humankind. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, O Prophet (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ)! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, And as one who invites to Allâh [Islâmic Monotheism, i.e. to worship none but Allâh (Alone)] by His Leave, and as a lamp spreading light (through your instructions from the Qur'ân and the Sunnah the legal ways of the Prophet ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ).
In these two honorable Ayahs (Qur'anic verses), Allah (Exalted be He) declares that He sent His Prophet (may peace be upon him) as a witness, bearer of glad tidings, warner, and caller to Allah. Hence, Da`wah means conveying the truth to the people, guiding them [to the right path], and warning them of what is opposite to it. Accordingly, the prophet's followers should call people to Allah until the Day of Judgment, guide them to what they have been created for, and warn them against the ways and means of destruction.
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)."
In this honorable verse, Allah (Exalted be He) orders His Prophet (peace be upon him) to convey to people that the way that he and his followers adopt is that of calling people to Allah. This denotes that the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his followers are the people of Da`wah and the people of sure knowledge. Hence, those who call to Allah (Exalted be He) without knowledge or neglect Da`wah are not among the followers of the honorable Prophet (may peace be upon him). The Prophet's true and perfect followers are those who invite people to Allah with sure knowledge, do not neglect Da`wah and act on what they call people to. Hence, any slackness or negligence regarding Da`wah or knowledge means a lack of following the Prophet (peace be upon him) and a decrease in faith. Accordingly, the Da`iyah (the one who calls to Allah; pl. Du`ah) is obliged
to invite people to Allah (Exalted be He) using sure knowledge. Da`wah without knowledge is not allowed at all, as the ignorant Da`iyah harms and does not benefit anyone, destructs and does not develop, and leads astray and does not guide. It is incumbent on the Da`iyah to follow the Prophets' example by being patient, knowledgeable, and active in Da`wah.
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
Da`wah is therefore, the way and method of all the prophets (may peace be upon them all). This is a great honor and merit of the Du`ah who follow the prophets, tread in their steps and adopt their method on condition that they call or warn people with sure knowledge and deep insight lest they should harm or mislead people making them follow falsehood or avoid the truth. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says,
Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳـﻠﻢ) 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.
This divine order, although it was specifically directed to the Prophet (may peace be upon him), also refers to all Muslims, since the Prophet (peace be upon him) is a perfect example and guide for us in all matters. The Shar`i rule asserts that any Divine Order or Prohibition addressed to the Prophet (may peace be upon him) is also directed to the Prophet's Ummah except when there is evidence that the speech is directed only to the Prophet (may peace be upon him). Hence, Da`wah is obligatory and incumbent on all Muslims. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says,
Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day, and remembers Allâh much.
Muslims should follow the Prophet's example in calling people to Allah, guiding them to the true path, showing them the means of
salvation and warning them of the means of destruction. This honorable verse clarifies the way, method and system of Da`wah and the conditions of the Da`iyah. Regarding Allah's Saying , 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) a group of exegetes said: Allah (Exalted be He) orders the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his followers to invite people to Allah through the EverGlorious Qur'an and the purified Sunnah. This is because they contain wisdom, knowledge, deterrence, explanation, and clarification. The wise word is the word that deters evil, guides to the right way, convinces the hearer and leads to happiness.
The Du`ah should seek ways that convince those whom they call, clarify the truth to them, and deter them from what may cause harm in a good, soft, kind and amiable style. Then, Allah (Exalted be He) says, and fair preaching The Islamic Preacher should be wise, kind, and ready to deliver the good admonition when necessary, and to clarify and guide people to the truth through the honorable verses and the clear and sound Hadiths, so as no confusion or doubt remains.
It is wisdom to clarify the meaning using impressive methods that people understand in their language, so no doubts or vague matters remain due to the failure to clarify matters or to convince them in their own language, the superficial contradiction of some evidences or the failure to choose the more acceptable [opinion]. If preaching is needed, the Da`iyah (Preacher/caller) should preach and remind people of the deterring verses and the Hadiths that encourage actions and warn against evil to attract their attention, soften their hearts, and show them the right way. Some people may need preaching, encouragement, and warning; some others are willing to accept the right way and need only wisdom; while some