AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Remarks of leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Zakzaky, at the International Conference on Tabligh which was held in Mashhad, Iran
By Office of Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky (H)
Bismillahir rahmanir rahim,
Wa sallallahu ala sayyidina wa nabiyina wa habibi qulubina wa shafi’i zunubina, Abul Qaseem Mustapha Muhammad (S); wa ala Alihid Daiyibinad Dahirinal Ma’asumin, siyama Baqiyatullahi fil ard Sahibul asr waz zaman (arwahuna lahu fida).
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah ta’ala wa barakatuhu:
I will like to share with you, during this your blessed conference about ‘Tabligh’ (religious propagation) which comes together different people from different parts of the world in order to participate in this very important conference.
Tabligh we might say is very much needed at this material time when the world, once again, is filled with oppression and darkness and ignorance. The solution is in the hands of the Muslims, for they have the right path with them, and they also have the right guided Imam (AF) living among them except that he is not known and he is not understood.
It is the duty of the ‘Muballighen’ at this material time to take the responsibility of enlightening the general public- the whole world is in need of the enlightenment- and this would be in the preparation for the appearance of the long awaited Imam (AF).
Tabligh should be in different levels. First of all, every ‘Muballigh’ must try to understand his place where he would carry out the message, it is better if he would take this message in his own area where he grown up (where he was born), or we might say at least in his own country or even his locality. He has to understand the need of the community first, and he has to understand the language of the community, and what the community can understand. And that ‘Tabligh’ should be at different levels.
The first level is that there should be a class- an adult school. This is very important. We sometimes assume that people from different walks of life know a lot, but when you come in direct contact with them you would find out that there are a lot of things they do not understand. You have to have classes for adults, and (those adults) should also be categorized: those who can be able to read and write- who have attended schools, who can understand the language when spoken to in a higher level; and those who can not (read, write, or understand the language when spoken to). Very important it has to be in the class- in a school- not in the open air. And that school for the adults should include both men and women.
The second category should be school for children, and this is the most important because the adults have already grown up and they knew very little in their childhood and now you have to use the language they can understand at their age. But if there is school for children they will grow up with it Inshaa Allah, and they will be the future generation that will teach the next generation. They will grow up in it. (Starting with) primary school, and then later secondary school, and even prepare them for higher education. This is very important.
The third category should be for the general public openly for everyone, for example in mosques during Friday prayers or in other locations even in the open air where you can speak to different people at different levels. As I have said earlier, you have to understand the people you are going to speak to. Are they people who can understand what you are saying? If they can not, you have to use the language they can understand. The language here doesn’t mean the dialect, what I mean is what you can speak to them at their level (of knowledge) and they can understand you. That is very important.
And also of course if there is the possibility to have the use of other media like radio, television, newspaper and what is very common in these days: the social media, all should be used in making ‘Tabligh’.
The ‘Muballighen’ you have to understand that you are the helpers of the awaited Imam (AF), you are doing the work of the awaited Imam (AF).
May Allah (SWT) bless you all, may He enable all of you carry out the duty bestowed upon you, Inshaa Allah!
Wa sallallahu ala Muhammad wa alihid dahirin.
Wassalam alaikum wa rahmatullah..
- Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub Zakzaky (H)
(Wednesday, May 18th 2022)
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