The Difference Between the Methodology of Da'wah and the Means of Da'wah

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, what is the validity of what some people say, that the means of da'wah (calling others to Islam) are not restricted to what is prescribed? They use this as an argument for the permissibility of calling people to Allah through songs, plays, and other such things?

Answer:
There is a difference between the methodology of da'wah and the means of da'wah. The means of da'wah are not restricted to what is prescribed; rather, every era has its own means. For example, microphones now are among the means of da'wah. They reach people with sermons. Radio did not exist before, so it is among the means of da'wah.
These means are not the methodology. The methodology is mentioned in the saying of Allah the Exalted: and in His saying: So the methodology is restricted to what is prescribed, and it does not include theaters or songs. This is a methodology that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not use. He did not use songs in da'wah, nor did he use plays or acting in da'wah. Nor did any of the scholars before us, whether in the past or the present, use these things. Yes.
These are not among the means of da'wah. These are among the means of causing heedlessness and wasting time, or among the means of the partisans who use songs to encourage their partisanship and their group. So the songs are their slogan. Or the Sufis who take songs as worship of Allah the Exalted and Majestic. Yes.
That is part of the methodology of da'wah. The default is to start with 'aqidah (creed). Start with 'aqidah. The mushrikin (those who associate partners with Allah), the grave-worshippers, and the idolaters are called to tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and the sincerity of 'aqidah first. Then, after that, they are called to the rest of the rulings of the religion. Start with 'aqidah.
These people say: No, do not mention 'aqidah, it will repel people. People are on their 'aqidahs, so desire them, reconcile them, and gather them, even if it is on a false 'aqidah. And so the Shi'ah gather with them, and even the Christian gathers with them, and the Sufi, and this one, and the grave-worshipper. This is never of any benefit, and this is not part of the methodology of da'wah. Yes.