Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, who has created man and Jinn (creatures created from fire) to worship Him, and ordered them to do this in His Book and through His Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He sent Messengers (peace and blessings be upon them) to call people to it, the last of whom was our Prophet Muhammad ibn `Abdullah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and He made his message universal. I testify that there is no Ilah (god) except Allah; He has no partner; and it is He alone who states in His Glorious Book, 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." It is He also who commanded His Prophet to call to His Way with wisdom and fair preaching; and informed
him that Du`ah who have deep insight are those who are His real followers. He (Exalted be He) states, 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). And Glorified and Exalted be Allâh (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh; those who worship others along with Allâh or set up rivals or partners to Allâh)." I testify that Muhammad is Allah's Servant, Messenger, His trustee on the matters of Wahy (Revelation) and the best of His creation. Allah sent him as a mercy to the worlds, role model to followers, a proof against all (disobedient) servants, a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, a warner, a caller to Allah by His Leave, and an illuminating light. Thus, people were guided after ignorance, eyes were opened after blindness, people agreed after discrepancy, and were sustained after poverty. Blind eyes, deaf ears, and closed hearts were opened, and people were guided to the straight path. May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, his family, companions, and those who follow his example and guidance until the Day of Judgment!
Dear brothers and members of this conference, in the Name of Allah, the Great, I inaugurate this international conference for Da`wah Guidance and Preparation of Du`ah on behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Fahd ibn `Abdul`Aziz, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Deputy Prime Minister, as he is too busy to attend this conference. May Allah grant him success, help and guide him, and bless his deeds!
Dear brothers and members of this conference, it is a pleasure for me to welcome you with the Islamic greeting: Assalamu `alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!). Welcome to your home among your brothers in
the city of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). In his Masjid (mosque), in the place where he migrated, in the first capital of Islam; and the place where Da`wah was launched by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his noble Sahabah (Companions), the liberators and conquerors, and the guided Imams (rulers), and their followers in righteousness. May Allah be pleased with them all and please them. May Allah also make us and you from those who follow them in righteousness, make Islam triumph, raise His word; set right the affairs of all Muslims; make the best the rulers, grant them understanding of Islam; and lead them and us to His Straight Path. He is AllHearer, EverNear.
Dear brothers, this is undoubtedly a great conference that has been convened due to necessity. We would like to thank the Islamic University in Madinah for taking on the responsibility to hold this conference, preparing for it, inviting selected scholars and Du`ah from more than seventy countries to attend the conference and exchange viewpoints concerning the affairs of Da`wah and Du`ah; removing the impediments in the way of Da`wah; discussing ways of fighting against the misguiding calls, destructive methodologies, deviant ideas; and all the issues related to Da`wah and the affairs of Muslims.
We would like also to thank the government of Saudi Arabia, may Allah guide it, for their acceptance to organize, support, and sponsor this conference, as is their usual in supporting all Da'wah and Islamic related issues.
Praise be to Allah, they have blessed efforts and great achievements in supporting the causes of Muslims and Du`ah, and giving aid to their institutions, schools and organizations. May Allah reward them for this, bless their deeds, grant them more of His Bounty, make them a reason for spreading the Islamic Da`wah, guide their advisers and grant them success. May Allah grant success to all Muslim leaders everywhere; guide them to the straight path. May Allah make AlHaqq (the Truth) victorious and defeat falsehood through them; keep them upright in Islam, devoted in `Ibadah (worship) to Allah only, and eliminate anything that contradicts this. May Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) guide the Muslim leaders, scholars, callers to Al Haqq and help officials all over the Islamic world to cooperation in righteousness and piety. May Allah make His Way victorious and His Word supreme, clarify the truth of Tawhid (monotheism) and `Ibadah for which Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) has created the creation and sent the Messengers, clarify the truth of Shirk (associating others in worship with Allah) which is the gravest sin and most serious crime, eliminate it, disclose and eradicate the means to it by the ways prescribed by Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He).
May Allah also guide them all to fight Bida` (innovations in religion) that has spread in the world and caused ambiguity in religion for many people, although they were not revealed by Allah. Too many people promote these Bida` nowadays and call to them in the name of Islam, which has resulted in confusing the truth with falsehood among many people, as the wellinformed scholars are too few to explain the truth of Isalm to everyone, reveal to them the truth of what Allah sent His Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) with, and explain the meanings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) as clearly as the Sahabah learned it from the Prophet himself.
It is clear to everyone who has the least knowledge or insight that the Islamic world, or perhaps the entire world, is in dire need of the Islamic Da`wah that shows people the reality of Islam, its rulings, and merits, and explains to them the meaning of La ilaha illa Allah (there is no deity but Allah) and the Shahadah (Testimony of Faith) that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Most people do not understand the two Shahadahs as they should, so they have associated others with Allah and turned away from Him, although theses two Shahadahs are the foundation of faith and the basis of Islam.
As for the first Shahadah, it conveys the reality of Tawhid and `Ibadah that should be dedicated only to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). It clearly means that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah; it denies `Ibadah for anything apart from Allah, and confirms it for Allah only. `Ibadah is a comprehensive term which encompasses everything that Allah loves and is pleased with, whether sayings or deeds, both apparent and hidden, such as Salah (Prayer), Zakah, Sawm (fasting), Hajj, slaughtering animals, vowing, Du`a' (supplication), seeking help, Sujud (Prostration) and so on. These forms of `Ibadah must be dedicated to Allah alone. The scholars should clarify this to people, and that dedicating these forms of `Ibadah to a prophet, a Waliy (pious person) or other creatures is considered Shirk (associating others in worship with Allah). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states, That is because Allâh — He is the Truth (the only True God of all that exists, Who has no partners or rivals with Him), and what they (the polytheists) invoke besides Him, it is Bâtil (falsehood). He (Glorified and Exalted be He) also stated,
And the mosques are for Allâh (Alone): so invoke not anyone along with Allâh. He (Exalted be He) also states, Such is Allâh, your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmîr (the thin membrane over the datestone).
If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call; and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) like Him Who is the AllKnower (of everything). There are many Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) that stress this meaning.
As for testifying that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, many people do not understand it right. They seek the judgment of manmade laws, and ignore Allah's Shari`ah (Islamic law), whether out of ignorance or negligence. Testifying that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah implies believing in him (peace be upon him), obeying his commands, avoiding his prohibitions, believing in what he brought, and worshipping Allah only in the manner which he taught. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states, Say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah (Glorified be He) also says: And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it).
All Muslims, whether man or Jinn, must worship Allah alone, and seek the judgment of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as Allah (Glorified be He) states, But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.
Do they then seek the judgement of (the days of) Ignorance? And who is better in judgement than Allâh for a people who have firm Faith. Allah (Glorified be He) also says: And whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed, such are the Kâfirûn (i.e. disbelievers of a lesser degree as they do not act on Allâh's Laws). And whosoever does not judge by that which Allâh has revealed, such are the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrongdoers of a lesser degree). And whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed (then) such (people) are the Fâsiqûn [the rebellious i.e. disobedient (of a lesser degree) to Allâh].
people nowadays are in dire need of Da`wah and explanation of the character and deeds of Du`ah who are to perform it. There is no doubt that Du`ah should be upright in their sayings and deeds; and be a good example for the people to follow in their reputation, morals, deeds and all their affairs. The world must facilitate the means of Da`wah and remove any impediments in the way of Du`ah.
The Muslims desperately in need of need of righteous Du`ah and eminent scholars who call them to return to the Qur'an and the Sunnah, clarify their meanings to them, and inform them about the Sirah (the Prophet's biography), and that of his Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them and please them).
The Muslims and the world in general are in dire need to know the reality of Islam and its merits. By Allah, if the people learn its truth, they will embrace it in crowds as they did
after the conquest of Mecca by the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Dear honorable, righteous scholars, our mission is great; the duty of the officials in the Islamic world, whether scholars, rich people, princes, or leaders, is so heavy; and the responsibility is enormous.
We must fear Allah as He should be feared when dealing with people. We should cooperate in righteousness and piety wherever we are; we should maintain strong connections in the field of Da`wah, to guide people to what is good and cooperate in righteousness and piety. May your conference be a form of cooperation in goodness as you exchange opinions on everything that leads to the spread of Islamic Da`wah, removing the impediments from the way of Du`ah, and clarifying the means that should be used to face the deviant calls, destructive principles and sweeping trends.
I hope that your conference solves these problems and clarifies all that the Muslims need in all parts of the world. By Allah, you are responsible for this, and it is a heavy responsibility. I implore Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to grant success to this blessed conference, make it reach sound decisions, give it a good end, and make it fulfill the its hopes. I also pray that your efforts and exchange of opinions solves the problems, brings benefit to the Mu'mins (believers), and brings Allah's Mercy to His servants. So, they know the reality of Islam and embrace it and then you will be rewarded the same as them. It is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer. He (Peace be upon him) also said: If anyone calls others to follow right guidance, their reward will be equivalent to those who follow them (in righteousness)
without their reward being diminished in any respect. Both Hadiths are related by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith.
May Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) guide us all to the straight path; rectify our affairs and the Muslims'; and increase the callers to guidance and supporters of AlHaqq among the Muslims. May Allah guide the Muslim rulers to what pleases Him and rectifies their affairs. He is the AllHearer, Ever Near. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon His Servant and Messenger Muhammad, his family, Companions, and those who followed them in righteousness!