Purpose of Da’wah

The purpose of inviting to the way of Allah refers to the objective and purpose towards which the invitation is being extended. The act of da’wah cannot begin until the subject of da’wah is understood.

Caller

A person who invites another individual to the true religion, to worship, to perform righteous deeds, and to engage in good actions.

Invitee

The person who is invited towards something is called invitee or the mad’u. Da’wah and preaching are not possible without the invitee.

Means of Da’wah

In accordance with circumstances and events, the caller can use all means of da’wah that may lead the invitee to accept the invitation.

Inviting to the way of Allah is not only an important religious duty but also a means of achieving righteous speech and action and drawing closer to Allah. This has been the purpose and duty of the prophets and messengers. The importance and sanctity of this mission are underscored by the fact that it has been entrusted to the prophets, their heirs, and their followers. Allah Almighty has used the term “da’wah” for Himself in several verses. Therefore, Allah Himself is the foremost inviter to Paradise and forgiveness. The Almighty has said:

اُولٰٓىِٕكَ یَدْعُوْنَ اِلَی النَّارِ ۖۚ وَ اللّٰهُ یَدْعُوْۤا اِلَی الْجَنَّةِ وَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ بِاِذْنِهٖ ۚ وَ یُبَیِّنُ اٰیٰتِهٖ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَتَذَكَّرُوْنَ۠

Meaning: These (idolaters and disbelievers) call you to Hell whilst Allah invites, by His decree, to Paradise and forgiveness and explains His Verses clearly to people so that they may take direction and guidance. (2: 221)

وَ اللّٰهُ یَدْعُوْۤا اِلٰی دَارِ السَّلٰمِ ؕ وَ یَهْدِیْ مَنْ یَّشَآءُ اِلٰی صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِیْمٍ

Meaning: And Allah calls towards the Home of Peace (Paradise), and guides whom He wills to the straight path. (10: 25)

It was not possible for the intellect of humans and jinn to independently know the details of worship and commandments. Therefore, Allah Almighty initiated the series of prophets and messengers and revealed scriptures so that they could explain and clarify to the people the matters that are the reason for the creation of the universe. This was done so that they could worship Allah with insight and abstain from what they were forbidden. The prophets and messengers are the guides of human beings, the leaders of guidance, and the callers to Allah’s obedience for both humans and jinn. They have clarified the straight path so that on the Day of Judgment, no one can claim ignorance of Allah’s demands. Thus, by sending prophets and messengers, Allah Almighty removed any excuse they might have.

After Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), the responsibility of carrying this trust was taken up by the Companions (Sahabah), the Followers (Tabi’in), and the Successors to the Followers (Taba’ Tabi’in). These individuals followed the path of the Holy Prophet and were devoted callers to the truth and fighters in the way of Allah. They spread across the world as conquerors and warriors, as guided callers to Allah, and as righteous reformers. They continued to spread the religion of Allah and teach Sharia. This chain of spreading the true religion continued through various eras until it reached the Sarwari Qadri order.

Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen as the Caller to the Way of Allah:

The Sarwari Qadri Order originated from the Holy Prophet and was passed on to the Muslim umma through Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA). From him, it was transferred through Khwaja Hasan al-Basri and continued through various spiritual leaders to reach Gauth Al-Azam Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani. Then to Sultan-ul-Arifeen Sultan Bahoo and eventually to the Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman.

Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen is the spiritual successor and deputy of the Holy Prophet. He is currently fulfilling this sacred duty excellently. The subject of his invitation is “Faqr-e-Mohammadi” (Mohammadan Faqr), which is the true legacy of the Holy Prophet. Faqr is the true religion, the pride of the Holy Prophet and a source of spiritual and inner strength for the believers. Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen is working hard day and night to spread the teachings of Faqr of the Holy Prophet throughout the world.

Method of Invitation

Three things play a key role in effective invitation and preaching. Allah Almighty says in Quran:

اُدْعُ اِلٰی سَبِیْلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَ الْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَ جَادِلْهُمْ بِالَّتِیْ هِیَ اَحْسَنُ ؕ 

Meaning: (O Glorious Messenger!) Invite towards the path of your Lord with wisdom and refined exhortation and (also) argue with them in a most decent manner. Surely, your Lord knows well the one who strayed away from His path, and He also knows well the rightly guided. (16:125)

In the aforementioned blessed verse three things are mentioned: wisdom, sage advice and persuasive dialogue.

Wisdom

Wisdom and insight are the first requirements of invitation and preaching. Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen is abundantly endowed with pearls of wisdom and insight. He invites people to the true religion with wisdom. Each invitee has their own nature, mental level, temperament, taste, capacity, and background. Therefore, he takes utmost care of each person’s needs, mental level, taste, and capacity, just as is evident from the exemplary conduct of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). Different people asked the same question at different times in the presence of the Holy Prophet and he wisely gave different answers to the same question based on the individual’s context.

Sage Advice

The second requirement of inviting to the way of Allah is sage advice. This means giving good advice. Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen speaks in a sweet, compassionate, and sympathetic manner that touches the heart of the invitee. The invitee, considering him a sympathetic and caring friend, turns towards him. This is called sage advice and it is also related to wisdom. It means that according to the invitee, some people need to be approached through reason and some through the heart.

Persuasive Dialogue 

The third requirement of effective invitation and preaching is the best form of persuasive dialogue, which is essentially an extension of wisdom. Every aspect of Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s approach reflects beauty. He engages with opponents not according to their level but while maintaining his own high status and intellectual level, demonstrating his mental sophistication, broad-mindedness, and patience. He is a paragon of good morals and is an exemplary figure in worship, dealings and ethics. He is a caller to righteousness and the embodiment of piety.

Attributes of Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen

Embodiment of Piety

Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen is the embodiment of piety. Every moment of his life is spent in adherence to Divine commands and in following the Sunna of the Holy Prophet in both words and deeds. He is counted among those who excel in good deeds, as Allah says:

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَ الَّذِیْنَ اتَّقَوْا وَّ الَّذِیْنَ هُمْ مُّحْسِنُوْنَ۠

Meaning: Surely, Allah blesses them who live with God wariness and who (also) live with spiritual excellence with His (special) companionship. (16: 128)

His conduct and method of invitation are based on advice, sincerity, and devotion. He always treats people with kindness and goodness. His nature is characterised by love, compassion, gentleness, justice and moderation, meaning he is the embodiment of piety and a doer of good.

Personal Dignity

The personal dignity of Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen is associated with his external and internal qualities, beliefs, moral values, actions, feelings, and emotions. 

External beauty can attract anyone’s attention, but character is the enduring beauty that makes one timeless and eternal. Therefore, the message of truth that he conveys to others is clearly reflected in his own character.

Truthfulness

Truthfulness and honesty are essential qualities for a caller to the truth, and these are clearly evident in the life and character of Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen. He always teaches the importance of speaking the truth, avoiding falsehood, and following the path of righteousness.

Patience and Steadfastness

While facing the difficulties, hardships, and unfavourable conditions that arise in the course of inviting to the way of Allah, Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen has always focused on spreading the true religion with bravery and resilience. He has always kept in mind this blessed command of Allah:

وَ اصْبِرْ وَ مَا صَبْرُكَ اِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ وَ لَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَیْهِمْ وَ لَا تَكُ فِیْ ضَیْقٍ مِّمَّا یَمْكُرُوْنَ

Meaning: And, (O Glorious Beloved,) be patient and your patience is by Allah alone. And you should not grieve over their (defiance), nor distress (your gracious and benevolent heart) on account of their deceptive plots. (16: 127)

His demonstration of complete steadfastness and patience, has embodied the practical interpretation of “and do not grieve over their (defiance).” He has not been disheartened or sorrowful over the schemes, conspiracies, and deceptions of his opponents. Instead, he has faced all these challenges with broad-mindedness, magnanimity, and great determination. He continues to tirelessly work day and night to spread the religion with patience and steadfastness.

Religious Zeal and Devotion

For the sake of religion, Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen did not hesitate to even sacrifice his life because a caller to the faith cannot become successful without possessing zeal and devotion. Along with having a strong willpower, he is also adorned with the qualities of humility and modesty. 

His teachings are encapsulated in “Allah is sufficient, everything other than Allah is lust,” his exhortation is “Run towards Allah,” his actions are “only for Allah,” his attribute is “piety,” and his inner self is the “mirror of truth.”

A caller who teaches the truth and forbids falsehood is always successful. Almighty Allah commands:

وَ لْتَكُنْ مِّنْكُمْ اُمَّةٌ یَّدْعُوْنَ اِلَی الْخَیْرِ وَ یَاْمُرُوْنَ بِالْمَعْرُوْفِ وَ یَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ ؕ وَ اُولٰٓىِٕكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُوْنَ

Meaning: And from amongst you there must be a community comprising the people who invite mankind towards piety, enjoin righteousness and forbid evil. And they are the successful people. (3: 104)

Considering the aforementioned blessed verse, Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen established “Tehreek Dawat-e-Faqr” with the aim of inviting people to the true religion, guiding them away from evil, and leading them to the straight path. 

In this tumultuous era, Tehreek Dawat-e-Faqr is the only beacon guiding people on the path of righteousness. The purpose of this organisation is to fulfil the duty of Divine gnosis. This organisation, under a structured and coordinated system, performs the duty of enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong with great wisdom and prudence, so that the work of invitation and preaching spreads worldwide and people become acquainted with the essence of Islam.