Yesterday evening in a Detroit hospital, the oldest African-American woman in the world passed away.
Daisy Bailey (b.1896-d.2010) would have reached her 114th year had she hung on until her birthday on March 30th. May God Rest Her Soul. Ameen.
Mrs. Bailey was not Muslim, to answer the question put forth in the title. She certainly does not need to be. But if she was, it would be a definite dawah to be mentioned in the media in this way.
When are Muslims going to make headlines for the good --let's even settle for the normal and expected-- things that they do?
For certain, with active Islamic groups like the UMMuslim Students Association and the Center for American-Islamic Relations, Muslims are busy, Muslims are doing.
Yet it is also certain that Muslim and Islamic representation in the media has not improved much since the tragic and condemnable acts on 9/11. What's up with that?
When faced with dilemmas of this type, Muslims should turn to the Quran and Sunnah for guidance. It states in chapter Al-Imran, verse 110: Ye (those who have submitted) are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind.
Essentially, if Muslims exhibited Islamic principles in their very behavior and actions they would be the best of human beings. Imagine, if Muslims were the best of human beings, everyone would notice.
Maybe Muslims should, in addition to doing this and doing that, simply exude good character. In this way they would be role models to the world, as is implied in the Quran. This, apparently, would be the most remarkable form of dawah.
So submit to The One, be an awesome neighbor, a responsible citizen, keep your nose clean, and live until the age of 120.
People will start noticing. In a good way.
