Dawah in the Work Place: A Beautiful Example
13 May 2000
Assalamu Alaikum,
I work in the IT (Information Technology) industry in the UK and there are many brothers and sisters working who are practicing Muslims. I worked with a brother who dressed, behaved and acted according to the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw) as much as he was able. He used to pray near the fire escape or in an empty meeting room. His manner was polite and every thing he did he tried to ensure that his Deen was not compromised. Which meant that the female colleagues often found him 'weird' because he won't look at them and only speak to them on work related matters.
We left the company on the same day and both of us were a bit worried about the tradition of UK companies. When anyone leaves a job to go on to new pastures, this is traditionally celebrated by going to the pub and buying drinks for everyone. We decided that we were going to have to break with (their) tradition and do something different. There was no way we were going to miss Jummah and buy these people alcoholic drinks!
We ended bringing in traditional Indian snacks (samosa's, pakora etc), sweets, and some soft drinks and invited everyone via email to come and sample the food.
We explained why we didn't want to go to the pub. The reactions from our colleagues was certainly positive. One guy commented "This is much better then going to the pub!" and everyone enjoyed the food that we had bought. Many were disappointed that they could not have second and third helpings.
Secondly when the time came to leave and we had to make our speeches, I made my speech and then stepped aside for the brother to speak.
He appeared quite humble and asked "If I have offended anyone, please forgive me!"
All his colleagues of 3 or so years looked surprised. His manner was such that he was well liked and never spoke a bad word to anyone. One female colleague said later, "How could he ever offend anyone?"
He did not try to give Dawaah to the people by handing them leaflets or making speeches. In fact he only concentrated these efforts on Muslims who had strayed such as myself.
Before I joined the company, this brother was the only Muslim there. Some people didn't like that he prayed and never joined them in the pub, he didn't socialize with them. But most never complained about the person he was or his abilities to do his job. In fact he excelled in his job. He was a very good representative of how a good Muslim should be like.
The main point is that we give Dawaah by the way we are. If we follow the Qur'an and Sunnah we will represent Islam in the best way possible.
Saiful Alom, U.K
Rahey gaa tu hi zamanay mei yagaana-o-yaktaa