The Importance of Exercising Wisdom in Calling People to Allah
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Your Eminence! Some callers to Allah believe that we should begin the call to Allah with matters other than creed, due to the prevalence of trials and temptations they observe. What is your opinion on this? May Allah reward you with good.
If you are calling disbelievers, it is obligatory to begin with the oneness of Allah; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Mu'adh to Yemen and said: (Let the first thing you call them to be: the testimony that there is no god but Allah) But if you are calling Muslims who hold some defective beliefs, do not argue with them by denying these beliefs; because they believe them to be part of the religion. However, urge them to prayer, to charity, to fasting, and to Hajj, until they become accustomed to you and feel at ease with you. Then, after that, explain to them the error they are upon.
One must distinguish between the state of the one being called; because if a disbeliever is started with the oneness of Allah and he denies and rejects it, he is a disbeliever from the start. But this person is a Muslim who erred in the religious innovation he introduced, thinking it to be the truth.
Therefore: Do not start with that; because he may become repelled and not accept anything from you. But call to the matters in which there is no disagreement, such as matters of prayer and charity, and fasting and Hajj. Then, after that, once they feel at ease with you and become comfortable with you, it becomes very easy to address the innovations they are upon, and to explain to them that innovations are forbidden, and to ask them to abandon them and return to the Sunnah.
If you are calling disbelievers, it is obligatory to begin with the oneness of Allah; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Mu'adh to Yemen and said: (Let the first thing you call them to be: the testimony that there is no god but Allah) But if you are calling Muslims who hold some defective beliefs, do not argue with them by denying these beliefs; because they believe them to be part of the religion. However, urge them to prayer, to charity, to fasting, and to Hajj, until they become accustomed to you and feel at ease with you. Then, after that, explain to them the error they are upon.
One must distinguish between the state of the one being called; because if a disbeliever is started with the oneness of Allah and he denies and rejects it, he is a disbeliever from the start. But this person is a Muslim who erred in the religious innovation he introduced, thinking it to be the truth.
Therefore: Do not start with that; because he may become repelled and not accept anything from you. But call to the matters in which there is no disagreement, such as matters of prayer and charity, and fasting and Hajj. Then, after that, once they feel at ease with you and become comfortable with you, it becomes very easy to address the innovations they are upon, and to explain to them that innovations are forbidden, and to ask them to abandon them and return to the Sunnah.