Personal Reflections

Al Quran 7:189-190
It is He who has created you (all) out of one living entity and out of it brought into being its mate, so that man might incline (with love) towards woman.  And so, when he has embraced her, she conceives (what at first is) a light burgen, and continues to bear it.  Then, when she grows heavy (with child), they both call unto God, their Sustainer, "If Thou indeed grant us a sound (child), we shall most certainly be among the grateful!"
And yet, as soon as He has granted them sound (offspring), they begin to ascribe to other powers beside Him a share in bringing about what He has granted them! Sublimely exalted, however, is God - above anything to which men may ascribe a share in His Divinity!

I asked ustaz just now, if this warning/advice can also be for us, who after the birth of a child, depend on other than Allah for protection of the baby - e.g. in using 'tangkal' (amulet). He said, actually he didn't want to mention this because there is a khilaf among the ulama's with regards to the ruling of wearing amulets in which is written Words from The Quran.   Some permits with conditions, others say it could be shirk.

I tried to look up for the arguments, and found the explanation and references provided in this site looks reliable to me.

In any case, personally, based on what I've read so far and what I understand, I would avoid using amulets - because the case for amulets are more for those who cannot recite or read. But the wearer CANNOT believe that it's the amulet that will protect him. He must believe that it's his doa (through wearing the amulet because he cannot recite or read) to Allah SWT, and that Allah SWT alone who has the power to help him. This is quite very risky to me. It's a very thin line between the person believing in wearing the amulet, and believing in the powers of Allah SWT that does not require any other thing or helper. Wallahu'alam. May Allah guide us.

Al Quran, 7:199
Make due allowance to man's nature;  and enjoin the doing of what is right; and leave alone all those who choose to remain ignorant.

This relates to doing dakwah.  Someone in class asked, 'must every truely believing Muslim give dakwah to others?'  Ustaz says yes.   I believe so.

But what is da'wah in the first place?  I feel that da'wah can be given in many ways, including being good role models as a Muslim.  When a person truely believes, da'wah may come naturally to him.  When he finds truth, he feels inclined to share it with others (perhaps through FB status or twitter) and wouldn't that be da'wah?  So insyaAllah, I believe that the inclination to da'wah, no matter how small or big, through sincere concern for our brothers and sisters, will come naturally with iman.

And I like Asad's transliteration of this ayat - 'make due allowance to man's nature..'
Man's nature - we are not perfect, we are forgetful - as such, we should make due allowance for one anothers weaknesses, and forgive and have empathy and doa for each other.