. Some Useful Means And
Methods Of D’awah IlAllah
Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom (Hikmah), 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 (16: 125).
In the verse quoted above, two points
are very clear. First, Allah SWT is ordering to invite people to their Lord and
Creator, and His code of life. It is called Da’wah IlAllah. Secondly, He also tells the methods of inviting
people to His way. We have earlier studied in details
the importance of Da’wah, and the characteristics of
a da’ee. We shall now, here, look into some of the
useful methodologies, and techniques through which da’wah
work can be carried on.
Da’wah work
can be done on one or all of the following bases. (i)
one-to-one, (ii) a group-to-one, (iii) one-to-a group, (iv) a group-to-a group, (v) writings and publications, (vi) photographs,
audio and video cassettes, and TV, (vii) internet, and (viii) social work ( including
charity, and money spending).
In general, a very effective,
and frank work is done on one-to-one basis i.e. one da’ee talks to one person
at a suitable time. In this method, the person to whom da’wah
is being conveyed feels at home, and secure. He talks freely, and brings forth
his feelings, and thinking regarding the point under discussion. If there is a
need, the conversation can be conducted in private as well. Prophet Noah AS
conveyed the da’wah both ways. He reported to Allah
that,
Then verily I called to them openly. Then verily I proclaimed to them in public, and I proclaimed to them in private ( 71: 8,9)
Another effective way is to form a group of a few
people( da’ees), and then convey the da’wah to an
individual. In such a group, the members support and strengthen each other in
the da’wah work. There should be one leader of the group.
The members should perform only those duties which were assigned to them by the
group. The members should not interfere, or add any thing on their own
initiative, while some one is talking, unless asked by the leader. It is always
necessary for the da’ees, individual or group, to prepare themselves in advance
with necessary information regarding their addressee, or da’wah
itself. After every meeting, the da’ee or group should evaluate the out come of
the meeting, and make proper changes in the approach, if needed.
In one-to- a group method, a da’ee
should talk on only those topics, which are either agreed in advance, or are of
general interest. These topics should deal with duties or obligations. Only
those literature should be distributed which are related to the topic. This
method is suitable for periodic meetings of teachings of Qur’an, corner
meetings, and seminars etc. Display of charts, or photographs, and writings
should also be done, along with talks.
In group-to-group method, different
da’ees speak on different aspects of dawah, either at the same time to
different audience, or one after the other to the same audience. The
conventions, public meetings, debates, and symposiums are some of the examples
of this method. The speeches, talks, and
discussions all should be available to the audience at large, either in full or
in summary writings, or in cassettes. This helps those who try, to seek the
Truth, to fall back and contemplate on the contents. Displays of charts, photographs, movies,
computer soft wares, magazines, journals, books, and wall papers are very
effective means of da’wah in this method, as
well.
There are a lot of people who like to
read at their suitable time. Most of the intelligentsia falls in this category.
These are the people who produce literature, not only in favor, or against the
prevalent ideas and philosophies, but put up new ideas as well. This need will
always be there. Thus, forceful and appealing writings on da’wah
should be available, according to the trend, and culture. New books, journals,
magazines, news papers, letters etc., containing materials on da’wah, in order to propagate it and refute the false
allegations against it, should be published on regular basis. These should be distributed,
and circulated among large audiences.
Now- a- days, the life is so busy
that only a small percentage of people can afford to participate in meetings,
or gatherings. The best way to reach them for dawah is through audio, video
cassettes, TV programs, or photographs. One can listen cassettes while
driving, doing house hold jobs, taking rest at home, in the bus or train, on
the farms, or other places. This method is not only very powerful, but is also
easily available to common man. One can easily understand its effectiveness by
looking at the history of current Iranian revolution. Imam Khomeini had very
successfully propagated his views to his people in
The latest technique for transferring
the ideas or messages to every body’s home, eyes, and mind is internet. The
internet is flooded with all sorts of things. A lot of networks are propagating
materials against Islam and Muslims. There is a need that da’wah
be given on internet. Different Muslim organizations should make it a policy
that they will not relay materials against each other. On the other hand, all
of them should relay the materials which give the united picture of Muslim
world. Also, they should invest their money, time, and energy in clarifying the
false, and misleading materials, and information against Islam.
Probably the most powerful and
effective method of da’wah is the social work of a
da’ee. A da’ee should get fully involved in the welfare, and assistance of the
society in which he moves around. He should make the society feel that he is
indispensable for it. Let the people know that the da’ee practices fully what
he preaches. Let them realize that he fully shares their sorrows, and
happiness. Famous Urdu poet Ghalib had truly lamented the lack of help, and
participation in sorrows by his friends. He said in a famous line of his
poetry, “What type of friendship is this that all of the friends have become
only admonishers. Why do not they make the mare go for him, or try to diminish
or console his sorrow?” A da’ee should be a friend in need, and a friend in
deed. A friend in need can never be an enemy. A da’ee
must remember that a sermon by life is better than words. Let us recall a
beautiful story of the Great Da’ee, our Prophet SAW. One day, he was passing
through a lane, when he saw an old woman standing by the side of the lane with
her luggage on the ground. He approached her, and asked her where did she want
to go, if he could help her. She told him that, in the town of
We have studied, in details, of some
means, and methods of imparting dawah. However, unorganized, haphazard, or
crude use of these techniques will never yield the desired result. There is an
utmost need of using effective and productive words or sentences, either in
speech, writings, or photographs to communicate the dawah to other peoples.
How, then, to decide what words, either in speech, or in writings, a da’ee
should use, in order to win the hearts? For this, a da’ee must seek guidance
from Allah SWT Himself, and the teachings of the Prophet SAW. For this let us
recall His guidance:
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom (Hikmah), 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 (16: 125).
Allah SWT has mentioned three
different approaches in this verse. The first one is the use of wisdom i.e.
Hikmah, the second one is fair preaching, and the third one is advancing better arguments. We shall now discuss these
one by one, and see how the prophets, and sahabas had acted upon these.
(a)Hikmah:
The meaning of this word is not
only wisdom, but reign as well. A reign is used to control, and turn the
direction of an animal. Hikmah is also a reign. It helps in controlling,
turning, and maneuvering the da’wah under different
circumstances. Hikmah has also been termed as the faculty of distinction
between the Truth and the falsehood. Hikmah is also
regarded as a quality which saves a man from committing an error. Thus, a da’ee
is using Hikmah if he adopts different methods, and techniques keeping in mind
the time, place, environment, persons, emotions, likings, love, hate and such
other factors. Hikmah is a quality, which is a great bounty from Allah. Allah
SWT says,
He grants Hikmah
to whom He wills, and he, to whom Hikmah is granted, is granted abundant good
(2: 269).
We shall now see how to apply some salient features of Hikmah in da’wah.
( i ) Before a da’ee goes out of his residence, or
starts talking to his family members on
da’wah mission, he should offer two rakats of nafil
salat, and pray to Allah SWT for his help, and guidance. The best prayer may be
the one offered by Prophet Moses As, as mentioned by Allah,
O my Lord! Open for me my chest. And ease
my task for me. And loose the knot from my tongue. And they understand my
speech”(
Another point which a da’ee should remember is to keep dawah materials
handy, such as cassettes, booklets, handouts, cuttings of papers, and relevant
articles and news etc. Also a da’ee should be clean, and attired in civilized
and good looking way. He should be mentally prepared to face rebukes, insults,
ridicules, criticism, excuses, neglect, and such other offensive acts or talks
etc. Patience and toleration should be his shields to keep his own emotions,
anger, and sorrow under control. Let us look at an example set by the Prophet
SAW. Once, the Prophet SAW was talking to a villager in the mosque. The
villager felt the call of nature to urinate. He urinated right there in the
mosque. Some sahabas (the companions of the Prophet
SAW) ran to him to admonish him. The Prophet SAW told them to leave him alone,
and reminded them that they have been raised to make ease, and not create
difficulty. He then asked them to wash the place with the water (Abu Hurairah RA, Bukhari). On the
contrary, a real story of today’s attitude of intolerance on the part of some da’ees was narrated to me. There was a darse Qur’an meeting
of ladies being held in a city. Some young girls of teen age were also present
in that meeting. They were with full make ups of lipsticks, nail polish etc. At
the time of prayer, they also stood to offer prayer. They were admonished, not
allowed to pray, and were forced to sit aside because of their make ups.
Unfortunately, in some other city, a similar attitude was adopted by the
sisters of Islam. In darse Qur’an meetings, a lady used to attend without
proper hijab. In every dars,
she was being criticized for not wearing hijab. I was told that she later
stopped attending the dars. This reminds me of a
story narrated by Hazrat Muawiyya
Bin Hakeem RA about himself. He said that some body
sneezed during the salat. He said to him May Allah
have mercy on you, while both were praying. People started gazing at him. He
again talked to them during the salat, and said May
Allah keep them alive, why did they gaze at him. They asked him by signs to
keep quiet. When the salat was over, the Prophet SAW
advised him, very amicably, never to talk, or speak while he was in prayer (Bukhari). It seems the Hikmah of gradual da’wah, and teaching was not practiced by the sisters. So
let us now look at this second salient feature of Hikmah
in da’wah.
(ii) Da’wah should be extended gradually:
When Prophet SAW appointed Muadh Ibn Jabal RA as governor of
This step by step approach is natural. If some one is sleeping, you can not
extend da’wah to him. He must fully be awakened. Once
he is fully ready to grasp your invitation, extend your da’wah
to him. The following gradual approach would probably prove useful.
(a) A da’ee must first make good
and happy acquaintance, and increase the friendly relationship as time passes.
It would be better if he invites his relatives first to Allah SWT. Allah SWT
says,
And warn your tribe of near kindred
(26:214)
It not only helps a da’ee in his mission but strengthens him as well. A
confidence is built in the society that his teachings or invitation are
definitely beneficial. Otherwise, he would not invite his near and dears. A
da’ee generally should not try to talk about his da’wah
in the first meeting. He should wait for the time when confidence, and respect
are built up.(b) Next comes the stage when one can discuss the nature, and
effects of evils, and vices.(c) At this stage the relationship between man and
his creator should be talked about.(d) Next, he should try to inculcate among
the people, whom he has selected for the da’wah, a
desire to know about Islam, and its teachings.(e) As soon as the da’ee senses
that the desire is there to know about Islam, he should provide suitable
cassettes, and booklets to listen or and
read. These literatures should be in general of undisputed nature on the topics
of faith, beliefs, worship, and moral values etc. (f) This is the stage when
invitation to Islam should be presented. Most desirable way of inviting people
to Islam is to invite them for a meal; and then after the meal is over, the
invitation to Islam be extended. This is a way which the Prophet SAW had
adopted. (g) After one has embraced Islam, he should be taught the requirements
of being a Muslim in order to establish Islam.(h) Then, he should be taught
that in order to establish Islam, one has to lead a life in jamaat with those
who are busy in the same mission. (i) Once someone
realizes the need of a jamaat, he should be helped in choosing the right one- the
one, which advocates right beliefs, and trains its workers according to the
system enunciated by Qur’an and Sunnah. The one which is fully organized, and
disciplined; runs its affairs on the basis of consultations (shura), and participation of its workers; has world wide
appeal, and links which nullifies the concept of regionalism; has plans,
knowledge, and motivated workers to spread, and preach Islam in total, and not
some specific aspect only i.e. the jamaat whose aim
is to establish Islam over all spheres of life.
(iii) Inclination and emotions of listeners must be judged before dawah is
extended. Hazrat Ali has been reported to have said that every heart has some
inclination, and emotions. At certain time, the people are inclined to listen,
and some other time they are not. Extend dawah only when they are ready to
listen. If you force them, they become blind to the light (Bukhari).
(iv) Dawah should be extended at proper time, and
opportunity, otherwise it may backfire. Once, the Prophet SAW told a mother of
believers, Hazrat Aisha RA,
that the actual foundations of Kaabah
contain Hateem (an area adjacent to Kaabah,
surrounded by semicircular wall) as well. She asked him why then he did not
extend it to its actual foundations. He replied,” If the period of shirk of my
ummah would not have been in the near past, I would have constructed it on its
actual foundations.”
(v) Da’wah should
be given to all those who show interest or are inclined to listen irrespective
of the status or position.
Nay, indeed it is
an admonition. So whoever wills, let him pay attention to it(80:11,12).
Also a fixed period should be estimated for the continuation of da’wah to the same person. During this, period da’ee should keep on evaluating the progress.
(b)Best Advice (Fair Preaching)
The second point of Allah SWT is
that a da’ee should offer good, and appealing advice.
(i)He should always try to be
benevolent, even to those who misbehave with him. Allah SWT says,
Repel evil with that which is better (23:
96).
Some other place, He says,
The good deed and the evil deed can not
be equal. Repel with one which is better then verily he, between whom and you
there was enmity, will become (as though) he was close friend (41: 34).
(ii)A da’ee should please
others, encourage them, and try to ease their problems. The Prophet SAW is
reported to have advised, “Ease things, and do not make them hard. Give glad
tidings, and do not create hatred” (Anas RA,
Bukhari).
(iii)A da’ee should always try
to find common and indisputable point to start the da’wah.
Allah SWT says,
Say, “O people of the scripture! Come to
a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah.” (3:
64).
(iv) A da’ee should not waste time on those who
do not respond positively. Dawah is not forced on people.
There is no compulsion in religion (2:
256).
Remind, indeed you are a reminder. You are not a guardian over them(88:21, 22 )
Your duty is only to convey, and on Us is the reckoning (
Their guidance is not upon you. Allah guides whom He wills (2: 272)
(v) A da’ee’s
job is to extend dawah with full knowledge and firm belief. As soon as he
completes this duty his mission is over. Allah SWT clearly mentions this.
Your duty is to only convey, and on Us is the reckoning (
Their guidance is not upon you. Allah guides whom He wills ( 2: 272).
( c) Best Arguments / Debates
The third approach, which has
been advised by Allah SWT, is to advance good arguments in debates. A da’ee, in general, should not get
involved in debates. However, if he has to, he should advance beautiful and
appealing arguments. He must avoid bitter and insulting ones. Allah SWT says,
And argue not with the people of the scripture unless it be in( a way)
that is better( with good words and manners), except those who transgress (29:
46).
When talks or atmosphere
starts becoming unpleasant or in vain, a da’ee must stop the talk and leave the
spot in a refined and civilized way. Allah defines the quality of a da’ee who faces such situation, as
And when they hear evil vain talk, they withdraw from it and say, “To us
our deeds, and to you your deeds. Peace be to you. We seek not the ignorant”
(28: 55).
Allah SWT gives an excellent example of a very good debate between the Prophet
Abraham AS, and the king of his time. The following quotations are self
explanatory.
When Abraham said,“ My Lord is He who gives life and causes death.” He
(king) said, “I give life and cause death.” Abraham said, “ Verily, Allah
causes the sun to rise from the east; then cause it to rise from the west.” So
the disbeliever (king) was utterly defeated (2: 258).
In another example, when the
people of city, accusingly asked Abraham if he had caused the destruction of
their idols, he replied,
“ Nay, this one, the biggest of them did it. Ask them, if they can speak.” So
they turned to themselves and said,“ Verily, you are the transgressors” (21:
63-64).
Another
very good example of better debate is reflected in the following present day
dialogue (extracted from “Taseer-e-Kalam” by Mael Khairabadi, published in Da’wah,
LWH : Why do you cover yourself? Do not you see that a flower blooms in the
open? People enjoy, and feel happy by looking at it. They can smell it, and
freshen their mind, and senses.
LH : You gave a very good example. But do not you see bees going round it, and
sucking its juice, as well.
LWH : But covering has adverse effects on health and beauty.
LH : I have read that basic principle of health is to have cleansed, and
refined body, and soul. Probably, you also know that the covering tells bees
that the lady is noble, and not open to all. This keeps her safe.
LWH : But a woman with hijab can not do social work. She can not participate in
politics. She just acts as a machine of production.
LH : In History, it is reported that Napoleon honored an old woman who gave
birth to three boys, and later had given all her three grown up sons to the
army of
Perhaps a word or two of
warning, before we conclude, is appropriate. This is the responsibility of the da’ee, his organization, and the society in which he moves
around that all of them should treat the new member of the Deen
as their brother. They should look after his needs, and social acceptance. They
should not leave him alone to cope with the non- Muslim society. They should
completely integrate him in the Islamic way of life.