The First Call: Iqra'!

Bismillah..

In the name of Allaah

I would like to remind myself first and foremost, and then the others, about the importance of Iqra'.

So how important is this term? What implications does it have pertaining to our daily lives? What is the way forward with this with regards to our dreams, goals, and realisations?

No, I am not talking about the academic institutions with a similar title, but rather the institution of our beloved Prophet Muhammad SallAllaahu Alaihe WaSallam where it all started.

It is of utmost importance for a da'ee (a caller, specifically to the way of Allaah, with humility, as a Muslim) to understand the implications why Allaah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala chose this to be the first revelation from His Final Revealed Message,Al-Qura'an.

Iqra linguistically means to "read" or "recite/proclaim" .

The first Da'wah technique is Iqra'.

How can you diminish ignorance and spread the light of knowledge?

Educate yourself first. Remove the tar of ignorance and give your mind, heart, and soul an uplifting boost of Emaan.

How do you do that?

Simple, Iqra'! Read!

Read what?

Read what has been sent down by the One to whom belongs all the Praise, the Lord of the Worlds, the one who is the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

Read and contemplate. Read and be affected.

We as Muslims need to take heed and recognize of the significance of this first call. We need to step up and take it further ahead rather than just sitting and reciting the ayaat in a melodious tone.

There are so many sources from where one can begin to learn from and understand the meanings of the revealed ayaat in a deeper fashion, whether it is online (blogs,forums, e-books, e-academies..) or offline (institutes, universities, weekend seminars..). So go with whatever you feel comfortable with it (trusted sources of course). And then build upon the knowledge you have gained, review it, share it with others... the list goes on (not to forget the continuous reward a person will gain for spreading the knowledge, both during his life and after he passes away..)

We can't afford to sit idly and let the years fly by while having accomplished nothing and are loitering around the block 1 of ignorance with regards to the affairs of our Deen.

We need to take the first step, and by the will of Allaah, leave our mark and leave a better legacy for the future generations.. If not this, then just die in a better state than when we were when we came in this dunya.

Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists) (Surah Al-'Alaq)