A Lesson on Tabligh

On one occasion, whilst speaking on the subject of tabligh in one of his addresses, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) mentioned accounts from the life of Hazrat Umar (ra). He stated:

“In the battles that were fought after the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa), the Muslims were mostly outnumbered. During the battle in Syria, there was a great shortage of soldiers. Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) sent a letter to Hazrat Umar (ra) saying that the enemy was in far greater numbers and requested reinforcement. Hazrat Umar (ra) took an assessment of the situation and found it impossible to form another battalion as the young men of the tribes in and around Arabia had either been killed or were already part of the army.

“Subsequently, Hazrat Umar (ra) organised a gathering to seek consultation. People from various tribes were invited and this matter was put before them. They suggested that there was one tribe where some men could be found. Hazrat Umar (ra) instructed one of his officers to immediately go there and gather the young men of that tribe. He also wrote to Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) stating that he was going to send 6,000 men to support him and they would reach him in a few days. Hazrat Umar (ra) stated that 3,000 men would reach him from such and such tribe and he was sending Amr bin Ma‘di Karib as an equivalent of the remaining 3,000.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) further states:

“If one of our youths was sent to confront 3,000 men, he would say that this was a completely illogical thing and would ask whether the Khalifa had lost his senses. Can a single person confront 3,000 men? However, observe how strong the faith of those individuals was! When Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) received the letter from Hazrat Umar (ra), he read it and told his soldiers to rejoice as Amr bin Ma‘di Karib would be reaching them the following day.

“The following day, the soldiers welcomed Amr bin Ma‘di Karib with great passion and raised slogans. The enemy thought that the Muslims were perhaps reinforced by an army of 100,000 or 200,000 men and that is why they were rejoicing so much. However, it was only Amr bin Ma‘di Karib by himself. Following this, the contingent of 3,000 men reached them as well and the Muslims defeated the enemy. For a single person to confront 3,000 men in a battle with swords is virtually impossible.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) further states:

“During a debate, a single man can convey his message to several thousand. However, these people gave such importance to the words of the Khalifa of the time that when Hazrat Umar (ra) sent Amr bin Ma‘di Karib as an equivalent of 3,000 soldiers, the soldiers did not raise any objection as to how a single person could confront 3,000 men; rather, they considered him to be equivalent to 3,000 men and welcomed him in an excellent manner. As a result of this welcome of the Muslims, the hearts of the enemy were filled with fear and they believed that perhaps an army of 100,000 or 200,000 men came as reinforcement for the Muslims. As such, the enemy was defeated during the battle and fled.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) says, “At present, we must reassure our hearts in this manner as well.”

(Spain Aur Sicily mein tabligh-e-Islam aur Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 18, pp. 359-260)

This incident was narrated by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) in relation to how to do tabligh in Europe; for example in Spain and Sicily etc.