There are many Qur'anic Ayahs and Prophetic Hadiths on the merits of Da`wah to Allah and those calling to the way of Allah. Also, many Hadiths wellknown to knowledgeable people report that the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent Da`ys (callers to Islam) to rulers. Allah (Glorified be He) says:
And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allâh (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allâh's (Islâmic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."
This great Ayah mentions and praises the Da`ys to Allah. It stresses that none is better in speech than those who invite to Allah, topped by the prophets (peace be upon them) and their followers, each according to his efforts in Da`wah, his knowledge and his merit. It is an honor for anyone to be a follower of the prophets in inviting to Allah so as to be included in Allah's Saying:
And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allâh (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allâh's (Islâmic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."
The Ayah means that none is better in speech than such a person as he invites to Allah (practices Da`wah), guides people to Allah and acts upon Allah's Commands. This means that the Da`y (caller to Islam/Allah) is a person who calls people to the truth, acts upon it, warns people against what is wrong and avoids it, announces that he is one of the Muslims, proud, and happy about the grace of Allah. The Da`y is not like those who fear to make Da`wah to Allah or reluctant to declare that they are Muslims in order not to displease particular people. There is neither might nor power except with Allah. A Da`y makes Da`wah to Allah, is sure of Allah's Commands, declares Allah's right, exerts much effort to call people to the way of Allah, acts upon what he enjoins people to do and avoids what he forbids people not to do. Such a preacher should be the fastest to do what he enjoins people to do. Also, he ought to keep himself far from all that he forbids people to do. He has also to declare out of pride and happiness that he is a Muslim and that he invites people to Islam. Allah (Glorified be He) says:
Say: "In the Bounty of Allâh, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islâm and the Qur'ân); therein let them rejoice." That is better than what (the wealth) they amass.
Rejoicing in Allah's Mercy and Bounty is permissible. Rejoice out of pride is forbidden. Such kind of forbidden rejoice is mentioned by Allah (may He be Praised) in the story of Qarun :
"Do not exult (with riches, being ungrateful to Allâh). Verily Allâh likes not those who exult (with riches, being ungrateful to Allâh).
Such exultance is a joy resulting from pride; therefore, it is forbidden.
As for rejoicing out of being a follower of Allah's Religion and being guided by Allah and declaring such things to let others know this blessing, it is a desirable practice. The Ayah is evident on the merit of Da`wah to Allah and that it is one of the best acts of worship a Muslim can do to get nearer to Allah. It shows the highest rank of those who carry out the Da`wah to Allah, especially the prophets (peace be upon them) and at the forefront and the best of whom are Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him). Allah (Glorified be He) says:
Say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ): "This is my way; I invite unto Allâh (i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh Islâmic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allâh i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh Islâmic Monotheism with sure knowledge).
Allah (may He be Praised) shows that the Messenger
(peace be upon him) invites people to Allah with sure knowledge and so do his followers. This shows the merit of Da`wah to Allah and that the followers of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are those who invite people to Allah with sure knowledge. The 'sure knowledge' means that the Da`y must be aware of what he enjoins people to do or forbids them not to do. This is an honor and a merit for them all. As reported in the Sahih Prophetic Hadith, the Prophet (may peace be upon him) said:
One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer.
(Related by Muslim in the Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith)The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"If anyone calls others to follow right guidance, his reward will be equivalent to those who follow him (in righteousness) without their reward being diminished in any respect, and if anyone invites others to follow error, the sin will be equivalent to that of the people who follow him (in sinfulness) without their sins being diminished in any respect".
(Related by Muslim) This also points out the merit of Da`wah to Allah. It was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to `Aly (may Allah be pleased with him):
By Allah, if Allah guides aright even one man through you that is better for you than to possess the most valuable of camels.
(Agreed upon by AlBukhari and Muslim) Also, this guides us to know the great merit of Da`wah and that a person inviting people to Allah (Exalted be He) gets a reward equivalent to those who follow him in righteousness even if they are thousands of millions. What a great reward the Da`ys to Allah will get! It is as clear as crystal that the Prophet (peace be upon him) will get a reward equivalent to those who follow him in righteousness. What a great reward it is! Our Prophet (peace be upon him) will get a reward equivalent to those who follow him in righteousness until the Day of Resurrection because he (peace be upon him) conveyed the Message of Islam to them and guided them to the right path. Similarly, the Prophets (peace be upon them) will be given a reward equivalent to those who followed them in righteousness. The Da`ys to Allah will get a reward equivalent to those who follow and respond to their Da`wah in righteousness. Thus, everyone should seize the opportunity and spare no time to get such a great reward.