In the Name of Allah. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah! Indeed, Da`wah (calling to Islam and Allah) is one of the most important obligations in Islam. It is the practice of messengers and their followers until the Day of Resurrection. In fact, Allah has commanded people to practice Da`wah and highly praised those who undertake it.
Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better.
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."
So dear reader, see how Allah commands Muslims in the first Ayah (Qur'anic verse) to practice Da`wah explaining its stages, in order that a Da`i (caller to Islam) will be clear on how to approach different types of people. For example, someone may be a doer of good but is heedless. This person needs to be invited wisely by explaining the Truth, guiding them to it, and the immediate and deferred benefits of following it. Thus, they are more apt to accept the invitation, take heed, and hasten to follow the Truth. Another type of people is those renouncing the Truth due to their being preoccupied with other things. This type requires fair preaching including inspiration, encouragement, and showing them the immediate and deferred benefits of following the Truth,
as opposed to misery, corruption, and bad consequences. This method may lead them to follow the Truth and abandon their false ways. Undoubtedly, this is a serious endeavor that requires the Da`i to show patience, forbearance, and leniency with others, following the example of the best caller, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). A third type of people is those who are deluded by a doubtful matter which hinders them from understanding and following the Truth. This type needs to be confronted and debated in a good way so that they can easily understand the Truth and the doubtful matter is eliminated from their minds. A Da`i should be extra lenient with this type and must be patient when arguing with them until all doubt is removed by introducing various arguments and providing sufficient and clear explanations appropriate to the recipient's language and culture. Not everyone understands Arabic well, even if they are scholarly, and may misunderstand a ruling due to inability to grasp a different language, customs, or traditions. This may lead them to err and attribute words to Allah and His Messenger unknowingly.
You can imagine the great evils that may come out of such behavior whether in this world or in the Hereafter. Therefore, the Da`i is required to understand Islam well, grasp the rulings of Shari`ah (Islamic law), and know the languages and customs of those being called to Allah. Thus, a Da`i should expand his knowledge of the Qur'an and Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) and exert every effort to understand the Commandments of Allah and His Messenger. Further, he should master the Arabic language and Sirah (the Prophet's biography) from his mission until his death. In this way, a Da`i will be able to guide people to Islamic morals and deeds explained in the Qur'an and Sunnah. The more effort and patience a Da'i exerts, the more he will be praised
by Allah Who states: 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 This Ayah shows that the callers to Allah are the best people in speech if they support their words with righteous deeds and adhere to Islam out of love, true belief, and joy for this great blessing. Only then will others be influenced by the Da`wah, will benefit from it, and will love the callers for guiding them to the Truth. On the other hand, there are callers whose deeds belie their speech. They will not be praised by Allah and their Da`wah will yield no fruits. Rather, Allah hates them and people curse them and renounce their Da`wah.
O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do.
Enjoin you AlBirr (piety and righteousness and each and every act of obedience to Allâh) on the people and you forget (to practise it) yourselves, while you recite the Scripture [the Taurât (Torah)]! Have you then no sense?
In this Ayah, Allah (Glorified be He) shows us that a Da`i who does not practice what he preaches is not accepted neither by reason nor by Shariah. How can any reasonable and devout person accept it! May Allah guide us to what pleases Him and allow us to be among those who are guided by the Truth and apply it. You are the Most Generous One to be asked and the Best One to respond.