The title of this article may seem a bit odd to some.
That is because the answers to these two questions are quite well known to
anyone who is active in giving
da`wah and teaching. However, I want to focus on
something more important than the typical answers that may be given to these
questions, as a reminder for myself and my brothers and sisters who are active
in the field of giving
da`wah and teaching.
Who are we to give da`wah to?
It is well known that we are required to give da`wah to
everyone, which includes all types of people who come from all walks of life.
But more importantly, giving da`wah means giving da`wah to one’s self by
practicing what one learns and teaches and by reforming and rectifying one’s self,
which also includes giving da`wah to one’s family and relatives. It is
unfortunate that many who are active in da`wah and teaching place much
importance in giving da`wah to others while forgetting or becoming heedless
about themselves. This often happens as a result of a misunderstanding that the
meaning of da`wah is confined to giving da`wah to others, whereas the reality
is that giving da`wah to one’s self and one’s family members is as important,
if not more important than giving da`wah to others. Allah says,
{ يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا
وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ }
“O you who believe,
protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and
stones.” [Al-Taḥrīm 66:6]
In some of the first verses revealed to the Prophet (ṣallallāhu
`alayhi wa-sallam), Allah commanded him to rise and give da`wah to tawḥīd and
warn against shirk, while at the same time commanding him to cleanse himself
from any acts of shirk, even though the Prophet (ṣallallāhu `alayhi wa-sallam)
never fell into shirk, not even prior to prophethood. All of this indicates
that the one who undertakes the mission of giving da`wah and teaching others should
not forget about his own self. Allah says,
{ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ * قُمْ فَأَنْذِرْ * وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ
* وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ * وَالرُّجْزَ فَاهْجُرْ }
“O you who covers
himself [with a garment], arise and warn, and your Lord glorify, and your
clothing purify, and the idols avoid.” [Al-Muddaththir 74:1-5]
Allah also commanded His Messenger (ṣallallāhu `alayhi
wa-sallam) to warn his close family members, even though he was sent as a
prophet and messenger for all of mankind, and even though most of his followers
were not from his family members. Once again, this indicates that one should
not neglect his close family members while giving da`wah to others. Allah says,
{ وَأَنذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الْأَقْرَبِينَ }
“And warn, [O
Muḥammad], your tribe of closest kindred.” [Al-Shu`arā’ 26:214]
However, this does not mean that one abandons giving da`wah
to others until he has reformed and rectified himself and his family members,
for perfection is Allah’s alone and imperfection is from the nature of man. But
what is required is for one to give importance to reforming and rectifying
himself and his family members at the same time that he is busy giving da`wah
to others, not neglecting either of them.
Furthermore, when one concentrates on reforming and
rectifying himself, both inwardly and outwardly, he will see its fruits and
results in his da`wah to others. That is because Allah places barakah and
acceptance in his statements and actions, making him an example for others to
live by, for people look at actions more than they look at mere words.
What are we giving da`wah to?
Most of us understand the meaning of giving da`wah to revolve
around calling and inviting people to Allah, His tawḥīd, His obedience and His
religion in general, as Allah says,
{ ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ }
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom.”
[Al-Naḥl 16:125]
{ قُلْ هَذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ
اتَّبَعَنِي }
“Say, ‘This is my
way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me.’” [Yūsuf
12:108]
There is no doubt that this is a correct meaning and
fundamental goal of giving da`wah, however there is a more subtle meaning to the
understanding of giving da`wah that many neglect and don’t pay much attention to. That
meaning is what Shaykh Muḥammad bin `Abdul-Wahhāb alluded to in his Book of
Tawḥīd, when he mentioned under the important points of the “Chapter: The Call
to testify that there is nothing deserving of worship besides Allah.” He said:
“Point #2: Stress upon ikhlāṣ (sincerity of intention), for many who supposedly
call to the truth merely call to themselves.”
This is something that every individual who is active in
giving da`wah and teaching needs to ponder over, as it is something that many
are heedless of and may be guilty of without even knowing. Moreover, if one
does not pay attention to it and rid himself of it, it may be a cause for his
deeds to be wiped out and efforts to be wasted.
So how does one know that his heart is plagued with this
dangerous disease? The following are some signs and examples that indicate its
existence:
- Attaching oneself and placing one’s loyalty to certain names,
individuals and groups, while having enmity and hatred for all others, even though
they are all his brothers and sisters working for the same cause of spreading the
religion of Islam.
- Desiring fame and glory, and wanting the masses to gather
around oneself, while at the same time hating others who are active in giving da`wah and teaching, feeling a sense of remorse when seeing people gather
around them. The only reason for this being the desire to compete and having envy
in the heart.
- Belittling the efforts of others who are active in giving da`wah
and teaching, looking down upon them and distorting the good they have done, which
in reality is a sign of one’s betrayal. That is because the one who is sincere
in his da`wah supports every individual who is giving da`wah like himself, as
they all have one common goal: the guidance of the people to Allah and His
religion. Whether that is achieved through himself or someone else does not
concern him, as long as they are all calling to the same correct principles and
teachings of Islam.
- Falling into backbiting and spreading false rumours about
those who are active in giving da`wah and teaching, smearing their reputation, accusing them of that which they
are innocent of, even going as far as reporting them to the authorities with false allegations, all in order to afflict them with harm and cause people to leave
them and gather around oneself instead, going beyond rightful criticism of what
actually deserves to be criticized from the statements and actions of certain
individuals who are active in the field of giving da`wah and teaching.
These are just a few quick examples that indicate one’s lack of sincerity in his da`wah, even though there are many other examples that can be
sited as well. But the intent here is to simply point out the danger of this
disease that has plagued many who are active in giving da`wah and teaching these days.
May Allah grant us the tawfīq to spread His religion while
not neglecting ourselves, may He place barakah and acceptance in our da`wah
efforts, and may He grant us sincerity in all our sayings and actions.
Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
22nd of Sha`bān 1434