To fill in the void and to continue to extend the invitation of Islam to the mankind, Da'wah has become the religious obligation for each Muslim to first understand the Islam in depth and then extend the invitation to the non Muslims.
“And who is better in speech than he who [says: ‘My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness),’ and then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah’s (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: ‘I am one of the Muslims.’”[Fussilat 41:33]
In one of our earlier posts on Da'wah and calling people to do good and refrain from sins, we had quoted the 104th verse of Surah 3. Al Imran:
“Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining Al-Ma‘ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful'' [Aal 'Imran 3:104]
This explains why we as Muslims need to invite others to Islam for Islam is the purest and unadulterated religion left out of the previous Divine religions as lot of additions have been made by humans to suit the wishes of the pastors and religious scholars. Therefore we as Muslims must present to the world Islam and wrinkle out many alterations and misconceptions about Islam and also the adulterations that have taken place in other religions.
However it should be borne in mind that discussion on religions is a delicate issue and any lose language may hurt the followers of other faiths and leave a bad impression of Islam. Therefore those engaged in Da'wah must have very good knowledge and understanding of Islam, besides having patience, forbearance, gentleness and kindness.
And it is for this reason that Allah had directed the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad ﷺ to:
“Invite (mankind, O Muhammad) to the way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Quran) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.” [al-Nahl 16:125]
Before we share links to our posts on Da'wah, let us in few words understand what Da'wah is and how it should be extended:
Da'wah in Islam refers to the act of inviting others to understand and embrace Islam. The Arabic word da'wah (الدعوة) literally means "invitation" or "call," and in a religious context, it means calling people to Allah — sharing the message of Islam with both Muslims and non-Muslims.
Purpose of Da'wah
- To spread the message of Islam — belief in one God (Allah), following the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and living a righteous life.
- To encourage good and forbid evil (amr bil ma'ruf wa nahi 'anil munkar).
- To help others find truth and peace through Islam.
Who Should Do Da'wah?
- Every Muslim has a responsibility to do da'wah in some capacity.
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Convey from me, even if it is one verse.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
How Should Da'wah Be Done?
- With Wisdom and Good Character:
- Quran (Surah An-Nahl 16:125):
- "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided."
- This is one of the clearest commands to do Da’wah with wisdom, gentleness, and good manners.
- Lead by Example: Actions speak louder than words. Demonstrate Islam through honesty, kindness, humility, and patience. The Prophet ﷺ was described in the Quran as having excellent character (Quran 68:4): "And you are truly ˹a man˺ of outstanding character".
- Speak Clearly and Truthfully
- Avoid exaggerations or pressure.
- Use authentic Islamic sources (Quran and Sunnah)
- Answer questions honestly, and if you don’t know, say so respectfully.
- Know Your Audience
- Understand the beliefs, concerns, or misunderstandings people might have.
- Tailor your message in a way that’s relevant and respectful to the listener’s background.
- Avoid Arguing or Forcing
- Quran (2:256): "There is no compulsion in religion..."
- The goal is not to "win" an argument, but to convey the truth with compassion.
- Many non Muslims blame Islam that it spread by the sword. Had it been so, then during the 800 years long rule of Muslims in Spaon, there would have been no Christian left in Spain.
- Be Patient and Sincere: Change takes time, and guidance is ultimately from Allah. The aim of those involved in Da'wah should be to convey, not convert.
Methods of Da'wah Today
- Personal conversations.
- Social media, podcasts, blogs.
- Community events and open mosque days.
- Charity work and service projects.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ faced many challenges in calling people to Islam but remained steadfast, kind, and patient. Muslims are encouraged to follow his example and remember that success in da'wah is not in numbers, but in sincerity and effort.
With this small introduction, let us share a number of posts we have already shared on the dynamics of Da'wah and its modalities:
- Da'wah: Calling others to Islam - the sacred duty of every Muslim
- Islam: Submission is not to surrender in defeat But to align one's will with the will of The Creator
- Who speaks better than he who calls people to Allah
- How to Invite Non-Muslims to Islam (Give Da`wah)
- Let there be a group to invite people to enjoin doing that is right and forbid doing that is wrong
- I am ordained to raise the call No God but Allah
- Is Da'wah responsibility of every Muslim
- How to approach people of the Book when discussing Islam
- How to respond to intriguing queries of a non-Muslims
- Those who spread message of Allah are accountable to none but He
- Prophetic Faith in Allah (attributed to Prophet Ibrahim - Abraham) - a cue for those mulling to revert to Islam (Surah 19. Maryam : 48)
Related Posts:
- How the world view Islam as the fastest growing religion
- Has rise in Islamophobia resulted into more non-Muslims reverting to Islam?
- Islam: The fastest growing religion in Australia
The Revert Experiences: You may also like to read a number of posts already published sharing personal experience of many a revert Muslims about how and why did they choose to embrace Islam given in our reference page: Embracing Islam: The Revert Experiences
In time we will add more on modalities and concept of Da'wah in Islam to assist brothers and sisters in Islam engaged in this sacred religious duty.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah.
Disclaimer:
- The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
- This post is not intended to "force" preach, convert, or criticize any belief system. The views shared are meant to inspire dialogue, understanding, and reflection. Viewer discretion is advised, especially for those navigating sensitive religious experiences. Always seek knowledge with an open heart and mind.
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