Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
We ask Allaah to increase your energy and guide your efforts,
and grant you the best of rewards for your interest in da’wah and calling
people to the religion and way of Allaah. There is no one who is better in
speech and conduct than one who guides the people to truth and light.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And who is better in speech than
he who [says: ‘My Lord is Allaah (believes in His Oneness),’ and then stands
firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allaah’s (Islamic
Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: ‘I am one of the Muslims’”
[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 daa’iyah may begin by talking to
everyone, and the shaytaan 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 haraam desires, then
he plays with him as a child plays with a ball. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
“And (remember) when Shaytaan (Satan) made their (evil)
deeds seem fair to them and said, ‘No one of mankind can overcome you this
day (of the battle of Badr) and verily, I am your neighbour (for each and
every help).’ But when the two forces came in sight of each other, he ran
away and said ‘Verily, I have nothing to do with you. Verily, I see what you
see not. Verily, I fear Allaah for Allaah is Severe in punishment’”
[al-Anfaal 8:48]
On our site we have previously offered advice to those who
engage in da’wah via the internet, lest the shaytaan ensnare them in ways
they did not imagine. We have stated that public da’wah or organizing da’wah
efforts in this field should be done by organizations or groups, and this is
more beneficial and safer than individual efforts, because the shaytaan is
closer to the one who is alone.
See question no. 32693.
Secondly:
The one who wants to call others to Allaah must equip himself
with the shar’i 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; “He
went hunting but he got caught.” So beware, O slave of Allaah, and let your
first concern be to save yourself.
“Nay! 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)”
[al-Qiyaamah 75:14-15]
Thirdly:
If a person is qualified to call people to Allaah, 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 da’wah and no
one to explain the true religion to people. This is not what pleases the
Lord of the Worlds. Rather Allaah has commanded us to adhere to wisdom and
use beautiful preaching. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Invite (mankind, O Muhammad
صلىالله عليه وسلم) to the way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom
(i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur’aan) 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”
[al-Nahl 16:125]
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
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 Allaah be upon him)
said to Mu’aadh and Abu Moosa when he sent them to the people of the Book in
Yemen: “Be easy going and do not be harsh, give glad tidings and do not put
people off.” 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 daa’yahs, the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him), was continually involved in calling people
to Allaah and offering wise advice, even though many of the mushrikeen
responded with insults, beatings and mockery.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said:
When the words “And warn your tribe (O Muhammad) of near
kindred” [al-Shu’ara’ 26:214] were revealed, the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went out and climbed
al-Safa, then he called out: “Ya sabaahaah (Be on your guard)!” They
said: Who is this that is calling out? They said: Muhammad. They gathered
around him, and he said: “O Banu So and so! O Banu So and so! O Banu ‘Abd
Manaaf! O Banu ‘Abd al-Muttalib!” They gathered around him and he said: “Do
you think that if I told you that there was a cavalry emerging from the foot
of this mountain, would you believe me?” They said: We have never known you
to be a liar. He (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I
am a warner to you of an imminent and severe punishment.”
Abu Lahab said: May you perish! Did you call us together only
for this? Then he stood up, and this soorah was revealed: “Perish the two
hands of Abu Lahab (an uncle of the Prophet) and perish he!” [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 Allaah forbids in the Qur’aan. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
“And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship
besides Allaah, lest they insult Allaah wrongfully without knowledge”
[al-An’aam 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
Allaah.
And Allaah knows best.