How to be a successful caller to Islam

18-8-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

I would like to be an effective caller to Islam. I wish to know the right method for calling girls to adhere to the teachings of Islam. Some of them accept my method, while others reject it.

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

 

First and foremost, Da‘wah (calling to Islam), whether targeting men or women, must be done in the light of the Quran and Sunnah, and must be communicated to people with wisdom and kind advice. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allaah with insight, I and those who follow me. And Exalted is Allaah; and I am not of those who associate others with Him.} [Quran 12:108] ‘Insight’ here refers to certitude and knowledge which cannot be attained except in the light of the Quran and Sunnah, as understood by the righteous predecessors. Allaah The Exalted also Says (what means): {Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.} [Quran 16: 125]

Therefore, the caller to Islam must be wise enough to know how to arrange his priorities and how to address people according to their status, culture and interests. The caller to Islam’s words and actions must be the same, and this is the wisdom that is required so as to be a good role model for the people he is calling to Allaah The Almighty.

Good instruction or kind preaching requires choosing refined and interesting speech that is supported by verses from the Quran, Hadeeths from the Sunnah, profound examples and impressive stories.

The third means of Da‘wah mentioned in the previous verse is fair argument which requires mild speech and gentle words. The addressed person must feel that the caller to Islam is seeking his welfare and interest in this life and in the Hereafter. Furthermore, this must be supported by manifest proof and irrefutable evidence.

This is a general idea of how Da‘wah must be done. However, there are still many other details and manners that must be observed by the caller to Islam, but the subject cannot be discussed in detail in a brief Fatwa such as this one.

We would like to draw the questioner’s attention to the fact that not many people respond to the advocators of truth, the prophets and their successors, and this is the way of Allaah The Almighty with His creation. However, this does not necessarily mean that there is something wrong with the caller himself. Prophet Nooh (Noah)  may  Allaah  exalt  his  mention continued to call his people to Allaah The Almighty for nine hundred and fifty years, but only a few believed in him; Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {But none had believed with him, except a few.} [Quran 11:40]

The caller must exert his utmost effort and have patience and seek the reward of Allaah The Almighty. He must perform the duties of Da‘wah, calling people to Allaah The Almighty and enjoining good and forbidding evil with devotion and full sincerity. He must then leave the results to Allaah The Almighty, for He alone is capable of guiding people. In other words, he must not give in to frustration if people do not respond to him or if they hurt him.

Allaah Knows best.

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