CALLING OTHERS TO ALLAH (DA’WAH)
The soul that is not active will stagnate. One of the most important fields in which one can be active is the field of da’wah, calling others to Allah. This is the work of the Prophets, work which will save you from punishment, realize your potential and enable you to achieve great things.
“Now then, for that (reason), call (them to the Faith), and stand steadfast as you are commanded … ”
(Al-Qur’an 42:15 – interpretation of the meaning)
It is not true to say that someone is neither making progress nor slipping back (for if you are not making progress, you are therefore falling back – no one is static). If a person is not occupied in acts of worship and obedience, he will be busy with sin and disobedience, and faith can wax and wane (it does not remain constant).
Calling to the correct methodology – by devoting time to it, making mental and physical efforts, and speaking out, so that da’wah becomes the main concern of the Muslim – will block the Shaytan’s efforts to tempt him and lead him astray.
In addition to that, being challenged by obstacles and stubborn people on the journey of da’wah will make the da’iyah stronger in faith.
Besides bringing a great reward, da’wah is also a means of being steadfast in one’s faith and protecting oneself from backsliding, because the one who is attacking does not need to defend himself, and Allah is with the da’iyah, making them stand firm. The da’iyah is like a doctor fighting illness with his experience and knowledge: by fighting the illness in others he will be the least likely to suffer it himself.
KEEPING CLOSE TO PEOPLE WHO WILL HELP MAKE YOU STEADFAST
These are people whose characteristics the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) referred to in the hadith,
“Among the people are some who open the way to goodness and close the way to evil.”
[Hasan, reported by Ibn Majah from Anas, 237, and by Ibn Abi ‘Asim inKitab as-Sunnah, 1/127. See also as-Silsilat as-Sahihah, 1332]
Looking for scholars, righteous people and believing da’iyah, and keeping close to them, is a great help in remaining steadfast. When times of trial arose in Islamic history, Allah helped the Muslims to stand firm with the help of some individuals.
For example, ‘Ali ibn al-Madini (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Allah supported His Religion with as-Siddiq [Abu Bakr] at the time of theriddah (apostasy), and with Ahmad at the time of the test.”
Think about what Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said about the role of his shaykh, Shaykh ul-Islam [Ibn Taymiyyah] in helping Muslims to stand firm:
“When our fear became too great and we began to think the worst and things got too difficult for us, we would come to him. We only had to see him and hear his words, and all that would go away, to be replaced by tranquillity, strength, assurance and calm. Glory be to the One Who made His slaves witness Paradise before their meeting with Him, opened its door to them in this world and caused them to feel its fragrant breezes so that they would devote all their energy to seeking it and competing for it.”
[Al-Wabil as-Sayyib, p. 97]
Here Islamic brotherhood emerges as a basic source of steadfastness. Your righteous brothers, leaders and teachers are a source of help for you on the path, a strong pillar on which you can lean. They can make you more steadfast through theayat they know and the wisdom they possess … Stick with them and live among them; do not be alone, lest the shayatin overwhelm you, for the sheep that the wolf eats is the one that wanders off away from the flock.