Praise be to Allah Alone. Peace and blessings be upon the Last Prophet; our Prophet and Imam, Muhammad, upon his household and Companions.
In issue no. 1590, dated December 17, 1983, of AlNadwa Journal, the editor published an article titled, "These Islamic Pages". In this article, he stated, "Almost all journals here and in most of the Islamic countries persist in devoting some pages or columns to talks on Islam every now and then. Well, why (is that)? Are not the people Muslims who testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, even if in word? Do they not heartily believe that they are Muslims and carry birth certificates and identity cards that say they are Muslims?! (Surely, the answer is yes) even, the constitutions of almost all their countries state that their religion is Islam. Why then do they talk much about Islam? What is the objective of these journals or these pages? Do they call for Prayers? The mosques are full with praying persons who know well how to straighten the lines and who reply to the Imam 'our lines are straightened'. Is it a call, for example, for Hajj? Indeed, most of the Muslims hasten to perform Hajj and Allah is more aware of intentions. Is it a call for Zakah? Indeed, many of them pay Zakah, voluntarily or involuntarily. Verily, Islam about which people talk much implies all these pillars. Yet, it implies them as rules upon which is based a whole system of life; life with all of its activities, values, and visions that clarify that Islam in essence is
a life system that is built on a special conception of life with all of its values. On this sound basis, all the systems of government, economy, education, morality, and international relations between the Muslim country and the rest of the world are established. Moreover, Da`wah to Islam must run according to this conception alone and in shaa' Allah we will try to make this page conform to such conception. Here, we invite the readers, when they write to us to take this conception into consideration and through this view". All these are the words of the editor as published in AlNadwa Journal.
Seeking guidance from Allah, I says: It is deeply odd and strikingly strange that a wellknown writer in Um AlQura (Mother of Towns: Makkah) the cradle of revelation where the rise of the sun of the Message (Islam) began daringly sets out to publish in a famous journal an article which in content invites people to turn away from their religion. It invites them not to propagate its advantages, call for it, or even warn against opposing it. He disapprovingly wonders, "Are not all the people Muslims ... etc." and calls the people to be contented with sheer verbal expression of their religion, and worse than that even to be merely contented with Islamic names, such as Muhammad, `Abdullah, `AbdulRahman, and the likes, and with a birth certificate and inner beliefs. He even calls for less than that, namely, affiliation with a country which claims that its constitution is Islam. Glorified be Allah! How did he stoop to this abyss of ignorance and go to the extreme by disregarding Islam through his article though he is aware of the activeness of preachers in calling for their false religions and destructive ideologies such as Baathism, socialism, and communism? They devote their efforts to focus and highlight their merits and spend huge amounts of money in support of such paths that lead to Hell!
O editor! Have you been so absentminded to write such a heinous article about the religion of Islam, which is the best of religions and the dearest to Allah. It is a religion and a state, worship and Jihad, a sword and a Mushaf (a copy of the Qur'an), and a culture and a (form of) government. It is the way of reforming life and the Hereafter and of bringing about happiness for individuals and communities, both in the present and future life. A religion that has these merits is undoubtedly worthy of calling for and promulgating its advantages through famous journals, magazines, and periodicals, on pulpits, and in all festivities and meetings. Is it not worthy devoting efforts and money to call for it and urging people to embrace it, take it as a judge, and uprightly adhere to it along with disclosing the falsehood of other religions and ideologies. Has not the Glorious Qur'an, which is greatest of all scriptures and the noblest of all constitutions, commanded calling for Islam and propagating its advantages, restricted prosperity to those calling for it, and judged that its people are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind due to their belief in it and calling for it. Yet, if you (the editor) forget that, listen to Allah's (Glorified and Exalted be He) saying,
Say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ): "This is my way; I invite unto Allâh (i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh Islâmic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allâh i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh Islâmic Monotheism with sure knowledge).
In this noble verse, Allah (Exalted be He) reveals that the true and perfect followers of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are those who call to His Way with sure knowledge. This way is Islam, which you denied that its people call for it. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says,
Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better.
In this verse, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) commanded His Prophet (peace be upon him) to call for Islam and to argue for it in a way that is better. You and readers know that whenever a religion or an ideology is neglected and left without calling for it, it fades and dies. If this were to mean anything, it indicates that its follwoers turned away from it and lost their