PROPAGATION THROUGH THE PEN

The importance that the pen has always held in Islam is something that is not hidden to  anyone who casts even a cursory glance over our rich history of the past fourteen centuries, and over the history of the very existence of humans on earth. In fact, the pen precedes in existence not only man, but the entire creation of Allah. It was at that time that Allah bestowed upon it an immense honour by entrusting it with a very great and crucial role. Hazrat Ubadah bin Samit Ra narrates that Nabi sallallahu alaihi wasallam said, “The first thing that Allah created was the pen. After creating it, He commanded it to write. The pen asked, ‘what should I write?’ Allah replied, ‘write the taqdeer of Allah.’ Subsequently, the pen wrote all the events and happenings that were to take place till eternity.” (Tirmidhi)

       Allah proffered honour onto the pen in the Quran as well—an entire surah was named after it—Suratul Qalam. The first aayat of this surah is, “(I swear) By the pen and what they write.” As is the general principle, whenever Allah takes an oath of something, it is to show the importance and greatness of that thing.  In the very first wahy that Allah sent down upon Nabi sallallahu alaihi wasallam in the cave of Hira, He mentions, “He taught by the pen.” Under these two verses, the commentators of the Quran have stated that the first and foundational method of teaching and imparting knowledge was through the pen. According to one opinion it was Hazrat Adam AS who  first used the pen, and according to another it was Hazrat Idrees AS.

     Hazrat Qatada Ra said, “The pen is a very great favour of Allah. If it wasn’t for the pen, then no Deen would remain, and no worldly matters would be able to run.” Hazrat Ali Ra said, “If it wasn’t for the pen then all works of Deen and Dunya would become impaired.

     In the blessed life of Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam we find a precedent for propagation through the pen. He dispatched numerous letters to different kings, leaders, and tribes, conveying to them the message of Allah, and inviting them towards accepting Islam. We mention here, an excerpt from his letter to the Roman emperor-

“Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem. From Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), the servant and messenger of Allah, to Hercules, the leader of Rome. May peace be upon the one who follows the guidance. Verily I invite you toward the call of Islam (kalimah of tawheed.) Accept Islam, and secure eternal safety. Allah will give you double reward. However, if you turn away, then upon you will be the sin of all those who follow you.” (Bukhari)

    Thus, the pen has always been an indispensable, vital, and fundamental tool for  the acquisition and retainment of knowledge, and for the propagation of the pure and pristine Deen.

It is for this very reason that our Ulama have always emphasized on showing adab - respect - to the pen. They have taught us not to throw it to someone, and not to put it on the floor. When the ink in the pen finishes, then instead of throwing it away in the dustbin, we should respectfully bury it in the ground. Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi Ra never entered the toilet with an ink mark on his hand - he would first wash it off, and then proceed to relieve himself, saying that it is with this ink that we write Quran and Hadeeth, it is highly disrespectful to go into the toilet with it being visible on the hand. Subhanallah, may Allah grant us the adab that our elders had. In today’s times, digital and printed literature in the form of authentic books, magazines, newsletters,  and articles is the advanced and progressed form of the pen, and continues to quench the never ending thirst of the Ummah for knowledge, thus remaining a major field for the propagation of the truth. Subsequently, such literature is also deserving of our adab.

Through the grace of Allah, we have resumed posting on this blog with a more refined and focused outlook, which is also included in the category of 'Propagation Through The Pen. May Allah accept this humble and weak effort although it doesn't deserve acceptance, and may Allah make it a means of hidayat for the entire mankind, ameen.