What are the Characteristics of the Da’ee (One Who Calls to Allah)
By Shaikh Ubaid al-Jābirī, may Allah preserve him
Whenever a person possesses knowledge and acts upon it, then it is upon them to call to the religion that Allāh has blessed them to understand and act upon. At this point (it is appropriate) that we ask: What are the etiquettes of the Da’ee?
There are many qualities that the caller to Allāh should have; perhaps we will mention the most important of them:
- An aspiration to guide the people (i.e. direct them to the truth) and convey to them the religion of Allāh.
- Gentleness, as gentleness is not present except that it beautifies something and it is not absent except that it disfigures it.
- Wisdom
- Good admonition.
- Arguing with them with a way which is better.
Wisdom is to place everything in its rightful place. A good admonition is to encourage them and cause them to fear (Allāh), but each should be applied in suitable circumstances. If it is necessary to argue with the ones being called, to remove their doubts, then argumentation should be with that which is better, and (the caller) should utilise the most effective approach to enable the truth to reach them.
- Understanding, and this means that he should have knowledge of the commands and prohibitions.
- Clarifying the truth to the people and encouraging them towards it with proofs, and explaining the falsehood and warning them against it with proofs.
- He shouldn’t drown himself in sorrow if they don’t accept the guidance of Allāh, as this is something that Allāh prohibited His Messenger from. This is because the wisdom and way of Allāh requires that those who live (i.e. Believers), live upon clear evidence and those who were to be destroyed, are destroyed upon clear evidence.
- A readiness to counter the doubts of the people of falsehood and desires, refuting them efficiently and warning against them.
Source: “A Gift for the Intellects in Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles of Islam”
Translated By Abu Abdullah Hasan As-Somali
Leave a Reply