°Concerning the one who calls to Allaah°

°Concerning the one who calls to Allaah°

Shaykh 'Abdullaah ibn Saalih al Fawzaan, hafidhahullaah, says;

"The fruits of da'wah will not come about, and it will not be a means of rectification and establishment (of the Religion), except if the one who is calling has the attributes which may cause his call to be accepted, and through which its signs are made manifest. And from them:

1. At Taqwa التقوى (piety/fear of Allaah) - What is intended by this is all of its meanings, from adherence to the commands and leaving off that which has been forbidden, and adorning oneself with the attributes of the people of faith.

2. Al Ikhlaas الإخلاص (purity and sincerity of intention) - that he seeks through his da'wah, the face of Allaah, the Most High, and His Pleasure, and Goodness for His creation. And he must be cautious of intending by his da'wah to appear better than others, or humiliating the one being called by declaring his ignorance and shortcomings.

3. Al 'Ilm العلم (knowledge) - it is necessary for the one calling to Allaah to have knowledge of that which he is calling to. He must have an understanding of that which is brought forth in the Book of Allaah, the Most High, and the Sunnah of His Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and the way of the pious predecessors.

4. As Sabr الصبر (patience) - restraining oneself from becoming angry, as the domain of the caller is the hearts of mankind, and the souls of the people. And these vary and differ, just as their outward appearance and form differ.

5. That he begins with which is most important; that which is most important in relation to the environment in which he is calling. And the matters of belief and the fundamentals of the Religion come first.

The proof of this is the saying of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, to Mu'adh, 'The first matter which you must call them to is to testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger...' to the end of the hadeeth

[Bukhaari 4099, Muslim 52]

6. To conduct himself in his calling according to the methodology which Allaah has related in His Noble Book. He, Glorified is He, says; 'Invite (mankind, oh Muhammad) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better.'"

[Surah an Nahl, verse 125]

[Jaami' Sharooh al Usool ath Thalaathah, pages 60-61]