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answered by DR.ISRAR AHMED

 

DAWAH IS OBLIGATORY

on every muslim

Calling to Allaah (G) is generally considered by scholars of Islaam as an obligation on

every Muslim according to their abilities. It has been instructed by Allaah (G) in the
Qur’aan and by Prophet Muhammad (N) in his Sunnah. With regard to its obligation, Sh.
Ibn Baaz (W) said the following:
“Da‘wah is an obligation on everyone who has the ability, from scholars to Muslim rulers and missionaries, until the message of Islaam reaches every corner of the earth in the various languages of the people. This is the type of propagation that Allaah (G) has commanded. He, Most High, instructed His Prophet (N) [to disseminate the message of Islaam] as follows:

“O Messenger, convey what was revealed from your Lord.” (5:67)

Thus, it was obligatory on the Messenger (N) to deliver the message in the same way that it was obligatory on all the messengers of God – peace and blessings of Allaah (G) upon them and upon all who follow them in conveying the message. Therefore, it is obligatory on the whole nation, from rulers and scholars to businessmen and others to convey this religion from Allaah (G) and His Messenger (N) and explain it to people in their various languages.”(words of advice regarding dawah pp.47-8)

However, scholars have made a distinction between the individual obligation of da‘wah
and the community obligation. Shaikh Ibn Baaz (W) stated the following:
“There are two levels of Da‘wah to Allaah (G): The first is Fard ‘ayn (an individual
obligatory duty) and the second is Fard kifaayah (a collective obligatory duty). It is
Fard ‘ayn on you when no one in [your] country, region or tribe takes up the
responsibility of enjoining good and forbidding evil, if you have knowledge. It
becomes obligatory on you specifically to give da‘wah, to enlighten people to the
rights of Allaah (G), to command what is good and prohibit evil. However, if there
are present those who give da‘wah teach people and guide them, then it would be
sunnah and not obligatory for others who also have knowledge of the Sharee‘ah.” (words of advice regarding dawah pp.18)
Regarding the obligation of da‘wah in this age, Shaikh Ibn Baaz (W) also said:
“At a time when there is a shortage of callers, when evil is prevalent and ignorance
dominates, da‘wah becomes fard ‘ayn on everyone according to their ability.”(ibid pp.20)
Proof for the community obligation of da‘wah can be found in the following verse and
others similar to it:

“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)  

the individual obligation of da‘wah can be seen indicated in the following verse:
“Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good preaching.”(16:125)

The Prophet (N) is personally addressed in this verse and by extension all individual
believers are instructed to invite people to Islaam. In case this instruction was perceived
as limited to only certain individuals like scholars or groups, the Prophet (N) himself
broadened the scope of responsibility by making it the individual responsibility of
everyone who had any knowledge saying:
“Convey from me, even if it be only a single verse."(saheh bukhari vol.4,pp.442,no.667)

Furthermore, whenever the Prophet (N) addressed people, he used to say:

“Let those present convey what they heard to those absent. For, perhaps he may
inform one better able to understand it than him. ”(ibid, kitaab: al i'lm; baab :rubba muballagh)

Allaah’s Curse
In order to stress the gravity of da‘wah as a duty on Muslims, Allaah (G) warned those who did not fulfill their responsibility in this regard of His curse and the curse of all His creatures.

“Indeed those who hide the clear messages and guidance that I have revealed after I have made it clear to people in the scripture; those are cursed by Allaah and cursed by all who curse.”(2:159)

The Prophet (N) further stressed the gravity of the sin of hiding knowledge saying:

“Whoever hides knowledge by which Allaah (G) benefits people in their affairs of
religion, Allaah (G) will bridle him on the Day of Resurrection with a bridle from
the Hellfire.”(sunnah abu dawood;sunnah ibn i majah;sunnah an nissa)