Q 9: What should a Da`y (caller to Islam) do regarding his culture? What are the sources that he should consult for good culture to have effective Da`wah (calling to Islam)?
A: Da`wah is the most important task and the greatest obligation. People, Muslims or nonMuslims, are in dire need of it.
Muslims need someone who can alert them to their sins and mistakes so that they can rectify their errors, hold fast to obeying Allah and His Messenger, and refrain from the things prohibited by Him and His Messenger.
Likewise, the nonMuslims need someone who can call them to Allah and show them that Allah has created them to worship Him. They should know that they must embrace Islam and adhere to what the Prophet (peace be upon him) brought.
However, the Da`y should consider some important things so that his Da`wah is successful and fruitful. The most important thing he should consider is having knowledge that must be obtained from Allah's Book and Sunnah of His Messenger (peace be upon him), as Allah (Glorified and Exalted 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
The scholars state that the meaning is that a Da`y has to obtain sure and certain knowledge to learn how to enjoin what is right or forbid what is wrong and how to call to Allah. Knowledge for him is like eyesight which enables a person to see the harmful things such as the holes, thorns, and etc. that should be avoided.
To sum up, it is necessary for the Da`y to have knowledge and insight, and to obtain the Islamic culture from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace be upon him) to be able to guide people to good and warn them against evil.
Furthermore, he should make use of the reference books of the scholars noted for integrity, honor and upright `Aqidah so that he may knowingly invite people and warn them with sure knowledge.
Moreover, the Da`y should be kind and mild while inviting people; if the person can respond to him without receiving exhortations and debates, the Da`y should explain to him the truth in good manner and with clear proofs. If he responds positively, the issue is over and the aim of Da`wah is achieved.
The Da`y must be sincere to Allah, beware of Riya' (showingoff ), and make his Da'wah for the sake of Allah and the Hereafter. He should not intend to be praised by people or to attain worldly gains. Allah (may He be Praised)
says, Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) Allah also 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
He should endeavor to use the suitable words and invite to Allah in gentleness and kindness and never be harsh, except when necessary. Allah has ordered us to do so in His 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) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that Allah also says: And argue not with the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), unless it be in (a way) that is better (with good words and in good manner, inviting them to Islâmic Monotheism with His Verses) "The people of the Scripture" refers to the Jews and Christians. except with such of them as do wrong
Kindness is indispensable to Da`wah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Kindness is not to be found in anything but that it adds to its beauty and it is not withdrawn from anything but it makes it defective. and He who is deprived of forbearance and gentleness is, in fact, deprived of all good. The Muslim Da`y should call to Allah with good manners and in kindness so that people may respond to him positively and none can reject or resist him improperly.
Some harsh and illmannered callers are rejected and abused, which makes it worse. When the Da`y is wise and calls to Allah in kindness and good manners, there will be hope of accepting his Da`wah or at least people will react to him in gentleness. And Allah is the one sought for help.