What Are the Best Ways for an Ordinary Person to Engage in Da‘wa?
Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti
Question
What are the best ways for an ordinary person to engage in d‘awa (calling others to Allah)?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.
The best ways for an ordinary person to engage in da‘wa include the following:
Adherence to Worship and Islamic Rulings
This includes observing Islamic obligations, following the commands and prohibitions of Sacred Law, abiding by the laws, being disciplined, doing good deeds, and engaging in positive community initiatives consistently, in every place, and under all circumstances.
This leaves a strong impression on non-Muslims about the seriousness, consistency, orderliness, truthfulness, and goodness of the Islamic message. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Fear Allah wherever you are, follow a bad deed with a good one to erase it, and treat people with good manners.” [Tirmidhi]
Good Character, Kind Treatment, and Gentle Speech
In addition to the above hadith, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“You will not be able to satisfy all people with your wealth, so satisfy them with a cheerful face and good character.” [Ibn Abi Shayba; Bazzar]
The term “people” in both hadiths includes both Muslims and non-Muslims.
Conveying the Religious Knowledge One Possesses
This can be done by sharing knowledge of Islam, the Quran, and the hadiths with wisdom and good advice. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Perhaps the one who hears a message understands it better than the one who heard it firsthand.” [Tirmidhi]
He also said: “Convey from me, even if it is one verse.” [Bukhari]
Avoiding Harshness and Severity
Allah (Most High) says:
“It is out of Allah’s mercy that you (O Prophet) have been lenient with them. Had you been cruel or hard-hearted, they would have certainly abandoned you.” [Quran, 3:159]
These methods, among others, can be used by an ordinary Muslim to engage in d‘awa. One should not forget the importance of making dua (supplication), having sincere intentions, seeking to benefit others, and relying on Allah for their guidance and acceptance of the truth. Hearts are in the hands of Allah, and He guides whom He wills to the straight path.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti
Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti is a Syrian scholar born in Aleppo in 1977. He obtained his degree in Shari‘a from the Shari‘a Faculty of Damascus University, a Diploma in Educational Qualification from the Faculty of Education at Aleppo University, and a Diploma in Shari‘a and a Master’s in Shari‘a from the Faculty of Shari‘a and Law at Omdurman University in Sudan. He is currently writing his doctoral thesis.
He studied under esteemed scholars such as Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Mustafa al-Turkmani, and Shaykh Dr. Nur al-Din Itr, among others. Shaykh al-Yakti has worked in teaching and cultural guidance in orphanages and high schools in Aleppo. He served as an Imam, Khatib, and reciter at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and as a certified trainer for Khatibs in Abu Dhabi’s Khatib Qualification Program.
He is involved in developing and teaching a youth education program at Seekers Arabic for Islamic Sciences.
Among Shaykh al-Yaqti’s significant works are “Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni: Bayna Ilm al-Kalam Wa Usul al-Fiqh” and the program “The Messenger of Allah Among Us (Allah bless him and give him peace).”
