Inviting Others to Islam
Chapter 2
Means of Da'wah
44594: Advice to one who
slanders his Muslim brothers and accuses them
without any proof
Question:
Our Shaykh, I love you for the sake of Allaah
and I hope that you can tell me how to silence
those who slander the scholars. There are people
who accuse you of being extreme in labeling
others as kaafirs and of Qutbi (a group that
claims to base its ideas on the writings of
Sayyid Qutb) _ as they call it. What is your
answer? Please note that I am _ as Allaah knows
_ one of those who love you for the sake of
Allaah.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
May Allaah love you, for Whose sake you love
us, and may He bring us together in His mercy on
the Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will
avail, except him who brings to Allaah a clean
heart (cf. al-Shu'ara' 26:89).
With regard to what you have said in your
question, we advise you to keep away from
everyone who speaks about your Muslim brothers
or slanders them, or accuses them and casts
aspersion on their intentions. The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: "O you who have spoken the words of faith
but faith has not entered your hearts! Do not
backbite about the Muslims or seek our their
faults, for whoever seeks out their faults,
Allaah will seek out his faults even if he is
his house." Narrated by Abu Dawood, no. 4880;
classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.
It is also necessary for you to advise these
people to fear Allaah and refrain using such
labels and names that divide the Muslims. With
regard to offering advice and correcting
mistakes, this should not be done by means of
exposing people's faults or casting aspersions
on their intentions etc.
With regard to the issue of takfeer (labeling
people as kaafirs), this is subject to further
discussion. Describing as a kaafir one who has
been described as such by Allaah or by His
Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) is obligatory. Allaah has described some
groups as being kaafirs in His Book, as when He
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Surely, disbelievers are those who said:
`Allaah is the third of the three (in a
Trinity)'"
[al-Maa'idah 5:73]
"Surely, in disbelief are they who say that
Allaah is the Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary)"
[al-Maa'idah 5:17]
But it is haraam to label as a kaafir someone
whom Allaah and His Messenger (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not label
as such.
Shaykh Ibn `Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy
on him) said: Just as it is not permissible to
label a specific person as a kaafir unless the
conditions of labeling someone as such have been
met in his case, so too we should not shy away
from labeling as kaafirs those whom Allaah and
His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) have labeled as such. But we must
differentiate between what is specific and what
is general.
Sharh Kitaab al-Tawheed, 2/281.
See also question no. 21576.
And Allaah knows best.
Moreover, everyone who levels an accusation
against another person must provide proof:
"Say (O Muhammad), Produce your proof if you
are truthful"
[al-Baqarah 2:111]
"Since they produce not witnesses, they are
the liars in the sight of Allaah"
[al-Noor 24:13]
This problem is widespread among some of
those who claim to be religiously-guided, may
Allaah guide them, for they make accusations
against people on grounds that are not regarded
as something worthy of criticism in sharee'ah or
that do not undermine a person's religious
commitment.
Then they do not bring any proof of that, and
they follow their own whims and desires, because
it is human nature to appoint oneself as judge,
praising and condemning on a whim.
We must go against the whims and desires of
our own selves and measure people by the
criteria set out in Islam; we should make
mention of their good points and advise them
with regard to their mistakes.
And Allaah is the Source of strength.
Islam Q&A
(www.islam-qa.com)
11266: Ruling on taking
sinners as friends
Question:
Is it permissable for a man who practice
islam to talk, be friendly, and take a person
who is muslim by name alone who drinks alcohol
and does not pray as a friend and a helper? what
is the ruling regarding taking those who do not
practice their religion and go directly agains
allah's commandments as friends and helpers?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Sins are of two types:
1 _ Those which constitute kufr and put a
person beyond the pale of Islam _ we seek refuge
with Allaah. The one who commits such sins is a
kaafir who is beyond the pale of Islam if the
conditions for describing him as a kaafir are
met and there are no impediments to doing so _
such as one who associates others in worship
with Allaah, or does not pray at all, and so on.
2 _ Sins which do not constitute kufr and do
not put a person beyond the pale of Islam, but
the one who does them is described as faasiq
(rebellious evildoer) and a believer who is
lacking in faith, such as zina (illicit sexual
relationships), drinking alcohol and so on, if
he does not regard these actions as permissible.
If he does regard them as permissible, then this
puts him beyond the pale of Islam, if the
conditions for describing him as a kaafir are
met and there are no impediments to doing so.
The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah and
the consensus of the salaf is that a person who
commits a major sin but does not regard it as
permissible is not to be regarded as a kaafir.
For more information see the answer to question
no. 9924.
Once this is understood, then the ruling on
making friends with people is based on the
above.
It is not permissible to take kaafirs as
close friends, or to mix with them and feel
friendly towards them, or to live amongst them
and take them as friends, or to love them, or to
prefer them over the believers and so on. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"You (O Muhammad) will not find any people
who believe in Allaah and the Last Day, making
friendship with those who oppose Allaah and His
Messenger (Muhammad), even though they were
their fathers or their sons or their brothers or
their kindred (people). For such He has written
Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them
with Rooh (proofs, light and true guidance) from
Himself. And He will admit them to Gardens
(Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell
therein (forever). Allaah is pleased with them,
and they with Him. They are the party of Allaah.
Verily, it is the party of Allaah that will be
the successful"
[al-Mujaadilah 58:22]
But we are obliged to treat them fairly and
justly, and not wrong them or commit acts of
aggression against them with no shar'i reason.
It is permissible to interact with them by
buying, selling, lending, etc. It is narrated in
saheeh reports that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) borrowed a
weapon from Safwaan ibn Umayyah, and that he
bought food from the Jews.
With regard to sinning Muslims, we should
love them according to the faith that they have,
and hate them according to the sins and immoral
actions they commit, but being friends with them
goes against the words of the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him): "The likeness
of a good companion and a bad companion is that
of a perfume seller and one who works the
bellows. With the perfume seller, either he will
give you something or you will buy something
from him, or you will notice a good smell from
him, but with the one who works the bellows,
either he will burn your clothes or you notice a
bad smell from him." Narrated by Muslim, no.
2628.
But if the intention behind sitting with this
person is to soften his heart and call him to
Allaah, and guide him to the right path, then
this is a virtuous action, as 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"
[Fussilat 41:33]
But this is subject to the condition that he
should not have any effect on you or cause you
any harm when you are seeking good.
Based on the above, if the person you are
asking about does not pray at all, then he is a
kaafir, because the most correct scholarly view,
which is the view of the salaf, if that the one
who does not pray is a kaafir in the sense of
major kufr, and is beyond the pale of Islam. For
more information on the evidence on that, please
see questions no. 2182, 5208,
6035, 33007, 10094. Based
on this, it is not permissible to befriend him
or be close to him, rather he should be called
to repent to Allaah and pray regularly. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"But if they repent [by rejecting Shirk
(polytheism) and accept Islamic Monotheism],
perform As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah) and give
Zakaah, then they are your brethren in religion"
[al-Tawbah 9:11]
It should be noted that keeping company with
good people is something enjoined by our Lord,
may He be exalted, and our Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him), as mentioned
in the hadeeth quoted above. And Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"O you who believe! Fear Allaah, and be
with those who are true (in words and deeds)"
[al-Tawbah 9:119]
"And keep yourself (O Muhammad) patiently
with those who call on their Lord (i.e. your
companions who remember their Lord with
glorification, praising in prayers, and other
righteous deeds) morning and afternoon, seeking
His Face"
[al-Kahf 18:28]
And Allaah knows best.
For more information see Fataawa al-Shaykh
Ibn `Uthaymeen, 3/31.
Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)
22154: How to serve Islam
Question:
I want to serve my religion, what should I
do?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
1 _ You can serve Islam by having a correct
resolve and sincere intention, for Allaah
blesses an action that is done sincerely for His
sake alone, even if it is little. Sincere
devotion, if it becomes a constant feature of
acts of worship and obedience, even if they are
small or simple in the sight of the one who does
them, makes them great in the sight of Allaah,
so Allaah will forgive him for major sins
because of that, as it says in the hadeeth about
the piece of paper on which is written La ilaaha
ill-Allaah.
2 _ You can serve Islam by knowing the right
way and following it. The Straight Path means
following the way of our Prophet Muhammad (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) with regard
to the principles, ways and means of da'wah and
being patient in adhering to that, whilst
treating people with kindness and compassion,
because they are suffering from the disease of
sin.
3 _ You can serve Islam by making the most of
all available means and circumstances. This is a
great blessing, for all means are permissible
except those which have been forbidden by
Allaah. So we call people to Allaah by all means
prescribed in sharee'ah, whilst paying attention
to the evidence of sharee'ah and correct
etiquette.
4 _ You can serve Islam by giving precedence
to that which is in the interests of Islam over
your own whims and desires. Serving this
religion means giving what is most precious of
your money, effort, time, thought, etc. Have you
not seen those who love sport (football or
soccer) for example, how they devote their
efforts, time and money to their beloved sport?
But more is expected of you than that.
5 _ You can serve Islam by following in the
footsteps of the scholars, daa'iyahs and
reformers, having patience as your companion and
putting up with tiredness and exhaustion. For
you are doing a great act of worship which is
the mission of the Prophets and Messengers and
those who follow in their footsteps.
6 _ You can serve Islam by shunning laziness,
weakness and apathy, for this religion is the
religion of resolve, ambition and courage, and
its call is only harmed by laziness or reckless
ignorance.
7 _ You can serve Islam by connecting your
heart to Allaah and reciting a lot of du'aa' and
prayers for forgiveness, and persisting in
reading Qur'aan. There is nothing that is more
effective in cleansing the heart and refreshing
the soul, and making it active and energetic so
that it will not get tired or bored, than
remembering Allaah much and drawing nearer to
Him by means of obeying Him and doing naafil
(supererogatory) acts of worship.
8 _ You can serve Islam by forming bonds with
scholars who practise what they preach, those
who are known to be sincere and who are well
established in jihad and supporting this
religion. Marching under their banner and
following their lead is very good and
beneficial.
9 _ You can serve Islam by organizing your
time on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. There
are actions which should be done every day,
others which should be done every week, and
others which should be done every month or every
year.
For example, you should make da'wah to those
whom you see every day and to those whom you see
once a week. You may have a family gathering
once a month, and there may be annual
conferences, or journeys for Hajj or `Umrah once
a year, and so on.
10 _ You can serve Islam by paying it some
attention and giving it some of your time,
thoughts and money, and making it your main
concern. So when you stand up, it is for Islam;
when you walk, it is for Islam; when you think,
it is for Islam; when you give, it is for Islam;
when you sit, it is for Islam.
11 _ you can serve Islam by hastening to
contribute every time you find an opportunity to
do good. Do not hesitate or delay or put it off.
From Kayfa akhdim al-Islam by `Abd al-Malik
al-Qaasim, p. 18. (www.islam-qa.com)
40040: Her husband is
threatening to divorce her if she does not watch
pornographic movies with him
Question:
A woman's husband tries to force her to watch
pornographic movies with her and she refuses to
do that and tries to stop him; she told him to
choose between her and these movies and he chose
the movies instead of her, What should she do _
when he has threatened to divorce her if she
does not watch these movies with him? What
advice do you give her? Should she watch them or
get a divorce _ especially since she has three
children with him?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Allaah has commanded the Muslim to protect
himself and his family from the Fire. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O you who believe! Ward off yourselves
and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose
fuel is men and stones, over which are
(appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who
disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they
receive from Allaah, but do that which they are
commanded"
[al-Tahreem 66:6]
Allaah has put the wife and children under
the care and protection of the husband, and he
will be asked about them on the Day of
Resurrection. It was narrated from Ibn `Umar
that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: "Each of you is a shepherd
and each of you is responsible for his flock.
The ruler is a shepherd and is responsible for
his flock; the man is the shepherd of his family
members and is responsible for them; the woman
is the shepherd of her husband's house and
children and is responsible for them; the slave
is the shepherd of his master's wealth and is
responsible for it. Each of you is a shepherd
and each of you is responsible for his flock."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 853; Muslim, 1829.
Allaah has warned those who betray this trust
and do not protect their families as required,
that they will be denied Paradise. It was
narrated that Ma'qal ibn Yassaar said: The
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: "There is no person
whom Allaah appoints in charge of some flock and
he is not sincere towards them, but he will not
smell the fragrance of Paradise."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6731; Muslim, 142.
What this husband is doing, watching
pornographic movies, is an evil and a great sin.
It is not permissible for him to do that, let
alone force someone else to do it.
If the husband calls his wife to watch these
movies, it is not permissible for her to obey
him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: "There is no obedience
if it involves disobeying Allaah, rather
obedience is only with regard to that which is
right and proper." Narrated by al-Bukhaari,
7257; Muslim, 1840.
The husband's threat of divorce does not
count as a legitimate excuse for her, and is not
regarded as her being forced to do it. Rather
she should advise him in the way that is better.
If he responds and gives up the evil that he is
doing, this is something good that he is doing
for himself, and she will be rewarded for that.
If he refuses to respond to the command of
Allaah to lower the gaze and avoid looking at
haraam things, then it is not permissible for
her to obey him in committing sin, and she
should not trust him with regard to herself or
her children, and Allaah will compensate her
with someone better than him, in sha Allaah.
In the answer to question no. 12301
there is a statement of the shar'i ruling on
watching these movies.
In the answer to question no. 7669
there is a description of ways of advising and
guiding this husband.
If the husband does not pray, it is not
permissible for the wife to hesitate in asking
for an annulment of the marriage. We have
discussed the ruling on staying with a husband
who does not pray in the answer to question no.
4501 and 5281.
And Allaah knows best. Islam Q&A
(www.islam-qa.com)
27170: Is it permissible to
offer money to a person on the condition that he
does a good deed?
Question:
Is it permissible to offer money to a person
on the condition that he does a good deed ? For
example, can I say to a Muslim uncle, I will
give you 500 Dirhams if you grow and keep a
beard ?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
It seems that there is nothing wrong with
doing that. Allaah has enjoined certain actions
upon His slaves, and has promised a great reward
in this world for doing them, so as to encourage
people to do them. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his
duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get
out (from every difficulty).
And He will provide him from (sources) he
never could imagine"
[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: "Whoever would like his
provision in this world to be increased and his
life span to be extended, let him uphold the
ties of kinship." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5986;
Muslim, 2557.
As a way of encouraging righteous deeds, the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) gave permission for the one who killed a
kaafir on the battelefield to take his spoils.
It was narrated that Abu Qutaadah (may Allaah
be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said, during the year of Hunayn: "Whoever
kills an enemy and has proof of that will have
his spoils." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2973;
Muslim, 1751.
"Spoils" here refers to the money, luggage,
clothing and weapons that a fighter has with
him.
And the scholars regarded it as permissible
to offer prizes for memorizing soorahs from the
Qur'aan or ahaadeeth, or for winning a contest
of knowledge.
The scholars of the Standing Committee were
asked:
What is the ruling on receiving prizes for
Qur'aan memorization contests?
They replied:
There is nothing wrong with that, and there
is no difference between men and women in this
regard.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 4/126
This has to do with giving and offering: it
is permissible to offer and give money to one
who lets his beard grow or does other things
required by sharee'ah.
But with regard to the one who takes that
money: if he let his beard grow in order to take
the prize, then he will not be rewarded for his
action, but if the prize motivated him to fulfil
the command of Allaah, or if he started because
of the prize and then changed his intention
after that and adhered to (following the
ruling), then he will be rewarded for that in
which his intention was sound, and it will not
matter that at first he was doing it for the
prize.
It was narrated from Anas that a man asked
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) for sheep between two mountains and he
gave them to him, then he went to his people and
said, "O my people, become Muslims, for by
Allaah Muhammad gives generously and he does not
fear poverty."
Anas said: People would become Muslim only
for worldly gains, but as soon as they became
Muslim Islam became dearer to them than this
world and everything in it.
Narrated by Muslim, 2312.
Al-Nawawi said:
This is how it appears in most copies: "fa ma
yuslim (as soon as [they] became Muslim)." In
some copies it says "fa ma yumsi (before the day
ended)." Both are correct. The first means that
shortly after they became Muslim, Islam became
dearer to them, i.e., at first they professed
Islam for worldly purposes, with no sound
intention in their hearts, then by the blessing
of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) and the light of Islam, their hearts
were soon opened to true faith which took root
in their hearts, and then Islam became dearer to
them than this world and everything in it.
Sharh Muslim, 15/72, 73.
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)
39349: Mixing with the
Tableeghi Jama'at and going out with them
Question:
Is it permissible to mix with the Tableeghi
Jama'at in order to learn from them and do dhikr
only?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
The Tableeghi Jama'at (Jamaa'at al-Tableegh)
is one of the da'wah groups that is striving to
spread Islam and call people to it. It has
played a good role in calling sinners and those
who have deviated by spending time and money,
and putting up with the difficulties of
travelling etc.
But looking at some of the mistaken ideas and
objectionable beliefs that have been quoted from
some of the shaykhs of this group, some of the
scholars have ruled that no one should go out
with them except seekers of knowledge [taalib
al-`ilm] who should go with the aim of
teaching and guiding them.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on
him) was asked the following question: I went
out with the Tableeghi Jamaa'at to India and
Pakistan. We used to gather and pray in mosques
in which there are graves, and I heard that
prayers offered in mosques in which there are
graves are invalid. What is your opinion on my
prayers, and should I repeat them? What is the
ruling on going out with them to these places?
He replied:
The Tableeghi Jama'ah does not have a clear
idea on matters of `aqeedah, so it is not
permissible for anyone to go out with them apart
from the one who has knowledge and understanding
of the correct `aqeedah followed by Ahl
al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah, so that he can teach
them, advise them and cooperate with them for
good purposes, because they are very active, but
they need more knowledge and they need scholars
who know about Tawheed and the Sunnah to teach
them. May Allaah help us all to understand His
religion properly and adhere to it steadfastly…
Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz,
8/331
If the members of this group with whom you
are in contact follow sound `aqeedah and have
knowledge, then there is nothing wrong with your
cooperating with them and attending their
gatherings.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on
him) was asked:
We are living in the desert. Some of us have
settled here and some are working to earn a
halaal income. A group from the Tableeghi
Jama'at came to us, some of whom we know
personally and are sure that their intentions
are sincere, but they are not scholars; and some
of them are scholars who call us to go out to
the villages around us, and say that we should
spend so many days or weeks or months doing
that. We have not seen anything wrong with the
dhikr circles that they hold. Is it permissible
to listen to them or to go out with them to the
neighbouring villages or outside the Kingdom
(Saudi Arabia)?
He replied:
If the people mentioned are known to have
sound `aqeedah and knowledge and to be virtuous
and good people, then there is nothing wrong
with cooperating with them in calling people to
Allaah and teaching and advising them, because
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Help you one another in AlBirr and
AtTaqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety)"
[al-Maa'idah 5:2]
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever guides others
to do something good, he will have a reward like
that of the one who does it."
May Allaah guide us all.
Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh, 9/307
And Allaah knows best. Islam Q&A
(www.islam-qa.com)
3007: A list of brief Islamic
sayings for sending to one's friends
Question:
On a daily basis I send out short
enlightening phrases/verses from hadeeth to my
friends via SMS (text message) to their cellular
phones. I am in search of short
phrases/quotes/verses which are islamic. Could
you please send me a list or refer me to a
website where I can find some. My friends have
become accostomed to recieving their daily
quote..etc and I have noticed that these quotes
have had a positive influence on them and would
like to continue doing this. Your response to my
request will be appreciated
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
May Allaah reward you for your great efforts
to call your brothers to Allaah and advise and
remind them by means of these brief Islamic
quotations. There follows a list of some wise
sayings and general rules, taken from the
Qur'aan, Sunnah and words of Muslim wise men.
Translations of the meanings of quotations from
the Qur'aan appear in italics, quotations
from saheeh ahaadeeth appear in quotation marks
("") and other quotations appear without any
such marks.
And whenever you give your word, say the
truth [al-An'aam 6:152]
And seek help in patience and prayer
[al-Baqarah 2:45]
And speak good to people [al-Baqarah 2:83]
And fulfil the Covenant of Allaah when you
have covenanted [al-Nahl 16:91]
Verily! Allaah commands that you should
render back the trusts to those to whom they are
due
[al-Nisa' 4:58]
And let not your hand be tied (like a miser)
to your neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost
reach (like a spendthrift)
[al-Isra' 17:29]
Eat and drink, but waste not by extravagance
[al-A'raaf 7:31]
And take a provision (with you) for the
journey, but the best provision is al-taqwa
(piety, righteousness)
[al-Baqarah 2:197]
And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty
to Him, He will make a way for him to get out
(from every difficulty)
[al-Talaaq 65:2]
And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then
He will suffice him [al-Talaaq 65:3]
He who obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed
Allaah [al-Nisa' 4:80]
By no means shall you attain al-birr
(righteousness) until you spend (in Allaah's
cause) of that which you love
[Aal `Imraan 3:92]
Allaah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He
is the Best Disposer of Affairs (for us)
[Aal `Imraan 3:171]
And walk not on the earth with conceit and
arrogance
[al-Isra' 17:37]
And turn not your face away from men with
pride [Luqmaan 31:18]
And be moderate (or show no arrogance) in
your walking, and lower your voice
[Luqmaan 31:19]
And give not a thing in order to have more
(or consider not your deeds of obedience to
Allaah as a favour to Allaah)
[al-Muddaththir 74:6]
"Pay attention to Allaah and He will pay
attention to you."
"If you feel no shame, then do as you wish."
"Make sure your food is good (halaal and
bought with halaal earnings), and you will be
one whose prayers are answered."
"Fear Allaah wherever you may be."
"Follow up a bad deed with a good deed, to
cancel it out."
"Mix with people with a good attitude."
"Keep away from prohibited things and you
will be the best of worshippers."
"Be content with what Allaah has given you,
and you will be the richest of people."
"Love for other people what you love for
yourself."
"Do not laugh too much, for excessive
laughter deadens the heart."
"Wrongdoing will be multiple darkness on the
Day of Resurrection."
"Fear Allaah and treat all your children
fairly."
"Fear the Fire, even if by giving half a date
(in charity)."
"Fear the prayer of the oppressed."
"The thing that weighs most heavily in the
balance (of good deeds) is a good attitude."
"Deliberation is from Allaah, haste is from
Shaytaan."
"The less your wealth, the less you will be
called to account for."
"Do not become angry, and Paradise will be
yours."
"The most beloved of deeds to Allaah is the
one that is continuous, even if it is little."
"The most beloved of places to Allaah are the
mosques."
"The most hated of places to Allaah are the
marketplaces."
"The most beloved of food to Allaah is that
which is touched by many hands (i.e., shared
among many people)."
"The most beloved of speech to Allaah is that
a person should say, `Subhaan Allaah wa bi
hamdih (Glory and praise be to Allaah)'."
"The most beloved of people to Allaah is the
one who is most helpful."
"The most beloved deed to Allaah is making a
Muslim happy."
"Whoever restrains his anger, Allaah will
conceal his faults."
"A bad attitude spoils a good deed just as
vinegar spoils honey."
"The most beloved of people to Allaah are
those who have the best attitudes."
"Beware of this world, for it is sweet and
tempting."
"Control your tongue."
"Trim your moustaches and let your beards
grow."
"Give back the things you have been entrusted
with to the person who entrusted them to you."
"Do not betray the one who betrays you."
"Pray to Allaah and be confident of a
response."
"Cheer people up, do not put them off."
"Make things easy for people, not difficult."
"Eat with your right hand and eat from what
is in front of you."
"If Allaah gives you wealth, let the blessing
of Allaah be seen on you."
"If someone who is distinguished among his
own people comes to you, then honour him."
"If one with whose religion and character you
are pleased comes to you (to seek your
daughter's hand in marriage), then marry (your
daughter) to him."
"If Allaah wills good to the people of a
household, He guides them to be gentle."
"If you do something bad, follow it by doing
something good."
"If you feel uncomfortable about something,
then leave it alone."
"If you judge (between people), then judge
fairly."
"If you enter a house, greet the inhabitants
with salaam."
"If you are reminded of Allaah, stop what you
are doing (of sin)."
"If Allaah sends you some provision without
you looking forward to it or asking others for
it, then take it."
"If you ask Allaah for anything, then ask Him
for al-Firdaws (the highest level of Paradise)."
"If your good deeds please you and your bad
deeds upset you, then you are a mu'min
(believer)."
"If you hear the call to prayer, then respond
to the one who is calling you to Allaah."
"If you hear the call to prayer, then say
something like the muezzin says."
"If any one of you becomes angry, let him
keep silent."
"If a man becomes angry and says `A'oodhu
Billaah (I seek refuge with Allaah),' his
anger will cease."
"If a man says `Ya seedi (sir)' to a
munaafiq (hypocrite), he earns the wrath
of his Lord."
"When you stand up to pray, pray as if it is
your last prayer."
"When you get dressed and when you do wudoo',
start on the right."
"When any one of you meets his brother, let
him greet him with salaam."
"Remember death when you are praying."
"Show mercy towards those who are on earth so
that the One Who is in heaven will show mercy to
you."
"Renounce pleasure in worldly things and
Allaah will love you."
"Show disinterest in what people have and
people will love you."
"Feel properly shy and modest before Allaah."
Protect "the head and what does through it
(thoughts and ideas)."
Protect "the stomach and what goes into it."
"Seek help in whatever you do by being
discreet."
"Everyone who is given a blessing will be
envied."
"No one can keep their wudoo' except a
believer."
"The worst thief among people is the one who
steals from his prayer, by not doing rukoo' and
sujood properly."
"Intercede and you will be rewarded."
"The most grateful of people to Allaah are
those who are most grateful to other people."
The trouble with beauty is feelings of
superiority.
The trouble with generosity is extravagance.
The trouble with noble descent is pride.
The trouble with knowledge is forgetfulness.
"Give to the one who denied you."
"Uphold ties with the one who cuts you off."
"Forgive the one who does you wrong."
May Allaah have mercy on the person who said
"Good" and was rewarded or who remained silent
and was safe.
Wine is the key to all evil.
The one who is more daring in giving fatwas
is more deserving of Hell.
Love the poor and mix with them.
It is better to err in forgiving than to err
in punishment.
Do not judge between people when you are
angry.
If you want to count the faults of anyone
else, count your own faults instead.
If you commit a sin, say
"Astaghfir-Allaah (I ask Allaah for
forgiveness)."
If you are given a blessing, say,
"Al-Hamdu Lillaah (praise be to Allaah)."
If some disaster befalls you, say, "Innaa
Lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji'oon (Truly,
to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall
return)."
Seek rizq (provision) by giving charity
"Give food to others and speak good."
"Seek a response to du'aa's when the iqaamah
for prayer is given and when rain is falling."
The people with the longest necks on the Day
of Resurrection will be the muezzins.
"Worship Allaah as if you see Him."
"The most helpless of people are those who
cannot make du'aa'."
"The most miserly of people are those who are
stingy with their salaams (i.e., do not greet
others)."
"Pay the hired worker his wages before his
sweat dries."
"Tie up (your camel) [i.e., take the
necessary precautions], and put your trust in
Allaah."
"Make the most of your life before your
death."
Make the most of "your health before your
sickness."
Make the most of "your free time before you
become busy."
Make the most of "your wealth before you
become poor."
Make the most of "your youth before you
become old."
"The best of dhikr is `La ilaaha
ill-Allaah.'"
"The best of sadaqah (charity) is that
given by one who has little."
"The upper hand (the one that gives) is
better than the lower hand (the one that
takes)."
The best of earnings is a good sale.
"The best of the believers is one who is best
in attitude."
"The best of the muhaajireen is the one who
forsakes (hajara) that which Allaah has
prohibited."
"The best type of jihaad is the jihaad of the
one who strives against his own self (jihaad
al-nafs) for the sake of Allaah."
"Read the Qur'aan throughout every month."
"Read the Qur'aan, for it will come and
intercede for its readers on the Day of
Resurrection."
"Pray for Allaah to keep you safe and sound."
"Most of the sins committed by the son of
Adam are sins of the tongue."
"Repeat often `Laa hawla wa laa quwwata
illa billaah (there is no power or strength
except with Allaah)', for it is from the
treasure of Paradise."
"Always remember the destroyer of joy
(physical pleasure): death."
"Lower your gaze and guard your private
parts."
"There is no goodness in the one who is not
friendly or likeable."
"Stay with her (the mother), for Paradise is
under her feet."
"Keep saying `Yaa Dhaa'l-jalaali
wa'l-ikraam (O Possessor of Glory and
Honour)'" i.e., keep repeating it persistently.
"Islam cancels out what came before it (of
sins)."
"Every bid'ah (innovation) is a going astray
and every going astray will end in Hell."
"Control your tongue, let your house be
enough for you, and weep for your sins."
"(Take care of) your mother, then your
mother, then your mother, then your father, then
other relatives in order of closeness."
"Feed the poor and pat the head of the orphan
(i.e., show compassion)."
"The one who points the way to good deeds is
like the one who does them."
This is a list of useful sayings and general
rules, which we ask Allaah to make of benefit to
people. When you have finished sending them out,
if you would like more, just let us know so that
we can compile some more. And Allaah is the
Source of strength.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
(www.islam-qa.com)
12913: Advice for daa'iyahs
travelling abroad
Question:
We are young men who are travelling to the
west to call people to Allaah. We hope that you
could give us some advice that will help us
during our trip. May Allaah preserve you and
take care of you.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Calling people to Allaah is one of the most
essential duties, and it is the way of the
Prophets and Messengers and their followers,
namely the scholars, daa'iyahs and reformers.
Hoping that you will be able to fulfil the
purpose of your da'wah trip and make the most of
your precious time with which you seek to earn
reward from Allaah, we offer you the following
advice:
1 _ Fear Allaah (taqwa) and be aware that He
is watching you in secret and in public. The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "Fear Allaah wherever you may be…"
(narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1910; classed as
saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh
al-Tirmidhi, 1618). Fearing Allaah is the
main thing, and it is the means of being granted
strength in this world and reward in the
Hereafter. And seek reward with Allaah and have
sincerity of intention towards Allaah in all
that you say and do. "Actions are but by
intentions and every man shall have but that
which he intended." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1;
Muslim, 3530). These are things which will help
the daa'iyah and make his actions blessed, just
as fearing Allaah is the main thing, and it is
the means of being granted strength in this
world and reward in the Hereafter.
2 _ Be a good example in your words,
appearance, eating and sleeping. In all of that,
follow the example of the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) in his words
and actions.
3 _ Strive to lower your gaze, especially in
countries where display of women's charms is
prevalent and there is no veiling.
4 _ It is preferable to wear Arabic clothing
because that serves many interests. It is not
preferable to wear European clothing. With
regard to what is said about the dangers of
wearing Arabic clothing abroad, these are merely
rumours and have no basis in reality. One may
take off the headcover and wear only the cap if
necessary.
5 _ The siwaak is one of the Sunnahs of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) and it is rare in most countries, so it is
a gift which will be appreciated by many
Muslims.
6 _ Use your hand-luggage for clothes,
because it is possible that luggage may be lost
in those countries. This also frees up room in
your suitcases for the books you will need.
Change your money into dollars so that you will
have it available to spend during your trip.
7 _ Take all the necessary precautions before
travelling, such as vaccinations against the
diseases that are prevalent in the countries to
which you are travelling. Take the yellow
international vaccination card with you.
8 _ Take all the addresses that you will need
with you, such as the addresses of the embassies
of some Arab and Muslim countries, and the
addresses of well known and trustworthy Islamic
centers and organizations.
Beware of giving the impression to the
Muslims with whom you mix that you have come to
offer them material help, because this opens the
door to requests for help and personal demands.
Indeed, some people may think that you have a
lot of money with you and will lie in wait to do
you harm. But this does not mean that you cannot
take some zakaah and charity with you, to give
to needy people once you are sure of their need,
but this must be done with caution and secretly.
9 _ Do not indulge in unnecessary talk, and
beware of referring to matters of marriage, even
in a joking manner, especially with
interpreters. There have been unfortunate cases
where some daa'iyahs got married at the
beginning of their trips and got divorced at the
end, which has led to tarnishing of the
reputation of the daa'iayahs and neglect of
children and wives.
10 _ Equip yourself with the following:
· A pocket-sized copy of the Qur'aan,
preferably with a translation of the meanings
and footnotes describing the reasons for
revelation.
· A book or two about `aqeedah (beliefs,
doctrines), especially Tawheed (Divine Oneness)
and refutation of misguided groups such as the
Sufi tareeqahs.
· One or two books on the fiqh of worship,
especially the fiqh of tahaarah (purity), prayer
and fasting.
· Riyaadh al-Saaliheen by Imam
al-Nawawi, which is a comprehensive resource,
especially which regard to the fiqh of tahaarah
and fasting.
· Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah
(fatwas of the Standing Committee)
· A selection of lessons and lectures
recorded on tapes, so that one may make use of
them especially during long car journeys.
· Keep with you a compass for determining the
direction of the Qiblah and an alarm clock. It
is preferable to buy a small tape recorder to
record some words and interviews with local
inhabitants when necessary, as well as da'wah
meetings.
The things mentioned above will help the
daa'iyah to prepare talks, lessons and lectures,
and to answer questions. It will also help him
to organize his time and make the most of it, in
sha Allah.
11 _ Use your time as much as possible to
benefit the da'wah, so that your visit will be a
gain for the Muslims in that country. Make the
most of every opportunity to do good and do not
hesitate. That should be done by coordinating
with the brothers in charge of organizing.
12 _ When discussing any topic or issue, pay
attention to the fact that people may be lacking
in knowledge or ignorant, and that there may be
differences of madhhabs. Avoid indulging in
controversial issues or stereotyping people, and
try to explain the truth without criticizing
individuals.
13 _ Wisdom is one of the most important
basics in calling people to Allaah, especially
when travelling. It is essential when
prioritizing and outlining the steps to be taken
to achieve one's goals, and it is also required
when dealing with different types of people. It
is wise to show due respect to people according
to their status and to acknowledge their
positions.
14 _ The daa'iyah will find that some
questions of fiqh are posed to him during his
trip, especially after giving lessons and talks.
He should be deal with this matter in a proper
way, replying to questions with evidence and
quoting the words of the scholars, or else
saying "I don't know". It was said that "the one
who says `I don't know' has issued a fatwa
(answered the question)." There is nothing to
stop you delaying giving an answer until you
have had time to review the matter.
15 _ It is better for the members of the
group to take turns in giving lessons and talks.
We do not think that only one person should take
all the responsibility so that he becomes the
mufti and khateeb and preacher, even if he is
more capable, because one of the aims of these
trips is to offer practical da'wah training to
the daa'iyahs. These trips offer a valuable
opportunity for training in preaching and giving
khutbahs, especially for brothers who find it
difficult to do that in their home country
because there are so many scholars and seekers
of knowledge there.
16 _ Getting to know about the situation of
the Muslims, by finding out about the Islamic
situation in general and the situation of local
Islamic organizations and institutions, both
official and non-official, in particular;
writing down their addresses and reports on
their activities; finding out about prominent
and influential Muslim personalities in the
society; attempting to win them over by visiting
them and speaking to them nicely, so as to
advance the cause of Islam and the Muslims. All
of this must be done within the guidelines of
sharee'ah. We must also try to find out about
anti-Islamic activities in the region.
17 _ Strengthening ties with official
religious bodies, by holding friendly meetings,
giving gifts of Islamic books and audio
materials, etc. This will make your work much
easier for you and will be more effective in
spreading the message.
Finally, we ask Allaah to give you strength
and make you steadfast. Peace be upon you, and
the mercy and blessings of Allaah.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
(www.islam-qa.com)
10219: Should we call people
who do actions of Shirk to Tawheed only?
Question:
In the regions where there are shrines and
people visit graves, should we call them to
Tawheed only, or should we call them to Tawheed
and all the matters of religion, such as doing
the salaah properly and other matters? Does the
same also apply in cases where people are not
doing actions of Shirk but are committing some
sins?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
When making da'wah, it is essential to pay
attention to the circumstances of the people
whom one is calling. If they have fallen into
Shirk, then we should start by forbidding
Shirk and enjoining Tawheed, then enjoin all the
other matters of religion. Whoever is free of
Shirk but is still committing some sins should
be told not to commit those sins, and should be
enjoined to repent.
From Fataawaa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 12/245
(www.islam-qa.com)
10261: With what should the
daa'iyah start calling people to Islam?
Question:
The Islamic groups here differ as to what the
daa'iyahs should start with _ should they start
with the political aspects of Islam, or the
beliefs, or the morals? What matters do you
think we should start with?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
It is prescribed to start with `aqeedah
(belief, tenets of faith), as the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and all the
Messengers did, and because of the hadeeth of
Mu'aah, [in which the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to him,
when he sent him to Yemen]:
"You will come to some of the people of the
Book. When you reach them, invite them to
testify that there is no god except Allaah and
that Muhammad is His Messenger. If they obey you
in that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined
on them five prayers every day and night. If
they obey you in that, then tell them that Allah
has enjoined on them Sadaqah (i.e. Zakaah) to be
taken from the rich among them and given to the
poor among them. If they obey you in that, then
exercise caution and do not take their best
properties (as Zakaah). Fear the invocation
(du'aa') of the oppressed person, for there is
no barrier between his invocation and Allaah."
This is if the people who are being called
are kaafirs (non-Muslims). If, however, the
people who are being called are Muslims, then
they should be taught about the aspects of their
religion of which they are ignorant and where
they are falling short, so you should start with
the most important, then the next most
important, and so on.
From Fataawaa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 12/238
(www.islam-qa.com)
10108: Is it permissible to
go into churches for the purpose of da'wah, or
just to look around?
Question:
There are many churches here. Is it
permissible to go into them to hold discussions
with the priests there? Is it permissible to go
in just to look at them and see what the people
do there?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
It is permissible for scholars and
knowledgeable people to enter churches in order
to call the people there to Islam. But we should
not enter them just to look around, because
there is no benefit in doing so, and there is
the fear that the Muslim may be influenced by
them, especially if he is ignorant about his own
religion and cannot refute the confusion that
they will direct towards him.
From Fataawaa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 13/257
(www.islam-qa.com)
10210: How can a woman
engage in da'wah outside the home?
Question:
Can a woman do da'wah outside her home, and
how?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
A woman can do da'wah inside her home, with
her husband and mahrams, men and women alike.
She can also do da'wah outside the home, to
other women, so long as this does not involve
travelling without her husband or mahram, and
there is no fear of fitnah (temptation), and
this is done with the husband's permission if
she is married and there is a need for that, and
this does not lead to her neglecting her primary
duties, which are towards her own family.
From Fataawaa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah,
12/249-250 (www.islam-qa.com)
3690: Ruling on not doing
some mustahabb deeds in order to open the hearts
of the people of bid'ah whom one is calling to
Islam
Question:
I will inshaa'Allaah be travelling to get
married and the place where i am going has many
ignorant people who follow bidah. can i make
adjustments to my conduct and saying to avoid
fitna and to concentrate on more fundemental
issues. for example the people do not understand
tawheed and i would rarther talk about this then
defend myself why i raise my hands or move my
finger or other aspects of the sunnah.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly, if you are doing an action which is
proven to be part of the Sunnah of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), it
is not right to say that you want to make some
changes to it, because it is right and proper in
and of itself. But the reason behind your
question seems to be that you want to keep from
doing it openly in front of some people for a
specific purpose, or to avoid a specific evil.
Secondly, talking about Tawheed and basic
matters of `aqeedah and teaching people about
these things among the people you describe, is
undoubtedly more important. Tawheed is the key
to the call of the Messengers (peace be upon
them) and the first duty of the one who is
accountable. It is the condition for all other
deeds to be accepted. If it is clear to you, or
you believe it to be most likely that adhering
to some mustahabb actions, such as moving your
finger etc., may cause confusion or fitnah, or
cause you trouble, or damage your reputation so
that people are put off you and do not listen to
you, or distract the people you are addressing
from what is more important, then there is
nothing wrong with not doing it for this reason
in these circumstances. Allaah knows best what
your intention is, and that you are not giving
it up out of negligence, but in the interests of
spreading Islam, so you will be rewarded for
this, in sha Allah. May Allaah bless our Prophet
Muhammad.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
(www.islam-qa.com)
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Introduction