Mawaqif al-Nabi - صلى الله عليه وسلم - fi al-Dawa ila Allah Taala
- Author died
- 1440 AH
- Editions
- Maṭba'at Safīr
Mawaqif al-Nabi fi al-Dawa ila Allah Taala (The Stances of the Prophet in Calling to Allah the Exalted) is a concise treatise on Islamic propagation by the Saudi scholar Saeed bin Ali bin Wahf al-Qahtani (d. 1440 AH / 2018 CE), examining exemplary episodes of wisdom in the prophetic mission.
Composition and Purpose
The book was completed on the morning of Thursday, 25 Safar 1425 AH (15 April 2004 CE) as part of the author's published series of writings. Al-Qahtani wrote the work as a specialized, abridged exposition on the prophetic precedents in calling to Islam (dawah), presenting the Prophet Muhammad's conduct as a practical model of wisdom for preachers to emulate. The topic corresponds to a section of al-Qahtani's broader study on the methodology of Islamic propagation, al-Hikma fi al-Dawa ila Allah Taala (Wisdom in Calling to Allah the Exalted), which similarly examines the historical stances of wisdom taken by the Prophet, the Companions, the Successors, and subsequent scholars.
Structure and Content
Following an introduction and a preamble highlighting the impact of prophetic stances on the caller and the recipient of the message, the treatise is organized into two main chapters:
- Pre-Hijra Stances (Mawaqif al-Nabi qabl al-Hijra): Covers the prophetic call during the Meccan period. It details the initial stage of discreet invitation (al-dawa al-sirriyya), including outreach to close family and trusted associates, the early gathering of converts at Dar al-Arqam, and the wisdom of maintaining confidentiality given the vulnerability of early Muslims in polytheistic Mecca. It then details the transition to public preaching (al-dawa al-jahriyya) upon divine command, addressing his close kinsfolk and enduring tribal opposition.
- Post-Hijra Stances (Mawaqif al-Nabi ba'd al-Hijra): Examines the Prophet's leadership and propagation methods following his migration to Medina. It focuses on strategies of community foundation and social reform amid Medina's diverse demographics, encompassing the Muslim emigrants and helpers, non-Muslim Arab tribes, and local Jewish communities.
Method and Sources
The author relies on classic biographical and historical treatises, citing works such as the Sira of Ibn Hisham, al-Dhahabi's Tarikh al-Islam, Ibn Kathir's al-Bidaya wa-l-Nihaya, and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya's Zad al-Ma'ad, alongside modern compilations. Throughout the historical narrative, al-Qahtani derives practical guidelines for contemporary callers to Islam, analyzing the contextual factors that governed prophetic decision-making.
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