Ramadan is the Season for Inviting Others to Allah (2/2)

The reward of guiding one person is better than the world and everything that it contains. Calling to Allah is the concern of the most compassionate of people, the purest of heart. They are the inheritors of the Prophets.

My esteemed brothers and sisters who are observing the fast, there are qualities that everyone who wishes to engage in calling others to Allah should cultivate within themselves. They are: knowledge, acting upon knowledge, sincerity, patience, kindness, good manners, generosity, altruism, humility, wisdom, mercy, and concern for achieving unity upon truth.

There are other qualities by which a caller to Allah should beautify his conduct. They are: forgiveness, responding to evil with good, trust in Allah, having certainty in Allah’s help, satisfaction with even the slightest progress, and striving for the utmost good. Also, an Islamic worker must shun envy, hastiness, and competition for worldly gain.

Among the etiquettes of calling others to Allah is to always be gentle of approach, concerned for the guidance of others, and cognizant of a sense of responsibility. There should be a strong and close connection between the caller and his Lord. The caller should be continually engaged in the remembrance of Allah, in supplication, and in all acts of devotion. He should always make sure to set a good example for others and look for every opportunity to call people to the truth. He should never disparage any good effort, no matter how small it might be.

Among the etiquettes of Islamic work is to deal with people on their own level. We should show concern for their problems and try to help them, while never burdening them with our own. We need to be sensitive to the sensibilities of those whom we are calling and try to understand their circumstances.

When we call people to Allah, we must avoid argumentation except within the strictest of bounds, and then do so in the best possible manner. We should establish a good relationship with people, encourage them to keep good company, and use wisdom to get them away from bad company.

We should get to know the person whom we are calling. We should know his name. We should show that we are interested in him as a person and make him feel important. We should get him involved in activities that will benefit him.

We should start with what is most important and keep our priorities in order. We should never seek to promote ourselves.

We should employ various approaches in our work. Sometimes we may use beautiful preaching, sometimes we may give gifts, and sometimes an indirect approach proves to be the most effective.

My esteemed brothers and sisters who are observing the fast, this is what it means to calling others to Islam.

These are its virtues, its qualities, and its etiquettes. Hasten to become callers to Allah in this noble month of Ramadan. Each of us can do so in his/ her own way. One person can impart to others the knowledge that he has. Another can spend of his wealth, use his reputation, or offer his hard work. In this way we can realize all

manner of good and spare ourselves the evil consequences of neglecting this duty of ours.

In this month or Ramadan, I call out to the student of Islamic knowledge and point out to you the golden opportunity that you have right now to call others to Allah. The hearts of the people are at their most receptive and most responsive to what a person of knowledge has to offer. As students and scholars, you should therefore feel your responsibility to others more acutely during this month and expend every effort in carrying out your duties. Leave no room for excuses or shortcomings.

I, likewise, call out to those whom Allah has blessed with ample means. You can bring your wealth to positive effect by supporting Islamic workers in their work, preparing them, and publishing books that will benefit the people. All of this comes under the banner of Islamic work. Do you not want to be counted among those who call others to Allah?

I call out to people of influence. Bring your influence and good reputations to bear in facilitating the efforts of calling people to Allah. I call out to those who are working in the media. Use your position to promote goodness and to share in calling to Allah with a good word. You can send the truth far and wide and share in all the vast rewards that this entails.

I call out to those who have knowledge of the Internet to employ it as a means of inviting people to goodness during this auspicious month. You have the ability to with the least effort and expense spread truth and goodness over the widest possible expanse. You speak to the world while sitting in the comfort of your homes.

I call out to all Muslims, men and women, to share in calling people to Allah. We need to do all the good that we can during this month of Ramadan. We must give advice to those who are neglectful and heedless. We need to remind those of us who forget and teach those who do not know.

“And who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah, works righteousness, and says: Indeed I am of those who submit in Islam.” [Sûrah Fussilat: 33].

This article was written by Sheikh Muhammad al-Hamad

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