The Arabic term da‘wah is derived from the verb , da‘aa which means “to call, to
invite, and to supplicate, i.e. to call on God”. It is used to refer to the act of conveying or
calling people to the message of Islaam. In that context it is a contraction of the phase ad-da‘wah ilallaah [calling to Allaah ]
“Say: This is my way and I invite to Allaah with certain knowledge ...”(Soorah Yoosuf 12: 108)
Da‘wah was the basic mission of the prophets of God. They were raised up among their
respective people to call them to the worship of Allaah (swt) alone and to abandon the
worship of the various false gods that they had invented.
“I have sent to every nation a messenger [proclaiming:] Worship Allaah and avoid
the [worship of] false gods.” ( Soorah an-Nahl 16: 36)
there are a number of other verses in which Allaah (swt) specifically exhorts the Prophet (saw) to convey the message of Islaam to people.
“Call to your Lord and do not be among the pagans.”(Soorah al-Qasas 28: 87)
Consequently, Allaah (swt) praises those who engage in this noble endeavor as being the
best in speech.
“Who is better in speech than one who calls to Allaah, does righteous deeds and says indeed I am among the Muslims.”(Soorah Fussilat 41: 33)
The best words that any human being can speak are words of guidance inviting people to
the purpose of their creation; the worship of God. This being the case, the reward for
giving da‘wah must be tremendous. Thus, it is no surprise to find that the Prophet (N)
addressed the great reward for this righteous pursuit saying,
“Whoever directs someone to do good will gain the same reward as the one who
does good.”(Saheeh Muslim, vol. 3, p. 1050, no. 4665)
He (saw) was also reported to have said,
“Whoever calls to guidance will receive the same reward as the one who follows him without any decrease in the reward of [his follower].”(Saheeh Muslim, vol. 4, p. 1406, no. 6470)
“Da‘wah is an obligation on everyone who has the ability, from scholars to Muslim
rulers and missionaries, until the message of Islaam reaches every corner of the
earth in the various languages of the people. This is the type of propagation that
Allaah (swt) has commanded. He, Most High, instructed His Prophet (saw) [to
disseminate the message of Islaam] as follows:
“O Messenger, convey what was revealed from your Lord.(Soorah al-Maa’idah 5: 67)
The Prophet (saw) is personally addressed in this verse and by extension all individual
believers are instructed to invite people to Islaam.
“Convey from me, even if it be only a single verse.”(Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, vol. 4, p. 442, no. 667.)
Furthermore, whenever the Prophet (N) addressed people, he used to say:
“Let those present convey what they heard to those absent. For, perhaps he may
inform one better able to understand it than him. ”(Ibid., Kitaab: al-‘Ilm; Baab: Rubba Muballagh.)
In order to stress the gravity of da‘wah as a duty on Muslims, Allaah (swt) warned those
who did not fulfill their responsibility in this regard of His curse and the curse of all His
creatures.
“Indeed those who hide the clear messages and guidance that I have revealed after I have made it clear to people in the scripture; those are cursed by Allaah and cursed by all who curse.”(Soorah Baqarah 2: 159)
The Aim or Goal of Da‘wah is to spread the teachings of Islaam in their pristine purity. It
is to enlighten disbelievers about Islaam and to correct mistaken beliefs among Muslims.
The Prophet (saw) said:
“Islaam began as something strange, and it will return as something strange, so give glad tidings to the strangers.”(Saheeh Muslim)
“The way of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, is submission, the straight path, the
religion of Allaah (swt) with which He sent His Messenger (saw). Therefore, this is what must be called to, not the math’hab of such and such a person or the opinion of any individual. …The way of Allaah (swt) is that which the Noble Qur’aan and the pure authentic Sunnah of the Messenger (saw) directs one to… It is necessary for the Muslim missionary to call people to the whole of Islaam and not to cause division among them, nor to be a blind follower of a math’hab, a tribe, a shaykh or a leader,etc. Rather his aim should be to affirm and clarify the truth and establish people upon that truth, even if it contradicts the opinion of so and so or such and such a person.”
“This is my straight path, so follow it and do not follow the [other] paths, for they
will separate you from His path.”(Soorah al-An‘aam 6: 153)
Characteristics of the caller (Ad-Da'ee)
1) Knowledge
The formost quality that a daa'ee(caller) should have is that of knowledge which is itself a orerequisite for faith.One must have sound knowledge of what one is inviting others to. If the muslim missionary is ignorant, his message will appear weak and incaple of withstanding close scrutiny. This does not mean that the daa'ee must know all of Islam before inviting others,However ,it does mean that he should have clear knowledge of whatever limited area of islam he is inviting others to.Allah,Most Great and glorious, instructed the prophet(SAW) to inform that his call was based on knowledge.
"Say: This is my way and I invite to Allah with certain knowledge..."
2) Kindness/Gentleness
It is essential that the daa'ee be soft in conveying the message because harshness could easily discourage people from listening to the truth.Allah(SWT) addressed this issue with regard to the prophet(SAW) himself saying:
"If you were harsh and hard hearted,they would have fled from around you."(surah Al-Imran-159)
Gentleness in dawah affects the hearts of those being invited and makes them want to listen to the message.The prophet(SAW) was reported by his wife,Aa'ishah(RA) to have said,
"Whenever gentleness is in a thing it beautifies it and whenever it is withdrawn from something it defaces".
3) Wisdom
In desseminating the message of Islam, the daa'ee must adjust himself or herself to each situation and use the most appropriate material.
"call to the way of your Lord With Wisdom..."(surah An-nahl-125)
4) Patience
Most People who come to Islam do so after a faith seeking journey.
Consequently,Only a very few begin their search and end it with the same person. When declarations of faith are given it is after many stops on the road. Somone may start the person off and many help on the way and someone else helps the person finally declare the faith. Therefore the responsibility of the daa'ee is to convey the message and not to put faith in the people's hearts. As Allah informed his messenger (PBUH) and his followers:
"Your responsibility is only to convey [the message] and accounting is on Me"
5. Morality
Greate stress has been placed in Islam on good moral character. Prophet (PBUH) summarizes the essence of Islamic message saying:
"Indeed, I was only sent to complete the most noble character traits"
And Allah said in the Qur'aan
"Surely you (Muhammad) have a magnificent character"
The Prophet's companion Ibn Abbas (R.A) explained that "character here meant "religion", i.e islam.
invite, and to supplicate, i.e. to call on God”. It is used to refer to the act of conveying or
calling people to the message of Islaam. In that context it is a contraction of the phase ad-da‘wah ilallaah [calling to Allaah ]
“Say: This is my way and I invite to Allaah with certain knowledge ...”(Soorah Yoosuf 12: 108)
Da‘wah was the basic mission of the prophets of God. They were raised up among their
respective people to call them to the worship of Allaah (swt) alone and to abandon the
worship of the various false gods that they had invented.
“I have sent to every nation a messenger [proclaiming:] Worship Allaah and avoid
the [worship of] false gods.” ( Soorah an-Nahl 16: 36)
there are a number of other verses in which Allaah (swt) specifically exhorts the Prophet (saw) to convey the message of Islaam to people.
“Call to your Lord and do not be among the pagans.”(Soorah al-Qasas 28: 87)
Consequently, Allaah (swt) praises those who engage in this noble endeavor as being the
best in speech.
The best words that any human being can speak are words of guidance inviting people to
the purpose of their creation; the worship of God. This being the case, the reward for
giving da‘wah must be tremendous. Thus, it is no surprise to find that the Prophet (N)
addressed the great reward for this righteous pursuit saying,
“Whoever directs someone to do good will gain the same reward as the one who
does good.”(Saheeh Muslim, vol. 3, p. 1050, no. 4665)
He (saw) was also reported to have said,
“Whoever calls to guidance will receive the same reward as the one who follows him without any decrease in the reward of [his follower].”(Saheeh Muslim, vol. 4, p. 1406, no. 6470)
“Da‘wah is an obligation on everyone who has the ability, from scholars to Muslim
rulers and missionaries, until the message of Islaam reaches every corner of the
earth in the various languages of the people. This is the type of propagation that
Allaah (swt) has commanded. He, Most High, instructed His Prophet (saw) [to
disseminate the message of Islaam] as follows:
“O Messenger, convey what was revealed from your Lord.(Soorah al-Maa’idah 5: 67)
The Prophet (saw) is personally addressed in this verse and by extension all individual
believers are instructed to invite people to Islaam.
“Convey from me, even if it be only a single verse.”(Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, vol. 4, p. 442, no. 667.)
Furthermore, whenever the Prophet (N) addressed people, he used to say:
inform one better able to understand it than him. ”(Ibid., Kitaab: al-‘Ilm; Baab: Rubba Muballagh.)
In order to stress the gravity of da‘wah as a duty on Muslims, Allaah (swt) warned those
who did not fulfill their responsibility in this regard of His curse and the curse of all His
creatures.
“Indeed those who hide the clear messages and guidance that I have revealed after I have made it clear to people in the scripture; those are cursed by Allaah and cursed by all who curse.”(Soorah Baqarah 2: 159)
The Aim or Goal of Da‘wah is to spread the teachings of Islaam in their pristine purity. It
is to enlighten disbelievers about Islaam and to correct mistaken beliefs among Muslims.
The Prophet (saw) said:
“Islaam began as something strange, and it will return as something strange, so give glad tidings to the strangers.”(Saheeh Muslim)
“The way of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, is submission, the straight path, the
religion of Allaah (swt) with which He sent His Messenger (saw). Therefore, this is what must be called to, not the math’hab of such and such a person or the opinion of any individual. …The way of Allaah (swt) is that which the Noble Qur’aan and the pure authentic Sunnah of the Messenger (saw) directs one to… It is necessary for the Muslim missionary to call people to the whole of Islaam and not to cause division among them, nor to be a blind follower of a math’hab, a tribe, a shaykh or a leader,etc. Rather his aim should be to affirm and clarify the truth and establish people upon that truth, even if it contradicts the opinion of so and so or such and such a person.”
“This is my straight path, so follow it and do not follow the [other] paths, for they
will separate you from His path.”(Soorah al-An‘aam 6: 153)
Characteristics of the caller (Ad-Da'ee)
1) Knowledge
The formost quality that a daa'ee(caller) should have is that of knowledge which is itself a orerequisite for faith.One must have sound knowledge of what one is inviting others to. If the muslim missionary is ignorant, his message will appear weak and incaple of withstanding close scrutiny. This does not mean that the daa'ee must know all of Islam before inviting others,However ,it does mean that he should have clear knowledge of whatever limited area of islam he is inviting others to.Allah,Most Great and glorious, instructed the prophet(SAW) to inform that his call was based on knowledge.
"Say: This is my way and I invite to Allah with certain knowledge..."
2) Kindness/Gentleness
It is essential that the daa'ee be soft in conveying the message because harshness could easily discourage people from listening to the truth.Allah(SWT) addressed this issue with regard to the prophet(SAW) himself saying:
"If you were harsh and hard hearted,they would have fled from around you."(surah Al-Imran-159)
Gentleness in dawah affects the hearts of those being invited and makes them want to listen to the message.The prophet(SAW) was reported by his wife,Aa'ishah(RA) to have said,
"Whenever gentleness is in a thing it beautifies it and whenever it is withdrawn from something it defaces".
3) Wisdom
In desseminating the message of Islam, the daa'ee must adjust himself or herself to each situation and use the most appropriate material.
"call to the way of your Lord With Wisdom..."(surah An-nahl-125)
4) Patience
Most People who come to Islam do so after a faith seeking journey.
Consequently,Only a very few begin their search and end it with the same person. When declarations of faith are given it is after many stops on the road. Somone may start the person off and many help on the way and someone else helps the person finally declare the faith. Therefore the responsibility of the daa'ee is to convey the message and not to put faith in the people's hearts. As Allah informed his messenger (PBUH) and his followers:
"Your responsibility is only to convey [the message] and accounting is on Me"
5. Morality
Greate stress has been placed in Islam on good moral character. Prophet (PBUH) summarizes the essence of Islamic message saying:
"Indeed, I was only sent to complete the most noble character traits"
And Allah said in the Qur'aan
"Surely you (Muhammad) have a magnificent character"
The Prophet's companion Ibn Abbas (R.A) explained that "character here meant "religion", i.e islam.
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