This Article will explore the ruling concerning da’wah.
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The duty of calling to Allah was passed on from the Prophet Muhammad and the Companions to those who followed them until today. This duty will then be passed on to the next generation of Muslims. Da’wah is based upon certain principles and established upon pillars which are absolutely essential. If any of these pillars is missing. the da’wah will not be correct and it will not produce the intended results. These pillars have been explained in the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. The following is a summarization of some of the most important points:
- Sincerity:
It is obligatory upon the daa’ee to have sincerity and pure intentions. Da’wah should be given for the sake of Allah and should not involve the desire to show-off or acquire the praise of the people. Allah informs us that the Prophets said to their people:
قُل لَّآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا ۖ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ( سورةالأنعام : ٩٠ )
“I ask of you for this message no payment. It is not but a reminder for the worlds.” (Soorat alanam : 90)
- Knowledge of Islam:
Allah said to the Prophet ﷺ :
قُلْ هَـٰذِهِۦ سَبِيلِىٓ أَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِى ۖ ( سورة يوسف : ١٠٨)
“Say. “This is my way, I invite to Allah with baseerah (knowledge), I and those who follow me.” (Soorat Yusef : 108)
Having knowledge is very important because the daa’ee will face those who attack Da’wah with doubts and baseless arguments in order to refute the truth! So if the caller is not armed with a sufficient foundation of Islamic knowledge, then he will become overwhelmed and make the truth appear to be falsehood and falsehood appear to be the truth.
- Implementing whatever he calls others to:
Witnessing a good example is very important. Putting words into actions leaves no excuse for the opponents of the truth. Allah ﷻ said that the Prophet Shu’ayb said to his people:
وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنْهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ ۚ إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا ٱلْإِصْلَـٰحَ مَا ٱسْتَطَعْتُ ۚ ( سورة هود: ٨٨ )
“I do not intend to differ from you in that which I have forbidden you; I only intend reform as much as I am able.” (Soorat Hood: 88)
A daa’ee should not invite others to do something that he himself doesn’t do. At the same time, he should not do something which he forbids others from doing.
- Being patient:
Giving da’wah is not easy. It is full of hardships and hazards. The best example of this is the example of the Prophets and Messengers since they suffered the many types of abuse, degradation, and harm from their people while calling them to Tawheed. Allah ﷻ mentions this in the following verse:
وَلَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌۭ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَصَبَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا كُذِّبُوا۟ وَأُوذُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ أَتَىٰهُمْ نَصْرُنَا ۚ ( سورة الأنعام :٣٤ )
“And certainly other messengers were rejected before you, but they were patient upon their peoples’ rejection, and they were harmed until Our victory came to them.” (Soorat al-Anam: 34)
In the same way, the followers of the Prophet Muhammad are met with the same harms and abuse in proportion to their efforts in calling to Allah ﷻ . They must remain patient and continue giving da’wah in the face of adversity.
Calling to the truth with sincerity is one of the characteristics of the believers. They act upon what they call to, hasten towards doing good deeds and avoid things that are prohibited. Finally, they remain patient upon the hardships and difficulties that they face.
Learning from the lesson
- Da’wah is established upon foundations that are derived from the Qur’aan and Sunnah.
- Those with sound Islamic knowledge should call others to Islam.
