Bismillah wal hamdulillah,
When beginning (or intending) to do dawah, as with any good deed, one is often plagued with a hundred doubts and objections, whether as a product of the shaytaan or one's own self. One such barrier is the fear of being offensive. You are, after all, going to - directly or indirectly - challenge the belief system, way of life, and code of ethics of just about everyone around you, so there is the very real possibility that some people will take offense. I believe, however, that that is not the real problem; that, in fact, there is a deeper fear behind the fear of being offensive: the fear of challenging the dominant culture.
Most people are unaware of the very strong influence that society has upon them and upon their psyche, and how society builds a construct of right and wrong like a dome that hovers above the people and casts invisible forces upon them. Muslims living in the West are a minority, and doing dawah is an indirect way of challenging the society. One could argue that Muslims, by law, are a part of that society, but the reality is that no matter what society you live in - past or present, the rules of a society are dictated by the dominant culture.
It is easy to criticize ideas and beliefs that the dominant culture itself criticizes, but once we enter the territory of the dominant culture, we feel this invisible urge to tread with care. It could be true that, by law, we have the freedom to voice our opinions - but the forces of society are very rarely only shaped by law. A dominant culture exists wherever there is a population of more than two, where one 'culture' can be outnumbered. It can exist, therefore, in a country or a city, a school, or even in a classroom, or even then, in a group of friends. A dominant culture does not have to imposed by force, or the threat of violence. It's mere existence is a power that it wields upon the rest of the people. Amongst friends it is called 'peer pressure', and so when speaking about a country, you can imagine just how much power it has what with the multitudes that strengthen it!
The dominant culture imposes upon the rest of us a feeling of inferiority and, hence, submissiveness.
A Muslim who wants to engage in dawah needs to be aware of this possibility. Are you afraid of offending others, or are you afraid of offending them because you feel submissive to them, and are suffering an inferiority complex? If you are, don't freak out! Understanding the roots of your fears is the first step to overcoming them.
You see, the power of the dominant culture, if it is not one that is based upon the guidance of Allah SWT, is an illegitimate power. How many people have led themselves to Hell because they have allowed the dominant culture to dictate to them what is right and what is wrong?
To be continued..
When beginning (or intending) to do dawah, as with any good deed, one is often plagued with a hundred doubts and objections, whether as a product of the shaytaan or one's own self. One such barrier is the fear of being offensive. You are, after all, going to - directly or indirectly - challenge the belief system, way of life, and code of ethics of just about everyone around you, so there is the very real possibility that some people will take offense. I believe, however, that that is not the real problem; that, in fact, there is a deeper fear behind the fear of being offensive: the fear of challenging the dominant culture.
Most people are unaware of the very strong influence that society has upon them and upon their psyche, and how society builds a construct of right and wrong like a dome that hovers above the people and casts invisible forces upon them. Muslims living in the West are a minority, and doing dawah is an indirect way of challenging the society. One could argue that Muslims, by law, are a part of that society, but the reality is that no matter what society you live in - past or present, the rules of a society are dictated by the dominant culture.
It is easy to criticize ideas and beliefs that the dominant culture itself criticizes, but once we enter the territory of the dominant culture, we feel this invisible urge to tread with care. It could be true that, by law, we have the freedom to voice our opinions - but the forces of society are very rarely only shaped by law. A dominant culture exists wherever there is a population of more than two, where one 'culture' can be outnumbered. It can exist, therefore, in a country or a city, a school, or even in a classroom, or even then, in a group of friends. A dominant culture does not have to imposed by force, or the threat of violence. It's mere existence is a power that it wields upon the rest of the people. Amongst friends it is called 'peer pressure', and so when speaking about a country, you can imagine just how much power it has what with the multitudes that strengthen it!
The dominant culture imposes upon the rest of us a feeling of inferiority and, hence, submissiveness.
A Muslim who wants to engage in dawah needs to be aware of this possibility. Are you afraid of offending others, or are you afraid of offending them because you feel submissive to them, and are suffering an inferiority complex? If you are, don't freak out! Understanding the roots of your fears is the first step to overcoming them.
You see, the power of the dominant culture, if it is not one that is based upon the guidance of Allah SWT, is an illegitimate power. How many people have led themselves to Hell because they have allowed the dominant culture to dictate to them what is right and what is wrong?
To be continued..
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