By Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan
This article is taken from the shaykh's
introduction to the book 'Manhajul-Anbiyaa fid-Da'wah
ilallaah' by Shaykh Rabee' Ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee.
Indeed calling to Allaah was the mission of all
the Messengers and their followers, in order to
bring the people out of darkness and into light,
from unbelief (kufr) to true Faith (eemaan),
from shirk to tawheed, and from the Fire to
Paradise.
All praise is for Allaah, Lord of the Worlds,
who ordered us to follow His Messenger (sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam) and to call to His Way, and
may Allaah send praises and blessings of peace
upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family,
his companions, and those who truly follow them
until the Day of Judgement. To proceed:
Calling to Allaah (ad-Da'wah ilallaah) is the
way of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam) and his followers, as Allaah, the Most
High, says:
"Say, O Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam): This is my way, I call to Allaah (i.e.
to the testification that none has the right to
be worshipped except Allaah, alone, with no
partner) upon certain knowledge - I, and those
who follow me. I declare Allaah free and far
removed from all that they associate as partners
with Him, and I am free of those who worship
anything else along with Him."[Soorah Yoosuf
12:108]
Indeed calling to Allaah was the mission of all
the Messengers and their followers, in order to
bring the people out of darkness and into light,
from unbelief (kufr) to true Faith (eemaan),
from shirk to tawheed, and from the Fire to
Paradise. This call to Allaah rests upon firm
pillars, and is established upon foundations
which are absolutely essential. If any of these
are missing the da'wah will not be correct and
will not produce the desired results - no matter
how much effort is expended and time wasted -
and this is the reality which we witness with
regard to many of the present day calls which
are not supported by those pillars and built
upon those foundations. These pillars which
support the correct da'wah are clearly shown in
the Book and the Sunnah, and can be summarised
as follows:
[1] Knowledge of that which one calls to:
Since the ignorant person is not suitable to be
a caller (daa'ee). Allaah, the Most High, said
to His prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam):
"Say, O Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam): This is my way, I call to Allaah (to
the testification that none has the right to be
worshipped except Allaah, alone, having no
partner) upon certain knowledge (baseerah). I,
and those who follow me." [Soorah Yoosuf 12:108]
'Baseerah' is knowledge. So the caller is
certain to face those who are scholars of
misguidance, those who will attack him with
doubts and futile arguments in order to rebut
the truth. Allaah, the Most High, says:
"And argue with them in a way that is
better."[Soorah an-Nahl 16:125]
Furthermore the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam) said to Mu'aadh (radhiyAllaahu 'anhu),
"You are going to a people from the People of
the Book."[2] So if the caller is not armed with
sufficient knowledge for him to face every doubt
and contend with every opponent, then he will be
defeated in the first counter, and will be
halted at the beginning of the way.
[2] Acting in accordance with that which he
calls to:
So that he will be a good example - his actions
attesting to his words, and leaving no excuse
for the opponents of the Truth. Allaah, the Most
High, said about His Prophet Shu'ayb that he
said to his people:
"I do not wish to forbid you from something and
then do it myself. rather I only wish to rectify
you as far as I am able."[Soorah Hood 11:88]
Allaah, the Most High, said to His Prophet
Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam):
"Say, O Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam): Indeed my Prayer, my sacrifice, my
living and my dying are all purely and solely
for Allaah, Lord of all the Worlds. There is no
share in any of that for other than Him. That is
what my Lord ordered me, and I am the first of
this nation to submit to Allaah as a Muslim."
[Soorah al-An'aan 6:162-163]
Allaah the Most High, said:
"Who is better in speech than one who calls the
people to Allaah and does righteous deeds?"
[Soorah Fussilat 41:33]
[3] Purity of intention (al-ikhlaas):
Such that the call is made purely and sincerely
to seek the Face of Allaah (and seeking His
Reward) - not for show, or repute, or status, or
leadership, nor desiring worldly goals - since
if any of these goals adulterate it, the call
will not be for Allaah, rather it would then be
a call for oneself or for the attainment of the
worldly goal - as Allaah informs that His
Prophets said to their people:
I do not ask you for any reward for conveying
this Qur`aan. [Soorah al-An'aam 6:90]
[Soorah al-An'aam 6:90]
I do not ask you for any wealth for my
admonition. [Soorah Hood 11:29]
[Soorah Hood 11:29]
[4] Beginning With What is of Primary
Importance, Then With What Comes Next In
Importance, And So On:
So firstly he calls to the correction of
'aqeedah (beliefs and creed), by ordering that
all worship is made purely for Allaah, and that
shirk is forbidden. Then ordering the
establishment of prayer, and the paying of
zakaah, and that the obligatory duties are
carried out, and that the forbidden matters are
avoided. This was to procedure followed by all
the messengers, as Allaah-the Most High-says:
We sent a Messenger to every nation, ordering
them that they should worship Allaah alone, obey
Him, and make their worship purely for Him; and
that they should avoid everything worshipped
besides Allaah. [Soorah An-Nahl 16:36]
[Soorah An-Nahl 16:36]
We did not send any Messenger before you, O
Muhammad, except that We revealed to him that
none has the right to be worshipped except
Allaah, so make all your worship purely for
Allaah. [Soorah al-Anbiyaa 21:25]
[Soorah al-Anbiyaa 21:25]
Furthermore, when the Prophet (Sallallaahu
Alayhi Wa Sallam) sent Mu'aadh to Yemen, he said
to him: "Indeed you are going to a people from
the People of the Book, so let the first thing
you call them to be the testification that none
has the right to be worshipped excepted Allaah.
So if they accept this, then inform them that
Allaah has obligated five prayer upon them in
every day and night..." [3]
Then there is in his (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam) way and method of giving da'wah, the
best example, and the most perfect and complete
methodology - in that he (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa
Sallam) remained in Makkah for thirteen years,
calling the people to Tawheed and forbidding
them from Shirk, before he ordered them with
prayer, Zakaah, fasting, and Hajj, and before he
forbade them from usury, fornication, theft and
murder.
[5] Patient Perseverance in Facing Difficulties
Encountered in Calling To Allaah, And in Facing
Harm From the People:
For the path of da'wah is not strewn with roses,
rather it is covered with hardships, and
hazards. The best example of this is the case of
the Messengers - may Allaah's praises and
blessings of peace be upon them all - with
regards to the harm and the mockery which they
suffered from their people. As Allaah - the Most
High - said to His Messenger (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wa Sallam):
Indeed Messengers were also mocked before you,
but those who mocked them were overtaken by the
punishment which they made light of. [Soorah
al-An'aam 6:10]
And He also said:
Indeed Messengers were also denied before you,
but they bore these denials with patient
perseverance, and they suffered harm until Our
help came to them. [Soorah Al-An'aam 6:34]
Likewise, the followers of the Prophet met with
the same harm and hardship, in proportion to
their efforts in calling to Allaah, following
the examples of those noble messengers - may
Allaah's praise, and purest blessings of peace
be upon them all.
[6] The Caller Must Be a Person of Good Manners
Using Wisdom in His Call:
Since this will be an important reason for the
acceptance of his call. Just as Allaah ordered
His two noble prophets: Moosaa and Haaroon -
'alayhimus-salaatu was-salaam - that this was
the manner in which they were to face the worst
Unbeliever upon the face of this earth: Fir'awn
(Pharoah), who claimed lordship for himself.
Allaah - the one free from all imperfections -
said:
"And speak mildly to him, that he might accept
admonition or fear and obey Allaah." [Soorah Taa
Haa 20:44]
And Allaah said to Moosaa - 'alayhis salaatu was
salaam:
"Go to Fir'awn who has transgressed all bounds
in his haughtiness, pride, and disbelief, and
say: Will you not purify yourself from the sin
of disbelief and be obedient to your Lord? And
that I guide you to the worship of your Lord, so
that you may submit fearfully to Him and be
obedient to Him." [Soorah an-Naazi'aat 79-17-19]
And Allaah - the Most High - said, concerning
the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam:
"By the Mercy of Allaah you behaved with
gentleness towards them, and had you been severe
and harsh-hearted, they would have left you and
departed." [Soorah Aali-'Imraan 3:159]
"Indeed you, O Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam! Call mankind to the way prescribed by
your Lord with the Revelation that has been sent
down to you, and admonish them with the examples
and warnings that Allaah provided in His Book,
and argue with them in a way that is better."
[Soorah an-Nahl 16:125]
[7] The Caller Must Remain Firm in His
Expectation and Hope for Good:
He should not despair in the effect of his call,
nor about the guidance of his people. Nor should
he despair about the aid and the help of Allaah
- even if a long time passes. Again, he has the
best of examples in this matter in the
Messengers of Allaah. So the Prophet of Allaah,
Nooh ('alayhis salaatu was salaam) remained
among his people for nine hundred and fifty
years calling them to Allaah.
Also, when the harm and the hurt caused by the
Unbelievers became severe, and the Angel of the
,mountain came to our Prophet Muhammad
(sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), asking if he
wanted him to crush them with the two mountains,
he replied: "No! I wish to have patience with
them. Hopefully Allaah will produce from them
offspring who will worship Allaah alone, not
giving any partner to Him." [4] So if the daa'ee
lacks this attribute, he will halt at the start
of the path and feel discouraged and frustrated.
So whichever call is not built upon these
foundations, and whose manhaj (methodology) is
not the methodology of the Messengers - then it
will be frustrated and fail, and it will be told
without benefit. The clearest proof of this are
those present day jamaa'ahs (groups) which set
out a methodology and program for themselves and
their da'wah, which is different to the
methodology of the Messengers. These groups have
neglected the importance of 'aqeedah (correct
beliefs and creed) - except for a very few of
them - and instead they call for the correction
of side issues. So one group calls for the
correction of rule and politics and demands
establishment of the hudood (prescribed
punishments), and that the Sharee'ah (Islaamic
Law) be applied in judging amongst the people -
and this is indeed something very important, but
it is not what is most important; Since how can
one seek to establish and apply Allaah's
Judgement upon the thief and the fornicator,
before seeking to establish and apply Allaah's
Judgement upon the mushrik - the one who
attributes worship to others besides Allaah. How
can we demand that Allaah's Judgement be applied
to two men disputing about a sheep or a camel,
before demanding that Allaah's Judgement be
applied upon those who worship idols and graves,
and those who deny or hold heretical beliefs
with regards to Allaah's Names and Attributes -
divesting them of their true meaning, or
distorting them. Are these people not greater
criminals than those who fornicate, drink wine,
and steal?!! Since those are crimes against
mankind, whereas shirk and denial of Allaah's
Names and Attributes are crimes against the
Creator - the One free from all imperfections -
and the rights of the Creator have precedence
over the rights of the creation.
Shaykhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) says in
his book: al-Istiqaamah (1/466): "So these sins
along with correct tawheed are better than
corrupted tawheed in the absence of these sins."
[5]
Then another jamaa'ah (group) affiliate
themselves with da'wah, except that their
methodology is also at variance with the
methodology of the Messengers. They give no
importance to the correct 'aqeedah, rather they
give importance to some acts of worship and
practicing dhikr (remembrance of Allaah) in the
way of the Soofees. They concentrate upon
khurooj (going out) and touring the lands, and
what is important to them is that they manage to
attract they people without caring about their
'aqeedah. And all of these are innovated ways,
taking as their starting point, matters which
were left until last in the call of the
Messengers. This is just like the case of the
one who seeks to cure a body whose head has been
decapitated - since the place of the 'aqeedah in
religion is like the head with regard to the
body.
Thus it is necessary for these groups to correct
their concepts and understanding, by referring
back to the Book and the Sunnah, in order to
know the methodology of the Messengers in
calling to Allaah. For indeed Allaah - the One
free from all imperfections - informed that the
correct rule and sovereignty, which the central
part of the call of the central jamaa'ah whom we
mentioned, cannot be achieved except after
correcting 'aqeedah, such that all worship is
for Allaah alone and worship of everything else
is abandoned. Allaah the Most High - says:
"Allaah promised to those amongst you who truly
have eemaan (true faith and belief) and act in
obedience to Allaah and His Messenger, that he
will grant them rulership upon the earth, just
as He granted it to those before them, and that
He will establish their Religion for them and
grant them authority to practice the Religion
which He ordered them with. And He will
certainly change their situation to one of
security, after their fear. Providing that they
worship Me, not associating any partners with
Me. Then, whoever rejects this favour by acting
in disobedience to their Lord - then they are
the rebellious transgressors." [Soorah an-Noor
24:55]
So these people wish to establish the Islaamic
State before purifying the lands of idolatrous
belief which take the form of worship of the
dead, and devotion to the tombs - such as is no
different from the worship of al-Laat, al-'Uzzaa
and the third of them al-Manaat, rather it is
worse. So they are attempting that which is
impossible:
"And whosoever seeks greatness without effort or
exertion
Will only be wasting his life in seeking
something impossible."
"
Indeed, establishment and application of the
Sharee'ah and the prescribed punishments, and
the establishment of the Islaamic State, and
avoidance of whatever is prohibited, and the
achievement of whatever is obligatory - all of
these things are from the rights of Tawheed; and
matters which perfect it and follow on from it.
So how can we give attention to that which is
subsidiary whilst neglecting that which is of
primary importance?
FOOTNOTES:
[1] From the Shaykh's introduction to the book:
Manhajul Anbiyaa fid Da'wah ilallaah feehil
Hikmah wal Aql (p. 10-16) of Shaykh Rabee' Ibn
Haadee.
[1] From the Shaykh's introduction to the book:
Manhajul Anbiyaa fid Da'wah ilallaah feehil
Hikmah wal Aql (p. 10-16) of Shaykh Rabee' Ibn
Haadee.
The translations of the meanings given for all
Qur'aanic Aayaat are summarised from the
tafseers of at-Tabaree, al-Baghawee,
al-Qurtubee, Ibn Katheer, and ash-Shawkaanee.
[2] Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 7372) and
Muslim (no. 29) from Abdullaah Ibn Abbaas
(radiallaahu 'anhu).
[3] Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 7372) and
Muslim (no. 29) from Abdullaah Ibn Abbaas
(radiallaahu 'anhu).
[4] Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 454) and Muslim
(no. 4425), from Aa'ishah radiallaahu 'anhaa.
[5] The proof for this is the Saying of Allaah -
the Most High: "Allaah does not forgive that
partners should be set up with Him in worship,
but He forgives whatever is lesser than that to
whomsoever he pleases." [Soorah an-Nisaa 4:48]
