The Basics of Da'wah to Allah

87. The da'wah (invitation) to Allah is the duty of the Muslim Ummah. Every Muslim is charged with this mission, each according to his capacity.(1)

(1) "Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. They are prosperous ones." 3.104

88. The objectives of da'wah are:

to guide people to the religion of Allah
to establish the evidence against those who decline from or oppose the religion
to discharge the duty enjoined on us, the Muslims, by Allah
to exalt the word of Allah on earth

89. The purpose of da'wah in this world is to prepare the good Muslim and to establish the good society.

90. The good Muslim is he who believes in the oneness of Allah, obeys Him within the limits of his capacity and observes His commands. The good society is the one in which the Hudood(2) of Allah are established and whose members cooperate with and subsidize each other. "Those who, if We establish them in the land, perform salaah and give obligatory charity and enjoin the right and forbid the wrong. With Allah rests the (decision) on (all) affairs."

(2) 'Hudood' are the restrived ordinences or statutes of Allah respecting things lawful and unlawful. It also means castigation or punishment which prevents the criminal from returning to his crime and prevents the others from committing his crime.

91. The reward for da'wah in the Hereafter, is the pleasure of Allah, and His jannah.

92. It is incumbent on every Muslim who witnesses the wrong to correct it with his hand, or if he is unable, then with his tongue or at least to abhor it in his heart. The inability to do so is indicative of lack of iman.(3)

(3) c.f. Muslim Vol.I, p.33

93. The conditions for correcting the wrong are:

the one who takes it up on himself to correct the wrong has to be aware of the wrong he is about to correct.
one should not correct one wrong by committing another.
correcting a wrong should not create a situation that leads to a greater wrong.
one who would correct a wrong should be clear of that wrong lest he falls among those whom Allah chastizes: "Why do you say that which you do not do."(4)

(4) c.f. Qur'an 61.3

94. Da'wah should start with fundamental issues, before proceeding with those that are less central. The Oneness of Allah is the beginning and the end. Each deed should be connected with it.(5)

(5) Ibn Abbas narrated: when the Prophet(Peace be on Him) sent Mu'adh to Yemen, he said to him: "You are going to a nation of the People of the Book, so let the first thing to which you will invite them be the Tawheed (Oneness of Allah). If they learn that, tell them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers to be offered in one day and one night." Bukhari Vol.IX, p.348.

95. The means of da'wah to Allah are numerous, but foremost is the manner of the da'ee (inviter). He should make himself a person who others are inclined to take as an example. Da'wah by good example is the most effective means. After this in importance are da'wah by word of mouth, and da'wah by giving financial support.

96. Anyone who has knowledge, regardless of how little it is, is entitled to communicate it.(6)

(6) Zaid b. Thabit narrated the Prophet(Peace be on Him) said: "May Allah cause to have freshness and brilliance the man who hears what I say and keeps it in mind, then convey it to others. Ahmad, 5-183.

97. It is permissible to form groups or organizations for da'wah in Muslim or non-Muslim countries with or without the permission of the imam(leader). Da'wah is a duty incumbent upon us.

98. Formation of a variety of groups for the purpose of da'wah is permissible provided that each maintains the solidarity of the Muslim body and brotherly cooperation to achieve good and maintain piety. Any da'wah group which claims it is the only Muslim jama'ah, and imputes disbelief to the others, is a group of neo-khawarij(7) and promoters of division, which must be opposed and eliminated.

(7) Refer to para.77 (the imputing of disbelief to Muslims) Khawarij a sect of heretics who went against Ali in the battle of Siffin. The term Khawarij applies also to any group which goes against the rest of the ummah and the religion. (Lanes Lexicon)

99. It is not the right of a da'wah group to make restrictive judgments or to take punitive measures or eliminate those who oppose or desert it, unless it first assumes sovereignty over the land and establishes the Islamic caliphate (government).

100. The work of Da'wah requires the employment of lawful methods, protection of the interest of the ummah, and the use of wisdom in disseminating knowledge. Allah says: "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fine preaching and discuss with them in a manner that is more gracious, for your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and who are the guided ones."(8)

(8) cf. Qur'an 16.125

101. Jihad(9) and participating in military expeditions are fardh which apply until the Day of Judgment. The one who died neither having fought in the way of Allah nor having considered it would die having a share in hypocrisy.(10)

(9) Striving in the way of Allah. (10) cf. Muslim Vol.III, p.1057

102. Fighting may start only after a declaration of war has been made and after it has been ascertained that the ranks of the enemy contain no Muslims.(11)

(11)Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger(Peace be on Him) said: "...who so from my ummah attacks my followers, (indiscriminately) killing the righteous and the wicked of them, sparing not those staunch in faith, and fulfilling not his obligation towards them who have been given a pledge (of security), is not from me." Muslim Vol.III, p. 1030.

103. There are grand objectives behind fighting in the way of Allah in Islam. Fighting is enjoined to defend the believers, to deliver the oppressed and to enable the believers to be established with power in the land so that there would be no more affliction and only the religion of worshipping Allah alone would prevail.(12)

(12) cf. Qur'an 2.192

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