What are the etiquettes that a caller to Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) should possess?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : What are the etiquettes that a caller to Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) should possess?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. This is an important question regarding the etiquettes that a caller to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) should have. Among the important etiquettes is the sincerity of intention for Allah (Mighty and Majestic), so that the caller intends by his calling the pleasure of the Lord and the reform of creation, not that he seeks status, leadership, or authority among people. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 6689.
Second: He should be clear in his understanding of what he is calling to, which is the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). He should have knowledge of the Shari'ah regarding what he is calling to. If he is calling to tawhid (the oneness of Allah), it is obligatory for him to have knowledge of tawhid in its issues, affirmatively and negatively, affirming and negating, so that he is able to engage in argumentation if someone argues with him about it. This is because one who calls without knowledge is like one who enters the battlefield without weapons. The evidence for this etiquette is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Yusuf 12:108]. Also, the ignorant person needs to be taught himself, so how can he be a teacher to others through his ignorance? And because one who calls with ignorance may call to falsehood without realizing it, thereby becoming misguided and misleading others. This is because one who calls with ignorance stands confused when a falsifier presents a false argument to refute the truth he has stated.
Third: He should have knowledge of the state of the one being called so that he may treat him according to his status. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Mu'adh to Yemen and said to him when he sent him:Sunan an-Nasa'i 2435Sahih (Darussalam). He informed him of their state so that he would be prepared for them and meet them with what their state requires. Similarly, the caller must be knowledgeable about the state of the one he is calling so that he may treat him according to his status. There is a difference between a stubborn person whom you call to Allah and an ignorant, heedless person who knows nothing. The first needs a strong argument to refute his stubbornness and arrogance regarding the truth.
And for the second, the least argument and the least speech suffice, because he is an ignorant, heedless person who has nothing to argue with. Accordingly, the saying of Allah the Exalted applies:[An-Nahl 16:125]. Indeed, among people are those who need admonition and it suffices for them, and those for whom admonition does not suffice, but they argue. So Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) commanded that the calling be done with wisdom, sometimes with admonition, and sometimes with argumentation, according to what the state of the one being called requires.
Among the etiquettes of the caller is that he be eloquent in his speech and strong in his argument, such that he is able to convince the listener, the one being called, in a way that his soul finds peace in it and he submits to the calling with ease and simplicity. This is because some people have knowledge but do not have the ability to express it in speech, so much is lost to them. If a person has knowledge and the ability to express it in speech, he is able to convince others completely, and the one being called responds to it.
Among the etiquettes of the caller is that he acts upon the truth he is calling to, so that he is a caller by his speech and his actions. There is no doubt that if the caller acts upon what he is calling to, it has a great impact on the acceptance of what he is calling to. If people see that this caller acts upon what he is calling to, they trust him and know that he is sincere in his calling. And if he does not act upon what he is calling to, they doubt his matter, and Allah the Exalted does not place blessing in his calling. Have you seen if a person stood up calling people to congregational prayer and urging them to it, but he does not pray with the congregation? What would be people's view of his calling? People's view of his calling would be weak, and they would not look at him with the view of one who accepts, because he was not doing what he was calling people to.
Among the etiquettes of the caller is that he be forbearing and patient with the verbal or physical harm that befalls him, because the caller stands in the place of the messengers, and the messengers were subjected to verbal and physical harm which they were patient with until they attained the rank of the patient. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said to His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him):[Al-An'am 6:34]. So the caller must possess patience and forbearance to attain the rank of the patient and join the path of the messengers (peace and blessings be upon them).
Among the etiquettes of the caller is that he be cheerful, always smiling, and open-faced, so that people love him before he calls them. This is because people's acceptance of a person personally leads to their acceptance of him conceptually and to gathering around him. Accordingly, the saying of Allah the Exalted applies:[Ali 'Imran 3:159].
Among the etiquettes of the caller is that he treats people according to their status, and that he chooses the appropriate time and place for the calling. He should not call people in a place where they are not prepared and ready for his calling, because that would cause them boredom, weariness, and hatred of what he is calling to, even if it is truth. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would vary his admonition to his Companions, fearing that if he repeated the admonition to them, they would become bored and would not have the acceptance that would be present if he varied the calls.
This is what has come to my mind at this moment regarding the etiquettes of the caller. And we ask Allah the Exalted to make us and our Muslim brothers guides and guided.
The questioner : O Allah, amen.
The Shaykh : Callers to the truth, righteous.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah bless you. He has another point, O Virtuous Shaykh. And the listener, Salih Salman from Sudan, says.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. This is an important question regarding the etiquettes that a caller to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) should have. Among the important etiquettes is the sincerity of intention for Allah (Mighty and Majestic), so that the caller intends by his calling the pleasure of the Lord and the reform of creation, not that he seeks status, leadership, or authority among people. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The (reward of) deeds, depend upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for the sake of Allah and His Apostle, then his emigration will be considered to be for Allah and His Apostle, and whoever emigrated for the sake of worldly gain or for a woman to marry, then his emigration will be considered to be for what he emigrated for.
إنما الأعمال بالنيات وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوى فمن كانت هجرته إلى الله ورسوله فهجرته إلى الله ورسوله، ومن كانت هجرته إلى دنيا يُصيبها أو امرأة يتزوجها فهجرته إلى ما هاجر إليهSecond: He should be clear in his understanding of what he is calling to, which is the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). He should have knowledge of the Shari'ah regarding what he is calling to. If he is calling to tawhid (the oneness of Allah), it is obligatory for him to have knowledge of tawhid in its issues, affirmatively and negatively, affirming and negating, so that he is able to engage in argumentation if someone argues with him about it. This is because one who calls without knowledge is like one who enters the battlefield without weapons. The evidence for this etiquette is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me.
قُلْ هَذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِيThird: He should have knowledge of the state of the one being called so that he may treat him according to his status. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Mu'adh to Yemen and said to him when he sent him:
You are going to some of the People of the book
إنك تأتي قوماً أهل كتابAnd for the second, the least argument and the least speech suffice, because he is an ignorant, heedless person who has nothing to argue with. Accordingly, the saying of Allah the Exalted applies:
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best
ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُمْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُAmong the etiquettes of the caller is that he be eloquent in his speech and strong in his argument, such that he is able to convince the listener, the one being called, in a way that his soul finds peace in it and he submits to the calling with ease and simplicity. This is because some people have knowledge but do not have the ability to express it in speech, so much is lost to them. If a person has knowledge and the ability to express it in speech, he is able to convince others completely, and the one being called responds to it.
Among the etiquettes of the caller is that he acts upon the truth he is calling to, so that he is a caller by his speech and his actions. There is no doubt that if the caller acts upon what he is calling to, it has a great impact on the acceptance of what he is calling to. If people see that this caller acts upon what he is calling to, they trust him and know that he is sincere in his calling. And if he does not act upon what he is calling to, they doubt his matter, and Allah the Exalted does not place blessing in his calling. Have you seen if a person stood up calling people to congregational prayer and urging them to it, but he does not pray with the congregation? What would be people's view of his calling? People's view of his calling would be weak, and they would not look at him with the view of one who accepts, because he was not doing what he was calling people to.
Among the etiquettes of the caller is that he be forbearing and patient with the verbal or physical harm that befalls him, because the caller stands in the place of the messengers, and the messengers were subjected to verbal and physical harm which they were patient with until they attained the rank of the patient. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said to His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him):
And certainly were messengers denied before you, but they were patient over [the effects of] denial, and they were harmed until Our victory came to them.
وَلَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَصَبَرُوا عَلَى مَا كُذِّبُوا وَأُوذُوا حَتَّى أَتَاهُمْ نَصْرُنَاAmong the etiquettes of the caller is that he be cheerful, always smiling, and open-faced, so that people love him before he calls them. This is because people's acceptance of a person personally leads to their acceptance of him conceptually and to gathering around him. Accordingly, the saying of Allah the Exalted applies:
So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you.
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ لِنْتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لانْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَAmong the etiquettes of the caller is that he treats people according to their status, and that he chooses the appropriate time and place for the calling. He should not call people in a place where they are not prepared and ready for his calling, because that would cause them boredom, weariness, and hatred of what he is calling to, even if it is truth. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would vary his admonition to his Companions, fearing that if he repeated the admonition to them, they would become bored and would not have the acceptance that would be present if he varied the calls.
This is what has come to my mind at this moment regarding the etiquettes of the caller. And we ask Allah the Exalted to make us and our Muslim brothers guides and guided.
The questioner : O Allah, amen.
The Shaykh : Callers to the truth, righteous.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah bless you. He has another point, O Virtuous Shaykh. And the listener, Salih Salman from Sudan, says.