Allâh (S.W.T.) is the Rabb (the Only God, Cherisher and Sustainer), the King (or Ruler) and the God (Judge) of mankind (114:1-6). He (S.W.T.) makes it clear that the religion before Him is Islâm (3:19). He was the One Who sent down (step by step), in truth, the Book (the Qur’ân) as a guide to mankind (3:2-4). He says that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) is not only the Seal of the Prophets (33:40), but he is also His Universal Messenger to the whole mankind (34:28). Allâh the Almighty inspired him (18:110; 53:4, 10) with the Truth (4: 170). He sent the Qur’ân to him to lead forth from the depths of Darkness into Light those who believe and do righteousness (65:10-11). Islâm, therefore, is the true universal religion ¾ the Light for the whole mankind. As such, Da’wah should cater to all humanity, both Muslims and non-Muslims alike irrespective of their race, nationality, sex, social and economic status and other differences.
Since Islâm is the religion for the whole mankind, it is a Sunnah for us Muslims to invite mankind to Islâm. We should start doing Da’wah to our respective families, relatives and close friends. This is the Sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.). The first people that the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) invited to Islâm were: his wife Khadija, his cousin Ali (R.A.A), and his closest friend Abu Bakr (R.A.A). We should invite our nearest relatives to righteousness as Allâh (S.W.T.) has enjoined us to admonish or warn them (26:214). We read in the following Hâdîth how Allâh’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) himself invited his nearest kinsmen:
Abu Hurairah (R.A.A)
narrated that when (this verse) was revealed to him: “Warn your
nearest kinsmen” (26:214), Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.) said, “O people of Quraish, buy
yourselves from Allâh (i.e., Secure deliverance from Allâh by doing good
deeds.). I cannot avail you at all against Allâh. O ‘Abbas Bin ‘Abd Al-Muttalib, I cannot avail you at all
against Allâh. O Safiya (aunt of Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s)),
I cannot avail you at all against Allâh. O Fatimah, (daughter of Allâh’s
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.))
ask me whatever you like, but I cannot avail you at all against Allâh.”
(Muslim1/402)
We Du’ât have to share our authentic knowledge of Islâm (based on the Qur’ân and the Sunnah) to our fellow Muslims including the new reverts to Islâm. It is not enough that they declare the Shahadah. They have to learn more about Islâm. We should remember that many of our fellow Muslims, because of ignorance or lack of knowledge of Islâm, are out of the fold of Islâm. They do not have the right Islâmic aqeeda (belief). Their belief, sayings and actions do not conform to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah. We see them clinging to various sects which have strayed outside the Right Path. We must share them our knowledge of the Qur’ân and the Sunnah. It is for their guidance that they follow and stick to the Sunnah or Way of the universal messenger to the whole mankind, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.); otherwise they will be among the people of the Hell Fire:
‘Abdullah Bin Amr (R.A.A)
narrated that Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.) said, “There will befall my Ummah exactly (all those) evils which befell the
people of Isra'il, so much so that if there was one amongst them who openly
committed fornication with his mother, there
will be among my Ummah one who will do that; and if the people of Isra'il were
fragmented into seventy-two sects my Ummah will be fragmented into seventy-three
sects. All of them will be in Hell Fire except one sect.” They (the Companions)
said: “Allâh’s Messenger, which is that?” Whereupon he
(s.a.w.s.
)
said: “It is one to which I and my companions belong.”
(Tirmidhi 171)
Another reason why we have to do Da’wah to our fellow Muslims is to make our invitation to non-Muslims easy. Most non-Muslims base their understanding of Islâm on what they see from the Muslims. Unfortunately, many Muslims are not practicing Islâm in accordance with the Qur’ân and the Sunnah. Their non-Islâmic character and behaviors discourage non-Muslims from entering into Islâm. We have to share our correct knowledge and understanding of Islâm with our fellow Muslims and at the same time encourage them to seek more knowledge of the Truth in order to correct their aqeeda (belief). They should work for the highest goal ¾ that is the eternal peace and prosperity in Paradise where they can achieve the greatest Bliss ¾ the Good Pleasure of Allâh (S.W.T.). That is the supreme triumph (9:72).
As Muslims, we have to exert more efforts in conveying the Divine Message to the non-Muslims. We have to guide them to Islâm because if they die rejecting the Qur’ân and the Sunnah, they will suffer in the Hell-fire forever as stressed by Allâh in the following Qur’ânic verses:
“But those who disobey Allâh
and His Messenger and transgress His limits will be admitted to a Fire, to abide
therein. And they shall have a
humiliating punishment.” (Qur’ân 4:14)
“Those who reject Our Signs,
We shall soon cast into the Fire; as often as their skins are roasted through.
We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the Chastisement: for
Allâh is Exalted in Power, Wise.” (Qur’ân 4:56)
“Those who disbelieve, among
the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, will be in hell-fire, to dwell
therein (for aye). They are the
worst of creatures.” (Qur’ân
98:6)
To be staying in the hell-fire even
for seconds is a grievous chastisement, how much more if it will be forever?
Allâh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful has commanded us Muslims to
invite all (people) to Islâm. It is His way to give chance to the non-believers
to be saved from the torment of the hell-fire.
Let us therefore strive hard and cooperate in inviting the whole mankind
to the Right Path, Islâm.
If we want to be successful Du’ât, we must do Da’wah based on Allâh’s injunctions in the Qur’ân and the Sunnah as narrated in the authentic Ahâdîth . For our deeds to be rewarded we should be reminded of the following Qur’ânic verse to obey Allâh (S.W.T.) and His Messenger (s.a.w.s.):
“O
you who believe! Obey Allâh, and obey the Messenger (Muhammad) and render not
vain your deeds.” (Qur’ân 47:33)
The Qur’ân and (the Sunnah of) Allâh’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) both serve as Allâh’s mercy to us. Allâh the Almighty says about His Book:
“For We had certainly sent unto them a Book based on knowledge, which We explained in detail a guide and a Mercy to all who believe.” (Qur’ân 7:52)
“. . .
We have sent down to you the Book explaining all things, a guide a Mercy,
and glad tidings to Muslims.” (Qur’ân
16:89)
Allâh (S.W.T.) tells us about His Messenger (s.a.w.s.):
“We sent you not (O Muhammad),
but as a Mercy for all creatures.” (Qur’ân 21:107)
“... Yet you (O Muhammad) were
sent as a Mercy from your Rabb to give warning to a people to whom no Warner had
come before you in order that they may receive admonition.”
(Qur’ân 28:46)
It is a must that in doing Da’wah, we do it with Hikmah (wisdom as defined in the Qur’ân and the Sunnah). To be able to do this, we must follow the characteristics and manners of Allâh’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.). Allâh’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) possesses an exalted standard of character (i.e., sublime morals) (68:4) and is an excellent example for us to follow. Allâh (S.W.T.) says:
“Indeed in Allâh’s
Messenger (Muhammad) you have an excellent example to follow for him who
hopes in (meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day, and remembers Allâh much.”
(33:21)
In
an authentic Hâdîth we read that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s) himself said:
Abu Hurairah
(R.A.A)
narrated that Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “I have been sent (as a
Messenger) in the best of all generations of Adam’s offspring since the
Creation.” (Bukhari 4/757)
For our guidance and success, we should follow Allâh’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.). Allâh the Most High tells us:
“Those who follow the
Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own
(Scriptures);
¾
in the Torah and the Gospel; for he commands them what is just and forbids them
what is evil. He allows them as
lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure).
He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are
upon them. So it is those who
believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the Light which is sent down
with him,¾
it is they who will prosper.” (Qur’ân
7:
157)
As Du’ât, we should excel in our manners and character. We should take inspiration from the following Ahâdîth:
‘Abdullah Bin Amr
(R.A.A)
narrated that Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.
)
said, “…The best amongst you
are those who have the best manners and character.”
(Bukhari 4/759)
Abu Hurairah (R.A.A)
narrated that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) said, “Among the Muslims the most perfect, as regards his faith, is the one
whose character is excellent, and the best among you are those who treat their
wives well.” (Tirmidhi
628)
Abu Darda
(R.A.A)
narrated
that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) said, “There is nothing heavier than good character put in the scale of a
believer on the Day of Resurrection.” (Abu
Dawud 4781)
Abu Darda
(R.A.A)
narrated that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) said, “Nothing is weightier in the scales of a believer on the Day of
Judgement than his good behavior. Allâh
treats with displeasure a person who is given to loose and vulgar talk.”
(Tirmidhi 626)
Abu Umamah
(R.A.A)
narrated that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) said, “I guarantee a house in the
surroundings of Paradise for a man who avoids quarrelling even if he were in the
right; a house in the middle of
Paradise for a man who avoids lying even if he were joking; and a house in the
upper part of Paradise for a man who made his character good.”
(Abu Dawud 4782)
Abdur Rahman Bin Ghanam
(R.A.A)
and Asma Bint Yazid
(R.A.A)
narrated that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s)
said, “The best servants of Allâh are those who, when they are seen, cause
Allâh to be remembered. The worst servants of Allâh are those who go about
slandering, who separate friends, and seek to distress the upright.”
(Tirmidhi 4871 and Ahmad)
It is necessary that we behave in accordance with the Qur’ân and the Sunnah. We should aim to reach the highest category of Muslims. We should try not only to be very good Muslims (those who perform the five pillars of Islâm) or Mu’minoon (Faithful Muslims who believe in the six articles of faith); but also to be Mu’hsinoon or Muttaqoon (God-conscious, God-fearing Muslims who are righteous, pious and restrain as well as guard themselves from evil). We should remember that non-Muslims, in general, judge Islâm according to the actual behaviors and conducts of the Muslims. Unfortunately, many Muslims do not follow the Qur’ân and the Sunnah. Only a few are Muslimoon (practicing Muslims). Very few are Mu’minoon (Faithful Muslims) and Mu’hsinoon or Muttaqoon. Many fall into the category of Mushrikoon (polytheists or those who associate partners with Allâh) and Munafiqoon (the hypocrites) out of ignorance or lack of knowledge of Islâm. Many others cling to secularism and bid'ah and thus adopt the belief and manners contrary to Islâm based on the Qu'ran and the Sunnah. This fact should be made known very clearly to the non-Muslims in our Da’wah after explaining to them the basic concepts of Islâm, especially Tawhîd. In this way they will stop identifying Islâm with those who are Muslims only in name. Our explanation of the levels of practicing Muslims must be based on the following Hâdîth:
Abu Hurairah (R.A.A)
narrated that one day while the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.
)
was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Gabriel came and
asked, “What is faith?” Allâh’s Messenger(s.a.w.s.
)
replied, “Faith is to believe in Allâh, His angels, (the) meeting with Him,
His Messengers, and to believe
in Resurrection.” Then he further asked, “What is Islâm?” Allâh’s
Messenger (s.a.w.s.
)
replied, “To worship Allâh Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to
pay the compulsory charity (Zakat) and to observe fasts during the month of
Ramadan.” Then he further asked,
“What is Ihsan (perfection)?” Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.
)
replied, “To worship Allâh as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this
state of devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you.”
… Then that man (Gabriel) left and the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.
)
asked his companions to call him back, but they could not see him. Then the
Prophet (s.a.w.s.
)
said, “That was Gabriel who came to teach the people their religion.” Abu
‘Abdullah said: “He (the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.
))
considered all that as a part of faith.”
(Bukhari 1/47, 6/300 and Muslim 1)
We have to make it clear to the non-Muslims that the non-practicing Muslims destroy their lives by indulging in such immoral practices as adulteries and fornication, drinking intoxicants, drug addictions, gambling, usury, graft and corruption, stealing, swindling, abductions, rebellions and the like. With their non-Islâmic behaviors they create very bad image not only for the Muslims but also for Islâm as a whole. We have to stress that the “Muslims” they encounter or observe are actually non-practicing Muslims. If ever they dislike their behavior it is because they do not act in accordance with the teachings of Islâm. Islâm teaches righteousness and the best manners to the whole mankind. We should invite them to Islâm through the Qur’ân and the Sunnah. We should advise them not to judge Islâm with the way non-practicing Muslims behave. They should not confine their knowledge of Islâm to the negative propaganda of the anti-Islâmic writers. It is for their divine guidance that they should read the Qur’ân and the authentic Ahâdîth as well as books, articles and other reading materials written by Muslim scholars based on these two revealed authentic Islâmic teachings. They should be objective and rational by learning and understanding the truth about Islâm. What we are going to present to them is the Truth based on the Qur’ân and the Sunnah. Thus, we should not only equip ourselves with the knowledge of the Truth according to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah, but also do Da’wah according to the said revealed sources.
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