๐๐จ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ง-๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR
Question
I am involved in calling people to Islam (daโwah) via chat rooms, Paltalk and Messenger. I call Muslims and non-Muslims. My question is: sometimes I want to call a person who is not Muslim, but I am afraid that if I call him, he may revile Islam.
Should I refrain from calling him? If I must do that, then I should not call any non-Muslims, because I am afraid of most of them, because I do not know them. What do you advise me to do?.
Answer
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
We ask Allah to increase your energy and guide your efforts, and grant you the best of rewards for your interest in daโwah and calling people to the religion and way of Allah. There is no one who is better in speech and conduct than one who guides the people to truth and light.
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
โAnd who is better in speech than he who [says: โMy Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness),โ and then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allahโs (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: โI am one of the Muslimsโโ
Quran [Fussilat 41:33]
But I warn you that private chat rooms are a door to temptation and evil, because among those who enter them are women and those who follow their whims and desires. The daaโiyah=preacher may begin by talking to everyone, and the shaytan=Satan sets traps of specious arguments and desires, until he instils in his heart the temptation to imitate the followers of falsehood, or he makes him influenced and controlled by haram=prohibited desires, then he plays with him as a child plays with a ball. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
โAnd (remember) when Shaytaan (Satan) made their (evil) deeds seem fair to them and said, โNo one of mankind can overcome you this day (of the battle of Badr) and verily, I am your neighbour (for each and every help).โ But when the two forces came in sight of each other, he ran away and said โVerily, I have nothing to do with you. Verily, I see what you see not. Verily, I fear Allah for Allah is Severe in punishmentโ
Quran [al-Anfaal 8:48]
On our site, we have previously offered advice to those who engage in daโwah via the internet, lest the shaytan=Satan ensnare them in ways they did not imagine. We have stated that public daโwah or organizing daโwah efforts in this field should be done by organizations or groups, and this is more beneficial and safer than individual efforts because the shaytan=Satan is closer to the one who is alone.ย
See question no. 32693.
Secondly:
The one who wants to call others to Allah must equip himself with the sharโi knowledge that he wants to convey to others, and he should have sufficient experience to debate well with others, and he should have some knowledge of the doubts and desires that they suffer from, and how they may be treated. If all a person has is sincere emotions and a little knowledge gathered from here and there, that will not achieve anything and it will not benefit the one whom he is calling at all.
The worst thing that we fear for the one who embarks on such a mission before he is prepared for it and before he is properly qualified for it, is that he may be like the one who is overcome with compassion for the people who were stricken with a fatal disease and he rushed to help them without any experience in medicine, so he does not benefit the sick or protect himself. There is a saying; โHe went hunting but he got caught.โ So beware, O slave of Allah, and let your first concern be to save yourself.
โNay! Man will be a witness against himself [as his body parts (skin, hands, legs) will speak about his deeds],
15. Though he may put forth his excuses (to cover his evil deeds)โ
Quran [al-Qiyaamah 75:14-15]
Thirdly:
If a person is qualified to call people to Allah, no matter in which field he works to call them, it is not permissible for him to stop calling on the basis of fear that a person may reject the call and insult the message or the religion, otherwise, there would be no more daโwah and no one to explain the true religion to people.
This is not what pleases the Lord of the Worlds. Rather Allah has commanded us to adhere to wisdom and use beautiful preaching. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
โInvite (mankind, O Muhammad ุตููุงููู ุนููู ูุณูู ) to the way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qurโan) 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 guidedโ
Quran [al-Nahl 16:125]
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) urged us to be kind and gentle, giving glad tidings and using an easy-going attitude, out of keenness that the people who are called should accept the truth that is presented to them.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to Muโaadh and Abu Moosa when he sent them to the people of the Book in Yemen: โBe easy going and do not be harsh, give glad tidings and do not put people off.โ Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3038) and Muslim (1773).
The one who adheres to this method of calling people will not be harmed if the one whom he calls turns out to be one who reviles the religion or rejects it or is arrogant towards it.
The leader of the daaโyahs, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), was continually involved in calling people to Allah and offering wise advice, even though many of the mushrikeen responded with insults, beatings and mockery.
It was narrated that Ibn โAbbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
When the words โAnd warn your tribe (O Muhammad) of near kindredโ [al-Shuโaraโ 26:214] were revealed, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went out and climbed al-Safa, then he called out: โYa sabaahaah (Be on your guard)!โ They said: Who is this that is calling out? They said: Muhammad.
They gathered around him, and he said: โO Banu So and so! O Banu So and so! O Banu โAbd Manaaf! O Banu โAbd al-Muttalib!โ They gathered around him and he said: โDo you think that if I told you that there was a cavalry emerging from the foot of this mountain, would you believe me?โ They said: We have never known you to be a liar. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: โI am a warner to you of an imminent and severe punishment.โ
Abu Lahab said: May you perish! Did you call us together only for this? Then he stood up, and this soorah was revealed: โPerish the two hands of Abu Lahab (an uncle of the Prophet) and perish he!โ Quran [al-Masad 111:1].
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1394) and Muslim (208).
What is forbidden is initiating insults and put-downs with the mushrikeen and kuffaar, lest that make them respond in like manner. This is what Allah forbids in the Qurโaan. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
โAnd insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides Allah, lest they insult Allah wrongfully without knowledgeโ
Quran [al-Anโaam 6:108]
Do not feel ashamed of the truth, and do not give up conveying the message of this religion with knowledge and insight. Strive to choose appropriate words and choose the right approach. Avoid insulting and mocking, and all kinds of wrongdoing and aggression, then after that it will not matter whatever the person you are calling may say. His sin is his burden to bear on the Day of Resurrection, and you will earn reward in sha Allah.
And Allah knows best.