This Article examines the benefits, importance and rewards of giving da’wah.
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Mankind has been blessed with the sending of the Prophets and Messengers and because of their exposure to the Divine Books, which were revealed to them. Allah ﷻ did not leave people to rely upon their own intellect and inclinations to find correct guidance. Rather, He sent the Prophets and Messengers as a source of guidance.
The Prophets came with guidance for the people to save them from the evil consequences of shirk. Allah ﷻ further aided His Prophets with the revelation of Divine Scripture, which would assist them in their call to Tawheed and settle the matters in which they differed. This was the responsibility inherited by Prophet after Prophet until the coming of Muhammad. Then after sending the Prophets and revealing the books, Allah obligated the people to obey their Prophets and Messengers and follow them. So today, after the passing of the last Messenger sent to mankind, the responsibility is to be carried forward by his followers. So, it is the duty of the Muslims to give da’wah to people. The task of giving dawah is very important. For this reason, there are many benefits and rewards for giving da’wah. Allah ﷻ speaks very highly of the daa’ee:
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًۭا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ ( سورة فصلت : ٣٣ )
“And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteous deeds and says, “Indeed, I am (one) of the Muslims.” (Socrat Fussilat: 33)
There are many ahaadeeth that mention the great rewards and tremendous benefits of giving da’wah. The following are just a few of the many sayings of the Prophet which have been narrated in this regard:
فو الله لأن يهدى بك رجل واحد خيرٌ لَكَ مِنْ حُمْرِ النَّعم . (البخاري)
“By Allah; If a single person were to be guided to Islam at your hands, then it would be better for you than acquiring red camels.”
مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى هُدًى كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ أُجُورٍ مَنْ تَبِعَهُ لَا يَنقُصُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا. (مسلم)
“Whoever calls to guidance, then for him; there is a reward like the reward of those who follow him, without the reward of any of them being diminished.” (Muslim)
مَنْ دَل عَلَى خَيْرٍ فَلَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرٍ فَاعِلِهِ، (مسلم)
“Whoever guides (others) towards good; then he will receive the same reward as the one who performs the good action.” (Muslim)
In the first hadeeth, the Prophet Muhammad mentioned red camels. These types of camels are very rare so they were more expensive at the time of the Prophet ﷺ and still are today. Therefore, if someone accepts Islam, then the person responsible for calling him to Islam will receive a valuable reward. The last two ahaadeeth describe how the reward for a good deed extends beyond the one doing it to the one who suggested it. So, if someone accepts Islam, then the reward of all of his good deeds is shared with the daa’ee responsible for his guidance. So if this new Muslim has children who he raises to worship Allah Alone, then this same daa’ee will continue to receive the reward for what they do as well.
It can be seen that giving da’wah is of great importance and has great rewards and benefits associated with it. However, giving da’wah has certain conditions. The daa’ee should give da’wah for the sake of Allah only. The daa’ee should also possess sound knowledge of Islam. Apart from these conditions the daa’ee must also practice what he is calling to, have the best of manners and remain patient while giving da’wah. The most important thing that the daa’ee should know is that the foundation of any sort of da’wah must be Tawheed and without it, the daa’ee has abandoned the example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ .
Learning from the lesson
- There is a great reward for the one who gives da’wah.
- It is the duty of Muslims today to give da’wah.
