The document discusses the importance of Dawa, or inviting others to Islam. It defines Dawa and related terms, and provides several reasons and religious justifications for Muslims to engage in Dawa based on verses from the Quran and hadith. It addresses common excuses for not doing Dawa and offers advice on spiritual, mental, and practical preparations. The document also outlines best practices for Dawa and anticipates potential criticisms or "hot button" issues that may be raised in discussions about Islam.
3. Dawa Essentials: Definition
The word Dawa in
Arabic simply means
‘to invite to
something’; the idea
of relaying and
sharing something.
As an Islamic term,
Dawa is understood as
"Inviting to the way of
peaceful submission
to God."
4. Dawa Essentials: Definition
Tabligh, which means to
convey, is another term
for Dawa
Caller to Islam is a
Daaee or Daaeeyah
In early Islamic
literature, Dawa also
referred Sharia & Deen
(way of life); today,
Dawa is often referred
to voluntary Islamic
work
5. Dawa Essentials: Why Bother?
It’s the Mission
Statement for
Muslims Given By
God: “Let there arise
among you a group
inviting to all that is
good, enjoining
righteousness and
forbidding evil. Those
are the successful
ones.” [3:104]
6. Dawa Essentials: Why Bother?
Allah’s Challenge to
be better: “Who is
better in speech than
one who calls to Allah,
does righteous deeds
and says indeed I am
among the Muslims.”
[41:33]
7. Dawa Essentials: Why Bother?
Just do it. It’s
Prophet’s Command:
“Convey from me,
even if it be only a
single verse.”
(Bukhari)
“Learn the required
precepts of Islam and
the Qur’an, then
teach to others, for I
will not live forever.”
(Bukhari)
8. Dawa Essentials: Why Bother?
Better than any
Material Success:
“For Allah to guide
someone by your
hand is better for you
than having red
camels.” (Bukhari)
9. Dawa Essentials: Why Bother?
Sadaqa Jariya for this
Life & the Next:
"Whoever calls to
guidance will
receive the same
reward as the one
who follows him
without any
decrease in the
reward of his
follower.“(Muslim)
10. Dawa Essentials: Why Bother?
Think, See & Breathe
Outside the Box:
Don’t seal “Islam”,
the gorgeous flower,
inside a box. Let
some sunlight and
air in and don’t
deprive others from
its beauty and
benefit. Otherwise it
will wilt and die!
11. Dawa Essentials: Why Bother?
Don’t let others
Hijack your Dawa!
If you truly love
Islam as your way of
life, prove it with
your actions. Share
it with the world! If
you don’t tell your
story, someone else
will!
12. Dawa Essentials:
Common Excuses for Not Doing Dawa
“I do not have enough
knowledge to do
Dawa.”
“I am a sinful Muslim.
Let me practice Islam
first.”
“There are hundreds of
Muslims not practicing
today! We need to first
do Dawa to fellow
Muslims!”
“I don’t have courage.”
13. Dawa Essentials:
Common Excuses for Not Doing Dawa
“I am not a professional
Daaee. My Dawa won’t
be useful.”
“I don’t like to push
religion on others. We
should let everyone
believe what they like.
Quran says: There is no
compulsion in religion.”
“I am too busy.”
“There are lots of other
better Daaees out
there.”
14. Dawa Essentials:
Before You Hit the Field
Spiritual Preparation:
Check your heart!
Intent to practice
what you preach
Prepare yourself for
the mission of Prophet
Muhammad
Remind yourself that
you are an
Ambassador of Islam
Be humble
Perfection is not the
pre-requisite for Dawa
See everyone as a
potential Muslim
Ask Allah for refuge from
Shaytan and ask Him to
purify you from Riya
Stay positive and
determined, no matter
how many obstacles
challenge you
15. Dawa Essentials:
Before You Hit the Field
Mental Preparation:
Use Hikmah (wisdom)
in the choosing the
time, place, and
setting for Dawa
Your job is to convey,
not convert
Know your audience &
customize your Dawa
Show how Islam can
solve their problems
Do not to assume others’
beliefs and never tell
them what they believe
Avoid generalization
Don’t be distracted by
frivolous, secondary
issues. Focus on basics
Focus more on ‘Why’
Think out of the box.
Get creative
16. Dawa Essentials: Dawa Best Practices
Think beyond Street
Dawa. Be a Walking
Dawa and be ready to
share Islam anywhere!
Explore Soft Dawa.
Non-preachy, subtle
Dawa (eg. charity &
cultural celebrations)
goes a long way
Take Dawa to Social
Media!
17. Dawa Essentials: Dawa Best Practices
Presenting a Quran
copy may not always
be the best first Dawa
tool for everyone
Tawhid is crucial, but
need to be packaged
with issues that
matter to their lives
Use appropriate
translations for
Islamic terms
18. Dawa Essentials: Dawa Best Practices
There is a time and
place for Dawa
through debates,
literature, open
houses, cultural
festivals, lectures,
booths and street
Specialize in medium
& topics of Dawa
Don’t turn into a
Dawa crusader!
19. Dawa Essentials: Dawa Best Practices
Be prepared to
address atheists, as
many people don’t
believe in any faith
Start with common
grounds in arguments
Always be personable,
professional and
welcoming in
presentation, manners
& gestures
20. Dawa Essentials:
Ready for Hot Buttons & Attacks?
Violence, Terrorism &
Jihad
Oppression of Women
(Veil, Driving, Forced
Marriages, Education,
Leadership, Wife-
Beating, Honour
Killing)
Sharia & Punishment
Islam vs. Democracy
21. Dawa Essentials:
Ready for Hot Buttons & Attacks?
Polygamy
Religious Tolerance &
Freedom of Expression
Source of Quran
Prophet Muhammad’s
Wars & Marriages
Muslim = Arab
Muslims hate the West
22. Dawa Essentials: Beautiful Advice
“Dawa, prior to
everything, is a state of
mind, a world view, an
attitude to life, indeed a
kind of life. The critical
prerequisite to Dawa is a
consciousness, personal
and collective, imbued
with a true vision of
Dawa in Islam.”
- Ustadh Khurram Murad
Notas del editor
Online / Digital world is the most Power tool of Communication Today. Use it for benefit of Islam.
"Who is better than the one who invites others to Allah, does good deeds, and says (with confidence) 'I am of the believers'." (Surah Fussilat)
80% of Canadians aged 16 and older are online everyday.
“When a man dies, his good deeds come to an end except three: on going charity, beneficial knowledge and righteous offspring who will pray for him.” [Muslim]
More than 50% of our active users log on to Facebook in any given day
Average user is connected to 80 community pages, groups and events
More than 50% of our active users log on to Facebook in any given day
Average user is connected to 80 community pages, groups and events
“We cannot wait to become ‘purified’ and ‘perfect’. For, at no point in time can one consider oneself to be perfect.” – Khurram Murad
“O you who (claim) to believe! Why don't you practice what you preach?" (Quran 61:2). Thus, the least we can do is try our best to avoid acts, which we are not supposed to do!
“Ud’oo ilaa sabeeli Rabbika bil hikmati wa maw idatul hasanah..”
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.” – 16:125
Dawatul Irshad vs. Dawatut Tawfiq
“O you who (claim) to believe! Why don't you practice what you preach?" (Quran 61:2). Thus, the least we can do is try our best to avoid acts, which we are not supposed to do!
“O you who (claim) to believe! Why don't you practice what you preach?" (Quran 61:2). Thus, the least we can do is try our best to avoid acts, which we are not supposed to do!
Instead of using "Holy war" to translate the word, Jihad, use a more comprehensive and proper term, like, "struggle" or "striving". Similarly, avoid using or "being His slaves" for the word, Ibada. Instead it will be much more appealing to use, "service" or "obedience." Try to use a language that is more appealing to North Americans.
Instead of using "Holy war" to translate the word, Jihad, use a more comprehensive and proper term, like, "struggle" or "striving". Similarly, avoid using or "being His slaves" for the word, Ibada. Instead it will be much more appealing to use, "service" or "obedience." Try to use a language that is more appealing to North Americans.
Pique their curiosity
Let them see the human and genuine face of Islam