Da'wah through path of Islam

Da'wah is calling a non-muslim toward the path of Islam.

Question:  Does everyone have to give Da'wah?
Answer: Yes, giving Da'wah is obligatory on every Muslim, whenever possible.

According to many scholars in this field, the term Da’wah (call to Islam) applies to conveying the message of Islam to non-Muslims and inviting them to Allaah.

Non-practicing and lost Muslims need to be reeducated and motivated to become better Muslims; they already know Allaah Almighty and have been given the concept of Tawheed (monotheism). Some objectives of Da’wah are as follows:

(a) Conveying the message of Islam to non-Muslims and inviting them to Allaah,

b) Making efforts to remove misinformation about Islam and Muslims from text books, reference material and media,

c) Making efforts for the integration of new Muslims into the Muslim community,

d) To develop material resources, recruit manpower (volunteers) and provide training for Da’wah workers.

Guidance is in the hands of Allaah, but the goal of Da’wah is definitely to be a reason to convert people to be Muslims, to save them from the Hell Fire. To avoid aggressiveness as a result of that is for the caller to Islam to know that guidance is not in his control, it is by the will of Allaah.

Is Da’wah a duty on every Muslim?

Yes, it is a collective duty, if some fulfill its rights then it is not a duty on every Muslim.

In the Qur’an, Allaah has placed the responsibility on the Muslim Ummah (community) to convey the message of Islam to mankind. Allaah, TheExalted, says in the Qur’an (what means): “Thus We have appointed you a model community (Ummah), that you may be witnesses against mankind, and that the Messenger may be a witness against you”. [Quran 2:143]

‘Witnessing’, here, means to convey the message of Islam, i.e. to call people towards Allaah.

Allaah also Says (what means): “Invite to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur’an) 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.” [Quran 16:125]

Prophet Muhammad completed his assignment in his lifetime by conveying the message to the entire Arabian Peninsula and sending letters to the heads of surrounding countries. In his Khutbah (ceremony) of his farewell Hajj (pilgrimage), he passed on the responsibility to every Muslim when he said :“Those who are present should convey (my message) to those who are not”.[Al-Bukhaari]

Remember! Da’wah has great rewards. The Prophet said: “Whoever guides someone towards good, will receive the reward of the one who acts upon it.”[Muslim] .  This means, if a person is converted through the Da’wah you give him/her, you get rewards for all the prayers he/she does or all the fasts that he/she does, etc 

The Holy Quran tells us:
4.95 Not equal are those believers remaining [at home] - other than the disabled - and the mujahideen, [who strive and fight] in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred the mujahideen through their wealth and their lives over those who remain [behind], by degrees. And to both Allah has promised the best [reward]. But Allah has preferred the mujahideen over those who remain [behind] with a great reward -
4.96 Degrees [of high position] from Him and forgiveness and mercy. And Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.

So yes, giving Da'wah is obligatory upon EVERY muslim, unless possibly disabled.

So how can we give Da'wah to others in Islam?

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.

How to invite others toward Islam:
1. Internet
2. Attending events at your Local Masjid
3. Offering Prayers as a Imam
4. Setting a good example as a Muslim
5. Making the intention of going out in the Path of Allah (swt)

So, in our current state with modern technology, what excuse do we have to not go out in the Path of Allah (swt)? Whoever does so gains the benefit of the deeds of a new muslim convert. Da'wah overall helps a person to purify his/her own soul.

How should we react when I can't help anyone convert to Islam?
Well, Hadith comes from Allah (swt) only, and guiding people to Islam isn't such an easy job. It requires patience. The Prophet Muhammad was more mistreated than he was patient. It says in the Quran-

2.256 There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

28.56 Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.

What if you can't do anything whatsoever to go in the Path of Islam?
Seek knowledge. How can you guide anyone to Islam without knowing even a little? Even if you have just the knowledge of one ayah, can't you still do something to promote Islam?

14.52 This [Qur'an] is notification for the people that they may be warned thereby and that they may know that He is but one God and that those of understanding will be reminded.

Keywords: "those of understanding"

This verse literally tells us to seek knowledge so that we may be able to give Dawah to others in Islam. The main reason the West is interested in Islam is because they use logic - but they will find that the Quran is far above levels of science than what is modern - this allows people to convert to Islam. So think - we've been given Hadiath from Allah (swt) so why don't we at least make dua' to go out in the path of Allah (swt) so that more than half of the world's population can become muslim? Imagine the benefits! No war, no nothing, if you'd ask me....

3.104 And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.

Keyword: "successful": we are not successful until we integrate all of our Amals together and until we give Da'wah toward Islam!! You don't want Allah (swt) to tell you that your desire for the Dunya was more than the Akhirat! Why are you muslim?

The work of Da'wah was being practiced 1400 years ago and the reason we are muslims is because of their efforts, so now isn't it Farz on us as well?

12.108 Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah ; and I am not of those who associate others with Him."

And May Allah (swt) give us all the chance to practice Da'wah (which requires sacrifice of time and money) - Ameen!

[source:  islamdabest.blogspot.com & xeniagreekmuslimah.wordpress]