Discussion of the Sunnah in calling those who differ, and mentioning the story of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with the chiefs of Quraysh.

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The Shaykh : If he feels that these close ones are not responding to him and are not answering his call, he should not continue to focus on them while turning away from the others. Rather, he should turn his attention to these others, and there is no harm in occasionally returning to the first group of close ones, thereby combining both benefits. Perhaps this is what is indicated by the Surah:

He frowned and turned away, because the blind man came to him.

عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّى * أَنْ جَاءَهُ الْأَعْمَى

to the end of the story; where the Messenger (peace be upon him) was focusing on the disbelievers of Quraysh, specifically their leaders, not to flatter them—far be it from him to do so!—but because it is among the cosmic laws that the general public follow their leaders in good and evil. Therefore, it came in the authentic hadith, his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):

Had only ten Jews (amongst their chiefs) believe me, all the Jews would definitely have believed me.

لو آمَنَ بي عشرة من اليهود لَآمَنَتْ يهود كلهم

Sahih al-Bukhari 3941

. For this reason, the Messenger (peace be upon him) cared about guiding the chiefs and leaders of Quraysh, hoping that if these people were guided and believed, those below them among the followers would follow them. However, this care, as indicated by the verses of Surah 'Abasa, suggests that it should be limited, and that he should not waste his time focusing on these chiefs as long as he has already wasted a lot of time in calling them, yet their hearts have not softened toward the call. This may lead him to focus on the weak Muslims. So He, the Exalted, said:

⁽²⁾ Because there came to him the blind man, [interrupting]. ⁽³⁾ But what would make you perceive, [O Muhammad], that perhaps he might be purified ⁽⁴⁾ Or be reminded and the remembrance would benefit him? ⁽⁵⁾ As for he who thinks himself without need, ⁽⁶⁾ To him you give attention. ⁽⁷⁾ And not upon you [is any blame] if he will not be purified. ⁽⁸⁾ But as for he who came to you striving [for knowledge] ⁽⁹⁾ While he fears [Allah], ⁽¹⁰⁾ From him you are distracted.

عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّى * أَنْ جَاءَهُ الْأَعْمَى * وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّهُ يَزَّكَّى * أَوْ يَذَّكَّرُ فَتَنْفَعَهُ الذِّكْرَى * أَمَّا مَنِ اسْتَغْنَى * فَأَنْتَ لَهُ تَصَدَّى * وَمَا عَلَيْكَ أَلَّا يَزَّكَّى * وَأَمَّا مَنْ جَاءَكَ يَسْعَى * وَهُوَ يَخْشَى * فَأَنْتَ عَنْهُ تَلَهَّى

['Abasa 80:2-10]

. A Muslim should not be like this; it is permissible for him to call the leaders, but to a limit, and then he should focus on the weak; because the weak are generally those who do not hesitate or delay in responding to the call of the Muslim caller.
-- And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings --
This is what I have in answer to this question.

The questioner : So the call has wide fields for a person to call with according to... in, for example, it is possible with material—for example, meaning these are the methods?

The Shaykh : Each according to his capacity.

Source www.al-albany.com

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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