Introduction: The Methodology of giving Da'wah to different types of People

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

THE METHODOLOGY OF GIVING DA’WAH

TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE

Introduction

#1 - CONSIDER THE WAY OF DA'WAH

Allaah says in Surat An-Nahl [16:125]:

"Invite (mankind, O Muhammad) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Quran) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided."

"سبيل ربك" (The way of your Lord) refers to the Religion of Allaah, because the way of Allaah is the Religion of Allaah. Whoever follows this Religion will reach Allah by it, for it is enjoined by Him upon His servants. Therefore, it is connected to Him in the statement "سبيل الله" (The way of Allah). 

Then, Allaah mentioned three ways of Giving Da'wah:

Firstly: "بالحكمة" (With Wisdom)

This is by placing matters in their right places, in their right times, with right and suitable speech, in their right and suitable places. This is because there are some places which are not suitable for giving advice and there are some people whom one should not admonish in certain states; rather he should wait until that person is ready to accept the advice.

Secondly: "الموعظة الحسنة" (With Good [fair] Preaching) 

الوعظ is to mention the legal ruling along with exhortation and intimidation; such as to say to someone: “You should do such and such matter",  "Fear Allaah", "Act upon the command of Allaah", and so forth.

The greatest means by which one can advise others with is the Book of Allaah; because it is a comprehensive Book. One finds in it encouragement and intimidation, the mention of Paradise and Hellfire, and mention of the pious and the wicked. It is the greatest Book which one should refer to when advising and admonishing others, along with the Sunnah and the statement of the Imams.

الموعظة الحسنة (Good Preaching) is for ones Da'wah to be good and fair advice which softens the hearts and directs them to Allah. If encouragement is required, then one should encourage, and if intimidating and terrifying is required, then one should do that. One's Da'wah should also be good in its approach, manners, articulation, and expressions. One should bring evidences and convincing proofs; Legal and Intellectual proofs based on the Qur'an and Sunnah.

This is because some people, like the pure believers, are convinced with legal proofs, as Allah says in Surat Al -Ahzab [33:36]:

"It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error."

And there are others who are not satisfied with legal proofs; they require intellectual proofs. Therefore, Allah mentioned many intellectual evidences in His Book. For example, the intellectual proof of resurrection after death. Allah says in Surat Ya-Sin [39:79]:

"Say: (O Muhammad) "He will give life to them Who created them for the first time! And He is the All-Knower of every creation!"

Also, Allah said in Surat Ya-Sin [36:81]:

"Is not He, Who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the like of them? Yes, indeed! He is the All-Knowing Supreme Creator."

Allah also gives intellectual evidence for the possibility of resurrection, by setting the example of how He revives the earth after its death, by sending rain upon a barren, lifeless land which then causes it to become green.

Thirdly: "و جادلهم بالتي هي أحسن"  (Argue in a way that is better)

Meaning, if you advise someone with good and fair preaching and he rejects your advice and starts to argue, then argue back with him. However, your arguing should be that which is better (i.e. in a good way, with good manners, good presentation, and convincingly). 

If he brings an evidence, you should try to falsify his proof. If you see that refuting his claim will only prolong the debate, move on to another evidence which he cannot argue with you about. Look at the attitude of Ibrahim عليه السلام with Nimrud in Surat Al-Baqarah [2:258]:

"Have you not looked at him who disputed with Ibrahim (Abraham) about his Lord (Allah), because Allah had given him the kingdom? When Ibrahim (Abraham) said (to him): "My Lord (Allah) is He Who gives life and causes death." He said, "I give life and cause death." Ibrahim (Abraham) said, "Verily! Allah causes the sun to rise from the east; then cause it you to rise from the west." So the disbeliever was utterly defeated. And Allah guides not the people, who are Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.)."

Ibrahim عليه السلام said: "ربي الذي يحي و يميت" (My Lord is He who gives life and causes death). 

I.e. You cannot give life and cause death.

But Nimrud said "أنا أحي و أميت" (I give life and cause death).

How did this obstinate opponent give life and cause death?

He would bring a man and tell his soldiers to kill him, considering this action giving life and causing death. Ibrahim عليه السلام did not argue with him regarding this matter because the argument would have just been prolonged if he said, "You did not give life nor cause death, in reality, you just took the means of death." Instead, Ibrahim عليه السلام moved on to another evidence, which astonished his opponent:

 "فإن الله يأتي بالشمس من المشرق فأت بها من المغرب فبهت الذي كفر" ("Verily! Allah causes the sun to rise from the east; then cause it you to rise from the west." So the disbeliever was utterly defeated). 

NOTE: From this verse, it is understood that if one is unable to debate in a way that is better, he should not argue. This is because a strong, true believer, who has no doubt in his faith may face a quarrelsome opponent who disputes with him until he fails to resist his arguments. One should not argue in this case, because if he does, he will not be arguing in a way that is better. Leave the person for another time or until someone who is stronger in debate can argue with him. [Sharh Riyadus- Saliheen by Ibn Othaimeen]

#2 - CONSIDER THE TYPES OF PEOPLE AND THEIR STATUS

The wise Da’iyah is the one who studies the status of the people and their beliefs, places them in the right place, then calls them to the way of Allah in accordance to:

a) The degree of their understanding 

b) Their dispositions 

c) Their conduct 

d) Their level of education 

e) Their social levels

In addition to studying the means through which he approaches them. 

Therefore, Ali رضي الله عنه said: “Talk to people with what they know, do you like that Allaah and His Messenger ﷺ to be belied?" [Al-Bukhaari, Book of Knowledge, Chapter: Whoever selected some people to teach them (religious) knowledge, preferring them over others for fear that the other may not understand it]

It is reported by Muslim on the authority of Aisha رضي الله عنها that she said: “Allah’s Messenger ﷺ commanded us to place people in their due places.”

Ibn Masud رضي الله عنه said: "Whatever Hadeeth (speech) that you talk to people with and they do not understand or cannot be comprehended by their minds, becomes a Fitnah (trial) for some of them.” [Muslim]

The Prophet ﷺ demonstrated this methodology to preachers. He ﷺ said to Mu’adh رضي الله عنه when he sent him to Yemen as a Da’iyah, teacher, and a judge:

إنك تأتي قومًا من أهل الكتاب، فادعهم إلى شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله، 

“Verily you will come to a people from the People of the Scripture, so let the first thing that you call them to be the testimony that none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah..." [Bukhari and Muslim] 

In another narration, he ﷺ said:

أن يوحدوا الله 

"That they single out Allaah Alone (with worship)."

The Prophet ﷺ informed Mu'ath رضي الله عنه of the Aqeedah of the people whom he was to approach in order for him to know their state and present them with that which was suitable for them and reforms them. 

He ﷺ also told Aisha رضي الله عنها:

لَوْلاَ حَدَاثَةُ قَوْمِكِ بِالْكُفْرِ لَنَقَضْتُ الْبَيْتَ ثُمَّ لَبَنَيْتُهُ عَلَى أَسَاسِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ـ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ـ فَإِنَّ قُرَيْشًا اسْتَقْصَرَتْ بِنَاءَهُ ـ وَجَعَلْتُ لَهُ خَلْفًا 

"Were your people not close to the Pre-Islamic period of ignorance, I would have demolished the Ka`ba and would have rebuilt it on its original foundations laid by Abraham (for Quraish had curtailed its building), and I would have built a back door (too)." [Bukhari]

He ﷺ left out this interest in order to be safe from causing Fitnah. [Ibn Hajar]

Studying the environment and the place in which the Da’wah is preached is a very important matter. The Da’iyah needs to know the state of those whom he is calling to Allah’s way. He should know their: 

1) Beliefs

2) Psychology

3) Social State

4) Economical State

5) Areas of Misguidance and Deviation 

6) Langugage, Dialects, Customs, Problems, Culture, the Doubts that are spread in their Communities, and their Madh'habs,

The wise Da’iyah should also be aware of all that is happening around him. He should determine the circumstances in which he preaches, as well as consider the needs of people and their feelings.

Also, the Da’iyah to Allaah will not succeed in his Da’wa nor will be guided in his statements and action until he knows whom he is preaching to: Are they from among the sinful/ disobedient Muslims, or Muslims who have innovations and superstitions? Are they from the People of the Scripture; are they Jews or Christians? Or are they Atheists or Pagans?

After knowing the above, he should know how to approach each category and call them to Allaah. The wise Da’iyah is like the wise doctor who diagnoses sickness. He knows the sickness and then gives the suitable medicine according to the sickness and the state of the sick person, taking into consideration: 

a) The strength and weakness of the sick person.

b) His forbearance and tolerance in taking the remedy he needs. (For example, an operation or amputation of a limb). 

Similarly, the wise Da’iyah knows the sicknesses of the society. He determines the sickness, knows the medicine, looks into the doubts and obstacles, tries to remove them, then presents suitable material, starting with the correct Islamic creed and encouragement to accept and respond.