Da’wah in Islam Importance

Da’wah ila Allah: Role and Methods (Part 8)

“Al-Ajwibatus Sadeedah ‘ala al-As’ilatir Rasheedah” – (The Sound Answers to the Rightly Guided Questions) – (Part 8)

By: Allamah Zayd ibn Muhammad ibn Haadi al-Madkhali (may Allah have mercy on him)

Urdu Translation: Umm Muhammad Khushnuma Muslihuddin

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Question 12: What is the importance of Da’wah ila Allah (calling to Allah) in the religion of Islam? How should it be carried out, and upon whom is its fulfillment obligatory? Please clarify, may Allah reward you with good. (Part 1)

Answer: All praise is for Allah alone, as befits His Majesty and the greatness of His Dominion, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), the leader of the callers to the truth and the final Messenger of Allah, and upon his family, companions, and followers as well.

After praise and glorification:

We thank Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, who made the Ummah of Muhammad (ﷺ) the best of nations, brought forth for [the guidance of] mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. He made it a middle nation so that it may be a witness over humanity and the Messenger (ﷺ) be a witness over them. He sent their Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to them as a guide, who was sent as a mercy to all the worlds, a bearer of glad tidings for his believing followers, and a warner to the disbelieving and arrogant enemies. He was a caller to Allah by His command, to warn everyone who is alive and to establish the proof of Allah against the disbelievers. So undoubtedly, he (ﷺ) is a mercy sent [by Allah] and a bestowed blessing, sent for the guidance of jinn and mankind. He (ﷺ), in compliance with Allah’s command, called them to Allah, as stated by the Almighty:

{اُدۡعُ اِلٰى سَبِيۡلِ رَبِّكَ بِالۡحِكۡمَةِ وَالۡمَوۡعِظَةِ الۡحَسَنَةِ‌ وَجَادِلۡهُمۡ بِالَّتِىۡ هِىَ اَحۡسَنُ‌ؕ} – [النحل : ١٢٥]

Translation: "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best." [An-Nahl: 125]

Similarly, in other verses, Allah the Almighty addressed His Messenger (ﷺ), saying:

{يٰۤاَيُّهَا الۡمُدَّثِّرُ (١) قُمۡ فَاَنۡذِرۡ} – [المدثر : ١ – ٢]

Translation: "O you who covers himself [with a garment], (1) Arise and warn." [Al-Muddaththir: 1-2]

{فَاصۡدَعۡ بِمَا تُؤۡمَرُ} – [الحجر : ٩٤]

Translation: "Then declare what you are commanded." [Al-Hijr: 94]

{يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الرَّسُوۡلُ بَلِّغۡ مَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَيۡكَ مِنۡ رَّبِّكَ‌ ؕ وَاِنۡ لَّمۡ تَفۡعَلۡ فَمَا بَلَّغۡتَ رِسٰلَـتَهٗ‌} – [المائدة : ٦٧]

Translation: "O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message." [Al-Ma'idah: 67]

{قُلۡ هٰذِهٖ سَبِيۡلِىۡۤ اَدۡعُوۡۤا اِلَى اللّٰهِ ۚ ‌عَلٰى بَصِيۡرَةٍ اَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِىۡ‌ؕ وَسُبۡحٰنَ اللّٰهِ وَمَاۤ اَنَا مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِكِيۡنَ} – [يوسف : ١٠٨]

Translation: "Say, 'This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah; and I am not of those who associate others with Him.'" [Yusuf: 108]

{قُلۡ اِنِّىۡ لَنۡ يُّجِيۡرَنِىۡ مِنَ اللّٰهِ اَحَدٌ وَّلَنۡ اَجِدَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِهٖ مُلۡتَحَدًا (٢٢) اِلَّا بَلٰغًا مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَرِسٰلٰتِهٖ‌} – [الجن : ٢٢ – ٢٣]

Translation: "Say, 'Indeed, there will never protect me from Allah anyone, and I will never find in other than Him a refuge. (22) But [I have] only [the duty of] notification from Allah and His messages.'" [Al-Jinn: 22-23]

There are countless verses with the same meaning as these.

Next, I thank this questioner who is zealous for his religion, keen on his Islamic heritage (i.e., deeply desires its protection), and concerned about the affairs of his Ummah; and this is the sign of the believers.

Indeed, this question of his is evidence of a sound heart and a sincere intention, which is worthy of praise and admiration. So from our side, for him is heartfelt gratitude and immense appreciation. We pray to Allah for ourselves and for him for truthfulness in speech and sincerity in action. Indeed, He is the best Disposer of affairs and the best Helper and Supporter.

O dear questioner!

In the religion of Islam, Da’wah ila Allah is considered among the fundamental and greatest obligations. This is the sacred mission for which Allah the Almighty sent the Messengers, revealed the heavenly Books, ordained Jihad, and made the acquisition of knowledge obligatory upon every Muslim man and woman. (All this was done) so that people could fulfill this great duty, and so that the proof of Allah could be established upon the people, and they could be saved from the misery of this world and the punishment of the Hereafter.

Furthermore, Da’wah ila Allah is a Fard Kifayah (a communal obligation), meaning if some individuals fulfill this duty, the responsibility is lifted from the others.

And the leaders of those who call people to Allah are the Prophets and Messengers of Allah themselves. So let us listen to what Allah has told us about Nuh (Noah) alayhis salam, who was the second father of humanity after Adam alayhis salam (i.e., the second patron of humanity). Nuh alayhis salam was the first messenger sent to the people of the earth. Allah sent him when polytheism (shirk) had spread among his people; they had begun to worship idols and statues and had abandoned the worship of the One Allah. So Nuh alayhis salam said to his people:

{لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوۡحًا اِلٰى قَوۡمِهٖ فَقَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ مَا لَـكُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰهٍ غَيۡرُهٗ ؕ اِنِّىۡۤ اَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيۡمٍ} – [الأعراف : ٥٩]

Translation: "We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, 'O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a momentous day.'" [Al-A'raf: 59]

To this, his people replied:

{اِنَّا لَـنَرٰٮكَ فِىۡ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِيۡنٍ} – [الأعراف : ٦٠]

Translation: "Indeed, we see you in clear error." [Al-A'raf: 60]

Then Nuh alayhis salam replied to them, saying:

{قَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ لَـيۡسَ بِىۡ ضَلٰلَةٌ وَّلٰـكِنِّىۡ رَسُوۡلٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَ‏ (٦١) اُبَلِّغُكُمۡ رِسٰلٰتِ رَبِّىۡ وَاَنۡصَحُ لَـكُمۡ وَاَعۡلَمُ مِنَ اللّٰهِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ (٦٢) اَوَعَجِبۡتُمۡ اَنۡ جَآءَكُمۡ ذِكۡرٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّكُمۡ عَلٰى رَجُلٍ مِّنۡكُمۡ لِيُنۡذِرَكُمۡ وَلِتَـتَّقُوۡا وَلَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُوۡنَ} – [الأعراف : ٦١ – ٦٣]

Translation: "He said, 'O my people, there is not with me [any] error, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds. (61) I convey to you the messages of my Lord and advise you; and I know from Allah what you do not know. (62) Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you and that you may fear Allah so you might receive mercy?'" [Al-A'raf: 61-63]

Similarly, Nuh alayhis salam left no stone unturned and spared no possible effort in conveying his message and spreading it among his people. He carried on this process for a long period, comprising at least nine hundred and fifty (950) years. And throughout this entire period, he was extremely patient, truthful in statement and tone, possessed strong arguments, was uniquely brave, and had immense trust in Allah. He would say to his people:

{قَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اِنِّىۡ لَـكُمۡ نَذِيۡرٌ مُّبِيۡنٌۙ (٢) اَنِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ وَاتَّقُوۡهُ وَاَطِيۡعُوۡنِۙ (٣) يَغۡفِرۡ لَـكُمۡ مِّنۡ ذُنُوۡبِكُمۡ وَيُؤَخِّرۡكُمۡ اِلٰٓى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى‌ؕ اِنَّ اَجَلَ اللّٰهِ اِذَا جَآءَ لَا يُؤَخَّرُ‌‌ۘ لَوۡ كُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ} – [نوح : ٢ – ٤]

Translation: "[Noah] said, 'O my people, indeed I am to you a clear warner, (2) [Directing you] to worship Allah, fear Him and obey me. (3) He will forgive for you your sins and delay you for a specified term. Indeed, the term of Allah, when it comes, will not be delayed, if you only knew.'" [Nuh: 2-4]

Then Nuh alayhis salam promised his people that if they accepted his call, heeded his advice, and affirmed his message, Allah would forgive their sins, increase their lifespans, and bestow upon them the blessings of wealth, children, and a prosperous life. As Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala informs about the continuation of this sincere call:

{فَقُلۡتُ اسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡا رَبَّكُمۡؕ اِنَّهٗ كَانَ غَفَّارًا (١٠) يُّرۡسِلِ السَّمَآءَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ مِّدۡرَارًا (١١) وَّيُمۡدِدۡكُمۡ بِاَمۡوَالٍ وَّبَنِيۡنَ وَيَجۡعَلۡ لَّـكُمۡ جَنّٰتٍ وَيَجۡعَلۡ لَّـكُمۡ اَنۡهٰرًا (١٢) مَالَـكُمۡ لَا تَرۡجُوۡنَ لِلّٰهِ وَقَارًا‌ (١٣) وَقَدۡ خَلَقَكُمۡ اَطۡوَارًا} – [نوح : ١٠ – ١٤]

Translation: "And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. (10) He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers (11) And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you river1s. (12) What is [the matter] with you that you do not attribute to Allah [due] grandeur (13) While He has created you in stages?'" [Nuh: 10-14]

But despite his lengthy and wise call, and this great encouragement comprising of true promises and glad tidings of the goodness of this world and the Hereafter, the people thrust their fingers into their ears and covered themselves with their garments. They persisted in their disbelief (denial of Allah) and their rebellion and disobedience in following the Prophet of Allah. Thus, when the state of the people became clear to Nuh alayhis salam, that their hearts were veiled to that which he was calling them, and there was heaviness in their ears, he became fearful that these wicked disbelievers might also misguide the group that had believed. So Nuh alayhis salam, based on the command and revelation of Allah, supplicated against these disbelievers, because they were not worthy of goodness nor was there any scope for reform. As Allah the Almighty has narrated this incident:

{وَقَالَ نُوۡحٌ رَّبِّ لَا تَذَرۡ عَلَى الۡاَرۡضِ مِنَ الۡكٰفِرِيۡنَ دَيَّارًا‏ (٢٦) اِنَّكَ اِنۡ تَذَرۡهُمۡ يُضِلُّوۡا عِبَادَكَ وَلَا يَلِدُوۡۤا اِلَّا فَاجِرًا كَفَّارًا} – [نوح : ٢٦ – ٢٧]

Translation: "And Noah said, 'My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant. (26) Indeed, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and will not beget except the wicked and the stubborn disbeliever.'" [Nuh: 26-27]

SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah)! There is none more jealous [in a protective sense] than Allah. So when He is disobeyed on the earth and His sanctities are violated, He sends down His severe punishment upon those who spread evil and corruption. And His punishment cannot be averted from the nation of criminals. And indeed, Allah accepted the supplication of His truthful and trustworthy Prophet Nuh alayhis salam. So He sent down His punishment on the corrupting nation and saved Nuh alayhis salam and those who believed with him, as Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala said:

{وَلَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوۡحًا اِلٰى قَوۡمِهٖ فَلَبِثَ فِيۡهِمۡ اَ لۡفَ سَنَةٍ اِلَّا خَمۡسِيۡنَ عَامًا ؕ فَاَخَذَهُمُ الطُّوۡفَانُ وَهُمۡ ظٰلِمُوۡنَ (١٤) فَاَنۡجَيۡنٰهُ وَاَصۡحٰبَ السَّفِيۡنَةِ وَجَعَلۡنٰهَاۤ اٰيَةً لِّـلۡعٰلَمِيۡنَ} – [العنكبوت : ١٤ – ١٥]

Translation: "And We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years, and the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers. (14) But We saved him and the companions of the ship, and We made it a sign for the worlds." [Al-'Ankabut: 14-15]

O questioner!

If you want clear proof and conclusive evidence that the Prophets and Messengers are indeed the leaders of the call and the role models for those who invite to Allah, then listen to what Allah has told us about Ibrahim (Abraham) alayhis salam, Musa (Moses) alayhis salam, and ‘Isa (Jesus) alayhis salam (who was the servant of Allah and His word which He directed to Maryam and a soul from Him), and also listen about the last of all Prophets, the owner of Maqam Mahmud (the praiseworthy station), the heir of Hawd al-Kawthar (the pool of abundance), and the one who will perform the great intercession for the Ummah on the Day of Resurrection, Muhammad (ﷺ). May Allah send His blessings upon all of them.