Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned the following:
The promises of Allah Ta‘ala (for one to gain success and happiness) are, without a shadow of doubt, absolutely true and certain. As for the systems and procedures which people adopt based upon their personal understanding and experience, in trying to acquire success and happiness for themselves, then they are not certain and guaranteed, but are merely based upon their assumptions and thoughts.
However, in todays’ times, we find that most people place full confidence and conviction upon the procedures and means which they have adopted based on their thinking, and thereafter they exert themselves to acquire their goals via these means. The amount of effort which they make in adopting these procedures and means is far greater than the effort they should be making to fulfil what Allah Ta‘ala wants from them in order for them to become worthy of the promises of Allah Ta‘ala.
From this, it is quite apparent that they do not have the level of confidence and conviction in the promises of Allah Ta‘ala which they have in their own procedures and means which they have chosen for themselves.
This condition is not only found among the masses, but together with the masses, it is also found among those who are outwardly committed to Deen. They also have left the illuminated path (to acquire the promises of Allah Ta‘ala which are most certain), and instead have become engrossed in pursuing the worldly systems and means to acquire success which are uncertain and not guaranteed.
Therefore, the primary objective of this effort of Da’wat and Tableegh is to remove this fundamental weakness from the lives of Muslims, and connect them to Allah Ta‘ala in such a manner that their full conviction and effort is directed towards the promises of Allah Ta‘ala which are certain, and not upon their worldly systems and means which are uncertain.
This was the way of the Ambiyaa (‘alaihimus salaam) – that they invited their Ummahs towards bringing complete conviction and confidence in the promises of Allah Ta‘ala, and becoming deserving of these promises by fulfilling the commands of Allah Ta‘ala and leading a pure life.
In regard to the promises of Allah Ta‘ala, we should remember that Allah Ta‘ala deals with us in accordance to the confidence we have upon Him (and in accordance to the expectation we have in His mercy). Allah Ta‘ala mentions in the hadeeth qudsi, “I deal with My servant in accordance to the expectation he has of Me.”
(Malfoozaat Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas [rahmatullahi ‘alaih] pg. 77-78)
Source: Ihyaauddeen.co.za