Shaikh Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan (May Allaah have Mercy on
him) explained that it is a condition of Dawah that one is knowledgeable about
that which he is calling to, in light of the verse,
“Say (O Muhammad ), This is my way. I invite unto Allah (the
Oneness of Allah) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me with sure
knowledge. And Glorified and Exalted be Allah. And I am not of the Mushrikoon.“
[Soorah Yunus (12): 108]
“(In this verse) The meaning of Baseerah is knowledge. The
caller to Islam must be equipped with beneficial knowledge concerning beliefs,
the permissible and the prohibited, and the knowledge about the Book and the
Sunnah. And he should have the knowledge of the texts of the Qur’aan and the
Sunnah such that he can distinguish to the people, what is correct and
incorrect.
(the caller must be equipped with knowledge) because if he
was ignorant, he does not know the wrong and he does not know the correct.
Perhaps, he calls to the wrong while he does not know and perhaps, he warns
against the good while he is unaware because ignorance is a fatal disease.
(the caller must be equipped with knowledge) because the one
who calls to Allah will be exposed to doubts from the Shayateen amongst the
jinn and mankind – doubts in Aqeedah and doubts concerning Halaal and Haraam.
And if he does not posses the knowledge to refute these doubts, then he be will
confused and perhaps he will be overpowered by the people of misguidance, which
will be a great loss. So, the one who calls to Allah must be equipped with the
beneficial knowledge and means to combat the opponents, and therefore the
Prophet said to Mu’adh , “You are going to a people from the Ahlul-Kitab.”
Meaning beware.
The people of the Book are learned; they have
misinterpretations and they have doubts and they have false arguments. The one
who approaches them must be aware of their conditions.
In this (narration) is a proof that it is obligatory upon
the caller to learn about the society in which he is doing Dawah, he should
know their troubles and their nature; and he should know their level of
knowledge such that he is prepared to face them – otherwise, they will confuse
him and perhaps overpower him and this will be a loss for the Dawah to Allah
and this will be a failure before the opponents and the foes.
It is not appropriate to enter the field of Dawah until one
learns and achieves comprehension and understanding through beneficial
knowledge. If one has some knowledge or a part of knowledge, then he should
call in accordance to the limit of his knowledge and he should stop at the
matters which he does not know. And he should not engage with the people in
issue of confusion that he in unacquainted with.
This is a very important matter and it is that one should be
a caller in accordance with the level of his knowledge with which he can
confront those whom he is calling to and solve their problems…
“Glorified and Exalted be Allah. And I am not of the
Mushrikoon (those who set up rivals with Allah).” [Soorah Yusuf (12): 108]
(in this part of the verse is) glorifying Allah from that
which does not befit Him from shirk, imperfection and defects. In this is
safeguarding the correct Aqeedah from that which does not befit Him from Shirk
and defects which Shaytan from the Jinn and mankind utter.
The caller must be knowledgeable about this great knowledge
and he cannot glorify Allah from that which does not befit Him until he learns
the correct Aqeedah and learns that which opposes it from Shirk and doubts in
such a way that he can glorify Allah.
“I am not of the Mushrikoon.” In this (part of the verse) is
declaring oneself free from the Mushrikeen (those who associate partners with
Allah). A caller must declare himself free from shirk and the Musrikeen for the
sake of Allah…
There are people who do not disassociate themselves from the
people of the false religions, rather they say, ‘People are free in their
Aqeedah (beliefs) and in their religion.’ Perhaps, some of them even call to
bringing the religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) together – and they
claim that they are the Duat (caller to Allah) while they do not disassociate
themselves from the Mushikeen and do not consider what they (the Mushrikeen)
are upon as falsehood. This is clear misguidance. How can there be a Dai
(caller to Allah) and he neither declares himself free from Shirk nor the
Mushrikeen and calls it ‘freedom of religion’?
There is no freedom in religion. Deen (religion) in one and
it is the Deen of Allah, with which He sent His Messenger and He revealed His
Book concerning it – It is one religion. Allah says, “Verily, this is my
Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will
separate you away from His Path.” [Soorah al-An'aam (6): 153]
Religion is one and it is the Deen of Islam. And whatever is
apart from it, is falsehood, Allah says, “Truly, the religion with Allah is
Islam.” “Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted
of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.” [Soorah aal-Imran
(3): 85]“
[Source: Muntaqa Fatawa and Muhadhiraat Fil-Aqeedah wad-Dawah
of Shaikh Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan (p.601)]
Question: What is your advise to those youngsters who make
haste in engaging in Dawah activities and issuing
Fatawa without knowledge?
Reply by Shaikh Salih al-Fawzan, "Surely, Dawah to
Allah is obligatory on the one, who is capable of fulfilling it practically, physically
and mentally, and he who is in incapable of Dawah, then and success, and if he
is wealthy, he should help the Dawah monetarily through publishing books, and
distributing it.
Concerning Fatawa, then this is a critical position. It is
not permissible to venture into it except for those who are qualified in
knowledge that is acquired from the scholars, and he should not give Fatawa
except in necessity (only) if he does not find somebody who is more
knowledgeable than him" [Al-Muntaqa]
Question: Many of the Duaat focus all attention towards one
aspect of Dawah, and that is Fadhaailul-Aamaal (virtues of righteous deeds).
What is your opinion concerning this? Is it obligatory to combine both,
Targheeb(encouragement) through mentioning Fadhaailul-Aamaal (virtues of
righteous deeds) and Tanbeeh (warning) against the mistakes, especially in
Aqeedah.
Reply by Shaikh Salih al-Fawzan, 'It is obligatory that the
Dai (the caller) begins with the issues of Aqedah because they are the
fundamentals, and the Fadhaail (virtues) come after the rectification of the
Aqeedah, and the caller must begin with that which is most important, and then
what comes after. Allah's Messenger began with the Aqeedah, and stayed in
Makkah for 13 years calling to Aqeedah, and the legislation were obligated
after the Hijrah.
What we conclude from this is that the caller should be wise
in the Dawah, and arrange the issues according to their appropriate priority,
and cure every evil accordingly. He who is afflicted with deviation in the
Aqeedah, then he should be advised about his deviation, and be shown the
proofs, and enlightened towards the correct path. And he who is correct in his
Aqeedah but he has strayed in his performance of good deeds or he has fallen
prey to some prohibited actions, then in his case, we use discussions,
reminders and warnings.
So, the caller deals with every society according to the
evils found in it, and treats it suitably. As far as restricting to
Fadhaailul-Amaal or limiting oneself to correcting the rule and abandoning
(rectification of ) Shirk, this is misguidance and evident ignorance, and Dawah
by these two approaches does not reap any good result. [al-Muntaqa (q. no. 52,
p. 59)]
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