propagation and spreading of the proper understanding of
Islam, through da'wa, (invitation). Da'wa amongst women began in
the first days of Islam, with Khadijah, (RA) the Prophet's wife (SAW), who used
her resources to help spread the message of Islam. Sumayyah (RA), the first
martyr in Islam, also provides an honorable example of a woman dedicated to
furthering the religion.
But how many Muslim women have the proper understanding or even accurate general
knowledge of their religion? How many Muslim women possess the capabilities
needed to offer da'wa?
Stories I heard from my American Muslim friends both amused and distressed me as
I learned how they suffered at the beginning of their journey to Islam, because
their Muslim - born female friends did not have the proper capabilities to offer
da'wa.
"I was myself ignorant about Islam and then discovered how ignorant they
were," said my American Muslim friend. "I was confused and depressed
to the point that I cried every night."
"One sister told me that I should say, "La Ilaha Ila Allah,
Muhammad Rassoul Allah" (there is no God except Allah and Muhammad is
His Messenger) a hundred times every night before sleeping. Another one gave me du'aa
(invocations) and told me to read them ten times a night," said another
American Muslim friend.
"It was hard for me in my first days of Islam to learn the basics of my new
religion and to recite the Qur'an in my prayers. I couldn't imagine how I would
be able to make an extra hundred du'aa a day?"
A third woman told me that a Arab woman told her that every time she has
intercourse with her husband, she must wash the sheets seven times. Once, her
husband saw her going back and forth to the laundry room more than ten times and
became confused as to what she was doing.
"He asked me what I was doing," said my American friend. "When I
told him that I had to wash the sheets seven times, he was astonished and he
explained to me that this was not true."
"I was really confused. One sister was telling me that I should put my
hands over my stomach, as another told me that this was wrong, and that I should
pray with my hands down at my sides," she said.
"A Pakistani sister told me it is forbidden in Islam to sweep at night, and
that if I wanted to go to heaven I should never hold the broom at night,"
said another American friend. "I was really scared of brooms after that,
especially at night."
Newly Muslim women face such misguidance from the Muslim - born women because of
the issue of pluralism. Some Muslim sisters do not understand that the pluralism
of opinions in the subsidiaries (far'eyat) is not intended to constrain
people but to provide different paths. Hence, they ask the new Muslim sisters to
follow them, believing that all of the opinions are obligatory.
"In the end, you find yourself confused due to the many opinions of women
who do not know the difference between the obligatory (fard), the Sunnah
(the practices of the Prophet), and the recommended (mustahab)."
I do not know whether all of the Muslim women converting to Islam face these
kinds of problems, but I am sure that the single ones are more vulnerable to
these experiences than the married ones, who have a Muslim husband to correct
them.
One major reason behind this problem is that some Muslim women do not have the
capability to offer da'wa to others because their own level of general
Islamic knowledge is lacking. An additional reason is the confusion of Islamic
priorities among some Muslim women. Unfortunately, they do not know the
difference between the religion and their traditions, and believe that all
Muslims should follow the same mazhab (school of thought).
It is difficult for new Muslims, who often have little information about Islam,
to realize whether or not their guides are truly versed in the teachings of the
religion. This makes for a precarious situation when they are seeking the
accurate information needed to guide them on their journey.
Before offering da'wa to others, one needs to realize that it is our
responsibility to obtain knowledge and educate ourselves first before we can
begin to help or teach others.
http://www.islam-online.net/english/Society/2001/05/article4.shtml