The moderator of any public program (forum, lecture, seminar, conference, or any formal gathering or an assembly) plays a very important role in its failure or success. Just as the pilot is the key person of an aircraft or the captain of the boat, the moderator acts as the leading person in making the program a success.
The
moderator of any Islamic program has the opportunity to lead the group and act
as the presiding officer. Hence, the success of the program partly lies on
one’s capability to lead the group effectively. As a chairperson, one will have to try his best to do what is
expected of him – that is, he is largely accountable for the success or
failure of the program. This is
based on the principle of accountability in Islam, to quote:
Abdullah
ibn Umar (r.a.) (radhi Allahu anhu) reported that he heard the
Prophet Muhammad
(s.a.w.s.)
(Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saying: “Every one of you
is a guardian, and responsible for what is in his custody.
The ruler is a guardian of his subjects and responsible for them; a
husband is a guardian of his family and
is responsible for it; a
lady is a guardian of her husband’s house
and is responsible for it, and a servant is a guardian of his master’s
property and is responsible for it.
A man is a guardian of his father’s
property and is responsible for it, so all of you are guardians and
responsible for your
wards and
things under your care).” (Bukhari,
Vol. 2, Hadith 592; also Vol. 3,
Hadith 73 ; and Vol. 7, Hadith 128)
In
general, people participate in an Islamic program because they want to learn
more about Islam. They may be knowledgeable, but they want to enhance their
knowledge and eeman for the pleasure of Allah (S.W.T.). Others come to an Islamic
program as a moral support (i.e., in terms of their attendance) to the
organizers. Some attend because
they are curious to know about the speaker(s)’s presentation arts and
abilities to speak and deal with the audience. In other words, they
want to see and listen to the public speaking skills of the speaker(s) and of
course the moderator. Some members
of the audience may be particular about one’s ability to handle the program in
a timely and fruitful fashion. There
are those who like to raise questions, whether they know the answer(s) or not.
A number of people from the audience may like to challenge the speaker(s)
or even the over-all theme of the program. This happens especially if they
belong to the other religious groups or sects.
All these imply that a moderator will have to deal with various kinds of
people with different motives, emotions and tempers, and he must ensure that
time will be managed properly and not wasted.
Indeed,
the role of a moderator is very challenging. Being accountable to the people in
the assembly, one must demonstrate the qualities of effective leadership in
Islam, with sufficient insight to guide the group to a fruitful end.
Here are the following guidelines from the Islamic perspective that will
guide you to be an effective moderator in making the program, a success,
insha
Allah:
1. As a Muslim, you must always purify your intention. Your intention as a moderator in a particular program must be for the sole pleasure of Allah, and not for achieving fame or recognition. This must be so in order that Allah the Almighty will accept your effort as a good deed, worthy of His great rewards especially in the life Hereafter. Always remember that everything we say and do, as Muslims, must be for the pleasure of Allah the Almighty. So many ayât (verses) in the Qur’ân remind us that Allâh (S.W.T.) (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) is the final Goal of all (e.g., 3:28, 5:18, 48, 105, 6:164, 24:42, 25:15, 31:14, 40:1-3, 42:15, 53:42, 50:43, 60:4 and 64:1-4). In the Glorious Qur’ân Allâh (S.W.T.) enjoins us to:
“Say:
‘Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death are (all)
for Allâh, the Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of the Worlds.’”
(Qur’ân 6:162)
The above Qur’ânic injunction implies that we must develop Ikhlâs (Sincerity) to Allâh. This means to do good deeds purely for the pleasure of Allâh and not out of self-conceit to seek appreciation or praise from people. Allâh (S.W.T.) has clearly commanded us to worship Him with sincerity as shown in the following Qur’ânic injunctions:
“Say,
‘Verily, I am commanded to serve Allâh with sincere devotion.’”
(Qur’ân 39:14)
“Call
then upon Allâh with sincere devotion to Him even though the Unbelievers may
detest it.”
(Qur’ân
40:14)
“And
they have been commanded no more than this: to worship Allâh, offering Him
sincere devotion, being True (in
Faith); establish regular prayer; and
to give Zakat. And that is the Religion Right and Straight.”
(Qur’ân 98:5)
In line with the above commandments, Allâh’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) teaches us to be sincere to Allâh in the performance of our deeds. In this way, we attain Allâh’s rewards. The Messenger (s.a.w.s.) makes it clear that every deed is rewarded according to our intention:
‘Umar
ibn Al-Khattab
(r.a.) said, “I heard Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
saying, ‘The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will
get the reward according to what he has intended. Thus he whose migration was
for Allâh and His Messenger,
his migration had been for Allâh and His Messenger,
and he whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or take some woman in
marriage, his migration had been for that for which he migrated.’”
(Bukhâri 1/1 and Muslim 3/
4692)
Utban
ibn Malik Al- Ansari
(r.a.) who
was one of the men of the tribe of Bani Salim narrated that “Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
came to me and said , ‘If anybody comes on the Day of Resurrection who
has said ‘La ilaha illal-lah,’ (‘There is no God but Allâh’) sincerely,
with the intention to win Allâh’s Pleasure,
Allâh will make the Hell-Fire forbidden for him.’” (Bukhâri
8/431)
The following authentic Ahâdîth should serve as admonitions for us to purify our intention, solely for Allâh’s sake:
Jundub
(r.a.) narrated that the
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “He who let the
people hear of his good deeds intentionally, to win their praise, Allâh will
let the people know his real intention (on the Day of Resurrection). And he who
does good things in public to show off and win the praise of the people, Allâh
will disclose his real intention (and humiliate him).” (Bukhâri
8/506)
It
has been narrated on the authority of Sulayman ibn Yasar
(r.a.)
who said,
“People dispersed from around Abu Hurayrah, and Natil, who was from the
Syrians, said to him: ‘O Shaykh, relate (to us) a tradition you have heard
from Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.).’ He said, “Yes. I heard the Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said
‘The first man (whose case) will be decided on the Day of Judgment,
will be a man who died as a martyr. He shall be brought (before the Judgment
Seat). Allâh will make him recount His blessings (i.e. the blessings which He
had bestowed upon him) and he will recount them (and admit having enjoyed them
in his life). (Then) will Allâh
say: ‘What did you do (to requite these blessings)?’
He will say: ‘I fought for You until I died as a martyr.’
Allâh will say: ‘You have told a lie. You fought so that you might be
called a brave warrior. And you were called so.’ (Then) orders will be passed
against him and he will be dragged with his face downward and cast into Hell. Then, there will
be brought forward a man who acquired knowledge and imparted it (to others) and
recited the Qur’ân. He will be brought, Allâh will make him recount His
blessings and he will recount them (and admit having enjoyed them in his
lifetime). Then Allâh will ask:
‘What did you do (to requite these blessings)?’
He will say: ‘I acquired knowledge and disseminated it and recited the
Qur’ân, seeking Your pleasure.’ Allâh will say: ‘You have told a lie.
You acquired knowledge so that you might be called “a scholar” , and you
recited the Qur’ân so that it might be said,
“He is a Qari” and such
has been said.’ Then orders will be passed against him and he shall be dragged
with his face downward and cast into the Fire.
Then will be brought a man whom Allâh had made abundantly rich and had
granted every kind of wealth. He will be brought, Allâh will make him recount
His blessings and he will recount them and (admit having enjoyed them in his
lifetime). Allâh will (then) ask:
‘What have you done (to requite these blessings)?’
He will say: ‘I spent money in every cause in which
You wished that it should be spent.’
Allâh will say: ‘You are lying.
You did (so) that it might be said about (you): “He is a generous
fellow” , and so it was said.’ Then will Allâh pass orders and he will be
dragged with his face downward and thrown into Hell.”
(Muslim
4688)
Ka’b
ibn Malik
(r.a.)
narrated that
Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said
“He who acquires knowledge in order to fall into polemics with other
scholars and prove his superiority over them, or to dispute with the ignorant or
to attract the attention of the people, Allâh will throw him in the Fire.”
(Tirmidhi
225 and Ibn Majah narrated by Abdullâh
Ibn Umar)
2. Pray to Allah the Almighty to make the task easy for you by reciting the following supplications (in Arabic), especially in your last sujod (prostration) every prayer, prior to the start of the program:
“Allâhumma
la sahla illa ma ja’altahu sahla wa Anta taj‘alul hazna idha shi’ta
sahla.” (“O Allah, there is
no ease except in that which You have made easy, and You make the difficult
easy, if You wish.” (Ibn Hibban, (no. 2427), Ibn As-Sunni, (no. 351). See also An-Nawawi, Kitâbul-Adhkâr
p. 106.)
Note that the Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
taught us the above invocation when we find
something difficult for us.
3.
If you are the organizer or among the organizers of the program, see to
it that the program will run smoothly by having a plan for the over-all program.
Any program
requires effective planning and preparation, for it to succeed.
We should never conduct any Islamic program hastily.
We have to plan it with great deliberation and care, as Islam teaches us
to plan out things with care and deliberation:
The Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said: “Deliberation is from Allaah and haste is from Shaytaan.” (Reported by
al-Bayhaqi in al-Sunan al-Kubra, 10/104; see also al-Silsilah, 1795)
Abdullah
Bin Sarjis
(r.a.)
narrated that the Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “A good manner of conduct, deliberation and moderation are
a twenty-fourth part of prophecy.”
(Tirmidhî 5059)
Here
are some points to remember in planning the Program:
3.1 Venue and Facilities: Choose and reserve the venue or place accessible
and conducive to the participants and the resource persons or speakers.
See to it that equipment and facilities needed for the program are
available.
3.2 Resource
Persons/Speakers:
Identify and contact/invite prospective qualified speakers who are known for
their knowledge of the Qur’ân and
the Sunnah or right Islâmic Aqeedah
and can successfully deliver the topics few weeks or days before the program.
3.3 Audience: Determine your audience -- whether few or big enough to occupy the chosen venue, whether teen-agers or adults, students or professionals, male or female or mix, etc. It is always preferable that program for women should be separated from men to avoid intermingling between opposite sexes and thus observe modesty in Islam.
3.4 Materials and/Souvenirs: Obtain in advance the materials (i.e., handouts,
certificates, or souvenirs) to be
distributed at the program.
3.5 Food/Snacks: If the program requires more than three hours, the group needs to plan
for food (snacks) to be given to the participants and speakers/guests during
break time.
3.6. Program Schedule, Invitation and/or Announcement: Determine the required time for each speech and prepare the program schedule, invitation and announcement/flyers.
4. Give each speaker a copy of the program/invitation/announcement as well as other necessary information about the over-all program. Inform him/her of the place, date, time or duration of his/her speech/lecture, nature of the audience, whether or not there will be open forum, etc. Inform him/her also of the possible expectations from the audience like the reproduction of his/her speech for distribution or to give emphasis on a particular topic on Islâm.
5. Check with each speaker his/her readiness to speak at least a week in advance or few days before the commencement of the program.
6. Make sure that the speakers will give you their commitments to come as per schedule; otherwise, find substitutes. This is to ensure that the program is conducted as planned.
7.
Plan in advance what to say about the theme of the program and speeches and how
to introduce each speaker very briefly. Also
plan what sort of activity or activities you have to present to the audience in
case one of your speakers fails to come to the program.
Would you extend the time allotted to other speakers?
Would you extend more time to questions and answers session?
Would you entertain some reactions from the audience regarding any of the
topics? Or do you have some sort of
group discussions and presentations?
What if you have only one speaker and it happens for some reasons that
he/she fails to come? All these
possibilities imply that as the leader of the program, you need to plan for
constructive actions in preparations for any problem that may just arise in the
course of the program. For
instance, if at the start of the program, you find out that the speaker could
not make it and you have with you in advance a copy of his/her speech then you
may request any qualified member of your group to read the speech/lecture.
Or you can take the responsibility to read it.
In the absence of the written speech, you have to be ready with an
article or a chapter/few pages of a book on Islam relevant to the topic assigned
to the speaker or to the theme of the program. This means that you need time to
practice reading the speech/article before the program.
Your reading of the speech/article must be lively or interesting enough.
See to it that you look at the audience once in a while and if possible,
paraphrase or explain further any or some of the ideas or teachings, which you
think important or beneficial to the audience. You may also involve the audience in
the form of questions and comments or reactions on the important ideas or
teachings you have just read. In this way, they become attentive and thus, make the program
successful. In other words, never,
disappoint the audience by not having a speaker or at least a substitute speaker
or any worthwhile related activities to be conducted on the scheduled program.
8. Being the moderator, your type of talk is brief but enlightening. It calls for power, dignity, excellent style, understanding and cooperation with your speakers and the audience.
9. To gain more confidence and improve your brief talk, read the article on “Useful Guidelines on Public Speaking.”
10.
When you speak, observe the following essential qualities of a successful
leader:
a.) Be confident in yourself because as a Muslim, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala
has chosen you as one of the best among mankind:
“You
are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind.
You enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in
Allah...” (Qur’an 3:110)
b.) Be energetic and dynamic by speaking with enthusiasm and vigor.
c.) Be alert and knowledgeable to be able to perform your task to briefly say something important about the theme of the program and briefly give the salient points mentioned by the speaker(s) after each speech.
d.) Be positive and cautious in giving directions to the audience what to do in such a way that harmony and orderliness are maintained.
e.) Be definite when you give instructions or reminders to be sure that you gain your audience cooperation -- all for the success of the Program.
11. Start the program with the remembrance of Allah as it is one of the best ways to please Allah the Exalted and gain His rewards. Both the Qur’an and the Sunnah stress the importance of remembering our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer):
“Then
do you remember Me, I will remember you. Be
grateful to Me and reject not faith.” (Qur’an
2:152)
“Recite
what is sent of the Book by inspiration to you, and establish
regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and evil deeds; and
remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt.
And Allah knows the (deeds) that you do.”
(Qur’an 29:45)
Abu
Musa (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet Sallallahu
‘alayhi wa sallam said,
“The example of the one who celebrates the Praises of his Rabb (Allah) in
comparison to the one who does not celebrate the Praises of his Rabb, is that of
a living creature compared to a dead
one.” (Bukhari, 8/416)
Thawban
(r.a.) narrated that the Prophet
Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The
best property is a tongue which mentions Allah, a grateful heart, and a
believing wife who helps a man with his faith.”
(Tirmidhi 2275, Ahmad, and
Ibn Majah)
One of the Prophet’s Sunnah of starting a speech is as follows:
“Innal hamdalillahi ta’alaa nahmaduho, wa nasta’yno bihi, wa
nastaghfiruh, wa na’udo billahi ta’ala min shoroori anfosinaa, wa sayhaati
a’malinaa may yahdihillahi ta’ala falaa modhillah, wa may yudhlil falaa
hadii yalah, wa ashadu al laillaha ila Allah wahdahu laa shariikalah. Wa ashadu
ana Muhammad ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.” (“Praise
be to Allah from Whom we ask help and pardon, and in Whom we take refuge from
the evils within ourselves. Whosoever Allah guides, no one who can lead him
astray, and whosoever He leads astray, no one can guide him. I testify that
there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and
Messenger.”) (Abu Dawud, 2113)
Or you may start your talk briefly by saying:
“Al-Hamdulillahi Rabbul ‘Aalameen, wa Salaatu was Salaamu ‘ala Nabeeyyina Muhammad, wa ‘alaa aalihi wa Sahbihi, wa man taba‘a Sunnatihi ilaa Yawmiddeen.” (All Praise be to Allah, the Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of the Worlds, and Blessings and Peace upon our Prophet, Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and whoever follows his Sunnah, till the Day of Judgement.”
It
is preferable to recite the above form of dhikr (remembrance to Allah) in
Arabic, especially if the participants are all Muslims.
The
following Ahâdîth are admonitions to those who do not remember Allâh
(S.W.T.)
before starting their public speech:
Abu
Hurairah
(r.a.)
narrated that the Messenger
(s.a.w.s.) said: “People who get up from an
assembly in which they did not remember Allâh will be just as if they had got
up from an ass’s corpse, and it
will be a cause of grief to them.” (Abu Dawud 4837)
Abdullah
ibn Umar
(r.a.) narrated that
Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “Do not speak much without mentioning Allâh, for much talk without
mention of Allâh produces hardness of heart, and the one who is farthest from
Allâh is he who has a hard heart.” (Tirmidhî
2274)
You
may also start the program with the recitation of the Glorious Qur’an by one
who knows how to read it correctly and beautifully in order to gain Allah’s
blessings. Before the
recitation of the Qur’an, remind the audience to keep quiet and listen to the
reading of the Qur’an with attention in order to receive Allah’s
mercy. This is a commandment
from Allah:
“When
the Qur’ân is read, listen to it with attention, and hold your peace that you
may receive Mercy.” (Qur’an
7:204)
Note: You may start the program with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an but not to make it a practice to always start every program with the Qur’an reading. You may start the program with praises to Allah, or supplications to Him. What is important is you start every program with the mention of Allah’s name.
12. After praising Allah subhana wa ta‘ala, welcome your audience with the sincere Islamic greeting “Assalamu ‘alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.” (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you.) Offering the greeting of salam to our audience, even if only one of them is a Muslim, is a must as it is a Sunnah that the Messenger (s.a.w.s.) enjoined upon us:
Abdullah ibn Amr (r.a.) narrated that a man asked the Messenger (s.a.w.s.), “Whose Islam is good or what sort of deeds (or what qualities) of Islam are good.” The Messenger (s.a.w.s.) replied, “To feed (others) and to greet those whom you know and those whom you do not know.” (Bukhari, 1/11)
Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that the Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said, “The young should greet the old, the passerby should greet the sitting one, and the small group of persons should greet the large group of persons.” (Bukhari, 8/ 250)
13. Very briefly and humbly introduce yourself to the audience. Do not assume that everybody knows you. Welcome and thank the speakers as well as the audience for their presence and highlight very briefly the theme and objectives of the Program. Note, that the very objective of every Islamic program must be for the sole pleasure of Allah subhana wa ta‘ala. Thus, in the course of your talk, invoke Allah to accept the program as a good deed worthy of His rewards.
14.
You need to remind the audience to
purify their intention in attending to the program for the pleasure of Allah.
Remind them of the following Islamic teachings:
“And
they have been commanded no more than this: to worship Allâh, offering Him
sincere devotion, being True (in
Faith); establish regular prayer; and to give Zakat. And that is the Religion
Right and Straight.” (Qur‘an
98:5)
‘Umar
ibn Al-Khattab
(r.a.)
said that he heard Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.) saying, “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and
every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. Thus he
whose migration was for Allâh and His Messenger
(s.a.w.s.), his migration had been for Allâh and His Messenger
(s.a.w.s.),
and he whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or take some woman in
marriage, his migration had been for that for which he migrated.” (Bukhâri
1/1 and Muslim 3/ 4692)
15. Motivate or inspire the audience for coming to the program and remind them to be attentive to the Islamic lectures because this is one way of learning knowledge of Islam. Encourage them of the benefits of acquiring Islamic knowledge with the words of Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w.s.). You may quote some inspiring teachings from the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Examples are the following:
“He
grants wisdom to whom He pleases; and he to whom wisdom is granted receives
indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the Message but men of
understanding.” (Qur’an
2: 269)
“Surely
those of His servants who are possessed of knowledge, fear Allâh.”
(Qur’an 35:28)
“...Allâh
will raise up, to (suitable) ranks (and degrees), those of you who believe and
have been granted Knowledge. And
Allâh is well-acquainted with all you do.”
(Qur’an 58:11)
“Allâh
bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped but He, and the angels,
and those having knowledge (also bear witness to this); (He is always)
maintaining His Creation in justice. None
has the right to be worshipped but He, the Almighty the All-Wise.”
(Qur’an 3:18)
Is
then one who does know that, that which has been Revealed unto you from your
Rabb is the Truth, like the one who is blind?
It is those who are endowed with understanding that receive admonition;
those who fulfill the Covenant of Allâh and fail not in their plighted
word; those who join together those things, which Allâh has commanded to be
joined, hold their Rabb in awe, and fear the terrible reckoning; those who
patiently persevere, seeking the countenance of their Creator; establish regular
prayers, spend out of (the gifts) We have bestowed for their sustenance,
secretly and openly; and turn off Evil with good: for such there is the final
attainment of the (eternal) Home. Gardens
of perpetual bliss: they shall enter there as well as the righteous among their
fathers, their spouses and their offspring and angels shall enter unto them from
every gate (with the salutation) “Peace unto you for
that you persevered in
patience! Now how excellent is the
final Home!” (Qur’an
13:19-24)
“Is
one who worships devoutly during the hours of the night prostrating himself or
standing (in adoration), who takes heed of the Hereafter, and who places his
hope in the Mercy of his God—like one who does not)? Say: ‘Are those equal, those who know and those who do
not know?” It is those who are
endowed with understanding that receive admonition.’”
(Qur’an
39:9)
Abu
Hurairah
(r.a.)
narrated that ... the Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “Those who were the best in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance
will be the best in Islâm provided they comprehend the religious knowledge.”
(Bukhâri 4/572 and Muslim)
Abu
Musa
(r.a.)
narrated
that the Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allâh has sent me is
like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that
absorbed rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. (And)
another portion of it was hard and held the rain water and Allâh benefited the
people with it and they utilized it for drinking, making their animals drink
from it and for irrigation of the land for cultivation. (And) a portion of it
was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation (then
that land gave no benefits). The first is the example of the person who
comprehends Allâh’s religion and
gets benefit (from the knowledge) which Allâh has revealed through me and
learns and then teaches others. The last example is that of a person who does
not care for it and does not take Allâh’s
guidance revealed through me (He is like that barren land.).”
(Bukhâri 1/79)
Abu
Hurairah
(r.a.)
narrated that ... the Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “... He who treads the path in search of knowledge, Allâh will
make that path easy, leading to Paradise for him and those persons who assemble
in one of the houses of Allâh (mosques), recite the Book of Allâh and learn
and teach the Qur’ân (among themselves). There will descend upon them
tranquility, mercy will cover them, the angels will surround them and Allâh
will mention them in the presence of those near Him. He who is slow-paced in
doing good deeds, his (long) descent does not make him go ahead.” (Muslim 6518)
Abu
Umama
(r.a.)
narrated that the Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “A learned person is as much above a worshipper as I am above the least
of you. He added: Allâh, His angels and all those in Heavens and on Earth, even
the ants in their hills and the fish in the water, call down blessings on those
who instruct people in beneficial knowledge.”
(Tirmidhi 1392)
Abu
Hurairah
(r.a.)
narrated that Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “Verily what a believer
continues to receive (in the form of reward) for his action and his virtues
after his death is the knowledge which he acquired and then disseminate;
the pious son that he left behind him, or a copy of the Qur’ân which
he left as a legacy, or the mosques that he had built, or the inn that he had
built for the wayfarers, or the canal that he caused to flow, or a sadaqah which
he gave out of his property in the state when he was healthy and alive. (These
are the acts of goodness the reward of which) reaches him even after his
death.” (Tirmidhi
254 and Ibn Majah)
Abdullâh
ibn Mas’ud
(r.a.)
narrated that Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “There are two avaricious people who are never contented: the man of
learning and the man of the world, but the two are not equal. The man of
knowledge increases in submission to Allâh, and as for the man of the world, he
becomes headstrong and defiant.” Abdullâh then
recited: ‘Nay man is surely rebellious when he sees himself free from want.’
(46:6). Concerning the other he
recited the verse: ’surely those of His servants who are possessed of
knowledge, fear Allâh.’ (35:28).”
(Tirmidhi 261 and Darimi)
Abu
Darda
(r.a.)
narrated that Kathir ibn Qays said
I was sitting with Abu Darda‘ in
the mosque of Damascus. A man came
to him and said, “Abu Darda, I have come to you from the town of the Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
for a tradition that I have heard you relate from Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.).
I have come for no other purpose.” He
said, “I heard Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
say: ‘If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allâh will cause
him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings
in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the
heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for
the learned man. The superiority of the learned man over the devout is like that
of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The
learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor
dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes an abundant
portion..’” (Abu Dawud 3634)
Anas
ibn Malik
(r.a.)
narrated that Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “Do you know who is most generous?” They said, “Allâh and His
Messenger know best.” Whereupon
he said, “Allâh is the Most Generous, then I am most generous to mankind, and
the most generous people after me would be those who will acquire knowledge and
then disseminate it…” (Tirmidhi 259)
Hasan
Al-Basri
(r.a.)
narrated that Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “He whom death overtakes while he is engaged in acquiring knowledge with
a view to reviving Islâm with the help of it, there will be one degree between
him and the Prophets in Paradise.” (Tirmidhi
249 and Darimi)
16. Also remind the audience to remember Allah subhana wa ta‘ala always with the following very inspiring words of Allah:
“Then
do you remember Me, I will remember you. Be
grateful to Me and reject not faith.” (Qur’an 2:152)
Encourage
them further to remember our only Creator with any of the following
authentic Ahâdîth:
Abu
Musa
(r.a.)
narrated that
the Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “The example of the one who celebrates the Praises of his Rabb (Allâh)
in comparison to the one who does not celebrate the Praises of his Rabb, is that
of a living creature compared to a dead one.”
(Bukhâri 8/416)
Abu
Hurairah
(r.a.)
narrated that the Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “Allâh will give shade to seven (types of people) under His Shade (on
the Day of Resurrection). One of
them will be a person who remembers Allâh and his eyes are then flooded with
tears.” (Bukhâri
8/486)
“Abu
Hurairah
(r.a.) narrated that
Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
as saying that “Allâh, the Exalted and Glorious, says: ‘I am near to the
thought of My servant as he thinks about Me, and I am with him as he remembers
Me. And if he remembers Me in his
heart, I also remember him in My Heart. And
if he remembers Me in assembly I remember him in assembly, better than his
(remembrance). And if he draws near
Me by the span of a palm, I draw near him by the cubit, and if he draws near Me
by the cubit I draw near him by the space (covered by) two hands.
And if he walks towards Me, I rush towards him.’”
(Muslim 4/ 6471)
Samurah
Bin Jundab
(r.a.)
narrated that Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “The most beloved words to Allâh are the following four phrases, Subhan
Allâh, Alhamdu lillah, La_
ila ha illa Allâh, Allâhu Akbar.
(Glory be to Allâh, All Praises be to Allâh. There is no deity but Allâh, Allâh’s
the greatest.)... it does not matter which of them you start with.”
(Muslim 5329)
17.
In addition to the remembrance of Allah, remind the audience to invoke salam
(peace) to the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam every time the
speaker mentions the Prophet’s name
or title (i.e., the Messenger of Allah or the Prophet). It
is a must that when we hear the Prophet’s
name or title, we should say: (s.a.w.s.)
“Salâllâhu ‘alayhi wa salam”
(“May the peace
and blessings of Allâh be upon him.”).
Allâh, the Exalted, commands:
“Verily,
Allâh sends blessings upon the Prophet, and His angels ask Allâh to bless him.
O you who have believed, ask Allâh to send blessings upon him, and (you)
greet him with peace.” (Qur‘an
33:56)
The following Ahâdîth should inspire us to supplicate to Allâh to send peace and blessings to His Messenger (s.a.w.s.):
Abdullah
Bin Amr Bin Al As
(r.a.)
narrated that Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “When you hear the Mu‘adhdhin, repeat what he says.
Then invoke a blessing on me, for everyone who invokes a blessing on me
will receive ten blessings from Allâh. Then
beg from Allâh al-Wasilah for me, which is a rank in Paradise fitting for only
one of Allâh’s Servants, and I
hope that I may be that one. If anyone who asks that I be given the Wasilah, he
will be assured of my intercession.” (Muslim
747)
Abu
Humaid As -Saidi
(r.a.)
narrated that
the people asked, “O Allâh’s Messenger!
How shall we (ask Allâh to) send blessings on you?" Allâh’s
Messenger (s.a.w.s.) replied, “Say: ‘Allâhumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa
azwajihi wa dhurriyatihi kama sallaita ‘ala Ali Ibrahima wa barik ‘ala
Muhammadin wa azwajihi wa dhurriyatihi kama barakta ‘ala Ali-Ibrahima, innaka
Hamidun Majid.’” (‘O Allâh! Send Your Mercy on Muhammad and on his wives
and on his offspring, as You sent Your Mercy on Abraham’s
family; and send Your Blessings on Muhammad and on his offspring, as You
sent Your Blessings on Abraham’s family,
for You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious.’”
(Bukhâri 4/588)
Anas
Bin Malik
(r.a.)
narrated that Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “He who invokes one blessings upon me, Allâh will shower
ten blessings upon him and obliterate ten (of his) sins and elevate him by ten
ranks.” (Tirmidhî 922 and Nasa‘i)
Abdullah
Bin Amr
(r.a.)
narrated that He who invokes blessings upon Allâh’s
Messenger once, Allâh and His Angels shower seventy blessings upon
him.” (Tirmidhî 935 and Ahmad)
18. Before introducing the speaker (or the first speaker if you have more than one speakers), you have to inform the audience of the rules they need to observe while the speaker is delivering his/her speech. For instance, are they allowed to talk loudly or create noise? … to unnecessarily move around the lecture hall?… to ask question or interrupt the speaker?…to monopolize questions?…to give long remarks or comments?… to eat and drink while listening, etc.? For the convenience of the speaker(s) and most audience, you need to include the “No smoking!” rule. Even if the lecture hall or venue has the sign, “No smoking!”, you still need to remind the audience. If you see some of the audience with their babies, you need to guide them what they should do in case their babies cry. The rules will prevent you from getting annoyed due to disruptions.
19.
In case of some disruptions (including receiving insults from an heckler or
unfriendly audience), be calm enough to have patient. Avoid becoming angry and
do not insult. Take guidance from the following
Islamic teachings:
“O you who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy: vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah; that you may prosper.” (3:200)
“And
let not their speech grieve you, for all power and honor belong to Allah. He is
the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” (10:65)
“Say:
‘O you my servants who believe! Fear your Rabb.
Good is (the reward) for those who do good in this world. Spacious is
Allah’s earth! Those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward
without measure.’” (39:10)
“So
bear with patience all that they say, and glorify the Praises of Your Rabb,
before the rising of the sun and before its setting.”
(50:39)
“And
be patient with what they say, and
keep away from them in a good way. And
leave Me Alone to deal with those in possession of the good things of life, (who
yet deny the Truth;) and bear with them for a little while.
With Us are Fetters (to Bind them) and a Fire (to burn them).” (73:10-12)
‘Abdullâh
bin ‘Amr
(r.a.)
narrated that Allah’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
neither talked in an insulting manner nor did he ever speak evil
intentionally. He used to say, “The most beloved to me amongst you is the one
who has the best character and manners.”
(Bukhâri, 5/104)
Never
lose your temper when hecklers express ironical, insulting or hurting remarks.
Be patient, do not let such negative remarks grieve you.
After all, your goal is to please Allah
not them. Control your anger
as the Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said,
“The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the
strong is the one who controls himself while in anger.” (Bukhâri, 8/ 135 and
Muslim 4/6311-6314). Therefore,
instead of becoming angry try to calm
down, relax and smile. Get
additional rewards by occasionally smiling to your audience, including the
hecklers. Remember,
the
Prophet (s.a.w.s.)
said that smiling is sadaqa (charity). We have to follow the Messenger
(s.a.w.s.) who made people lively and
happy with his smiles:
‘Aishah (r.a.) narrated: “I never saw the Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
laughing to an extent that one could see his palate, but he always used
to smile only.” (Bukhari
8/114)
‘Abdullah ibn al-Harith ibn Jaz (r.a.) narrated that he had seen no one more given to smiling than Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.). (Tirmidhi 5829 & 4748)
20.
Act as a friendly host, introducing the speakers as well as their speeches
properly and briefly (in 3-5 sentences) in such a way that will encourage
them to do their best and at the same time motivate the audience to listen with
full attention and interest. This will make the speakers to be more dynamic and
the audience more attentive and receptive.
In your introduction, do not exaggerate praising anyone of your speakers
or guests. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) prevented people from exaggerating in
their praise of others as shown in the following
authentic hâdîth:
Abu
Bakrah (r.a.) narrated that a man
praised another man in the presence of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.), who said: “Woe
to you! You have cut your companion’s throat!”
several times. Then he said: “Whoever of you insists on praising his brother,
let him say: ‘I think So-and-so is such-and-such, and Allah (S.W.T.) knows the
exact truth, and I do not confirm anyone’s
good conduct before Allah (S.W.T.), but I think him to be such-and-such,
if he knows that this is the case.’” (Bukhari
and Muslim)
If
you cannot avoid praising a person, see to it that your praise must be sincere
and based on truth. It should be moderate and reserved -- without element of
exaggeration. In this way you avoid spreading the diseases of hypocrisy, pride,
conceit, lies, and deceit.
Remember that Islam always goes for humility instead of pride and
conceit. Therefore, help spread the
virtuous teaching by not exaggerating in your introduction of your speakers or
guests or when addressing other people in the program.
In this way, you make people remain humble and thus, gain Allah’s
reward especially when such conduct is done for the sake of Allah the Almighty.
Let us take guidance and inspirations from the following
Qur’anic ayah and Ahâdîth:
“For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women for devout men and women for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast, for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah’s remembrance for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward.” (Qur’an, 33:35)
Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that Allah’s
Messenger (s.a.w.s.)
said “There was a dispute between the Hell and Paradise and the Hell said
‘The haughty and the proud will find their abode in me.’ And the Paradise
said ‘The meek and the humble will find their abode in me.’ Thereupon Allah
the Exalted and Glorious (addressing the Hell) said ‘You are (the means) by
which I punish those of My servants whom I wish.’
And (addressing the Paradise) He said ‘You are only My mercy by means
of which I shall show mercy to those whom I wish, but each one of you would be
full.” (Muslim 6818)
Haritha bin Wahb Al Khuzali (r.a.) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said “May I not inform you of the inmates of Paradise? All persons who are considered to be humble and if they were to adjure in the name of Allah, Allah would certainly fulfil it. May I not inform you of the inmates of Hell-Fire? They are all proud, mean and haughty’” (Muslim 6835)
21. Announce each speech by title and speaker very briefly (in 3-5 sentences). Remain standing until the speaker has taken the platform, ready to speak. Only then will you sit down.
22. Listen attentively to each speaker and take note of very important points (preferably quotations from the Qur‘an and authentic Ahadith), which you must very briefly say or paraphrase (in 3-5 sentences) after thanking the speaker for his/her speech.
23. In order to follow the program as scheduled, see to it that every speaker speaks within the time limit agreed before hand. Before the time is over, give him/her a note (which should be readable) specifying the number of minutes left, say only 3-5 minutes left. In this way, he/she can shorten or make a conclusion of his/her speech. However, in case a speaker exceeds the time, you can give him/her few minutes more especially if the speech is interesting.
24. Lead the applause for every excellent speech by praising Allah, the Almighty, saying: “Allahu Akbar!” ; and/or offer a word of appreciation by saying: “Masha Allah!”. Never allow clapping or standing in expressing appreciation of any speaker as to do so is to imitate the non-Muslims.
25. Thank the speaker by saying “Jazakumullahu khair (May Allah reward you) for your speech/lecture…” Then, say very briefly (in 3-5 sentences) the important points mentioned by the speaker, especially the one that calls for action(s) to implement an Islamic teaching.
26. It is preferable that you do not entertain questions or comments while the speaker is delivering his/her lecture/speech. Unless the speaker himself/herself is the one who asks questions or comments from the audience. This is to avoid disrupting the speaker’s flow of thoughts or ideas.
27. If there are two or more speakers, entertain questions after all of them have given their talks. Remind the audience to ask questions, briefly, precisely or direct to the point and relevant to the topics/lectures. If the time is short or you are running out of time, you may ask the audience to write their brief questions on a piece of paper. Collect the papers or ask someone to collect them for you. You can then select the questions according to their importance to be read and answered by the speaker concerned.
28. If there are handouts, certificates or souvenirs to be given to the audience as well as the speakers, distribute them after all the speakers have finished their lectures, preferably after the open forum.
29. At the end of the program, give a brief summary of the important Islamic teachings that the speakers mentioned in their speeches. Give the implications of such Islamic teachings in improving every Muslim’s belief and righteous deeds or in short, personality development. Also remind the audience of the actions (expected of the them as Muslims) to implement in order to increase their eeman and righteous deeds – all for the pleasure of Allah subhana wa ta‘ala.
30. Briefly thank all speakers, organizers, audience and above all Allah, the Most Gracious, for making the Program a success. It is sunnah to end the program with the following du‘a:
“Subhânaka
Allâhumma wa bihamdika, ashhadu an la ilâha illa Anta, astaghfiruka wa atoobu
ilaik.”
