The Preachers’ Predicament
Muslim preachers - be they writers, orators, teachers, graphic designers, poets, artists or other such pious souls who spread the message of Islam using their knowledge and skills - are often faced with a tremendous internal conflict and dilemma. They are confronted with the following questions: a) Should they promote their work? Would promoting their own work violate the premises of ikhlas? Would it be counted as an ostentatious act? Would it be seen as an act of arrogance and pride? Would it amount to narcissism? b) What moral right do they have to preach Islam when they are themselves not perfect Muslims? c) If they are preaching something that they do not themselves practice, would that not amount to hypocrisy? Let us take up these dilemmas one by one and see how we can overcome them. a) Neeyah: Islam lays great importance on ikhlas, i.e. to perform an act with the sole intention of pleasing Allah. The parameters of ikhlas are so exacting that even a slight deviation fr