Calling to Islam - the duty of every Muslim

⦁⦁ Calling to Islam - the duty of every Muslim

While all the messengers appointed by Allah were charged by Him with the responsibility to disseminate the revealed guidance with which they were entrusted, their respective nations too, were called upon to share in the fulfilment of Allah’s orders. Allah reminds us in the Holy Quran with (what means): “And [mention, O Muhammad], when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying]: 'You must make it clear [i.e., explain it] to the people and not conceal it.'…”[Quran: 3:187]
The position of the Muslim Ummah (nation), in this respect, is clear in the Quran, where Allah states (what means): “You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong…” [Quran: 3:110]
Thus, Allah Almighty has honoured this Muslim Ummah by appointing it to share in the noble cause of its Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention) by inviting people to follow the straight path. The Quran further stresses (what means): “The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong…” [Quran: 9:71] while: “The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right…” [Quran: 9:71]
Hence, the truth emerges clearly that to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong constitutes a fundamental difference between a believer and a hypocrite, who pretends to be a believer when he is quite the reverse. Consequently, all members of the Muslim Ummah, men and women alike, are individually responsible to further the cause of Islam with the zeal, determination and sense of sacrifice of the Prophet and his companions, may Allah be pleased with them.
That the Companions did their utmost, individually and collectively, to convey the light of Islam to all people, even outside the Arabian Peninsula, is demonstrated by the lengthy and dangerous journeys they took, reaching the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the Great Wall of China in the East. Countless distinguished companions breathed their last in faraway and foreign lands preaching Islam, for which their sacrifices knew no bounds.
At this point some commonplace misconceptions ought to be cleared. To call all peoples of the world to Allah is the duty of every responsible and conscientious Muslim. Since there is no priesthood in Islam or sacerdotal class among Muslims, the duty of the call to Allah cannot be transferred to an ill-conceived and imaginary group called the 'men of religion.' In Islam everyone is a man of religion and every man will be accountable to Allah as to whether he fulfilled his obligations sincerely and to the best of his abilities or not. The following verse of the Quran should be very enlightening in this respect; Allah says (what means): “Say: 'This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah; and I am not of those who associate others with Him.'” [Quran: 12:108]
Thus, anyone who rightly claims to be a follower of the Prophet cannot evade his duty to call people to Allah.
The following prophetic traditions amply elucidate this point: “Let those who witness inform those who are absent.” [Al-Bukhari] The word 'witness' here is taken to mean anyone who possesses some Islamic knowledge. The Prophet is also reported to have said: “Preach on my behalf, even with just one verse (i.e. verse of the Quran).”
Therefore, one need not be a profound scholar or a great jurist to call others to Islam. No doubt a person well-versed in Islamic sciences would be able to speak more authoritatively and would be in a position to explain matters of religion to the minutest details. However, a high level of scholarship is not a prerequisite to call others to Islam. Everyone’s effort has a definite gap to fill. A Muslim scholar will address his counterpart with a refined style and scholarly content, while a Muslim layman will have to reason with his equals in practical terms, each having a role complementary to the others.
Every individual of the Muslim Ummah is obliged to be actively engaged in whatever way he can to guide people to the right path and support, morally as well as materially, those who labour to discharge this responsibility. A common misconception that found appeal even among earlier Muslim generations and which still lingers on to this day stems from failure to comprehend the meaning of the following Quranic verse in the proper context (which means): “O you who have believed! Upon you is [responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided...”[Quran: 5:105]
In all honesty and fairness, the above verse does not connote, by any stretch of imagination, that a so-called pious or saintly person may absolve himself of the responsibility to call mankind to truth simply by thinking that evil would not knock at his door, on account of his being pure and peaceful. Regardless of how pious one may appear to be, he can never equal the Prophet or excel his companions, may Allah be pleased with them, in their moral perfection, sincerity of worship and religious devotion.
None of the Prophet's companions, may Allah be pleased with them, ever dreamt of resigning from the noble task of inviting the nations of the east and the west to eternal bliss and salvation offered by Allah through Islam. It was precisely to correct this wrong notion about the aforementioned verse that Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, issued the following warning: “O people! Indeed you read this exalted verse and put it in a place other than its own. Whereas I heard the Apostle of Allah saying: "Indeed, if people see a cruel person and they do not restrain him, Allah may punish all of them."”
The Ansaar (inhabitants of Madeenah who welcomed the Muslim immigrants) had gone through great material sacrifices in support of the Islamic cause. When Allah granted victory to the Muslims after their long struggles against the polytheists and they conquered Makkah, some of the Ansaar felt satisfied. Now that Allah had bestowed His favour upon the believers and had crowned their noble efforts with a glorious and decisive victory over their opponents, they thought it justified for themselves to return to their much neglected trades and palm groves. Thereupon, Allah the Most High, revealed the following verse (which means): “…And do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction…” [Quran 2:195]
Which clearly meant that a believer would be exposed to the gravest danger if he were to abandon the struggle in the way of Allah and confine himself to routine Islamic duties such as Salaat (prayer), Sawm (fasting), Zakat (alms-giving), and the like. Abu Ayyoob Al-Ansaari, may Allah be pleased with him, was among the distinguished Companions. According to some sources, he was one hundred and ten (110) years old when he participated in the first Muslim siege of Constantinople (Istanbul) where he died a martyr. Considering his old age, his younger friends would sometimes recommend him to rest for a while, to which he would reply: “Are you telling me to throw myself into destruction?”
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⦁ DUTIES OF A MUSLIM TOWARDS A NON-MUSLIM- AN OBLIGATION

Every title comes with a responsibility. If any person is an head of state or country then he/she has got some responsibility. Similarly the title Muslim too comes with the responsibility. The responsibility which was given to the Messengers and Prophets of God is now on Muslim ummah. Guiding society by spreading the call of righteousness and detestful things, encouraging virtue, enjoining all that is good, helping the people, and observing the Islamic principles in all aspects of public life: these are the duty of individual Muslims as well as the community working as a unit. Let us remember that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم spent the first 40 years of his life speaking the truth and became famous as Al-Amin (the truthful) before he started preaching the Truth.

It is really important that Muslims present a model and an ideal way of life which may make them interested in studying Islam and eager to know the source of your guidance which enabled you to follow a particular way of life and worldview. This is the only way in which you can play an effective role in non-Islamic societies. There are many commands, and many prohibitions, and it is impossible to list them or explain them all in one place.

⦁ Qur’an
Allah gives command to Muslims in several places to convey the message of Islam.

Allah said: "Invite people to the way of your Lord, with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are the best and most gracious: For your Lord knows best who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance." Qur'an.Surah Nahl 16:125

Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience. Quran.Surah Asr 103:3

Say (O Muhammad): This is my way; I invite unto Allah (i.e. to the Oneness of Allah — Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allah, i.e. to the Oneness of Allah — Islamic Monotheism with sure knowledge). And Glorified and Exalted be Allah (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the Mushrikoon (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah; those who worship others along with Allah or set up rivals or partners to Allah)” Qur’an.Yoosuf 12:108

You (believers) are the best of peoples evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right forbidding what is wrong and believing in Allah. Quran.Surah A’le Imran 3:110

We cannot get away with merely affirming that we are Muslims and that we have accepted Allah سبحانه و تعالى as our only God and Islam as our religion. Rather, as soon as we acknowledge Allah سبحانه و تعالى as our only Lord and His guidance as our way of life, we take upon ourselves certain obligations and duties towards ourselves and towards others.

⦁ Hadith
Narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr رضي الله عنه, according to which the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said “Convey from me, even if it is one ayath.” Sahih Al Bukhaari 3461 or Vol 4: 667

Calling people to Allah سبحانه و تعالى is a virtuous deed which brings great reward. The Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم said: “Whoever calls others to guidance will have a reward like the rewards of those who follow him, without that detracting from their reward in any way. And whoever calls others to misguidance will have a burden of sin like the burden of those who follow him, without that detracting from their burden in any way.” Sahih Muslim, 2674

⦁ Knowledge of deen
The first and foremost thing for any work is having knowledge about that subject. Similarly for conveying the message of Islam you should have knowledge about it. It is essential that the one who wants to call people to Islam should have some understanding of that to which he is calling them, but he does not have to know the entire religion, because The Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم said “Convey from me, even if it is one ayath.” Vol 4: 667

⦁ Duty assigned by Allah
Da‘wah or calling Non-Muslims to belief and worship Allah سبحانه و تعالى is a duty assigned by our creator i.e, Allah سبحانه و تعالى. He should call him to Allah سبحانه و تعالى and explain to him the reality of Islam when possible, with regard to whatever issues he has knowledge about, because this is the greatest kindness that he can give to his fellow-citizens and to those whom he meets of Jews, Christians and others who may be mushrikeen (polytheists), because The Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم said: “The one who guides others to goodness will have a reward like that of the one who does it.” Abu dawud 5110

And he صلى الله عليه و سلم said to ‘Ali رضي الله عنه, when he sent him to Khaybar and instructed him to call the Jews to Islam: “By Allah, if Allah were to guide one man through you, that would be better for you than having red camels (the best kind).”

And he صلى الله عليه و سلم said: “Whoever calls others to right guidance will have a reward like that of those who follow him, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.” Sahih Muslim 2674

So calling him (the non-Muslim) to Islam, conveying Islam to him and being sincere towards him in that are among the best means of drawing close to Allah سبحانه و تعالى.

⦁ Protecting life and wealth of Non-Muslims
He should not wrong him, with regard to his physical wellbeing, his wealth or his honour. If he is a dhimmi (non-Muslim living under Muslim rule), musta’man (one who is granted security in a Muslim land) or mu‘aahid (one with whose country the Muslims have a peace deal), then he should give him his due rights, and not transgress against his wealth by stealing, betraying or deceiving, and he should not harm him physically by striking or killing him, because the fact that he is a mu‘aahid or dhimmi, or musta’man, means that he is protected by sharee‘ah.

⦁ Interaction with Non Muslims
There is no reason why we should not interact with him, buying, selling, renting, hiring and so on. It is narrated in sahih reports that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) bought from kuffar who were idol worshippers, and he bought from the Jews, and these are interactions. When he ( صلى الله عليه و سلم) died, his shield was being held in pledge by a Jew for some food he had bought for his family (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).

⦁ Rights on Non-Muslims
These are some of the rights between a Muslim and a Non-Muslim.

Another right is being a good neighbour. So if he is a neighbour, be kind to him and do not annoy him; give charity to him if he is poor, give him gifts, give him beneficial advice, because these are things that will attract him to Islam and to become Muslim; and because the neighbour has rights. The Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم said: “Jibreel kept urging me to be kind to my neighbour until I thought that he would make him my heir.” Sahih – agreed upon.

If the neighbour is a Non-Muslim, he still has the rights of a neighbour; if he is both a relative and a Non-Muslim, then he has two rights: the rights of a neighbour and the rights of a relative. One of the rights of the neighbour is that you should give him charity, but not zakah, if he is poor, because Allah سبحانه و تعالى says (interpretation of the meaning): “Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity” Qur’an.surah al-Mumtahanah 60:8

According to the sahih hadeeth narrated from Asma’ bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her), her mother, who was a mushrik, entered upon her during the truce between the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم and the people of Makkah, seeking help. Asma’ asked the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم for permission – should she uphold ties of kinship with her? The Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم said: “Uphold ties of kinship with her.”

⦁ Scholars view
Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz رحيمه الله said, with regards to celebrating their festivals,the Muslim should not take part in celebrating their festivals, but there is nothing wrong with offering them condolences if a loved one dies, such as saying “May Allah compensate you in your loss” and other kind words. But he should not say “May Allah forgive him” or “May Allah have mercy on him” if the deceased was a Non-Muslim, and he should not pray for the deceased if he was a Non-Muslim. But he may pray for the one who is alive to be guided and to be compensated and so on. Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz رحيمه الله. Fataawa Noor ‘ala al-Darb, 1/289-291.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen رحيمه الله said: If a person understands what he is calling people to, it makes no difference whether he is a great and prominent scholar or a seeker of knowledge who is serious in his pursuit thereof, or a regular person who has certain knowledge of the issue in question. The Messenger (May Allah honour Him and grant Him peace)said: “Convey from me, even if it is one ayath,” and he did not stipulate that the daa’iyah (caller) should have reached a high level of knowledge, but it is essential that he should have knowledge of that to which he is calling people. But calling out of ignorance or calling based on emotion is not permissible. Fataawa ‘Ulama’ al-Balad al-Haraam, p. 329

Source: Reference Link