In The Name of Allah, The AllMerciful, The EverMerciful. All Praise is due to Allah the Lord of creation, and the noble end is for the righteous. Peace be upon Allah's Messenger and Servant, the leader of AlGhurrulMuhajjalin (those with illuminating marks on the face and feet) and Imam of callers to Allah; our Prophet and Imam Muhammad Ibn `Abdullah, and upon his family, companions and those who follow him in his guidance till the Day of Judgment.
I thank Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) for granting me this opportunity to meet with Muslim brothers in this blessed place, Makkah AlMukarramah at AlBayt Al`Ateeq [the Most Sacred Old Masjid] to exchange advice and recommendation and cooperate in Da`wah (inviting) to Allah and reminding of its fruits, benefits, and etiquettes. I ask Allah (Glorified be He) to bless our gathering, rectify all our hearts and deeds, and grant us understanding of His Way and adherence to it. I implore Him to set right the affairs of all Muslims everywhere, entrust them to pious rulers and grant them understanding of Islam and adherence to it. Indeed, He is the Most Honorable. I then express my appreciation to those in charge of Umm AlQurah University and above all our dear brother, professor Rashid Ibn Rajih, the director of the university for inviting me to attend this meeting. May Allah guide all to what pleases Him and bless our efforts! May He make them beneficial and successful and protect us against the misleading trials and unforseeable difficulties! Indeed, He is AllHearing, Ever Near.
O Muslim brothers, this lecture is entitled "Da`wah to Allah (Glorified be He): Prescribed Etiquettes and Ways". Indeed, Da`wah to Allah has a great merit and among the most important obligations and duties upon Muslims in general, and scholars in particular. Da`wah to Allah was the mission of Prophets (peace be upon them all) who were the most eminent in it and it is the way of Allah's Messengers and those who followed them until the Day of Judgment. It is an indispensable matter and the entire Ummah (Muslim nation) is in dire need of it. Muslims should be informed of the importance of learning Allah's Way, adhering to it and avoiding what contradicts Islam, disagrees with its perfectness, diminishes its reward, or affects one's faith is one of the most crucial matters.
It is necessary for scholars who are acquainted with the Shari`ah (law) of Allah, wherever they may be, to call people to Allah because they are in a dire need of this everywhere and time, especially nowadays when we are estranged from Islam, the lack of true scholars and the increase of ignorant, evil and corrupters. Those who have knowledge of the rights of Allah and His Way should make every effort in Da`wah to Allah and be patient in undertaking it hoping for their reward from Allah. They should not be negligent or lazy in this regard, for Allah made it obligatory on scholars to clarify Islam for people and encourage common people to accept the right, take the advantage of scholars, and take their advice. Allah (Glorified be He) stated:
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."
Accordingly, the best people in speech are those who call to Allah, guide people to their Lord, teach them Islam and are persevering in this regard. The best people are those who call to Allah, practice what they preach and their actions do not contradict with their words. Those who do so are the most righteous and beneficial to people. They are the Prophets of Allah and those who followed in their footsteps from among the scholars of truth.
It is the duty of everyone seeking knowledge to undertake this work of Da`wah to Allah in keeping with their capacity and knowledge. Da`wah may be an individual obligation, if there is no one else to forbid the evil. If there are others along with them, Da`wah to the right becomes societal obligation; if some undertake the act, the whole of community is absolved, but if they do not, all of them will be sinful. True scholars are those who advise people for the sake of Allah and call to Allah in their homes, Masjids (mosques), roads and elsewhere.
Da`wah (call to Allah) is required wherever one may be. Whether one is aboard a plane, a car, a train, a ship, etc. One must focus on one's family first for Allah (glory be to Him) stated:
O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones
Addressing His beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says:
And enjoin AsSalât (the prayer) on your family, and be patient in offering them [i.e. the Salât (prayers)].
Also, He (may He be Exalted and Glorified) revealed:
And mention in the Book (the Qur'ân) Ismâ'îl (Ishmael). Verily he was
true to what he promised, and he was a Messenger, (and) a Prophet. And he used to enjoin on his family and his people As-Salât (the prayers) and the Zakât and his Lord was pleased with him.
Therefore, one should concern oneself with one's parents, children, siblings, etc. teach them, call them to Allah, enjoin upon them what is right, and forbid them what is wrong.
Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islâm), enjoining Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden).
And it is they who are the successful.
This means that whoever has these characteristics shall indeed be successful. Allah (glory be to Him) ordered Da`wah in some Ayahs (Qur'anic Verses) and urged people to do it.
And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allâh (believes in His Oneness)
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.
Say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳـﻠﻢ): "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).
Therefore, it is obligatory on us all to give importance to this task, particularly scholars who are expected to make it their priority when there is need for it as in our time. Indeed, we are living in a time of alienation of Islam due to the absence of knowledge and scholars who are versed in the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet). Now, evils and sins increased and various forms of disbelief, misguidance and atheism spread. Therefore, scholars should exert greater effort in calling people to Allah and guiding them to what they were created for, which includes Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah/ monotheism), obedience to Allah, fulfilling His Obligations and abandoning sins.
And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).
O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allâh), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - See V.2:2).
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût (all false deities i.e. do not worship Tâghût besides Allâh)."
This obligatory `Ibadah (worship) for which we were created should be explained. Allah sent Messengers to illustrate it for people and call them to it. Consequently, it must be explained to the people by scholars. `Ibadah means Islam, Huda (guidance), Iman (Faith/belief), Birr (righteousness), and Taqwa (fearing Allah as He should be feared). The purpose for which people were created is to obey Allah and His Messenger, which is fulfilled by observing commands and prohibitions for the sake of Him Alone. This obedience is included in `Ibadah when it is done by submission and humility to Allah, thus `Ibadah is nothing but submission and dutifulness to Allah by observing His Commands and avoiding His Prohibitions. The fundamentals of `Ibadah are Tawhid, sincerity, singling out Allah as the only one worthy of our worship, and belief in His Messengers (peace be upon them) led by their Imam and last Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him) and carrying out other orders and avoiding prohibitions. This is `Ibadah ,Taqwa, and Islam which Allah described in His statement:
Truly, the religion with Allâh is Islâm.
O you who believe! Believe in Allâh, and His Messenger (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ)
Faith (Belief) consists of more than seventy branches (i.e. parts) ... the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is none worthy of worship (in truth) except Allah, and the humblest of which is the removal of what is injurious from a path.
Iman, Huda, Islam, `Ibadah and Bir are of equivalent meaning which is obeying Allah and His Messenger and adhering to the way of Allah. Doing so is compliance with all these meaning.
whereas there has surely come to them the Guidance from their Lord!
but Al-Birr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allâh, the Last Day
but Al-Birr (is the quality of the one) who fears Allâh.
Verily, the Abrâr (the pious believers of Islamic Monotheism) will be in Delight (Paradise);
Hence, Da`wah to Allah is a call to Birr, Taqwah, Iman, Islam and guidance.
Every scholar should pay attention to this matter and clarify it to people explaining the essence of their faith, which is the obedience to Allah and His Messenger. This is the `Ibadah for which we were created.
Truly, the religion with Allâh is Islâm.
And whoever seeks a religion other than Islâm, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.