Da`wah (call) to Allah (Exalted be He) is a call to `Ibadah for which we are created, to firm adherence thereto and obedience to Allah. It is a call to Islam, Birr and Iman. Calling people to Tawhid, sincerity and fulfilling Allah's Orders and avoiding His Prohibitions is nothing but the core of Islam which is synonymous with `Ibadah, Taqwah, obedience of Allah and His Messenger, Birr, Huda, etc. All these designations carry the same meaning.
Callers to Allah, primarily scholars, are required to simplify this matter to people and elaborate on it whether in Friday sermons, lectures, general talks, and on special occasions. They should make use of these gatherings and clarify for people matters of belief,
because of our present condition due to the lack of knowledge and scholars, and the urgent need for clarification. Also, instruction and guidance should be given using every available means of communication such as correspondence, publications, radio, mass media, etc. A scholars should not delay in utilizing every possible way through which he can disseminate knowledge either by publications, delivering sermons, or writing small books and pamphlets so that people may benefit.
The true scholar should fill his time with Da`wah to goodness and should not be distracted from calling people and teaching them the deen Allah. They are required to obey Allah and call people to Allah while showing forbearance as did the Prophet (peace be upon him). Allah (glory be to Him) stated:
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).
If scholars sincerely desire to be among the true people of knowledge, they must call to Allah with sure knowledge and be useful to people and to themselves. In return they will earn the reward of those who abide by their Da`wah. This is a great bounty for the caller to Allah as he receives a similar reward of those who follow him.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated in the authentic Hadithnarrated by Muslim: One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer.
This is a great favor and hence if one calls a nonMuslim to Islam and he responds by embracing Islam, one takes a reward similar to the reward of this person. Likewise, if one calls a Mubtadi` (one who introduces innovations in Islam), a usurer, a drunkard, a person who is undutiful to parents, backbiter and they obey and change their behavior, one will receive the same reward and this is a great favor from Allah.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer. Allah (Exalted be He) also says: "If anyone invites others to follow right guidance, his reward will be equivalent to those who follow him (in righteousness) without their reward being diminished in the least respect; and if anyone calls others to error, the sin, will be equivalent to that of the people who follow him (in sinfulness) without their sins being diminished in any respect".
This is among the most authentic Hadithsrelated by Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him).
O servent of Allah, when you call to a matter of goodness, you will receive a reward similar to that of those who follow your call, and if you call to a matter of evil you, will receive the same sin and punishment. May Allah save us from this!It is reported in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. AlBukhari and Muslim)on the authority of Sahl Ibn Sa`d (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to `Ali when he sent him to Khaybar:
By Allah, if Allah guides aright even one man through you that is better for you than possessing the most valuable of camels.
This is a great benefit, for if one Jew followed `Ali and embraced Islam at his hand, this is would be better for the latter than red camels. This is not exclusively for `Ali but for all people. If a person goes somewhere and invites people to the way of Allah and His Messenger and then one of them answers the call and is guided, this is better in reward for that caller than red camels which are not what is meant in by the Hadith; but the reward of red camels refers to a reward better than the whole world. In our country, there are nonMuslims who come to work here, if it is possible for a scholar to go to them and invite them to Islam, this is very good. If they follow him and Allah grants them guidance at his hands, he will receive a similar reward. However, Da`wah to Allah has its useful and great outcome whether with nonMuslims, sinners or anyone else. There may be people who are not evildoers but are lazy and negligent. One's Da`wah may help such persons become inspired and do good deeds. This once again carries the same reward.
As for the method of Da`wah, Allah related it to wisdom which includes both knowledge, insight, and kind communication with people, for this is the prescribed approach to Da`wah that is consistent with Shari`ah. As for those who are oppressive and transgress, they should be treated accordingly; however, those who accept Da`wah and heed the caller and do not refuse or transgress, one should be lenient with them. Allah (glory be to Him) states in His Noble Book:
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.
Wisdom means knowledge which is a general term that means having understanding of the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), fair preaching, encouragement, warning ,and explanation of the great goodness that comes with obeying Allah and embracing Islam. Then, if the invitee becomes haughty and does not accept the truth, there is no blame on the caller. As for arguing in a way that is best, it means calmly presenting proofs regarding a doubtful