Islam Rediscovered
18. Islamic Activism
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action. This method can briefly be called positive
status quoism, for which a complete scheme can be
chalked out in the light of the
Seerah
(biography) of
the Prophet.
1.
Positive Status Quoism in Religious Affairs
The Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him,
received his first prophetic call in 610 A.D. in
Makkah. This city was dominated by idolaters, who
had placed in the Kabah 360 idols belonging to
various Arabian tribes. The Kabah had, therefore,
become a religious centre for all these tribes. The
presence of these idols in the Kabah was totally
against the beliefs of the Prophet, an upholder of
monotheism in the true sense of the word. Yet
rather than make efforts to upset the status quo in
Makkah, he fully engaged himself in his task of
spreading the word of God, availing of whatever
opportunities were available—despite the presence
of the idols.
In those days the Kabah was the gathering point of
the inhabitants of Makkah, and meetings were held
there almost daily. The Prophet began to make use
of these gatherings for the purposes of
da’wah
. On
