Muslims have consistently been under a negative light in news and entertainment for the last 20 years. The onus has been put on ordinary Muslims to be ambassadors of Islam; it can be quite the heavy burden nowadays in North American society. There tends to be two prevailing sentiments: non-Muslims are either wary of or genuinely interested in our way of life. Nonetheless, we can give some dawah (invitation) with a few small actions every day as we go about our daily tasks at work, running errands, or visiting other public places. Don’t forget that dawah can also be given to our Muslim communities, too!
The people we usually see on a daily basis may include family members, neighbors, co-workers, friends, and/or employees at a grocery store, bank, or any public space. These people observe your character often, therefore, it is important to take care of how you treat them. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was a prime example of extending dawah through his display of good character and throughtful actions in every aspect of his life. Many of his companions followed his example as well; often competing in offering better deeds than the other. We can follow in these same footsteps by developing a good character within ourselves and striving to treat people we see every day in the best manner we can.
So, what simple things can we do that become dawah in our daily actions?
1. Smile often to those around you, especially to your family members.
Smiling was an action the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, often did. He also considered it a form of charity. He did it so often that, according to one hadith reported by Abdullah ibn al-Harith:
“I have not seen anyone smile more often than the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3641)
When we smile at others, it puts them at ease and increases positive feelings toward us.
2. Be gentle and easy-going in your actions and speech.
Gentleness was the outstanding character trait of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. No matter whom he spoke to, whether it was a high-ranking tribesman, a destitute person, or a child, he was gentle with them. It did not matter if the other person was rude to him; he always showed patience and responded with kindness. Allah says in the Quran:
“And by the mercy of Allah you dealt with them gently. If you were harsh and hardhearted, they would have fled from around you.”
(Surah Al-Imran, 3:159)
If he had not dealt with the people around him in a gentle manner, many would turned away from him and ultimately the message of Islam. Instead, many people came into the folds of Islam because of this gentle and easy-going treatment of others.
3. Handle matters with grace during confrontational situations.
Whether instigated by you or another person, handle it with patience, kindness, and wisdom. If you become upset, take a deep breath or give yourself a few minutes to collect yourself, then try to understand the other party’s situation first by genuinely listening to them. If the person is aggressive, walk away or get help. If the person is willing to talk, then use a calm tone and respond with respectful language; try not to cause a scene or answer back harshly. If possible, be forgiving and take the higher road and leave the situation. You will generally see the other party calm down if you calm down. If not, it is best to walk away.
4. Generally be attentive to others’ needs around you.
There are a number of situations where you have be attentive to those around you such as:
- When you have appointments, be on time for them.
- When standing in line, do not skip ahead.
- Open the door for others.
- Maintain a clean environment around you.
- Help others with picking up their things if they are heavy.
These small actions will say a lot about your character.
5. Always be truthful, no matter how difficult the situation.
Allah will always help you if you are stuck, especially if you handle it with the intention to please Him by being truthful. Even the Prophet’s, peace and blessings be upon him, enemies professed that he always spoke the truth. Abu Sufyan was one such Companion who, before converting to Islam, was the Prophet’s enemy. When he was asked by the Byzantine emperor, Heraclius, about the Prophet’s general behavior with people, Abu Sufyan responded,
“Muhammad is nobly born, is honest and truthful, and has never broken a pledge. He enjoins his followers to worship none but One God and to pray to Him alone. He preaches kindness, piety and tolerance towards all and his followers are on the increase.”
It says a lot about a person when even those who do not like you can attest to your truthfulness
6. If someone is interested in knowing about Islam, focus on the basics.
This includes presenting the six points of aqeedah or creed, which are belief in:
- the Oneness of Allah
- in His angels
- in all of the prophets
- In all of the Books,
- In the day of judgement, and
- In destiny, how good and bad fate are from Allah alone.
You can even share a verse from the Quran or a hadith, Prophet’s, peace and blessings be upon him, documented speech. It does not have to be a complicated discussion. The Prophet said:
"Convey from me, even if it be only a single verse."
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 442, #667)
Remember, anything that you share with the other person will be rewarded as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, reminds:
"Whoever calls to guidance will receive the same reward as the one who follows him without any decrease in the reward of his follower."
(Sahih Muslim, vol. 4, p. 1406, #6470)
7. Take special care with your neighbors.
The same kindness should be extended to your neighbors as well. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was so good to his neighbors that others thought that he would make them his heirs to his inheritance. Abu Umamah reported:
"I heard the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when he was seated on his she-camel during the Farewell Pilgrimage, saying, `I enjoin you to treat your neighbours well,' and urging their good treatment so much that I thought, he is going to give them the rights of inheritance."
(Majma' al-Zawa'id, 8/165)
8. Show an even better attitude toward your family.
You will be doubly rewarded for being good to your family according to this hadith. Salman ibn ‘Amir reported:
“The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, ‘Verily, charity given to the poor has one reward, and charity given to family has two rewards: one for charity and one for upholding family ties.’”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī 658)
There are many instances that show the Prophet’s, peace and blessings be upon him, kindness and gentleness, especially to the members in his household. Anas, who was his helper at home, said:
"I served Allah's Messenger for ten years and he never said to me, 'Shame' or 'Why did you do such-and-such a thing?' or 'Why did you not do such-and-such a thing?'"
(Bukhari, 2038)
9. Model and teach these actions to your children.
Whatever good actions you adopt into your daily life, make sure your children are around to witness and participate in them. This will hopefully become a part of their character growing up as well as make their love for the Prophet grow, peace and blessings be upon him.
10. You are already doing silent dawah through your appearance.
If you are a woman who wears the hijab, veil, or a man who wears his beard according to the sunnah, Prophet’s, peace and blessings be upon him, way, then you are already showing people what a Muslim looks and acts like no matter what action you do. Therefore, we definitely need to be extra conscious of what kind of character we portray around others, all the while keeping our intention pure of showing off or doing it for the sake of people instead of Allah.
Overall, we have many examples to see from the Prophet’s, peace and blessings be upon him, life to know how to conduct ourselves when dealing with people on a daily basis. His actions were simple but deeply touched people in a positive way. Let us do our best to strive for goodness in all our actions, inshaAllah, God-willing.
Sumayya Khan is a homeschooling mother of two and a teacher. She has worked with several Islamic schools and organizations in the last 10 years. She is currently teaching Literature online with Dawanet and studying the Qur’an through Al-Huda Institute. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, play sports, enjoy nature, and read books. She currently resides with her family in Toronto, Canada.
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