Are the means of da'wah (calling to Islam) restricted to what is prescribed, or are they a matter of ijtihad (independent legal reasoning), such as in the case of nasheeds?
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The questioner : What is your opinion, may Allah preserve you? Are the means of da'wah (calling to Islam) restricted to what is prescribed, or are they a matter of ijtihad (independent legal reasoning), regarding the ruling of Islam on nasheeds?
The Shaykh : What do you mean by the means of da'wah (calling to Islam)?
The questioner : I mean that nasheeds for youth have become a means of da'wah (calling to Islam); that is, the youth take them and give them to other youth, meaning as a way to guide them.
The Shaykh : In any case, calling people to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is done by any path, but it is well known that the best thing by which people are called is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)[Yunus 10:57] This is the best thing. However, if there are distant youth and we want to win their hearts, not because it is da'wah (calling to Islam) but to win their hearts, either by organizing a permissible sport or by non-forbidden nasheeds, there is no harm. If the winning of hearts is done through Islam, it is not like the "purchased hearts" mentioned in the Quran, where they are given from zakah (the obligatory alms), competing with the poor, and being given from zakah, which is money for winning their hearts. What is said about these being "means of da'wah" is misleading in reality, because da'wah (calling to Islam) is only through the Book and the Sunnah. But winning hearts by any means, by any path, by any non-forbidden path, is acceptable. Many youth, for example, may be repelled by preachers because some preachers are not gentle with them. So if one wants to attract youth by going out, for example, after 'Asr (the afternoon prayer) to play football or compete in running or the like, this is good in the sense of winning hearts.
The questioner : What are the conditions for nasheeds to be prescribed?
The Shaykh : I cannot say, because nasheeds have now diversified; they have diversified to the point where their performance resembles the performance of low songs. Yes.
The Shaykh : What do you mean by the means of da'wah (calling to Islam)?
The questioner : I mean that nasheeds for youth have become a means of da'wah (calling to Islam); that is, the youth take them and give them to other youth, meaning as a way to guide them.
The Shaykh : In any case, calling people to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is done by any path, but it is well known that the best thing by which people are called is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)
O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدىً وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَThe questioner : What are the conditions for nasheeds to be prescribed?
The Shaykh : I cannot say, because nasheeds have now diversified; they have diversified to the point where their performance resembles the performance of low songs. Yes.