In an Arabic term, the word ‘Dawah’ is meaning ‘invitation or call’.
Meanwhile, in Islamic contexts, dawah refers to the act of inviting or calling people to Islam, sharing its teachings and encouraging others to adopt the faith.
Being a teenage Muslimah is a blessing! Embrace your identity, stay true to your values and shine your light!
Allah SWT emphasizes self-awareness, self-care, and self-improvement in several verses and chapters of the Holy Quran and below are some of the relevant sources:
- Surah Ash Shams (chapter 91): verses 7–10 talk about the soul and its importance, highlighting the need for self-reflection and self-improvement.
- Surah Al Qiyamah (chapter 75): verse 2 asks, “And what will make you know what the Day of Recompense is?” encouraging self-awareness and accountability.
- Surah Al Hujrat (chapter 49): verse 13 emphasises equality and diversity, promoting self-acceptance and self-worth.
- Surah An Nahl (chapter 16): Verse 97 highlights the importance of righteous deeds and self-improvement.
- Surah Al Mu’minun (chapter 23): verses 1–11 describe the characteristics of successful believers, including self-control and self awareness.
It should always be remembered that the Quran teachings are holistic, and self-love is a natural byproduct of a healthy spiritual relationship with Allah and oneself.
Dawah generally involves spreading awareness, clearing misconceptions, encouraging reflection, sharing personal experiences and building bridges.
Dawah can also be done through various means such as conversations and discussions, public talks and lectures, social media and online platforms, written materials and publications, and community outreach and events. The ultimate goal of Dawah is to guide people on the path of Allah, promote spiritual growth, and foster a stronger connection with the Divine.
The second key snippet is modesty, which is being mentioned and explained extensively in some verses of the Glorious Quran;
Surah An Nur (chapter 24):
- verse 31:
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts…”
- verse 60:
“As for women past childbearing age who have no hope of marriage, there is no blame on them if they discard their outer garments, but not to reveal their adornments…”
Surah Al Ahzab (chapter 33)
- verse 59:
“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] their outer garments…”
Surah Al Qasas (chapter 28)
- verse 42:
“And when you ask [the Prophet’s wives] for something, ask them from behind a screen…”
Surah At Tahrim (chapter 66)
- verse 11:
“And Allah has given the example of the wife of Pharaoh, who said: ” My Lord, build for me a home with You in paradise…”
All the above verses emphasize lowering the gaze [modest behavior], guarding private parts [physical modesty], wearing outer garments [hijab or clothing that covers the body], avoiding revealing adornments [refraining from showing off] and maintaining privacy [using screens or barriers].
Remember, modesty in Islam encompasses behaviour, attitude and appearance, aiming to promote self-respect and spiritual growth.
