GUIDELINES FOR ISLAMIC WORKERS (excerpts)

Abul A'la Maududi

GUIDELINES FOR ISLAMIC WORKERS (excerpts)

CONTENTS

Ta'alluq Billah

Meaning of Ta'alluq Billah

How to increase Ta'alluq Billah

Means of growing Ta'alluq Billah

Measure of Ta'alluq Billah

Preference of the Akhirah

Means to develop concern for Akhirah

Avoid Takabbur (Arrogance)

Attend to your kith and kin

Mutual Islah (Betterment)

Collective Ihtisab (Criticism)

Sama'a and Ta'at

Advice to the local heads

Devotion and Sacrifice

Advice to Women

Collective lhtisab (Criticism)

Mutual criticism is also a fruitful way of collective reform. Bring to the notice of your fellow workers their faults and shortcomings in a very polite and sincere manner. But be careful as

it may prove disastrous if the etiquettes of sincere criticism are not duly observed. The etiquettes of fair criticism are as under:

1. Critiscism should not be made every time and everywhere.

2. Before criticising anybody first examine your own heart considering Allah as a witness whether you are criticising out of sincerity and for the well being or it is motivated due to

personal impulse. In the case of the former, the criticism is indeed fully justified otherwise you should hold your tongue and try to get rid of this impurity from your personality.

3. Your words and manner of criticism should make everyone feel that you really want reform and betterment.

4. Be sure that your complaint is based on real and hard facts before criticizing anybody. Baseless criticism without getting sure of its facts is a sin and create disorder.

5. The person who is criticised should give a calm hearing to the complaint, then ponder over it without any prejudice. He should concede to the truth plainly and counter the wrong with

impassive reasoning. To get annoyed on criticism shows arrogance and vanity.

6. The criticism, and its rebuttal should not prolong and turn into a permanent altercation. Discussion is worth while till both the viewpoints are duly elaborated but if the matter is not

settled, postpone discussion and let both of them reconsider the whole matter coolly and separately.

The criticism within such limits is not only helpful but also necessary to set right our social life. No Islamic Jama'ah can keep itself on right direction without such constructive

criticism Nobody in the Jama'ah should be above criticism. I regard it indispensable for the stability of the Islamic Movement and I am sure that the day this healthy criticism is stopped,

the Movement would succumb to various ills resulting in its destruction. That is why I had always been convening a special meeting after the general meeting of the Jama'ah ever since

its inception, to critically assess the whole work of the organization and its structure. In such special meetings I offer myself first for criticism, so that any objection or complaint

against me or my performance should be brought openly before all without any hesitation. Either the criticism will correct me, or my explanation will clear the misunderstanding of the

critic as well as all those whose thinking are identical.

Advice to Women

Much of what I have already said is common to both men and women. Now, I will say something exclusively for the women who are in any way attached with the Islamic Movement.

The first and foremost requirement for you is to acquire as much knowledge of Islam as possible. Study not only the Qur'an but also Hadith and Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) with full

understanding. Limit not yourselves only to the basic knowledge of Islam and requirements of faith (Iman) but try to know Islamic injunctions regarding your personal life, family life,

and general social living. One of the main causes of un-Islamic customs and practices becoming common in Muslim families is the ignorance of our women folk about the teaching of

Islam and Islamic injunctions.

Next thing for you to do is to try to mould your practical life, your morals and your character as well as the life and atmosphere at your home according to your knowledge of Islam.

Muslim woman must be so firm and strict that she should stick to what she considers right despite the opposition and hurdle from her family or other relatives. She should not concede

to anything wrong under any sort of pressure. No doubt, the parents, the husband and other elders of the family deserve obedience, respect and regard and they must never be treated with

insubordination and arrogance, but the rights and will of Allah and His Prophet (p) reign supreme. Whosoever presses you to adopt the path of disobedience to Allah and His Prophet (p)

flatly refuse to obey, be he your father or your husband Never bow to anyone in this respect. Rely on Allah and bravely face the worst of the consequences, even if it leads to the

destruction of your worldly life. The stronger your determination to adhere to Islam, the better shall be its effect on your family environments by the grace of Allah. You shall, thus, get

a golden opportunity to reform your homes. On the contrary, if you yield to unwarranted and anti-Islamic demands, your own personal life will be deprived of the blessings of Islam, and

you will set a bad example of weakness in faith and morals for the people around you.

Your third responsibility is to give priority to your near and dear ones in the matter of reform and improvement in Islamic way of life Those of our sisters, whom Allah has gifted with

children, are in fact appearing for a test in which if they fail, no other success can compensate this failure. Their own children deserve their best attention. It is their prime responsibility

to train their children well in Islam and with its etiquettes. Married ladies also have the responsibility of keeping their husbands on the right path and to assist them in remaining steadfast

in their march if they are already on the right path. A daughter can also convey the truth to her parents observing due respect and regard for them. The least she can manage to do is to

offer them Islamic books to read.

Fourthly, spend as much time as you can spare from your household duties to convey the knowledge of Islam to the women folk around you. Impart education to young girls and

uneducated elderly women . Provide useful Islamic literature to ladies who are literate. Arrange women gatherings and explain the taching of Islam to them. If you cannot speak in public,

just read out relevant and useful extracts from literature to them. In short, try your level best, using all possible ways and means to eliminate ignorance and illiteracy in the ladies around

you.